Gear / Power and light
Ready.gov says have flashlights for every household member and plan batteries or a portable charger for when the power goes out. A power station is the upgrade if you need more than phones and lights. Ready.gov: Power outages
Small enough to grab with one hand. Keeps phones, lights and a router going.
Skip if you need to run a fridge or a medical device.
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See it at Jackery Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.A step up in capacity from the smallest units while still easy to carry.
Skip if phones and lights are all you need.
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See it at BLUETTI Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.About 1kWh of storage. The middle ground most homes land on.
Skip if you want whole-home backup. Look at the best tier.
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See it at Anker SOLIX Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.Same class as the Anker. Four ways to recharge, solar included.
Skip if you won't use it outside emergencies. A smaller unit is easier to keep charged.
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See it at BLUETTI Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.Expandable with extra battery packs later, so you can start mid-size and grow.
Skip if you want the lightest unit in this class.
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See it at Jackery Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.Fast charging and app control. A good fit if you want one unit that does most things.
Skip if you need days of backup for a whole home.
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See it at EcoFlow Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.Home backup class. Built to run big appliances, not just phones.
Skip if you rent or move often. It's heavy.
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See it at Anker SOLIX Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.About 3kWh in one unit. For longer outages or bigger loads.
Skip if a 1kWh unit covers your must-haves.
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See it at BLUETTI Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.A long-running brand in portable power with a big accessory lineup.
Skip if you want the most capacity per dollar. Compare first.
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See it at Goal Zero Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.A small USB-rechargeable lantern and flashlight in one. Buy one per person.
Skip if you already have a lantern per room.
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See it at Goal Zero Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.A simple headlamp. Both hands free when the lights are out.
Skip if you want rechargeable. It runs on batteries.
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See it at Petzl Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.A water-activated light that sits in a drawer for years and works when you need it.
Skip as your main light. It's a backup.
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See it at Eton Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.Rechargeable, bright, and the kind you'll also use for camping or a dark driveway.
Skip if you'll forget to keep it charged. Get a battery one.
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See it at Black Diamond Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.Picks checked against each maker's own product page on 2026-11-14. Spot something wrong or missing? Suggest gear.
See which area to fix first