... I've yet to find a low intensity light I like. ...
. Check out the
FourSevens Atom AO. The light is a 1xAAA (AAA eneloop in mine) which has a floody beam with no noticeable artifacts. I like it for close stuff.
I've been wearing one around the house on a neck lanyard in the early AM just to have a light at the ready when I don't want to turn house lights on. I can turn it on hanging from my neck so it points straight down and it puts a nice even light at my feet and in front of me, hands free. Team it with a headlamp that points wear you look and you're covered.