I hope I'm not repeating information, but I use these reading glasses for lightweight backpacking:<br><br>http://www.totalliving.com/persona19.html<br><br>The other day I noticed that they fit easily into an Altoids tin, and have the smallest size of any glasses I've ever seen.<br><br>Might be a good idea to be able to see the splinters you're removing, and the needles you're threading.<br><br>I know I'm lost without some form of reading glasses. Sure, a Fresnel lense works fine, but these little gems are a lot handier for sustained close work.<br><br>Bear

Thanks for the post- I’ve been sort of collecting sources of small reading glasses for PSK and UPSK, with various trade-offs in size and usability. I may well try these. I wish there were a good picture of them folded, though—if they fold.<br><br>I have one pair of these (link below); they’re very expensive, they are nice, but the lenses are a little shallow in the vertical direction for sustained use. The case is very sturdy but bulky.<br><br>http://store.yahoo.com/herrington-catalog/es385.html<br><br>Lately, I’ve been packing these in the UPSK instead:<br><br>http://www.flapjacks.com/<br><br>The “longitude” model is almost as small as the expensive ones (without the case), folds the same way (check out the animation), and actually seems to work better- the lenses are larger. The Parallel I model is a little too large when folded for an Atoids tin, but flatter.. if the kit is a bit larger, like the SAS tin, it actually seems to take up less space...<br><br>I’ve also seen some Foster Grant reading glasses that fold the same as the other two, but they aren’t on the web page. Haven’t tried them.<br>

They look very useful.<br><br>Backup glasses are essential. I keep them in BOB. I never thought of getting a set for the PSK!<br><br>I needed to read instructions on an OTC antihistamine for my son over the weekend at a camping trip. I was amazed to discover that I needed not only my reading glasses, but also a 4x magnifier to read the instructions on the label. It was the smallest print I've seen.<br><br>John

<br>Better photos: http://www.i4ulenses.com/index.htm<br>

Please excuse this question. I don't wear reading glasses, but have a question about them.<br><br>Can reading glasses be used as a magnifying glass? More specifically can they be used to start a fire using the sun?

Any convex lens will concentrate solar light. Remember Lord of the flies?

In theory, yes, any convex lens will concentrate light, but not all reading glasses will concentrate it sufficiently to generate pinpoints of heat. I remember, years ago, trying to do so with my mother's reading glasses; the best I could get was a circle of light about 1/2 inch in diameter (IIRC - it was many years ago). <br><br>I've also read that regular (concave) glasses can be used, if you hold them horizontally and pour a small pool of water into one lens; this should convert the concave glass or plastic lens into a convex combination glass and water lens. I've tried to do this from time to time, without any success. Possibly at my latitude (Calgary Alberta) the sun's rays are slanted too much; come to think of it, I'd likely have the same trouble using any convex lens that had to be held horizontal. <br><br>As far as I know, the only television "survivor" so far to have started a fire without matches was the school teacher (and ex-Air Force survival instructor) in season 1, who successfully used a fellow "castaway's" reading glasses to do it. (I quit watching the show shortly after she was "voted off"; it became clear that the show was more about office politics than wilderness survival, and I deal with office politics every day; why would I want to watch it for entertainment? :-)

thanks for expanding on my hurried response ( exasperated by wearing an old pair of prescription glasses when my contacts self destructed 8o(

But can you start a fire with contact lenses? (LOL)<br><br>On second thought - if anyone could, I suspect it's you or Doug :-)

I sure could! They would be critical in finding the 500 strike anywhere matches, 2 vials of Lifeboat matches, 2 metal matches, 4 bic lighters, 8-10 hour candles, 2 bags of vaseline/cotton tinder, 24 esbit fuel tabs and utility mora ( capable of sparking with natural flints) distributed between my PSk, rucksack , pockets and automobile.