Chuckit! Max Glow Balls, Bouncy Ball for Dogs, Medium, 2.5in, 2 Pack

Why it's worth it

The Max Glow Ball is a 2.5-inch rubber ball made from photoluminescent material. Five minutes under a bright light gets you 20 to 30 minutes of glow. If most of your fetch happens before work or after dinner, this solves a real problem.

Winter is the case for this ball. You get home, it's already dark, and the dog still has an hour of energy to burn. A standard orange ball disappears into a black lawn. This one keeps glowing long enough for a solid session, and owners consistently describe the glow as bright rather than the faint purple haze cheaper glow toys give off.

Charging is quick and forgiving. Chuckit! rates it at five minutes under bright light for 20 to 30 minutes of glow, and owners report that a phone flashlight held against it for half a minute is enough in a pinch. Leaving it on a sunny windowsill during the day means it's ready when you are.

From our review of 8 chuckit! dog toys

What we like

• +Winter is the case for this ball
• +Charging is quick and forgiving
• +Underneath the glow, it's the same ball you'd buy anyway
• +It's worth pairing with the Ultra Ball rather than replacing it

What to know

• –The glow runs out. Twenty to thirty minutes is real, but on a long walk you'll end up hunting for a ball that's gone dim
• –Same chewing caveat as the rest of the line — it's a fetch ball, not something to leave with a dog who settles in to gnaw