Which Style Is the Best Book Light for You?

Picture this: You're closing in on the end of a cozy mystery. The heroine is in grave danger. Is this the end for her, or will she be able to expose the killer and save herself? You've just got to know!! But... your partner has asked you to turn off the lights for the third time, and you're feeling a little guilty about going for one more chapter.

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The solution, of course, is a book light. These handy accessories give you the ability to read in comfort without disturbing anyone who may be sitting or sleeping nearby. And in general, they make things a little easier on your eyes.

Even though I usually read on my e-reader, I still like to read an actual book on occasion, too. My old book light finally bit the dust, so I decided to go hunting for a new book light that fit my needs, and it turned out that the best options depended on a number of factors. I discovered there are four major categories of book lights, each with a range of adjustable features that make some book lights better suited to certain situations than others. Here’s what I found in my research:

Clip-On Lamps

After trying several options, I decided that book lights that actually clip on to the book are the best option for me because they cast the most even lighting over the pages. It seems like most brands also offer a range of settings so you can control the light temperature and brightness.

However, many of these clip-ons are heavy, often too heavy for paperback books. That’s why I like the Vekkia LuminoLight Rechargeable Book Light. Its’ small size and light weight make it versatile enough to use with both paperbacks and hardcovers, yet it is still large enough to cast an even light over both pages. One charge lasts a good long while, up to 70 hours.

If you read mostly hardbacks, you might prefer a clip-on lamp that’s a little more substantial. This Glocusent Portable Clip-on Light has a wider (and slightly heavier) head with a longer neck that allows you to flip the pages without adjusting the clip every time.

Bookmark Lights

I mostly read at home, but I know many of you read while you’re commuting so you need something lightweight and portable that you can tuck into your bag. Or maybe you just want something smaller and lighter than a clip-on. Bookmark lights that slip onto a book’s pages like a bookmark (guess that was obvious!) may be just the right thing for your needs.

Much like the clip-on style book lights, many bookmark style book lights work better on hardcover books. But I’ve found that the Glocusent USB Rechargeable Book Light is also compatible with paperbacks. It has multiple settings for brightness and temperature, and there’s an indicator that lets you know when to recharge. My old one was lavender but it comes in six other colors, too.

Wearable Book Lights

I have issues with my neck, so wearable book lights don’t appeal to me personally, but I know lots of other people who swear by them. In general, they’re fairly lightweight horseshoe-shaped bands with a light at each end. They’re a hands-free option designed for reading in bed, so they can be adjusted in a whole bunch of ways. Because the lights are tightly focused on the book pages, you can turn out the room lights and let your partner sleep in peace while you go for one more chapter.

According to Amazon, one of the most popular wearable book lights is the Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light. Fans mention that the flexible arms retain their position, and the light can be adjusted with brightness and temperature settings. The arms are also slightly longer than other brands, so you get more even lighting across the page. The upgraded model includes a handy 30-minute timer.

Flat Reading Lights

Personally, I feel the flat reading lights are probably the least comfortable to use. They do a great job of lighting up each page, but the hand-held models add weight to what you’re holding and may get uncomfortable fairly quickly, especially if you have any dexterity issues with your hands. Other tabletop models require you to sit at a table to read.

However, there are some flat reading lights that feature a magnifying option, a bonus that could outweigh the weight and awkward handling. The MagniPros Page Magnifyer, for example, combines lighting with a little boost to the text size of your book.

Which Book Light Is Right for You?

After looking at many of the book lights currently on the market, I realized there are several questions you should ask yourself before picking one. These include:

• Will I be using the light primarily with hardcover or paperback books?

• Do I prefer a rechargeable option or a battery-powered light?

• Do I want to have control over the brightness level?

• Do I want to have control over the color of the light?

• Will I be using the book light when others are sitting or sleeping near me?

• How important is portability?

• Do I need magnification?

• And, of course, how much do I want to spend?

Whichever one of these top-selling book lights you choose, you’ll find they’re an affordable accessory that makes reading books easier and more enjoyable.

Let us know in the comments below which type of book light works best for you.