I purchased this item hoping that a large chemistry flashlight would provide significantly more light in a small space than a standard sized glow stick. In fact, it can still be true. , but only for the darkest conditions. It seems that the formulation of these sticks makes them glow a little dimmer than one would expect - about average, maybe a little less. In any case, he does a good job, especially in the first hour. After that, the brightness drops significantly, but remains the same for the specified period of use. As a general emergency light source, I would not recommend buying it. But when you have one hand free and need to illuminate nearby objects for up to 8 hours, this is actually very good. In short, only buy for specific use cases, not general emergency preparedness. Another reason for using it can be as a signal or attention giver as it is larger and more visible from a distance than a traditional chemical lantern. Consider these limited use cases when weighing value against price and units per order. One final note: the size of the stick and its flexibility make it difficult to attach securely to the end. Instead, place it on a table to light up the bar, or hang it in small spaces (closets, countertops, etc.).