The Beam n Read LED 3 Hands-Free Travel & Reading Light is a hands-free reading light that you wear around your neck for reading, walking, power outages, and more. The user can adjust the length of the elastic, adjustable strap for the perfect fit. The Beam n Read itself is lightweight and fits in the palm of your hand. It is a bit smaller than a deck of cards. The light comes with two relaxation filters that simply snap on to the reflector hood and blocks blue light. The unit requires fresh alkaline AA batteries. The batteries will typically last 100 hours using 3 LEDs. The cost of this light is $19.95 plus shipping and handling. The Beam n Read LED 6 Hands-Free Task Light is another hands-free light that you wear around your neck for needlecrafts, reading, walking, and more. This Beam n Read unit is extra wide and has 6 LED bulbs versus the other light that has 3 LED bulbs. This unit has two relaxation filters, an orange, and a red filter. Both help block out blue light. Again, the filters just snap onto the reflector hood. There is a brightness switch below the lights which enables you to select your brightness. The unit requires fresh alkaline AA batteries. The batteries will typically last 50 hours using the 6 LEDs. The cost of this light is $29.95 plus shipping and handling. The Beam n Read USB/AC Power Kit works with all Beam n Read LED lights. You can save batteries by plugging into a UBS port. Included is a 6 ft. BNR to USB Cable and a 6 ft. USB Extension Cable, and a USB/AC Adapter. The BNR UBS/AC Adaptor can plug into 120v AC outlets. Batteries are bypassed while using adapters. Using the adapters does not recharge batteries. The cost of this kit is $19.95 plus shipping and handling.

Both Beam n Read lights can be used by the entire family. I would use caution for younger children as the bulbs are exposed unless you are using a filter. There is not a specific age recommendation on the website. My youngest daughter that used the light was 11 years old. Both lights would be ideal for power outages. We tend to have frequent outages whenever there are storms in our area. My children ages 11 through 19 took turns using both lights to get their schoolwork done during several power outages. The Beam n Read lights provided excellent light. Three of my daughters share a bedroom and often one of them wants to stay up later reading. We have used many different reading lights, but they just do not put out much light. The Beam n Read LED 3 Hands-Free Travel & Reading Light has become my daughter's go-to reading light at night. It provides great light but enables her sisters to go to sleep without being disturbed. My 18-year-old has a service dog and sometimes her dog needs to go outside in the middle of the night. This LED 3 light is perfect for going outside into the backyard at night. I was excited about getting the Beam n Read LED 6 Hands-Free Task Light because one of my daughters does beading. She makes earrings with seed beads which are CRAZY small. This light has been perfect for her as she delicately strings each tiny bead to make each earring. I love to crochet and hand quilt but being in my 40s my eyes, unfortunately, are not what they used to be. I now have to wear reading glasses to do almost anything. This light has been a huge help in making crafting projects a bit easier. My oldest daughter who is married just started to take up embroidery. I am considering buying one of the 6 LED lights for her. The adapters come in handy. You can link the two adapters together so that they extend to 12 feet. The adapter is great if you know that you are going to be sitting in one spot for a long time. It is a wonderful way to save on batteries. For us, this is especially good because we tend to have frequent power outages and so saving the batteries for outages it ideal. These lights would also be ideal for car trips or on an airplane.

I wanted to briefly talk about the filters that come with both Beam n Read lights. Both come with an orange and a red filter. The orange filter softens the light and blocks blue light. When you are reading or doing tasks at night to relax before sleeping this is helpful. The red filter also blocks blue light and helps to reduce ambient light for sleeping companions. This filter also helps to reduce night blindness when you are switching between light and dark. We are hearing more about blue light on the internet and news over the past year or so. If you google “blue light and sleep” you can read more about why reducing blue light at night is helpful for your health.

I was pleased with all the products. All my children that used the products liked them too. The adjustable straps make it easy for all ages to use. I would recommend Beam n Read products to my friends.

Beam n Read Task Light and Beam and Read Travel and Reading Light are two quality products to make reading and other tasks easier for individuals in many situations. The Power Kit is a wonderful way to save on batteries. There is no need to hold anything except for your book or project. Simply let Beam n Read provide the light and enjoy your task at hand.

-Product review by Jennifer Ladewig, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, June 2020