Light box advice?

[cahn]

I feel like I seem to remember one or more of you has a light box (the kind that you get to stave off seasonal affective disorder) that works well? I've been tasked with finding one for a Christmas present. I'd prefer to stay under $100 if possible. (Honestly usually $30 is about how much I would spend on said present, but I have no idea how much is reasonable to spend.)

I think I'm supposed to get the kind that can fit on a desk easily, but not 100% sure (will confirm that).

Anyone have any recommendations?

Comments

[ambyr]

It's not $100, but this is the one I use: Carex Day-Light Classic Plus.

[cahn]

Thanks! Yeah, $100 isn't a hard number, I was just not sure what the appropriate number should be. How do you like it?

[ambyr]

It works really well for me! I set it up on the sideboard in my dining room from November to March, so it's out of the way but I can easily spin a chair toward it and turn it on for breakfast. It's quite heavy, which is good--the cats have no chance of knocking it over. I've had it for three years and the bulbs seem to be holding up fine.

[cahn]

Ah, excellent! That is really good to know. This individual has two relatively small children, so that's a good data point as well!

[rosefox]

I have this one from Philips. It's hard to find a good one for cheaper. It's a medical device that you get years of use out of, so it makes sense to spend a little more.

Maybe you could team up with someone else to go halves on it?

[cahn]

Thanks! I'm not wedded to the $100 number, and this is fine -- I just wasn't sure how much they actually were. Now I know :) ETA: How do you like it?

[rosefox]

I like it fine! I haven't used it much this year because global warming means more sunny days in winter (soooo weird) but it was invaluable the previous two years.

[cahn]

Excellent! Thanks :)

[sholio]

Came in via network - the one I use is the Verilux Happylight:

https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Compact-Personal-Portable/dp/B00K08ZDBI/

It's $29.95 and small enough to easily tuck onto a corner of a desk. I bought a tiny cheap one because I had no idea how it would work and therefore didn't want to spend too much, and come to find out, it works GREAT for me - I'm now in my second year of using it. My husband has tried it and found that it does basically nothing for him, though, so YMMV.

[cahn]

Wow, that's amazing. Now I'm wondering if I should do the same for this person -- get a small one and see if that works for her. I am totally OK spending more for a bigger one but I'd kind of like to know if it works, lol. Thank you! :)

[conuly]

Ideally you want one that will be somewhat above eye level, like the actual sun. This can mean you put it on top of something, or you get one that, well, has a stand that allows you to angle it above your head.

[cahn]

Ah, thank you! I've never used one of these myself (maybe I should!) so any advice is really useful.