Well I'm not a light freak but I do like stuff that glows. And if it glows for long time and free than it is even better. That's why I slowly progressed from regular lightsticks, to Krill lights and I was really fascinated by Glowrings but couldn't find one. Finally I ordered few from Ebay and I must say that I'm pretty disapointed. They are really not that strong to use for anything else but decoration and they are too small to be used as identification or markers. I mean coolness factor is 10 and they do look neat but when inital amazment wears off it's sort of pointless. I think I will just attach them to something but I feel it was a small waste of money.

Matt

Well, I guess it's useful if your attach it to your keyring. Then, if you drop it in the dark, in grass etc... you can find your keys more easily ...
Or if you want to be able to find someting when awaking in the dark of your room, in the middle of the night, without any light on.
i.e. you can attach it to your flashlight ...... <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Alain

I would think that these dim illuminators would be quite useful in military applications where stealth is part of the requirement. Using something this dim while hiking in the dark with or without NVG could be a good way to keep your forces together. When there is no other source or illumination and you have one of these hanging off the back of you helmet or such then it would be pretty easy for those following you to keep up even if you got a bit out-front. OTOH, that would also make you a decent target for anyone watching so....

Also attaching these to the tie-outs of your tarp / tent or to the tent stakes could prevent a trip / fall accident or a stubbed toe.

Just theorizing here as I haven't yet spent / wasted the money necessary to own one of these.

A couple of useful stats could aid the discussion.

What is the wieght ?

What are the lumens new?

What is the useful life at "full" brightness?

What are the deminisions?

Anyone have any true life experience with using these devices? What did you use them for? What were the results? Have you used anything else for that use? Compare and contrast?

I don't know if you're using the same glowrings as I got from Bagheera in the Netherlands, but mine really do illuminate well. Two uses I won't live without:
1) Hanging on the doorknob of my bathroom, from the bedroom side. My wife is no longer awakened each time I bump into the door on my multiple trips to the bathroom each night.
2) I have a glowring clipped to every flashlight I actually use. I thought: If I can find the flashlight in the dark, I'm going to be able then to find other things.

Anyway, IMHO these are great and I wish Bagheera could still get them into the U.S. for us!

While I have a couple of the X2's, most of the ones I have on EDC items are the older versions. I find them useful to locate my flashlights and keys. For rescue applications, I have a military version on the back of my helmet, so my fellow rescuers know where I am if I am facing away from them. I also have one on my PFD, so if my primary markers (krill and strobe) are not functioning, there is still some type of marker on my person. While not real bright, on a dark night most of my team members have said they can locate me in the dark. Pete

I'm not that happy with my X2s - my '2nd generation" plains ones are better - the Al caps come off on the X2, and you can lose the light - had to reglue mine

I have a glowring on most of my flashlights, and both cat's collars, so I don't trip over them in the night

Polak, I agree 100% with you!

I, uhhh, have a friend <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> who has 4 Traser Glowrings, and I agree 100% with your assessment - very cool but very expensive and not particularly functional for the money. They are supposedly illegal for import into the US because of the tritium inside.

Here's a link :
http://www.gadgets.co.uk/cgi/refer.cgi?refer=awin-glowring&page=glowring.html

I can't think of many uses for them that couldn't be done more cheaply by some other product.

I *did* put one on my car keys so I can find it in the Hellhole of Calcutta that is the bottom of my purse :-)

JMHO

Hey !! That's a good idea ...
Unfortunately, my cat has no collar .... but that would be useful and save a few trodden on tails and/or paws ..... <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Alain

It's not as bright as a Krill light.

The tritium will be very bright in total darkness.

Eventually, I would add a glowring to the cat collar, but not a Krill light ......
<img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Alain

I bought several earlier and ended up keeping one. I have it attached to a flashlight by my bedside.
Some people swear by them for their keychains - finding them if they're dropped or in a purse. Other uses I've seen mentioned are for light pullcords, like in closets or the garage; someone else kept them attached to the deadbolt keys they keep on a hook near their doors, in case they have to leave their house in pitch dark/a fire, etc.
Someone said he keeps several in a clear plastic container in his closet, and that that provides enough light to see with.
I find the gadget/neat attraction to be high, but decided I wouldn't be using them on a keychain (they feel slightly fatter in real life than they looked in the pictures I've seen of them).
I don't really notice them glowing in normal room lighting situations - when you get a twilight level of light, they're subtly noticeable, and in a dark room, they stand out quite well - but I wouldn't say you could could comfortably read with it. Perhaps you could pick out a couple words at a time if you held it near a book's page, etc. Wouldn't want to use it to try to find my way in the dark.
Also, green is the brightest color, with the other colors coming in dimmer.
Dave

Well, I have not read the publicity for glow-rings and don't know if it's one of the recommanded usage, but I would never think using one to read or find my way in the dark. That can be done with Krill lights or chem- lights.

But IMHO glowrings are nice to attach to something you want to find in the dark, as you described in your post (finding a flashlight etc ...).


Alain

To edit my previous post: I went and tried reading in a dark room - it can be done, if you almost touch the page, you can read about a paragraph's worth of text at a time (this was a regular magazine-sized text).
Also, I suppose you could slowly pick your way through a cluttered or unfamiliar room with it, but it would probably be my last choice for this and I'd prefer any kind of disposable LED keychain light for the task.
Dave