Expert Rating
Benefits
- Attractive design
- Lightweight and portable
- Precisely adjustable brightness
Disadvantages
- Non-adjustable angle
- Dear
Our verdict
The Dash is a sleek, lightweight and compact SAD lamp. You can adjust its brightness precisely, but unfortunately not the angle of the light itself. If you could do that, it would be a more or less perfect device.
SAD lamps can help people with seasonal affective disorder regain their energy and mood during the winter months. If you experience low energy during the winter months, even if you haven’t been diagnosed with SAD, a SAD lamp or light box may be able to help.
That’s because our body clock is programmed to follow the natural cycle of light and dark, and most of our bodily processes – most obviously our sleep cycle, but also our gut, lungs, liver and pancreas – have a circadian rhythm that is disrupted by fewer hours of daylight in winter and less bright light in general.
A SAD lamp can help alleviate this disturbance. But you won’t get the same effect with a regular lamp. SAD lamps mimic outdoor light and have a brightness of 10,000 lux.
In this review, we take a look at the latest release from specialist brand Lumie: the Lumie Dash.
You can compare it to other Lumie models in our roundup of the best SAD lights we’ve tested.
Design and construction
- Compact construction
- Lightweight at only 415g
- Two color options
In previous years, light boxes were bulky and unwieldy devices, difficult to place and far from stylish.
The Dash is the antithesis of these old models. It is compact, about the same size and shape as a travel mirror or a table tennis bat. The lamp itself measures about 16cm in diameter and sits on a base measuring 8.5 x 6.5cm.
Its design is very cute. The Dash wouldn’t look out of place on a highly curated social media feed.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Its size and weight make it portable, compact and easy to place on your desk or table. It weighs only 415g, which is 50g less than a can of beans. However, you will need to plug it in to use it.
The Dash wouldn’t be out of place on a highly curated social media feed
The Dash comes in two colours: Pistachio White and Terracotta Pink, the latter of which is the one we’re currently testing. You can compare the colour options on the John Lewis website.
Performance and features
- Finely adjustable brightness
- Lamp angle not adjustable
- Touchscreen Operation
The Dash is easy to set up: just plug it in. Its controls are just as simple. Highly responsive touch panels are seamlessly integrated into the base. By lightly pressing or holding the – and + symbols, you can turn it on, off, and adjust the brightness with precision.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
To use the Dash, Lumie recommends placing it in front of you, about an arm’s length away, so that the light can reach your eyes directly.
You should try to use it for half an hour a day. The best time to use it is in the morning, but it can also help you recover from the post-lunch slump.
I have not been diagnosed with SAD, so I cannot speak to the therapeutic effects of this or any other SAD lamp. However, I do experience a dip in energy during the winter months and have enjoyed using the Dash.
The Dash offers 10,000 lux and has a color rendering index (CRI) of 95+, meaning it displays colors extremely accurately compared to natural daylight. A CRI above 90 is considered excellent.
However, it won’t be as useful as the similarly featured Lumie task light (read our review) for drawing or crafting, as you can’t adjust the Dash’s angle, so you won’t be able to point it at the work on your desk.
The Dash is mounted at about a 65° angle from horizontal, so its face is pointing toward you, which is great for letting its light hit your eyes wherever you place it. But this limits its usefulness for other work.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
However, it can also serve as a light to illuminate your face during video calls.
Pricing and Availability
The Dash is not currently available in the US, although other Lumie models are. You can browse the SAD lamps available from Lumie.
In the UK, the Dash retails for £179 and is available from John Lewis and Lumie.
If you, or the person you are buying it for, has been diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder and the Dash is for personal or domestic use, you can claim VAT relief on the product.
In this case, the best option is to buy directly from Lumie, where you will see the VAT-free option on the page. Select this option and the Dash will cost you just £149.17.
Despite the discount, there’s no denying that this product is still expensive. Lumie does offer cheaper models, including the Vitamin L and Zest. You can read more about them in our roundup of the best Lumie SAD lights.
Should you buy the Lumie Dash?
The Dash has a TikTok-worthy design, is small, lightweight, portable, and its brightness is adjustable to a precise degree. If you need a SAD lamp, this is definitely one of the most practical and attractive options. But it East expensive, especially for a single-use device.
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