Products curated from the most popular purchases on Amazon.
Tap a group to open its picks.
A lantern that lights a whole room3 options
A phone flashlight points at one thing and blinds everyone looking at it. A lantern throws light in every direction, which is what turns a dark kitchen back into a room people can sit in.
- Rechargeable saves you hunting for batteries in the dark, but a model that also takes batteries keeps working on a long outage
- Check the runtime on its lowest setting, because that is the one you will actually leave on
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Lepro 1000LM Battery Powered LED Camping Lantern with 4 Light Modes, Green | Tent Light, Camping Essentials, Waterproof Lantern Flashlight for Camping, Emergency Light, Power Outages, Not RechargeableCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Lepro 1100LM Battery Powered LED Camping Lantern, Waterproof Tent Light with 5 Light Modes, Camping Essentials, Portable Lantern Flashlight for Camping, Emergency Light, Power Outage, Not RechargeableCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Lepro 2000LM LED Camping Lantern Rechargeable, Waterproof Tent Light with 5 Light Modes, Camping Essentials, Portable Lantern Flashlight for Camping, Emergency Light, Power Outage, USB Cable IncludedCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
A headlamp so both hands are free3 options
Everything you do in an outage takes two hands: the fuse box, the tin, the stairs, the child. A torch held in your teeth is how people end up doing all three badly.
- Look for a red-light mode - it keeps your night vision and does not wake a sleeping house
- Check the strap adjusts small enough for whoever else in the house will end up wearing it
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
DanForce Headlamp. USB Rechargeable LED Head Lamp. Ultra Bright LUMINUS 1080 Lumen Headlamp Flashlight + Red Light. HeadLamps for Adults, Camping, Outdoors & Hard Hat Light. Zoomable IPX54 HeadlightCheck price on Amazon (paid link)![DanForce Camouflaged Headlamp Ultra Bright USB Rechargeable Head lamp [Polymer Li-ion 955565 Battery] - Tactical Head Flashlight for Hunting & Fishing. LED Headlamps LUMINUS 1080 Lumens with Red Light](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/813kB7IigeL._AC_SL500_.jpg)
DanForce Camouflaged Headlamp Ultra Bright USB Rechargeable Head lamp [Polymer Li-ion 955565 Battery] - Tactical Head Flashlight for Hunting & Fishing. LED Headlamps LUMINUS 1080 Lumens with Red LightCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Rechargeable Headlamp with Red Light & Motion Sensor, Wide Beam for Camping | 2 Pack, 230° Wide Beam, 7 Modes, White Red L...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A power bank that can refill a phone twice3 options
The phone is your light, your clock, your news and your way of telling someone you are fine. It is also the thing draining fastest, because everyone in the house is on theirs.
- Read the capacity in mAh and divide by your phone's battery to get real refills, not the marketing number
- Check it has USB-C output, and that it can charge a phone while it is itself charging back up
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
INIU Portable Charger, Smallest 20000mAh 22.5W Fast Charging Power Bank | USB-C Cable, Flight-Safe, Travel Essentials, Fla...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Anker Zolo Power Bank,20,000mAh 30W Portable Charger with Built-in USB-C | High-Speed Charging for iPhone 17 / 16 / 15 Ser...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Anker Power Bank, 20,000mAh Travel Essential, Built-in USB-C Cable(Black) | 1 USB-C and 1 USB-A port, for MacBook Pro/Air,...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A way to charge from the car3 options
If the outage runs long, the car in your driveway is a battery you already own. Most people discover their car charger is a slow one at exactly the wrong time.
- Look for USB-C Power Delivery and a stated wattage
- A 60W-class charger fills a phone in a fraction of the time an old socket adapter does
- Check the cable is long enough to reach the back seat if someone is sitting there
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)
Batteries in the sizes you actually own3 options
Smoke alarms, torches, remotes and the radio all take ordinary batteries, and an outage is when you find out the drawer is empty. It is the cheapest thing on this page and the one most likely to be missing.
- A variety pack of AA and AAA covers most of a house
- Check the printed expiry date, because alkalines sitting in a drawer for years lose charge whether you use them or not
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 radio that does not need the grid3 options
The single most frustrating part of an outage is not knowing how long it lasts. A hand-crank or battery radio gets you the local emergency broadcast when the internet is gone with the power.
- Look for NOAA weather bands if you are somewhere with storms, and a hand crank as the fallback for when the batteries also run out
- Many carry a USB output that will trickle-charge a phone in a pinch
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
FosPower NOAA Emergency Weather Radio A1 7400mWh Solar Hand Crank (Orange) | AM/FM/WB power bank 4 power options SOS alarm...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Solar Radio Emergency Hand Crank 12000mAh with Clear Signal | AM FM NOAA Weather Radio Battery Operated with 2-Mode LED Fl...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Emergency Weather Radio with Large Solar Panel, Real 12000mAh Battery | Efficient Hand Crank, AM/FM/NOAA Bands, LED Flashl...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Flameless candles for the stairs and the bathroom3 options
Real candles are the leading cause of house fires during outages, and the places you most want light - stairs, the bathroom, a child's room - are the worst places to leave an open flame.
- Look for a timer function so they come on at the same hour each evening without anyone touching them
- Check they take a common battery size rather than a coin cell you do not stock
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Luminara - Flameless LED Battery Operated Flickering Pillar Candles - White - Pack of 1-3x6.5 - Realistic Moving Flame Real Wax Indoor/Outdoor DecorCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Luminara Outdoor Flameless LED Ivory Candle Melted Edge 3.75" x 7" Real Moving Flame Battery Operated Timer Plastic Weather-ResistantCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Luminara Votive Flameless LED Candle, Set of 2 Ivory 1.5" x 4", Moving Flame Battery Operated Timer Remote Ready IPX4 Matte Plastic FinishCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
A manual can opener3 options
Every no-cook meal in your cupboard is behind a lid. A household that has only ever used an electric opener discovers this about ninety minutes into an outage.
- A side-cut opener leaves no sharp edge, which matters when you are working by lantern light
- Check the handle is comfortable to turn, because a stiff one is genuinely hard work
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Manual Can Opener Heavy Duty Smooth Edge for Seniors Arthritis, Long Handle | stainless steel,magnetic lids lifting,built-...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Ultrean Can Opener Manual, Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Smooth Edge Can Opener with Ergonomic Handles and Oversized Easy Tur...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Roryimke Commercial Can Opener Manual Heavy Duty for Seniors for Kitchen | Stainless Steel Hand Crank Can Opener Smooth Ed...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Food that needs no cooking3 options
An electric hob is out and a gas one may need a match. Having a shelf of things that can be eaten straight from the tin or pouch is the difference between dinner and a takeaway drive in the dark.
- Choose things your household will genuinely eat, not survival rations that sit for a decade and get thrown out
- Check the shelf life and put a reminder in your phone to rotate the stock once a year
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Real Food Blends Variety Pack - Pureed Food Meals for Tube Feeding with Protein, Vegetables & Fruits - 320–340 Calories Per Pouch for Lunch & Dinner - 9.4 oz (Pack of 12)Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Miss Olive’s Ready Meals Shelf Stable Protein Pack 6 Pack, 3 Flavors, 7oz | The ulitimate Shelf Stable Protein Pack with 2...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
HMR Customer Favorites Entrée Pack, 6 Ready-to-Eat Meals | Ready Meal Variety – Customer Favorite Selection – Microwave En...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A cooler to save what is in the fridge3 options
A closed fridge holds for a few hours and a closed freezer for longer, but every time someone opens the door the clock resets. Moving the milk, the meat and the medicine into a cooler once means the fridge stays shut.
- Check the stated ice retention in hours rather than the size on the front
- A hard-sided cooler holds cold far longer than a soft bag if the outage runs overnight
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
RTIC 20 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler | Portable Hard Ice Chest Box for Beach, Drinks, Camping, Picnic, Fishing, Boat and Bar...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Titan Hard Ice Chest Cooler Roto Cooler with Microban Protection and Deep Freeze InsulationCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
EchoSmile 20/35 Quart Insulated Cooler, Outdoor Portable Hard Shell Ice ChestCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Ice packs that live in the freezer anyway3 options
A freezer full of frozen blocks stays cold for close to twice as long as a half-empty one, so these are working for you before the outage even starts. Then they move into the cooler.
- Solid blocks last longer than gel sheets
- Check they are sized to fit the cooler you own, and buy enough to fill the gaps in the freezer rather than just two
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Refillable & Reusable Ice Packs for Coolers – Stays Cold for Days – Non-Toxic & Leakproof, Suitable for Potable Drinking Water – Built Tough, Rolls Up for Easy StorageCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Cool Coolers by Fit & Fresh 4 Pack XL Slim Ice Packs, Quick Freeze Space Saving Reusable Ice Packs for Lunch Boxes or CoolersCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Everlasting Ice RX Large Reusable Ice Packs for Cooler with Handle (4 Pack) Long Lasting Coolness, BPA Free, Freezer Packs...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A fridge and freezer thermometer3 options
After the power returns, the real question is whether the food is safe. Guessing by smell is how people get ill. A thermometer that has been sitting in there the whole time answers it in one look.
- Look for a model that records the highest temperature reached, so it tells you what happened while you were asleep rather than only what is true now
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Geevon Small Digital Refrigerator Thermometer 2 Pack, IP65 Waterproof Commercial and Home Use, Max/Min Record Function with LCD Screen, Stand and Magnetic Back, for Fridge, Freezer ScenariosCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Nithing Fridge Freezer Thermometer Max/Min Memory High & Low Temperature Alarms Settings with LED Indicator Digital Refrig...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Fridge Freezer Thermometer Max/Min Memory High & Low Temperature Alarms Settings with LED Indicator Digital Refrigeration ...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Water you are not carrying in jugs3 options
If you are on a well, the pump is electric and the taps stop with the lights. Even on mains water, a boil notice can follow an outage, and boiling is exactly what you cannot do.
- A collapsible container stores flat and fills from any tap before the outage bites
- Check it says BPA-free and has a spigot, because pouring from a full container is a two-person job
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
WaterStorageCube Collapsible Water Container with Spigot (5.3 Gal (1-Pack)) | BPA-Free Camping Water Storage Carrier Jug f...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
BPA Free Collapsible Water Container Jug with Spigot, 2-Pack 5.3 Gallon | Portable Water Storage Carrier for Camping, Hiki...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
ITRAZ BPA-Free Collapsible Water Container with Spigot, 2-Pack 5.3 Gallon | Foldable Water Storage Jug for Camping, RV Tra...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A carbon monoxide alarm3 options
Outages are when people run a generator too close to the house or bring a grill or camp stove indoors for warmth. Carbon monoxide has no smell and the early symptoms feel like an ordinary headache. This is the one item here that is genuinely about safety rather than comfort.
- Get a battery or plug-in-with-battery-backup model - a mains-only alarm is off during the exact event you bought it for
- Check the printed end-of-life date, because the sensors expire on a fixed schedule regardless of use
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
FIRST ALERT CO605 Plug-in Carbon Monoxide Detector with Battery Backup, White | CO606, 9V Battery BackupCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector, Plug-in & AA Battery Backup, COP | Rotating Plug with Power Surge Immunity, LED Status Lig...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Kidde Smart Carbon Monoxide Detector, Plug-in & AA Battery Backup, COPDW | Smart Alarm with Real-Time Alerts, Digital Back...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, televisions and computers, and it happens just when everyone is relieved.
- Check the joule rating - higher absorbs more before your equipment sees it
- Check the label 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)