35 in Lighted Reindeer and Sleigh Motif, 192 Warm White LEDs, Steel Frame

Description

Two pieces, not one

This is a reindeer and a sleigh supplied as a pair, each one a steel wire frame traced with warm white LED rope. The supplier gives the reindeer as 17.75 in long, 9.5 in wide and 17.75 in high, and the sleigh as 17.25 by 8.75 by 9.5 in. The 35 inches in the name is the two of them set end to end in the usual arrangement, with the reindeer drawing the sleigh, rather than the size of either piece on its own. Knowing that changes how you site it: you are placing a scene about a yard wide and about a foot and a half tall at its highest point, which is low-profile lawn decoration rather than a statement piece.

Line drawing, not a solid shape

A motif light is a drawing made of light. During the day it is a discreet white wire outline that mostly disappears into a flowerbed. At night the outline is the whole of the effect, and it reads best against a dark, plain backdrop such as a lawn, a hedge or fresh snow. Put it in front of a house wall that is already washed with floodlight and the line will compete with the background and lose. The supplier’s artwork gives 192 LEDs across the pair, all warm white with no colour or flash modes, which is why it reads as a clean continuous line rather than a string of dots.

Power, cord and certification

The power cord is 9.8 ft, which is short for a lawn placement, so budget for an outdoor-rated extension. The supply is a 100 to 240 V adapter putting out 29 V DC at 3.6 W, meaning the run to the figures is low-voltage and the draw is negligible. The supplier lists UL, ETL and CSA certification for the piece. As always, keep the adapter and the cord joint off wet ground and under a cover.

Staking and wind

A steel frame this low and this light sits well in moderate wind because there is almost no surface for the wind to push against; an open wire outline lets air through where a solid figure catches it. That is the real advantage of the format. Pin both pieces to the ground rather than relying on their own weight, since the pair together is only about 4 lb and a strong gust will still skid them across grass. Keep the gap between reindeer and sleigh consistent, because the scene stops reading as a scene once the two drift apart.

Storage

It ships in a carton about 20 by 9.5 by 14.5 in at roughly 4 lb. The frames are rigid and do not collapse, so they need their own shelf space rather than folding into a bin with soft goods. Store them upright and do not stack anything heavy on the wire, which is what bends a motif out of shape between seasons.

Honest notes

The 192 LED count comes from the supplier’s own artwork rather than a specification table, and the supplier does not publish an ingress protection rating for the piece. Handling is 1 to 3 business days plus 5 to 9 in transit; order by Monday December 7 for Christmas.