The advent of low-cost LEDs in torches has brought about something of a revolution in portable lighting.  Not only do these small cells consume less power, they throw out a much brighter beam as well.

It’s now possible to buy hand-held wind-up torches or battery powered versions which, though small, shed a great deal of light on the subject.

But what about those occasions when a humble torch – even one fitted with LED bulbs – isn’t quite enough?  Emergency, roadside vehicle repairs, working in part of your home or garden without mains electricity (the loft or potting shed for example), camping or even ‘glamping’ or perhaps just an impromptu gathering alfresco when daylight has faded but every one prefers to remain outside.

Now you could follow the lead of Steve Coogan’s hapless alter ego, Alan Partridge, who – faced with a business meeting in a house with no electricity – improvised a chandelier from a bicycle wheel and a dozen or so torches.  When that wasn’t enough, he turned on his car’s headlights as backup.

I recently came across a somewhat better thought-out solution in the form of the Bright Light Ranger made by Nevada.

Nevada’s publicity material describes the Bright Light Ranger as, “perfect for those who enjoy tinkering around outside on a dark winter’s evening”.  This chunky super-torch has a bank of 12 LEDs that will illuminate an area of up to 40 square metres.  That should be enough for a double garage, large shed or patio.

Boxed in rather unattractive dark grey plastic, this device can give 12 hours’ illumination from one charge of the battery.  Given that it takes only half of that time to charge the battery fully, that’s not a bad trade off.  What’s more, the Bright Light Ranger can be charged from the mains, using a car 12V socket or even by plugging in a solar panel.  And if all that isn’t enough, there’s a crank handle on the side which turns elbow grease into light beams.  If you can persuade someone to turn the handle for 15 minutes, you can have a hour’s worth of light.

The device even has an auxiliary power outlet so that the battery can be used to power further lights if required.  This might be straining the portable lighting metaphor a little though.

It’s not particularly lightweight either – probably transportable rather than portable: it weighs in at just under 1.5kg or just over 3lbs in old money.  And in spite of its proclaimed versatility in terms of power sources, it only comes with a mains charger.  For an asking price of just shy of £70 it would have been nice to have included a car charger as well.

As an emergency piece of kit for DIYers, hobbyists, anglers and other assorted outdoor types, it’s probably a useful addition to that growing list of essential items that reside in the garage or the car boot.  With sleeker lines and half the weight, it might have even wider appeal.

You can buy a Bright Light Ranger from Amazon or from Nevada’s own website.