Hi

I have been following the "best travel aide/gadget" thread and see that many Fodorites love their booklights. Here's my problem:

I have purchased three booklights and none of them has worked well for me. One had a bulb that burned out in minutes... repeatedly.

Another had a switch that went "on" whenever it was folded closed and burned out the bulb AND the battery.

The third had a clip that didn't stay clipped onto any book I ever used it with.

Please recommend your favorite booklight, and tell me where you got it. I am an avid reader, especially at night, and European hotel and apartment lights usually don't meet my needs.

I've had several versions of the Itty Bitty Booklights but each went by the wayside fairly quickly - burned bulbs or batteries too fast, bad clip, one model even had a design flaw that crimped and eventually cut its own wiring from being folded and unfolded.

I've also tried a no-name, uber-small model with a flexible light arm that's intended to wrap around the body when it's not in use. the problem is that it has "memory," meaning it wouldn't straighten out fully to light the page. DH was not amused to be spotlighted in the night.

I recently bought a Nite Reader from Barnes & Noble and am happy with it so far. You might give it a look.

My husband swears by a small miner-style headlamp available at sporting goods stores.

Those little lights have the sole purpose of tormenting a person. I think the miner's hat sounds good, if it doesn't give you a headache.

I received a great little book light for Christmas from Hammacher Schlemmer. It's called the Effortless, Over-Ear Book Light. It fits over your ear (duh), weighs practically nothing, the light is at the end of a flexible stem, it's very bright, runs on one battery, and is comfortable to wear.

In addition, since it clips over your ear, it shines right where you are looking. It's the best book light that I have ever owned, and I've owned quite a few.

www.hammacher.com

aaah SeaUrchin, I am afraid you're right. Book lights are a great idea but so far, the execution stinks. But I will try one of the recommendations here.

Anyone else, please?

My husband has settled on the head lamp solution also. It has comfortable straps and shines where you are looking. It can also be used for walking around in the dark since and doing repairs in dim lighting when you need both hands free. Its original use is camping.