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If you enjoy reading a book right before slumber, travel frequently, or are just a reading enthusiast, then a reading or book light might be the perfect accessory. Reading lights, unlike desk lamps, can be taken with you wherever you go and make reading in dark places a more pleasant experience.
Below are a great selection of reading lights for bed or travel that will not disappoint. These lights are lightweight, yet pack a bright punch with their LED-based lighting quality while providing a variety of lighting temperature and brightness options.
These book light options can either attach to a desk, wrap around the neck or easily clip on to your favorite book, magazine, or newspaper and all are flicker and blue-light free for reduced eye strain.
Comparing the Finest Reading Lights in Bed of 2024
Vekkia Rechargeable LED Neck Reading Light — Best Overall
This hands-free reading light makes reading in bed a comfortable and frustration-free experience. This is a rechargeable and flexible neckband hug lamp and comes with two LEDs on each end that are flicker and blue light-free to help prevent excess eye strain. This reading light is also lightweight, compact, and ideal for travel.
Pros
- Four bright LEDs and three brightness settings allows you to set the desired light mode
Cons
- This light may get slightly warm when on for a while
Nachteule Rechargeable Book Light — Most Lightweight
The Nachteule Rechargeable Book Light is the perfect accessory for any avid reader. With its revolutionary design, functional features, and high-end German craftsmanship, this book light will be sure to last a lifetime. This clip-on reading light features an award-winning smart design that follows the movements of your head as you read, providing focused coverage on your book at all times without ever disturbing your partner. Plus, weighing in at only 0.31 oz (9g), this ultralight and portable reading light can be used anywhere: in bed, while traveling, camping, crafting, and more.
Pros
- Easily clips onto glasses
- Stretchy headband included for those who don't wear glasses
Cons
- Price is on the expensive side
Vont Reading Light — Most Flexible
Create your personal lighting area with the assistance of the multifunctional Vont Reading Light. With three different controls, you will be able to adjust the overall brightness depending on your personal requirements. All you basically need to do is just click the little button right above the lamp. The entire construction is pretty flexible and can bend in literally any direction. Plus, it's very compact, you will be able to take it anywhere you need. In terms of power, this model comes with a 1000 mAh battery that can easily last around 80 hours without an issue. While it’s mainly preferred for reading, you can use it for other tasks as well.
Pros
- Ideal lightning intensity
- Convenient design
Cons
- Hard to adjust
Glocusent Rechargeable Reading Light — Best Features
Glocusent’s upgraded rechargeable booklight features three brightness levels and three color modes; amber mode, soft mode, and natural mode. The reading light features a battery life of 8 – 80 hours, depending on the brightness setting, and can be recharged using USB-C. With this amber reading light, you no longer have to worry about wasting money on batteries. This portable reading light only has a weight of 1.4 ounces, making it easy to carry. The clamp has a 1.6-inch opening and securely holds a book or e-reader in place. You can also place it on a desk or tabletop. Pads feature an anti-slippery design that doesn't tear or scratch your books. It's a huge time saver.
Pros
- Impressive battery life
- Three brightness levels
- Soft and good grip clamp
Cons
- The neck of the light is short
Energizer Clip On Book Light — Most Notable
Upgrade your reading in bed experience with this compact and portable book light. By using advanced LED technology, this warm white light re-creates natural reading conditions and provides plenty of visibility for reading while being easy on the eyes. A spring clip attaches easily to books, e-readers, clipboards, visors, and more for an array of uses.
Pros
- This book light will come in handy during any power outages
Cons
- This light runs on batteries that will need to be changed out
Hooga Clip-On Book Light — Honorable Mention
If you prefer a warmer-hued light, this clip-on reading light has a gentle amber hue that is 99% free of blue light to help reduce eye strain. This light is lightweight, portable, travel-friendly, and features a strong, sturdy grip to ensure it stays in place when clipped. This light is rechargeable and comes with a USB charging cable that will provide a full charge in four hours.
Pros
- This light can be an alternative to wearing blue blocker glasses while reading in bed at night
Cons
- The button to turn the light on/off makes a loud sound
LEPOWER Clip On Reading Light — Contender
This clip-on light is ideal for a table, desk, headboard, or computer and has a soft and comfortable, non-flickering light that is easy on the eyes while reducing eye fatigue. It comes with two different color modes to choose from, either white or warm light and two brightness levels allow you to adjust for dim and bright.
Pros
- The light holder and arm can be adjusted at any angle to fit specific viewing needs
Cons
- This light has to be plugged in at all times
PERFECTDAY Reading Book Light — Also Consider
This adjustable and flexible goose-neck reading lamp allows you to adjust in any direction for the most comfortable reading experience. This light easily clips onto any size book, magazine, or paper and comes with a USB rechargeable built-in battery that can last for 60 hours. The light also has three brightness modes from which to choose and a dimmable blue light filter protects the eyes from strain.
Pros
- This lamp is energy efficient and has a low power consumption
Cons
- The battery might need to be charged after every use
DEWENWILS USB Rechargeable Reading Light — Another Option
A smaller, more compact reading light option is this one with a built-in USB in the base that conveniently plugs directly into a computer, car, or wall outlet for charging. This light is the smallest on our list, can be completely folded flat, is slim, and is great for traveling. This light also provides a soft white glow with two glare-free brightness options to help avoid possible eye strain.
Pros
- An included power indicator will turn off automatically when charging is finished
Cons
- Due to its size, this light has minimal settings
Buying Guide: Reading Lights In Bed
Only reading fanatics would understand the deeply embedded excitement of a reader discovering reading lights. Reading lights are small and portable LED lights. These travel lights are great to take around with you and give you plenty of light to read in at night.
We often have to put a book away at night so as not to cause a disturbance if someone is in the same room. Changing places can ruin the fun realm readers create in their minds while reading a gripping book. For that very purpose, these handy tools were invented. These lights will let you read in peace, in your bed, or in your favorite reading chair despite the time of the day.
Additionally, these are like torches but come with a good stand-like body that lets you place the light properly for an uninterrupted light supply.
Why Invest in Reading Lights?
We already have lights in our rooms and torches on our smartphones, so why should you invest in another light source? That's a pretty fair question, and below is a list of reasons why you should definitely invest in these.
Saves electricity
Turning on an entire room's lights to read comfortably may seem ideal for a reader, but it won't seem as great when the bill arrives. The cost of electricity is going up by the day. Everyone needs to play their part, especially keeping in mind the energy crisis our planet is going through.
One thing that a reader can do is switch to reading lights in the bed, which can decrease the electricity consumption. These lights work on batteries and help keep the bills low. They are better for the planet and save cash that can be used to buy more books, a win-win situation for all!
More focus
A light in a room lights up the entire place. This does the job but isn't as great for readers. Readers prefer light focused on their books, which helps them keep their full attention on the page.
Whereas a room light may be sufficient but isn't ideal since it will start to put a strain on your eye muscles, this can lead to weakening your eyesight in the long run.
Multifunctional
These lights are ideal for people who like to read in bed and those with a lot of traveling to do. Since these are easy to carry around, you can take them anywhere and clip them on anything.
Easy to use
These are great for people of all ages owing to their easy-to-use features. All you need to do is keep them recharged or replace batteries once in a while, and you'll be good to use them for days on end. It has a quick on and off option that lets you effortlessly turn them on and off.
Different modes
Another reason why you should consider investing in these is the diversity. A single light comes with a plethora of modes and light shades. This will help you adjust the light according to your preference. This can also help you use this light in tasks other than just reading.
Here’s What to Look for While Buying Reading Lights
When you're out to shop for something, it may be hard to pick the perfect one. Similarly, there are many things to keep in mind while buying reading lights. Unfortunately, many individuals purchase things without a second thought, leading them to buy stuff that isn't as good as they assumed. That is why it's necessary to have a mental checklist of features you are looking for while purchasing a product. We compiled a quick one for when you are buying reading lights.
Range of colors
The first thing you should look for in reading lights is the diversity of colors. Different colors are great to set different moods. Bright white light can give a torch feel, but you can also go for something that resembles sunlight. The different levels will let you dim the light up, perfect for when you're in bed. For example, when your eyes start to get tired, you can dim the lights to put yourself to sleep slowly.
Designs
The handle of the reading light is just as important. Reading lights are flexible gadgets that come in many different designs. One of the most popular types is the clip-on. The clip-on is great to attach to the side of your book and then bend them to your desired position. Another popular type goes around your neck and can be a great way to direct the light to your book. While getting one, invest in a light with a design you prefer.
Battery performance
With reading lights similar to other gadgets, the battery is a major concern. It would help if you opted for a light that can last for quite some time on a single charge. A USB charger similar to other smartphones can charge most of the lights, but not ones that work on cells. Ensure that the product you buy can last a while, so you won't have to close your book because of an uncharged light.
How Do Reading Lights Work?
These portable reading lights are simply LEDs. These light-emitting diodes work when a charge hits them, thus lighting them up. These charges are so swift as not to disrupt the light while working. If you have a battery-operated one, portable cells are used as a charge source. On the other hand, electricity stored in a battery does the job for USB charging ones.
