Weather

The power is out and it is getting dark

This is an ordinary evening problem, not an emergency drill. The aim is light, a charged phone, and food that does not spoil, and then going to bed like normal.

5 things, already decided.
Work down the list. Tick off what you own. Every row opens on Amazon, where the current price and the real delivery date live — we never print a price here.

The list

Down the page is what you need. Across each row is how to choose.

01 of 05

I already have this
A rechargeable lantern

A lantern lights a whole room. A torch lights one spot and has to be held.

What to check before you choose. Check it recharges by USB so it shares a cable with your phone, and look at the run time on the low setting rather than the headline brightness.

Top ratedSee on Amazon BudgetSee on Amazon Small spaceSee on Amazon Best sellerSee on Amazon Gift readySee on Amazon

Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.
02 of 05

I already have this
A power bank that can charge a phone twice

The phone is the light, the radio, the clock, and the way you find out when the power is back.

What to check before you choose. Around 20,000 mAh gives most phones two full charges. Check it has the output your phone fast-charges at.

Top ratedSee on Amazon BudgetSee on Amazon Small spaceSee on Amazon Best sellerSee on Amazon Gift readySee on Amazon

Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.
03 of 05

I already have this
A headlamp

The moment you need both hands, in a cupboard or under a sink, this is the only thing that works.

What to check before you choose. A red-light mode stops you blinding everyone in the room. Check whether it takes batteries or charges.

Top ratedSee on Amazon BudgetSee on Amazon Small spaceSee on Amazon Best sellerSee on Amazon Gift readySee on Amazon

Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.
04 of 05

I already have this
Batteries in the sizes you actually own

The pack in the drawer is always the wrong size.

What to check before you choose. Check what your torches and smoke alarms take before ordering, rather than buying a mixed pack.

Top ratedSee on Amazon BudgetSee on Amazon Small spaceSee on Amazon Best sellerSee on Amazon Gift readySee on Amazon

Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.
05 of 05

I already have this
A manual can opener

Every list has this and it is not a joke. Electric openers are useless, and so is the tin.

What to check before you choose. A smooth-edge opener leaves no sharp rim, which matters when you are working by lantern light.

Top ratedSee on Amazon BudgetSee on Amazon Small spaceSee on Amazon Best sellerSee on Amazon Gift readySee on Amazon

Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.

ReadyHarbor is an Amazon Associate. If you buy through a link here we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what goes on a list. We research and curate — we do not test or rank products, and we never claim to. We do not print prices, because Amazon's price can change at any moment; tap through and Amazon shows you the current price and the delivery date.

Your progress

The power is out and it is getting dark

5 of 5 still to sort.

Nothing is added to a cart here. Each link opens that search on Amazon in a new tab.

Not your situation?

Say yours the way it comes out of your mouth.

We have not written “that” up yet. ReadyHarbor is being built one situation at a time, and everything live is listed below. Nothing here is auto-generated, so a list only appears once it is actually written.