Vessel Luau Lamp Full Review
Posted: 22 February 2008 by Tracey Smith
From the moment we unpacked the Luau, we fell in love with it. There's no superfluous packaging -- almost everything is recyclable, it's simple to assemble, coupled with good instructions and, once it was charged, couldn't have been easier to use.
Running costs on this portable, weatherproof and low energy light are very eco-friendly. With a typical use of eight to ten hours, three times a week, every week, it would run up an microscopic bill of about £3 a year. Plus, if you compare this to burning four little tea lights instead, the tea lights only burn for about four hours, you have to dispose of the tin containers afterwards, you have all the concerns of a naked flame. And, considering the cost of eight tea lights (two sessions burning four lights at 10p per candle), they would cost you about £125 a year.
The Luau stands about a foot and a half tall -- that's 37cm -- and it sits on a little flat silver charging base. When it's charging, a gentle orange glow comes from the base and when it's full or removed, it glows green -- handy for when you are scrabbling around in the dark trying to return the lamp to its base for a charge. Sitting on the base the lamp is off, and off the base the lamp is on.
The base has three strips of what looks like sellotape that hold it to the lamp casing and you have to remove those to rotate the lamp on its bottom. This will dim the light around six degrees of illumination, so you have extra lux adjustability if you need it. At best, it gives out the equivalent of a 50w old skool incandescent bulb.
With a full charge, the lamp's given us about eight to nine hours of constant glow on the medium setting. Bear in mind the Luau constantly uses energy when off the base, even if the actual light is switched off. At the moment, ours sits in the corridor outside the children's rooms, guiding any urgent nighttime visits to the loo. Come the summertime, we think it will virtually live in the garden.
Speaking of outside, it won't like temperatures of below 0 degrees Celcius or above 45 degrees, so don't take this puppy skiing or off to the tropics. The unit comes with rechargeable ni-mh batteries and in the unlikely event you should you use it to death, replacements are available from Vessel.
We think this is a perfect outdoor companion for chilling out with friends or for romantic interludes that are often squelched by candles blowing out and dripping wax all over the garden furniture, causing you untimely stress.
As we've said in a review of the Candeloo Lamps (from the same firm), it's a tricky one to rate the manufacturing company of the Luau, as they're based in China. However, the designers have stated they've visited the factory and the staff seem to be treated well, with the management towing the government line on working conditions. Ultimately, you will have to make your own mind up on this, as we cannot verify the information with an independent source.
All told, we think the Luau does a good job of combining eco chic style with super low-running costs.
Quality
Value
Ethics
Green
