Reading loupe that brings its own light across a wide sheet of glass

The lens measures 185 x 110 mm at 5x, wide enough to hold a full line of text rather than a couple of words. Forty-eight LEDs run around the frame in three brightness steps. Fold the handle back and the whole thing drops to 208 x 165 x 25 mm, flat enough for a drawer, and three AAA cells keep it light in the hand.

Why choose this lighted reading loupe?

Plain glass can only work with the light already in the room, and most rooms after dusk have less of it than they appear to. Ringing the lens with LEDs puts light exactly where you are looking. Dropping to a lower step stops glossy paper from bouncing it straight back at you.

• 5x lens: small print, map keys and stitch counts resolve properly.
• Wide glass: 185 x 110 mm, so you read across a line instead of word by word.
• Three light steps: 48 LEDs from soft to bright for matte and glossy pages.
• Handle folds: flattens to 25 mm for a drawer, a bag or a toolbox.
• Rubber grip: stays comfortable through a long stretch of close work.

Hallmarks, fine print and stitching stop being guesswork.

Hold the glass about a hand's width off the page and move it slowly until the letters settle into focus. Pick the lowest light step that still works, since too much of it on a shiny page erases the detail you came for. A dry glasses cloth is all the lens needs; anything abrasive will haze it.

Specifications

• ABS housing, impact-resistant lens, rubber grip
• 5x magnification
• Lens 185 x 110 mm (7.3 x 4.3 in)
• Folded 208 x 165 x 25 mm, unfolded 300 x 135 x 25 mm
• 3 x AAA batteries, not included

Unfold it and pick up whatever you had set aside as unreadable.