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 Sharp Beam Twin Flashlight (Double flashlight that hangs over your shoulder)
Positives:Hands free, Can turn on one or both lamps, Can adjust direction of light
Negatives Takes 4 AA batteries, After one investigation, lights appears to be dimming already
Notes: Eric tested this one for us. He was very happy with it and found it easy to use and adjust.
I am not happy with it taking 4 batteries and starting to dim so soon. We did NOT test this with rechargeable batteries, only regular ones. It would be something to try, to see whether that would make it more cost effective or if it wouldn’t help since rechargeables are generally for high drain devices. Price: approx. $6.00
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 RadioShack Non-contact Infrared Thermometer
Positives Small, easily fits in your hand, Has a range so that if infrared doesn’t make contact it gives an area temp, Has Celsius/Fahrenheit switch, Easy to read display, large range of temps (-18 F to 400 F on most)
Negatives Need to tie it off so you don’t lose it, Expensive ($50) used to go on sale for $30 but not lately, Celsius/Fahrenheit switch mysteriously disappeared on an investigation (needs ghostproofing?)
Notes: Very easy to use, have had one for years, have seen it on gh tv shows in use. Wish it went on sale more often. Requires 1 small odd sized battery, but have only changed it once in 3 years or more.
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Positives It has a clip with swivel for hand-free use, You can easily take it out of the clip as a regular flashlight, Has a nice bright LED which will take less battery power to operate, Small, light is about 4” long , Easy click on/off button
Negatives It takes 3 AAA batteries (though so far it lasts a good long time), It needs something fairly stiff (like a hat brim, equipment bag strap) for the clip to work effectively. The most crucial point (where the clip swivels) breaks way too easily, making it ineffective then for holding in place, and eventually holding at all. By eventually I mean 1-2 investigations.
Notes: Good light, after one investigation no dimming. Says waterproof & impact resistant. Only $4
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 Gordon Swivel Headlamp (small miner-type light on headband)
Positives: Good bright light, easily adjustable, lightweight and definitely handsfree. Packages states waterproof. Only takes 2 AA batteries. One investigation, no dimming.
Negatives: Looks a bit geeky, adjusts only up and down, not left/right.
Notes: Liz tested this product and she states headbands were easy to adjust but more room may be needed (for hair, etc). Can’t remember price but I would guess $5ish at Harbor Freight.
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Dr Gauss EMF Detector
Positives: Takes only one 9V battery. I have had it for over 2 years and haven’t had to change the battery yet. Easy to read screen, 2 sensitivity settings.
Negatives: Makes the most annoying sound when it starts going off. Timed off switch, so once it’s on it’s on until it times out. No backlight for dark situations.
Notes: Average cost $50-60. One of the more cost-effective ones we could find. Don’t run this EMF if you are recording, you’ll get a headache listening to the tape. Sound is annoying but it does eliminate the necessity of letting people know it’s going off.
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 Olympus 3100 PC Audio recorder
Positives: Great microphone, audio playback has great range for volume, several folders, several quality settings. Batteries should last long enough for long weekend multi-site recording. Easy transfer via USB to computer. Has erase folder option.
Negatives: Can rename file at master recording (or if you can I can’t seem to find out how). Not excessively inexpensive ($50-60), but it saves you time & tape costs. Has erase folder option. (say OOPS).
Notes: Can record up to 72 hours, but on the higher quality, I seem to get just under 12 hours. Says batteries last up to 25 hours, I estimate closer to 15-17 for good quality. There is a theory that analog & digital recorders record differently, hence one may get an EVP while the other won’t. This is untested at this point by our group.
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Midwestern Home Products Walkie Talkie
Positives: thank goodness was cheap
Negatives: basically just made a lot of noise and transmission was only closeby, under prime conditions (ie. you could just yell)
Notes: were VERY cheap, $5
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Harbor Freight Headlamp with Strap
Positives: Light was bright, strap was adjustable and worked well, cost only $1.50, light focus is adjustable
Negatives: takes 4 AA batteries, very heavy and wide for having to sit on your forehead, padding not quite enough.
Notes: made in China, so don’t stick it in your mouth!
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Sharper Image LED over the ear light
Positives: inexpensive for SI only $15, can set on low/hi/flash, nice bright LED, adjustable light, batteries last a good long time since it only powers 1 LED.
Negatives: doesn’t always set comfortably around ear, odd type batteries -2
Notes: I really liked this light, I just wish someone could invent a decent ear-piece.
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Centech Non Contact IR Thermometer
Postives: small-easy to carry, very affordable at Harbor Freight, only takes one battery that lasts a decent amount of time for our use
Negatives: small -must attach to not lose, not backlit for dark reading
Notes: definitely a cheaper alternative to Radio Shack’s. you have to look around the store to find one.
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Gordon Professional Swivel Head Flashlight (attaches to hat/strap/etc)
Positives: Clip works well, only 2 AA batteries
Negatives: Clip/light only adjusts one direction, bought 2 one has already burnt the bulb out and after 15 mins I gave up trying to replace it with the extra they send, you have to be wearing something appropriate to clip it to. Light is not always usefully bright.
Notes: One of two that were purchased is working fine.
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Panasonic Cassette Recorder RQ-L31
Positives: takes full size tapes so you can use high bias, adjustable level microphone, visible battery level monitor
Negatives: buttons are easy to move by mistake and must be taped,
Notes: full size tapes are easier to review with other devices (ie stereo) than microcassettes. Also microcassettes, although some are decent quality, do not come in high bias
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 Coleman Hands Free Utility Light (headset)
Positives: headset, adjustable light aim, adjustable headband, LED, batteries last a decent length of time
Negatives: 3 odd batteries (inc when buy), only swivels one up/down. doesn’t work well with hood or glasses, light is adequate but could be brighter, move out of place too easily
Notes: found on sale $6
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Dorcy LED Headlamp
Positives: LOVE the wristband!!, also adjustable headband, LED, batteries last a decent length of time, small so it doesn’t get in the way
Negatives: odd battery size, can’t adjust
Notes: found on sale for $4
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RCA LED Clip On Light
Positives: Clip works effectively, can slip on hat, jacket, equiment strap, etc. Light is easily adjusted. Very cost effective at $1.50, 1st set of batteries included!
Negatives: Light is easily bumped and moved from where you want it.
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