Key takeaways:
- There’s something in this extravaganza for players, makers, the safety-minded, and for those just looking to relax.
- Not all glows come from the same source or are equal in strength and duration.
- Nature’s glow is real—and can also be genetically modified.
Years ago one of my favorite things to sleep in was a Halloween-themed “Trick or treat, smell my feet”t-shirt with gigantic green feet that glowed in the dark. Good for a big smile when I turned the lights off and a chuckle if I’d wake up through the night.
And the point of that story: if nothing else, glow-in-the-dark stuff is playful. Play is a good thing to be associated with when you’re giving a gift.
In this collection, we’re going to start with the obvious and then go a bit deeper—including by acknowledging other purposes served by glowing in the dark. Scan the full list—you’ll see!
For the players
One reason to glow in the dark is to stand out. That’s important when the lights are out and you still want to play:
Gift givers, a word of caution when you’re considering these. All of the above—which rely on LED batteries—are recommended if you’re selecting for people who just want to have a good time. You may notice “light up”in their product descriptions because they rely on battery power. Strictly speaking, they don’t glow.
But you know how fussy golfers and athletes can be. Those types might insist on a different approach to glowing in the dark.
Quick background: There are two basic ways sports equipment can “glow in the dark.”
- Phosphorescent balls are made with a material that contains phosphors that absorb energy from a light source—whether sunlight or a UV flashlight
- The glow comes when they slowly release that energy, which means that the glow will fade over time.
- LED balls rely on battery-powered lights activated by motion or impact. They’re brighter and last as long as the batteries last. The downside is that they can add weight and even change the feel and bounce of the ball.
So, for the purists who don’t want playing in the dark to play with their game, you’re going to want to look for non-LED luminous balls like these:
For the less active but still playful, how about a game of glow in the dark tic tac toe on a pillowcase?
For the creators
Creating with glow-in-the-dark materials takes the enjoyment to a whole different level.
A few ideas follow.
Sow with glow yarn in an assortment of “retro,””cute,””elegant,””gorgeous,””macaron”and “classic”colors. Crafters may jump at this idea. Just be mindful of some review notes that the glow needs to be “recharged”by a light to maintain its brightness. And the charge does wear off. Also, the colors don’t glow equally. The white or lighter colored options throw the greatest glow.
Imagine the fun—in a DIY haunted house!—using this glow-in-the-dark art paint on these glow-in-the-dark canvas boards.
We asked our team artist to create a scary scene on the canvas. Her only negative review comment: just be aware that pencil marks on the canvas can’t be erased. She’s using the second board in the two-piece package to create a gently lit, no-tech nighttime scene (the moon, stars, unicorns, pastoral animals) for her little ones’ bedroom.
We’ll just scratch the surface with what can be done to make parts of your body glow.
There’s body paint and, for a more subtle approach, glow-in-the dark glitter spray.
Of course, there’s an array of glow-in-the-dark nail polish.
And, chalk for your hair.
Your choice in attire covers the waterfront from party glasses to interactive t-shirts to charms to add to your Crocs.
For the safety-minded
Glowing in the dark isn’t just fun and games.
Show how much you care with these premium and budget-friendly options:
Noxgear’s illuminated, reflective, rechargeable and waterproof vest for runners is a runaway hit with an average 4.8 rating from more than 6,000 reviewers on Amazon. The vest offers eight super bright solid colors and eight eye-catching multicolor flashing modes for what they call “true 360 degree illumination, reflexivity and fluorescence.”They don’t play when it comes to visibility.
And the same for our recipients’ best friends! Here, too, your choices for dogs start at the top of the line Noxgear LightHouse, whose colors change between eight super bright solid and six multicolor flashing and slow fading color modes: Disco Dog, Rainbow, Cool Comet, Rescue, Independence Day, and Photon Burst.
For those looking to relax
With all their vibrancy across multiple uses, glow-in-the-dark gifts can have a calming effect. Studies have shown that certain wavelengths of light—like blue and greene—can be calming and even create a magic atmosphere.
So, we’re going to conclude our glowy sweep here.
Some of the appeal of glow-in-the-dark items is their stealth nature—they’re not always on. At the risk of stating the obvious.
Enter this turtle, which could pass as a generic object on a bookshelf or a table. Until it’s lifted and swirled at night that is, at which time it’s revealed to be a micro aquarium whose bioluminescent plant-plankton—PyroDinos—cast a cool blue green. The glow is real!
Take the time to read about the Living Bioluminescent Bio-Turtle. In addition to throwing off the glow at night, the plankton produce oxygen during the daytime hours, removing CO2 from your environment. They also continue to reproduce.
It could be just the thing for plant lovers, teachers or students, among others. One caveat: in order to cast the light, these tiny plants have to be fed occasionally with dino nutrients that are included. It’s not that big of a deal.
This idea has the potential to light up the eyes of the right person–and to make them an early adopter.
Glows provided by naturally occurring bioluminescence as well as genetically modified specimens are increasingly popular. Amazon.ca even carries glowplants, can’t wait until they show up on the U.S. site. Watch this space!