In this thread I asked for some recommendations for area lights. DaveT pointed me to the Energizer Folding Fluorescent lantern. It just arrived, and the sun's down, so...

Energizer Folding Fluorescent Lantern

The Energizer Folding Fluorescent Lantern is a small fluorescent light with two fluorescent tubes. There's also a yellow LED for a "night light" mode. It's powered by 4 "D" size batteries. Package says runtime is 20 hours on "high" (both tubes lit) and 40 hours on "low" (one tube lit). No runtime is given for the LED but with 4D cells driving one little LED... forever. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />




The lantern is a little larger than a paperback book, and about 3.5" thick:



High power (both tubes on):



The tubes are mounted in a compartment which can swing open like a huge cellphone:


This is very convenient. The base (what would be the keypad on a cellphone) contains the batteries, making it decently heavy. More than adequate to stablize the light with the "cover" open. I just balanced it on the arm of my couch and read a little from a book. Sitting a few feet away, I was fine. Wouldn't want to read like that for hours, but for casual reading, it'll work. The lantern puts out enough light on low power to comfortably walk around a large living room, with the ability to distinguish colors and read small print several feet away. High mode is even better.

I'm very happy with it, especially considering the price. For a $15 plastic lantern, it feels very solid (plastic is thick enough that it doesn't feel "cheap"). The one weak point is the switch. It's a very loose four position slide switch. When changing modes I have to brace my fingers on the light body or I'll overshoot the desired position. This light should definitely be stored without batteries, it'd be way too easy to turn it on accidentally.

I'll probably get one or two more if I can find one locally. I think having a few scattered around will be better than trying to carry one around everywhere.