My Light LED Clip Light

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Judie Hughes

April 21, 2006

There are some days when I can't help but wonder why so many companies are intent on reinventing the paperclip. Okay, not exactly the paperclip in this example, but the clip light.

In just the last couple of years, I have seen and reviewed lights with gator clips, lights that clip on hats, lights that have removable clips and lights with clips and stretchy goose necks. Some of these clip lights have been better quality or more cleverly made than others, but they have all served basically the same purpose - they clip on something and shine a light.

That's why I'll forgive any of our readers who groaned when they saw the title of this review, as they thought to themselves "not another clip light review!" Because yes, that is exactly what I will be talking about today; but bear with me. I agreed to do this review because I felt that this particular clip light had a little something extra, that it wasn't just another incarnation of an already done and overly played-out design.

So without any further ado, I present to you the My Light LED Clip Light.

The My Light Clip Light is available in Blue Midnight, Pink Popsicle, Purple Passion, Green Clovers, Clear Crystal and Charcoal Gray; I was send the blue and pink versions.

I think that the following pictures of the blue version should show that the approximately 4" long x 2" wide light is quite a bit more substantial than some of the clip lights I have reviewed in the past, and it is also more attractive.

The My Light weighs 1.7 ounces, and it is composed of two main parts: the rotating ball which comprises the flashlight head, and the adjustable clip body. The flashlight head is a 1.5" sphere containing two user replaceable 3V 2032 disk batteries and two sealed white 8000mcd LEDs.

The rear of the sphere opens to allow access to the battery compartment, and a rubber gasket adds some level of water resistance to the threaded plastic pieces. The My Light website says that the light is submergible, and I verified this to be true. Battery life is given as approximately 40 hours with two fresh cells.

The Clip Light is turned on or off by pressing the rubber sealed button on the rear of the head.

When the sphere is slipped into the tension forks which hold it to the clip's body, it can be rotated in any direction without slipping from the fork's grip. The tension forks are wide enough that even though the light's head is easily removed, it shouldn't be easy to unintentionally dislodge.

At the base of the tension fork on the clip's neck, there is a ball joint which allows the neck to be aimed forward or backwards, up to a 180º angle total.

The ball joint also allows the neck to be turned 360º, allowing for light placement exactly where it is needed.

The clip portion of the light is a substantial improvement over any I've seen. Its jaws open a w-i-d-e 1.25" allowing the clip to clamp down on supports of many different thicknesses. The non-marking rubber pads inside the clip also adjust to allow for the best grip possible.

The glow produced by the two white LEDs is bright enough for comfortable reading in a darkened room. It would be a great light for reading in the backseat of a car, as it is bright enough for the reader but would not be distracting to the driver. The light is also bright enough to casting a safe beam when walking on a dark path.

Even though at first the My Light Clip Light might be seen as "yet another clip light," it is a better version than usual. The My Light is more ruggedly made, more attractive, more adjustable and more substantial than those I have reviewed in the past. It has also won my 16 year old daughter's seal of approval. When she saw the light, her first words were "Ooooh, I get that when you are done."

Luckily I have two... ;0)