Northern Light Technology Travelite Review: Great But Pricey

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In Short


Product Name: Northern Light Technology Travelite 10,000 Lux
Latest Review Date: 7 August 2019
Price Guideline: $$$

Northern Light Technologies have come up with a great light, but a high price point considering its lack of features.

MY RATING: 83%

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Features


  • Free carrying case
  • 10, 000 lux of light – 10,000 lux is the recommended light intensity level to treat SAD effectively
  • Seven year manufacturer’s warranty
  • 60 day money back guarantee
  • Uses two CFL bulbs and 48 watts of power
  • Stand to use horizontally or vertically
  • Compact design
  • NO UV and very low EMF

Product Information


  • Lux: 10,000
  • Bulb type: Two x 36w CFL
  • Size: 7 x 2.5 x 13 inches
  • Bulb lifetime: 20,000 hours
  • Weight: 2.9pounds
  • Power cord : 8 feet
  • Carrying Case Included: Yes
  • Visor included: Yes
  • Power : 50 Watts – Lamp automatically selects from 110-270 volts, 50 or 60 Hz
  • 7 years manufacturers warranty

In The Box


  • Northern Light Technology Travelite
  • Instructions
  • Seven year warranty
  • 60 day money back guarantee

So How Does the Northern Light Technologies Travelite Work?


The Northern Light Technology Travelite is quite simple. Its stand allows you to choose between a horizontal and a vertical position – position it so the light hits your eyes but you are not staring directly into it.

You are advised to sit in front of the lamp with your eyes 12 inches from the center of it – you need to be within 12 inches to get the full effect of the 10,000 lux – sitting at 18 inches the Travelite delivers 5,000 lux of light. You need to use it for 20 to 30 minutes a day – first thing in the morning.

The unit is powered via the mains and comes with an eight foot power cord. Just plug it in and press the on/off switch. The light will come on at about 50% brightness and then slowly become 100% after 60 seconds.

It uses two CFL bulbs that have an expected lifespan of 20,000 hours, however it is worth noting that they degrade by 15% after 2,000 hours and it is recommended you replace them after this period of time. Two replacement bulbs cost $48 in total.

It is energy efficient – using only 48 watts of power. The on/off switch is on top of the light.


The Good


The Travelite does put out a warm, cosy light. It is diffused so when the box is placed 12 inches from you it is not overly bright and is comfortable to use. The light is white with a hint of yellow in the color.

It is a travel light! It is lightweight and portable and comes with its own travel case so you can easily take it anywhere. It weighs 3 lbs and measures 13 inches by 7 inches by 3 inches. It is big enough to do the job properly, but small enough to move it around easily.

Northern Light who make the Travelite, are a Canadian based company. Their customer service is very good. If you have questions to ask before buying the product they are very helpful and accommodating, telling you not only about their lights but light therapy in general and you will speak to a real person!

On top of the above the Travelite has a seven year warranty as standard, which is pretty unheard of for anything! The warranty covers repairing and replacing defective lamps at no charge. This is a pretty big plus and shows Northern Light have confidence in their product.

The Travelite is incredibly easy to use. Simply plug it in, set it up so the light hits your eyes correctly and then turn it on! Even the most technologically unfriendly person will be able to get it up and running without a problem

In addition the Travelite is very energy efficient – it runs on 48 watts of power and the base is well made and allows you to set the light upright or sideways.

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The Bad


It is called a Travelite, but it is slightly cumbersome to travel with and fragile and sensitive to movement. To move around your house it is easy, but to take away with you on holiday etc, it might be less practical.

Tied in to this there is a bit of a problem when it comes to the light being packaged and sent to customers. Several people report that their light arrived not working because of damage during shipping– ie bulbs popping out or becoming loose. Thankfully due to Northern Light’s great customer service generally these problems are resolved adequately.

However the main criticism of the Travelite is that this SAD light is quite basic for such a high price. Yes the light is nice but it has no unique features, no timer, no variable light intensities, no adjustable stand.

Just a light and an on/off switch. It comes from a company who obviously care about their products and their customers which is very commendable, but there are other SAD lights you can get that are equally as good at a lower price.

If you have the money to spend then I’d recommend looking at the Carex Health Brands Day-Light Sky or the Verilux HappyLight Liberty 10,000 – both are top quality lights.


The Beautiful


With its aluminium case and sleek and simple look, it has a nice aesthetic. The stand is simple, but works well – allowing it to be positioned horizontally or vertically. There is also a hole where you can mount the light to a tripod.

There is one switch on the unit – an on/off switch – and this is well positioned as you can turn it off without having to stare directly at the light.


And Does It Work?


Yes it does! One user said the Travelite changed their life. They were suffering from a rare circadian rhythm disorder where their bedtime would shift ahead five hours each night.

Using the Travelite helped them to stabilize their sleep, so they are now getting 7 hours 40 minutes of sleep a night – this was after 33 years of insomnia!

Generally the verdict is that in a short space of time using this lamp leaves you feeling refreshed, happier and more energised to face the day ahead.

SAD charity SADA have released figures showing that light therapy is effective in up to 85% of diagnosed cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is backed up by study after study that show light therapy makes a difference to those suffering with SAD:

In short – the chances are it will make a difference for you!


Pros

Cons


  • Warm, cosy light
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Great customer service
  • Amazing seven year warranty
  • Very easy to use
  • Energy efficient
  • Cumbersome to travel with
  • Fragile and sensitive
  • Easily damaged during shipping
  • Basic spec for a high price

Conclusion


My Verdict

My Rating - 83%

83%

Great but pricey

This is a good product, from a reputable company and the seven year warranty is fantastic, however you do feel like you are paying over the top when you consider its lack of functions.

It doesn’t have a timer, or variable light intensity or an adjustable stand to make it easier to direct the light. The light itself is a nice tone, and suitably diffused that it doesn’t feel too harsh on the eyes.

The bottom line is it is a good light and it comes with a seven year warranty which is unheard of. If it were slightly cheaper it would get a higher score.

User Rating: 4.35 ( 1 votes)

Other Options


If you want a portable SAD Light then both the Circardian Optics Lumos and the Circadian Optics Lumine are great options and a fair bit cheaper. For the ultimate in portability the Deluxe Feel Bright Light is worth a look too!

If you would like to leave your personal review or experience of this product, or if you have any questions, please do leave them below. I would love to hear your feedback!

Don’t forget you can also check out our SAD Light Reviews Index for all of my SAD Light Reviews on one page or read my SAD Light Buyers’ Guide to pick the best SAD Light for you.

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