Products curated from the most popular purchases on Amazon.
Tap a group to open its picks.
A power station that runs the things that matter1 option
A phone charger is not the problem. Keeping a CPAP, a fridge, or a medical device going for a night is the problem, and that needs stored watt-hours rather than a battery pack.
- Look at watt-hours, not just watts - that is how long it runs, versus what it can start
- Check for LiFePO4 cells, which last far longer than older lithium, and check it has a normal wall socket on it and not only USB
Light you are not holding3 options
Everyone reaches for their phone, and then the phone is dead and their hands are full. A headlamp leaves both hands free, which matters when you are fixing something in the dark.
- Rechargeable saves you hunting for batteries in an outage
- A red-light mode keeps your night vision and does not wake the house
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Blukar LED Headlamp Rechargeable, 2000L Super Bright Headlight Flashlight | 8 Modes&Stepless Dimming,Spotlight&Floodlight&...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
EverBrite 350LM Rechargeable Headlamp with Red White Green Light | Tail Light, White Red Green Light, Memory Function, Dim...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
DARKBEAM Red Light Headlamp LED Rechargeable Headlamps for Night Astronomy | Redlight Only Headlight Head Lamp, Waterproof...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Batteries for the things that still take them3 options
Smoke alarms, torches, remotes and radios all take ordinary batteries, and an outage is when you discover the drawer is empty.
- A variety pack of AA and AAA covers most of the house
- Check the printed expiry - alkalines lose charge sitting in a drawer for years
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Amazon Basics 48-Count AA & AAA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries Value Pack, 24 AA and 24 AAA, Ready to UseCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Energizer AA and AAA Batteries, 48 Count, Combo Pack Contains 24 Max Double A and 24 Max Triple A BatteriesCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Powermax ACDelco Double AA and Triple AAA Batteries, 40-Count Battery Combo Pack for Home and Office, 20-Count Each, 10-Ye...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A way to charge from the car3 options
If the outage runs long, the car is a generator you already own. Most people find out their car charger is a slow one at exactly the wrong time.
- Look for USB-C Power Delivery and a real wattage figure
- A 60W-class charger fills a phone in a fraction of the time an old 12W one does
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
AINOPE 67.5W Cigarette Lighter Adapter Car Charger USB C Fast ChargingCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
60W USB C Car Charger, 2Pack USB C Cigarette Lighter Adapter Fast Charging | Dual Port PD3.0 Type C Car Charger Plug Compa...Check price on Amazon (paid link)![iPhone Car Charger Fast Charging, [Apple MFi Certified] 60W Dual USB-C Power Cigarette Lighter Car Charger+Type-C Cable&Li...](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61qlXNvKG2L._AC_SL500_.jpg)
iPhone Car Charger Fast Charging, [Apple MFi Certified] 60W Dual USB-C Power Cigarette Lighter Car Charger+Type-C Cable&Li...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Something to protect what is plugged in3 options
The damage often happens when power comes back, not when it goes. A surge on restoration is what kills fridges and televisions.
- Check the joule rating - higher absorbs more
- Check it actually says surge protector, because a plain power strip offers no protection at all
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Bawmwim Surge Protector Power Strip, 8 Outlets(1850W/15A/14AWG), 6 USB Charging Ports(2 USB C), 6FT Flat Plug Extension Cord Outlet Extender with Overload Protection, ETL Certified for OfficeCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Surge Protector Power Strip 4800J, LeZone 10Ft Long Extension Cord Flat Plug, 12 Outlets 2 USB C 2 USB Ports, Wall Mountab...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Extension Cord 15 Ft, Flat Plug Surge Protector Power Strip 15 Ft Long Cord | Long Extension Cord with 8 Outlets 4 USB Por...Check price on Amazon (paid link)