Let’s not beat around the bush: power outages suck. You can’t see anything, your WiFi stops working, heck, you can’t even make a cup of coffee. But you don’t have to just light candles and sit on the couch in the silent darkness. Unless that’s your thing, then by all means, do exactly that, I’m not your boss.
Regardless, there are more gadgets out there than ever before, and these are the best things you’ll want to have in your house next time the power goes out. And we’re not just talking about flashlights and lighters either.
Crank-Powered Generator
FosPower 2000mAH Emergency Weather Radio with Flashlight, $29.99
Emergency Weather Radio
FosPower
amazon.com
$29.99
Without a doubt one of the most useful items when the power goes out is some sort of power bank that you can use to keep something like your phone charged. Now if this power bank can be recharged itself, then you’re really onto something. That’s exactly what you get with a crank-powered generator.
Most of these items are actually very limited in their abilities, but this one from FosPower has 4.6/5 stars with over 21,650 ratings on Amazon to vouch for it. It comes with a built-in flashlight to help you see and also a small solar panel to regenerate even more power on its own.
Keep in mind these things usually require a bit of elbow grease, but if you’ve got nothing else going on during a power outage what’s the harm?
Power Failure Night Lights
GE 4-in-1 Power Failure LED Night Light, $9.96
GE 4-in-1 Power Failure LED Night Light
GE
amazon.com
$9.96
Typically you wouldn’t think of having emergency lights in your own home, but that’s the beauty of these 4-in-1 power failure lights from GE. They’re not just emergency lights, they also act as a regular night light, a portable flashlight, and a task light.
But for power failures, you won’t find something more useful at this price point. With the built-in technology, these lights automatically turn on when the power goes out. This way no matter if it’s day or night, you’ll have no trouble finding the light and walking through your home.
Battery Powered Lanterns
Etekcity Lantern Battery Powered Lights, $22.94
Etekcity 4 Pack Lantern Camping Lantern
Etekcity
amazon.com
$22.94
Originally designed for camping, battery powered lanterns are extremely useful to have around when the power goes out. Gone are the days of having to light candles all over the house just to see. Not only is the melting wax annoying, but there’s also the issue of unattended candles!
With battery powered lanterns like this one from Etekcity, you’ll not only get far more light than you would with a candle, but they’re much safer to use as well. With a built-in handle and lightweight construction, they’re easy to move around and use wherever you need them.
Car Adapter Power Inverter
Geloo 300W Power Inverter, $29.99
300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Charger Converter with 4.8A Dual USB Ports
Geloo
amazon.com
$29.99
Even if you don’t have power in your home, you’ll still have power in your car. And if push comes to shove, you can use the power in your car to plug in some of your electronics, such as a laptop or to get your smartphone charged.
But you can’t just plug your laptop or phone charger into your car’s outlet. You’ll need a power inverter to convert direct current (DC, like you find in a cigarette lighter port) to alternating current (AC, like you find in an American house), like this one from Geloo. This 300W inverter plugs right into your car’s outlet and then gives you two USB ports and two 110V AC outlets.
Bluetooth Speaker
Oontz Angle 3 Bluetooth Speaker, $27.99
OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Portable Speaker
Cambridge Soundworks
amazon.com
$27.99
One of the worst things about the electricity going out is the eerie silence that engulfs you. You may not realize all the noises around you during the day, but when you suddenly lose the TV, ceiling fans, HVAC system, radios, computers running, and more, the silence is deafening.
So to escape the sounds of silence, it’s great to have a portable Bluetooth speaker nearby. As long as your phone is charged, just fire up the speaker and play music, watch movies, or do anything else with you with the enhanced sound of a quality Bluetooth speaker.
Solar Charger with Flashlight
Suscell Solar Charger Power Bank with Flashlight, $23.99
20000mAh Portable Outdoor Waterproof Solar Power Bank
Suscell
amazon.com
$23.99
The crank-powered generator above with a solar panel is nice, but it’s not quite as portable as it could be. And if you want to easily move around the house and take some power with you, then a power bank designed solely for portability and versatility is a must.
With this solar power bank from Suscell, you’ll have a power bank designed to fit in your pocket. Its battery capacity is an astounding 20,000mAH to power your devices all day. It’s also rugged, waterproof, and even includes a built-in compass for the adventurous folks out there!
Rechargeable Hand Warmers
OCOOPA Rechargeable Hand Warmers/Pocket Heaters, $29.99
OCOOPA Hand Warmers Rechargeable
OCOOPA
amazon.com
$22.94
If you happen to lose power in the middle of winter, you’re gonna be hoping it kicks back on rather quickly. Your house should stay fairly warm for a while thanks to its insulation, but the heat will still work its way out over time.
If it starts getting cold, you’ll be glad to have a pair of rechargeable hand warmers that are fully charged and ready to go. These little pocket heaters warm up in seconds and have three levels of heating to keep you warm no matter how cold it gets. So grab the blankets and get cuddled up with these hand warmers!
