I have some with the inserts and I swear by them. They are cumbersome, but the additional light and the magnification is worth its weight in gold. I originally got them when I started tatting (lace making) a few years back and needed something extra because I was working with tiny, tiny knots. I use them for cross-stitching and sometimes crocheting, it depends. They do work for quilting, I've used them when my eyes seem especially weak.