SpotLit LED Clip-On Light by NiteIze

Posted: 12/17/2007 In Category(s): Reviews :: Product Reviews

Sometimes the simplest things give us so much pleasure.

Niteize came out with a small light called a DropLit in early 2007 that was a grand idea – a small highly illuminating bulbous quarter-sized LED on a horseshoe-shaped hook. You could put it on zippers, key chains, pets, you name it. But it was a bit difficult to remove the hook from the LED so that it could be attached to an item. So Niteize changed the hook, and now the company has a real winner, the SpotLit, which appeared at retail in fall 2007.

Anybody who needs to be seen, needs a little illumination to see something (like a keyhole), or has a dog or pet who needs to be seen should have one of these new LED lights.

The only real change was replacing the twisted, slip-on hook with an itsy-bitsy spring-loaded clip that is easy to open and close, clip on or remove. But that one change was a dream. Other than ease of use, one primary difference is that the device now hangs straight and no longer twists as it did with the previous hook system (which we must say was difficult to figure out, hard to grab, and even slippery if your fingers were wet or gloved).

We used the light on ourselves on evening or pre-dawn runs and walks (and felt like a glowing pumpkin on the street). The SpotLit is also now a given if Kayla, the SNEWS® team dog, is out in the dark for a run or walk or is even just getting in a little fetch action in the dark. We have found we can see the brightly glowing light – either steady or blinking – from 300 yards away. We haven’t really tested it farther to challenge that distance though. Throwing a ball to a dog in the pitch dark is hilarious when the dog has this clipped to his or her collar: All you can see is the light moving through space, emitting a glowing halo so you can see a shadow of your pet – and the ball when it gets near it. It’s a guarantee you won’t lose track of your pet in the dark, and a guarantee that you will also be seen during pre-dawn or post-sunset runs.

Our only issue is that there is a finicky rubber bulb you must press to turn the light on or turn it off. If you don’t push hard enough, or press exactly in the right place, it won’t cooperate. But that’s a small matter. We love it, and the light will go in our suitcases for runs when we’re off traveling, on our pet’s collar for all wintertime games and walks, and on our zipper pulls for outings while at home.

It’s available in red and white, is water resistant, has long-life replaceable batteries and weights just 0.6 ounces.

SNEWS® Rating: 4.5 hands clapping (1 to 5 hands clapping possible, with 5 clapping hands representing functional and design perfection)

Suggested Retail: $7

For more information: www.niteize.com

To learn more about how SNEWS® conducts product reviews, click here.

---

SNEWS® CHAT -- Have a comment, idea, retort, or an engaging thought that was inspired by this article or from our opinions expressed in the SNEWS® View? Just click here to comment now.