I have 2 of those shaker LED lights, advertized under the name "Faraday Light". Came with a small and large (standard size).
They do actually work. They even hold a charge. I just picked up the larger one, it hasn't been shaken in 4 or 5 days, and it has light (a charge).
There are all types of configuarations with these shakers. Some even have the small flat batteries in them, so buyer beware, do your research.
When the batteries finally die, you can shake all you want, they won't light.
My aim was not Biggest/Brightest/Longest as much as it was TOTAL energy independance. A dim bulb that will go forever may be better than a battery powered bulb with a dead battery and none available.
When all batteries have died, I wanted a light that could keep going.
The light in these "shakers" is not terribly impressive, however, if you've ever been in the woods, cloudy night, in pure total darkness, there is gonna be a big difference between that, and the light from one of these shakers.
Light is light, at that point. It would give enough light to go get some more firewood or see the trail while walking in the dark.
I took my shaker out in the woods for a quick test and it gave enough light to see the trail, not bump into trees, etc.
With all that said, you will have to shake it every 5 or 10 minutes.
They don't just die, you'll just notice the light fading and it's time for some shakin.
The trade offs for never having to deal with batteries are:
-Not as much Candle Power as a typical battery powered light.
-Having to stop to give it 20 or 30 seconds worth of shakes to restore power.
The smaller of the two will go in my 72hour survival kit. The larger will just be a knock-around in the house, power failure, handy light.
That's the scoop onthe shakers, so far.
I hear they are making stirides on the light power and putting bigger LEDs in them, so, one day, perhaps they will rival the lgihts we have all grown accustomed to.
