Neck Book Lamp: E-readers are great, but this ultra-wacky gadget for reading paper books in low light is the best solution we’ve tried.
No matter how convenient e-readers are, he can’t resist real books. Perhaps it is their soothing weight, the pleasing folds of the pages, their subtle musk; But there is something addictive about this combination of paper, ink and glue.
Despite this—and as much as it pains me to say it—physical books are not perfect. One issue that has been particularly taxing for me is reading in low light conditions. When You do this, You either keep your partner awake with the bedside lamp burning, contort your body into awkward positions to illuminate the pages, or – worst case scenario – turn on the dreaded Big Light.
But you know what? It’s all history. There is the light! More precisely, a Neck Book Lamp.
A Neck Book Lamp (or neck light) is exactly what it sounds like: a light that sits around your neck. Most models are U-shaped with an LED light at the end of each arm. They are flexible, meaning you can adjust the position and angle of the light.
You started looking for a solution to your low light reading problem many years ago. The first thing I tried were the clip-on book lights that are often sold at office supply stores. When they work, they aren’t particularly good, as they can only lighten the top of the page evenly and tend to flutter a lot as you read.
Neck Book Lamp: Compare with Headlamp
Indeed, the next gadget you tested was a headlamp. It was an improvement, but it had its problems. Its weight and strap became uncomfortable during long reading sessions, especially when you had to keep your head level and at a slight angle to ensure constant light.
Soon your gaze fell on the neck lamp. At first I was skeptical. Not only will it have a lot of the problems I thought it would have, like clip-on flashlights and headlamps, but gadgets you wear around your neck don’t have a good reputation.
Just think of the Bose SoundWear, a horseshoe-shaped speaker that rests on your shoulders, because… You’re still not entirely convinced. Or, actually, Pulsetto, a stress management tool that uses radio waves to (supposedly) stimulate the vagus nerve in the neck. Why? Of course, for the sake of well-being.
No, necklights are akin to the unsung hero of the wearables world, wireless neckband headphones.
With the advent of true wireless technology (thanks to AirPods), these “neck headphones” have been almost forgotten. Friends, this is very disappointing, because both they and neck lamps have many positive qualities. In particular, they are convenient, relatively inexpensive, and due to their size, they are difficult to lose.
There is one important difference between them: it is much more awkward to be on the street with a lamp on on your neck, but with neck buds it is much more embarrassing.
For better or worse,You are a person who loves to read. So You carried a neck lamp with you to many public places. And you’ll realize the following: you shouldn’t do this. It’s hard to look suave, reserved, or mysterious when you’re lighting up a dimly lit corner of a bar like some idiotic angler fish.
There are a few exceptions in tests. Neck Book Lamps are common in public places with limited privacy, such as on airplanes or trains, but in most other situations? Guys, if you really care, it’s best to keep it at home.
All in all, it’s a bit of a dilemma. While it’s true that wearing a flashlight around your neck won’t get you an invite to the Met Gala, You still have a big TBR (to read). And fashion is not everything. Sometimes you just want something convenient, effective and affordable. Like sweatpants. In summary, the neck lamp is the sweatpants of the reading world: comfortable, and best used in the comfort of your own home.
Moreover, It can confidently said that gadgets have made your life better. Your partner is no longer sleep-deprived, your posture isn’t as terrible, and thankfully the Big Light isn’t in use, all for the price of a cocktail in Manhattan.
It believe Neck Book Lamp can help others too. From reviewing documents in a dark office to combating some of the effects of presbyopia as people age, this gadget can make a real difference in people’s lives.
Many devices, including my Glocusent as shown in the video above, have the ability to switch white settings and brightness levels from very warm to cool. What’s more, they’re inexpensive, often costing less than $30.