The big box stores can be a very dangerous place for a gadget freak. Case in point, DW (that’s “Dear Wife” for those of you who are new to RV.Net) and I were recently shopping for groceries at our favorite warehouse store when I spied a three-pack of LED lights. I have been seeing these things everywhere for several months; some with three LED’s, some with four and some, like these, with five. They all seem to operate on the same three AAA batteries and they all seem to claim the same “100,000 hour” LED life. Note that 100,000 hours is the claim on the life of the bulbs, not how long the light will operate on a set of batteries. In my admittedly informal testing, the battery life appears to be around 36 hours – and for those last 4 to 6 hours it is much more akin to a nightlight, than anything that puts out a useful amount of candlepower.
These lights come with hook and loop (think Velcro™) tape on the back, and because they are powered by batteries they can be placed just about anywhere. They are most useful for small spaces; a cabinet, storage compartment, or maybe a bathroom (but don’t give up your 12V lights!). They are not really bright enough to illuminate a main living area. Their illumination is very directional, so if you attempt to light a large area you find yourself in shadows most of the time. The light also has a bit of a bluish tinge to it, not unlike the early fluorescent bulbs. I have to admit that these lights did not make the cut and see any camping duty with us. We did end up keeping them around the house for power outages, not attached to anything – just lying in drawers. They are very portable and easy to position for temporary lighting (better than a flashlight), and there appears to be little or no drawdown on the batteries when not in use.
LED lights are all the rage these days, but if you look past the hype I think some of the battery powered lanterns on the market might be a much better buy.
Happy camping!