Life Gear LGTF38 LED Flashlight with LED Reading Lamp, NOAA Emergency AM/FM Radio with Alert and Weatherband Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this for my mother initially after a storm knocked out the power and we had tornados in the area. She had neither a battery-powered radio nor a functional weather radio (her house has a large hill blocking all the National Weather Service signals from reaching her).

It is rather nice in that it includes a lot of features that are handy.

1. It has a plug for a cellphone charger. At least at this time, you can order a charger plug for many different cellphones directly from the website and just pay shipping (around $5) so that you can charge your cellphone off of the hand crank. Very good idea.
2. There is an LED flashlight on the front and an LED area light that flips up from the side. These are not going to blind anyone, but they will adequately light up a room or help you navigate through a dark house.
3. The FM/AM/Weather radio is functional and adequate for the intended purpose.
4. It has a build-in clock and alarm. Unfortunately, the alarm on/off button is located on the top of the unit and will easily get bumped such that you are turning on/off the alarm accidentally any time you reach for the device.
5. It includes the rechargeable battery in the package, and it will also run off of regular batteries. The hand crank can be used to charge the rechargeable battery or you can charge from a wall plug, also included.
6. It is not a heavy device and would be very easy to carry around. It does have an included carry handle that flips up from the side opposite the lamp. Unfortunately, it's not that robustly built, either, and wouldn't survive a lot of abuse.
7. There is a built-in hazard alarm/light, but it's of dubious usefulness. As mentioned above, the flashlight is not very strong (though adequate for a flashlight), but it is flashed on-and-off with the alarm and likely wouldn't be spotted all that far away unless in pitch black darkness. It also plays an alarm noise over the built-in radio speaker, but again, the speaker isn't very loud. You could easily talk over this and carry on a conversation without yelling with this alarm going off. You'd be better off just yelling.

Overall, this a great emergency utility that should be in anyone's kit at home or in the car trunk. The hand crank can help make up for not having fresh batteries in or having forgotten to charge it with the wall plug.I'm so impressed with this unit overall that I'm investigating Life Gear's other devices. This is great for Tornado Alley residents, coastal folks who are subject to hurricanes, earthquakes, or even blizzards. I can't think of any natural disaster this wouldn't be at least somewhat helpful in.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Life Gear LGTF38 LED Flashlight with LED Reading Lamp, NOAA Emergency AM/FM Radio with Alert and Weatherband

Product Description:
3 super-bright LEDs flashlight4 LED reading or map lampCell phone charger NOAA emergency radio with alert AM/FM and weatherbandAlarm clockEmergency signal flashers and siren3 power options: crank AC or DC

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Kaito Emergency Radio with LED Flashlight, KA011 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This radio is about what I expected and wanted. It is by no means a fancy unit. The case seems relatively cheap and fragile. However, it does what I want and I am satisfied. The white LED is not, of course, as bright as a 'real' flashlight, but it works for me. The tuning is analog and so-so, but again works OK. I don't understand the power selection switch: Batt, Dyn, Solar. Seems like the radio should be smart enough to handle the power source automatically. Maybe a switch to disable the batts from being used unless you really want to would be logical. Overall, I like it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kaito Emergency Radio with LED Flashlight, KA011

Product Description:
Stay prepared and informed with the KA 011 from KAITO. If the power goes out and batteries aren't available, the KA 011 can function for up to an hour with only two minutes of hand cranking or an hour's exposure under direct sunlight Its built-in generator means that even in the most desperate situations, you'll still have access to local news and information--as well as to news from around the world. The unit's digital tuning receives AM, FM, SW 1-4,plus it comes with a super bright LED flashlight, which will become handy in a power outage.

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Innovage Outdoor AM/FM Emergency Battery Free Crank Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Do not buy this radio.The hand crank option failed to work on the one I purchased, which would seem to defeat the purpose of owning it.In addition, it is impossible to contact the manufacturer regarding a replacement.This is the second problem I have had with products from this company, as I also purchased a flashlight that did not work.Avoid Innovage Outdoor.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Innovage Outdoor AM/FM Emergency Battery Free Crank Radio

Product Description:
The Innovage Outdoor battery-free crank radio is the ultimate necessity in almost every household. Durably built for everyday use, this self-powered marvel is ideal for use in emergencies like power blackouts, hurricanes, earthquakes, and more. Lightweight and portable, it's also a handy companion for outdoor trips like camping and hiking.

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Vector Tough Brite Storm Tracker TV/AM/FM/Weather Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a neat product and very good for us to have in Florida where we have so many hurricanes!! But you can purchase this product for 1/2 the cost from Ace Hardware.Sorry Amazon.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Vector Tough Brite Storm Tracker TV/AM/FM/Weather

Product Description:
This Vector Tough Brite Storm Tracker TV/Radio/Lantern with weather alert radio is rechargeable with the hand crank. Comes with a 5-inch solid state UHF/VHF black and white television. The AM/FM weather band radio has an AUTOMATIC STORM ALERT warning alarm. The 7 channel NOAA weather frequencies warn of dangerous weather conditions and emergency information. The built in hand crank provides backup power for all radio functions and LED area light. Approximately 2 crank minutes provides up to 15 minutes of runtime for the radio or LED light.

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Kaito KA404 Emergency Hand Crank Dynamo 5-LED Flashlight with AM/FM radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I loved this little device!I'm a baseball fan and used this on nearly a daily basis, since April, carrying it from room to room in the evenings.I'd wind up my radio, pull up a chair and let the scene unfold before me as told though the poetic musings of Vin Scully and his beloved Dodgers, each broadcast the elocutionary equivalent of a Norman Rockwell masterpiece.

Last night, after 4 months of solid use, the plastic handle of the charging crank snapped right off.I wasn't turning the crank particularly hard.I don't suppose this device was engineered for as regular use as I put it through.It's probably perfect as a storeaway for emergenices type use.In any case It's cheap enough that I won't hesitate in buying another.

One other small reservation, and again it would only seem to be an issue in the case of heavy use:The plastic body casing seemed to regularly buckle ever so slightly during cranking, so much so that I figured the case might eventually crack open due to wear before anything else would go wrong.Also when gripping the unit for cranking it's difficult not to mash (and turn) the control dials during the act of cranking.On my unit the light switch seems to be spring loaded and switches and locks itself into the on and off positions.It was very common for the light to activate due to incidental squeeze pressure during cranking, then the switch failing to 'catch' when pressing the button to turn off, leaving the light stuck on 'on', only turning off finally after multiple forceful presses.

Again I never expected to enjoy this little gadget as much as I did.As a kid, another L.A. radio icon, Dr. Demento would open each show with his signature schtick: "Wind up your radios boys and girls...!".I never had a wind up radio until now.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kaito KA404 Emergency Hand Crank Dynamo 5-LED Flashlight with AM/FM radio

Product Description:
The Kaito KA404 combines a sturdy 5-LED flashlight with an AM/FM radio, giving users a handy versatile camping accessory, job site companion, car gadget or in an emergency situation, such as a hurricane or an earthquake. Made of durable, high-impact plastic, the rugged device features 5 super bright LEDs, each of which is rated at 15,000 MCD, and it can last for 10 minutes if cranked for 1 minute. The flashlight is great for illuminating a campsite or dimly lit work area, campers will also enjoy the FM radio and its built-in speaker and telescoping FM antenna, which improves reception in out-of-the-way locations. The flashlight has an output jack for charging your mobile devices, such as cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs and etc. A USB cable is included for charging your gadgets with a USB connection.

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Shake Flashlight- No Batteries- Simply Shake to Recharge Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been purchasing a few of these self charging flashlights lately to find the best one.

This one puts out a a poor amount of light. It also does not retain its charge well.You will have to shake it frequently to keep it charged.

I would say it is one of the worst ones I purchased.

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Product Description:
The Forever Flashlight uses no batteries or bulbs. Instead it uses Faraday's Principle of Magnetic Induction and a bright LED to produce light without batteries. The flashlight is shaken for about 30 seconds to recharge a capacitor and it will then provide about 5-7 minutes of light. How does this happen? As the flashlight is shaken, a magnet passes through a metal coil which, when you shake, "induces" voltage in the coil generating electricity. During prolonged use it can be shaken for 10-15 seconds every 2 or 3 minutes for bright light. The light requires no maintenance so it can be left in your home or car for years, but will still be ready to produce light. The bright LED will last for thousands of hours and does not burn-out like a typical lightbulb- it should never need replacement. Great for home, car, camper, boat, or emergencies. Imagine exploring without of fear of ever running out of light. No need to worry about light if your car dies during a dark and stormy night. You'll be in great shape even if you have to signal for help in the pouring rain because it's 100% waterproof and it even floats! It gives you a powerful beam of light visible for up to a mile. This is a flashlight that never needs batteries, replacement parts or even bulbs for that matter. Now that's peace of mind. Features: Super bright blue/white LED bulb. Powered by principles of Faraday's Principle of Induction. Never needs batteries, vever needs bulbs, maintenance free. Save money- never have to buy batteries. 100% Waterproof case & even floats in water. Light visible for up to one mile. Great for cars, boats, campers, homes, cottages and all emergency kits. 30 seconds of shaking powers LED for 5-7 minutes. Dimensions 11" x 1.75". Model No: SF100. Weight: 2.25 Lbs.

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eGear Dynamo Weatherband/AM/FM Radio with 3LED Light (Yellow) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great item to have for emergencies.We live in an area that has ice storms, and tornadoes frequently, and the power usually goes out.This is great so that we can still see and listen to what is going on.

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Product Description:
Environmentally Friendly Dynamo Weather Band AM/FM Radio with 3LED Pivoting Spotlight. Winding Action provides power for the Dynamo Generator to charge the 4 internal Ni-MHz Batteries. Weather Band covers 7 NOAA Channels with Emergency Alert Standby mode. NOAA broadcasts are instant, accurate comprehensive and tailored to meet the needs of your local area in case of an Emergency or Weather related Event. The AM/FM channels keep you in touch with your local stations. Features include a 3 LED pivoting spotlight with flash function for emergency use, charges most cell phones, and equipped with a standard USB port that can connect to input or output sources freely. Essential to keep on hand for Emergencies or great for Camping, Hunting or anywhere power is not easily available. Radio weighs 15.2oz and is 6.5" x 4.3" x 2.8"

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Dynamo Illuminator Wind-up LED Flashlight Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I own both the Garrity Power Lite and the ILLUMINATOR wind-up flashlights. They have the same basic design, but with the following differences:

1. Size: The Illuminator is about the size of a man's electric shaver. It is easier to hold and to crank. The Garrity is bulkier, mainly because of the extra plastic lenses in front. It is also less comfortable to hold because rubber grips on the sides are shorter (see my Customer Image for size comparison)

2. Ease of Cranking: The Illuminator's handle takes very little effort to crank. However, you need to turn it virgorously (2-3 turns per second) in order to charge up the battery. The Garrity's cranking presents more resistence and is noisier. But the good news is that you only need to turn it at around one turn per second to charge up the battery.

3. Light Output: Both flashlights use 3 white LEDs, and have the option to turn on either one or all three. As far as I can tell, the LEDs are identical. The main differnce is that the Illuminator's light output is diffused, while the Garrity added three plastic lenses in front to produce a well-focused beam.

4. Light Duration: When fully charged up, the Illuminator gives out brighter light initially. However, its light dimmed down within a few minutes. After ten minutes, the light becomes barely visible (see my Customer Image above). The Garrity, on the other hand, produces fairly consistent light output for at least one hour!

Based on longer light duration, I would recommend the Garrity over the Illuminator. The Garrity is also cheaper when you order it with free super-saver shipping. (Be carefull when ordering The Illuminator, because some places offer the flashlight for $8-10, but charge another $8 in shipping!)

[The following Info for geeks only]:
Why does the Garrity produce much longer light duration than the Illuminator?

The Illuminator uses one 3.6V Lithium-ion rechargeable button cell (capacity unknown, probably around 30mAh). The Garrity uses 3x 1.25V NiMH cells rated at 80mAh. In my opinion as an electrical engineer, the NiMH design is much better because:

1. Each white LED needs about 20-40mA at 3.6V to produce sufficient light output. Three NiMH cells provide a consistent 3.75V throughout most of the discharge period. The Li-ion cell may provide up to 4V when fully charged, but its voltage drops quickly during discharge to 3.6V and below. This explains why the Illuminator produces a brighter light initially, but dims down much faster.

2. NiMH cells are more robust and can withstand over-charging better than Lithium-ion cells can. Think about it: there are chargers that can fully charge up NiMH cells in 15 minutes (that means charging at 4X), but nothing can charge Li-ion cells in less than one hour. In this case, since you can charge up the battery in one minute and then use it for up to one hour, that means the battery is being charged at 60X! This kind of abuse is not recommended even for NiMH, and it can be murderous for Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.

[Update on April 9, 2007]
The Lithium-ion rechargeable battery in my Illuminator probably was already damaged (from over-charging) when I did the comparison above. It has deteriorated further since then, and can hardly sustain five minutes of light now.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dynamo Illuminator Wind-up LED Flashlight

Product Description:
Be prepared for an emergency at home or on the road with this super-bright flashlight that never needs batteries. One minute of cranking gives you up to one hour of super-bright light - which could make all the difference in an emergency.Features: * Compact, handheld design * Three super-bright, LED lights * Hand crank, rechargeable power source * No batteries to replace * 2 month manufacturer's warrantyMake sure you have one at home, one in your emergency kit and one in your car - and always be prepared.

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Coleman StormBeam Dynamo Lantern with Radio and Cell Phone Chargers Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)[...]
I cranked mine for one and a half minutes and the radio lasted 6 minutes. Possibly somebody on the assembly line is inserting junk batteries--this couldn't be the way it was intended to work.
C. K. Young

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Product Description:
Strong, reliable, and easy to use, Coleman's StormBeam Lanterns are designed specifically for use during power outages, storms, and other emergencies. The StormBeam Dynamo Lantern With Radio and Cell Phone Chargers has a built-in crank to recharge the lantern with no outside power source, so you'll always have light when you need it. Just one minute of hand-cranking yields 15 minutes of high-powered light. This StormBeam Lantern features a built-in FM radio with scan function, to help you track weather reports and developing emergency situations. What's more, the Lantern comes with adapters for the 6 most common types of cell-phone chargers (stored inside lantern cap), so you can use the Lantern crank to charge your phone -- vital in an emergency. The Dynamo's bright 0.7-watt LED sheds strong, reliable light and will never need to be replaced. The lantern's battery pack (included) offers consistent charging. The StormBeam Lantern's convenient molded-grip carrying handle folds under the lantern when not in use, for compact storage.

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Life Gear Quad-Power LED Lantern with AM/FM Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a very cool little product. I've only used it a few times, but it is extremely versatile, does what it is expected to do and is, so far, very reliable. The radio has great reception, the lights a very bright for a smaller lantern, and the controls are easy to use. I love it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Life Gear Quad-Power LED Lantern with AM/FM

Product Description:
Life Gear's Crank Rechargeable LED lantern provides attractive and useful features that can be used daily while having components that can be potentially life saving during time of need. This versatile lantern can either be used as a Lantern or flashlight. When used as a lantern, the 7-Ultra Bright LED's provide powerful room-filling light. For more focused light, the unit can be used as a flashlight via its 1-Super bright LED. During emergency situations, the lantern features an emergency siren and flasher to alert bystanders of an emergency. A highly sensitive 360-Degree telescoping antenna and speaker is built in for the lantern's AM/FM/NOAA Weather Band Radio. With a variety of power options, power can be delivered to the lantern in almost any situation. The lantern can be charged by solar panel, crank handle, AC/DC adapter (not included), or AAA batteries. The lantern is even capable of charging other devices via it built-in dc charge-in and charge-out function. By cranking the fishing-rod size crank handle, power can be delivered to charge other electronic devices. LED charging/ low battery indicator built it. Life Gear: Peace of mind, Wherever you go.

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