Energy AND Power

Rechargeable battery units with AC outlets, USB, and DC outputs. Silent, no exhaust, indoor safe. The default backup for apartments and anyone who wants clean, quiet power.

Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion / NMC)

Most Common

500-800 cycle life. Lightest per Wh, cheapest entry. Good for occasional emergency use and standby, less ideal for daily cycling.

500-800 cycle life Lightest per Wh Price: lowest entry

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)

Longest Lifespan

2,500-3,500+ cycles, more thermally stable. Heavier and more expensive upfront, but buy once and use for a decade. The chemistry to look for if you plan regular use.

2,500-3,500+ cycle life Durability: exceptional Price: higher upfront

Solar Generators (Station + Panel Kits)

Self-Sustaining

Power station bundled with solar panels. Renewable loop: sun charges battery, battery powers gear. Weather dependent — best as complementary charging, not sole source.

Renewable charging Best use: extended outages Weather dependent

What to own

Power station, 500-1,000Wh Mini fridge + phones + lights for 12-24h. LFP worth the premium for regular use.
Compatible foldable solar panel Paired with station for self-sustaining loop. Aim for 100-200W output.
Second, smaller unit (200-300Wh) For travel or a go-bag. Your main station likely isn't moving anywhere fast if it weighs 30+ lbs.

Convert sunlight to electricity for charging power stations and batteries. Portable foldable panels are the practical choice for emergencies — deploy anywhere outdoors.

Monocrystalline Panels

Best Efficiency

20-23% efficiency. Best output per surface area, performs well in partial shade and high temps. The clear choice for portable use.

20-23% efficiency Best use: portable, maximum output Price: mid-high

Polycrystalline Panels

Budget Option

15-18% efficiency, cheaper, heavier per watt. Better for fixed installations where space isn't critical. Monocrystalline wins for portable use.

15-18% efficiency Price: lowest Best use: fixed installations

Flexible / Thin-Film Panels

Ultralight

10-16% efficiency, bendable, ultralight. For vehicle roofs or curved surfaces. Lower output and durability than crystalline types.

10-16% efficiency Best use: curved surfaces, vehicles Flexible form factor

What to own

Foldable monocrystalline panel, 100-200W Match to your power station. Check compatible panel specs from your brand.
MC4 or DC5525 adapter cables Often not included. Check your station's input port before you need them.
Flexible thin-film panel (optional) Only if you have a vehicle with curved roof space.

Combustion engines converting fuel to electricity. Significantly more sustained power than battery stations — enough for major appliances. Loud, outdoor use only, fuel dependent.

Inverter Generators (Gasoline)

Quiet + Clean Power

Clean sine-wave power safe for electronics. 48-58 dB, 1-3kW output. Adjusts engine speed to load, saving fuel. Quietest option.

48-58 dB noise level Safe for electronics Price: highest

Conventional Generators (Gasoline)

Raw Power, Low Cost

Constant speed, louder, less fuel-efficient. But 3,000-10,000W+ output. The tool for running fridge, freezer, and sump pump simultaneously.

3,000-10,000W+ output 65-75 dB noise level Price: lowest per watt

Dual-Fuel Generators (Gasoline + Propane)

Fuel Flexibility

Gasoline goes stale in 3-6 months. Propane stores indefinitely. ~10-15% output drop on propane, but fuel flexibility is the point for extended outages.

Gasoline + propane Propane stores indefinitely Best use: extended outages

Propane-Only Generators

Clean Burning

No stale fuel, no carburetors to clean. Fewer consumer options and slightly higher fuel consumption. Best if you already have a propane tank on property.

No fuel degradation Maintenance: minimal Fewer consumer models

What to own

Dual-fuel or inverter generator Size to your load. Most homes: 3,000-5,000W for fridge, lights, and outlets.
Fuel stabilizer Untreated gas stales in 3-6 months. Stabilizer extends to 24 months.
Approved fuel cans (5-10 gallon) Full tank minimum at all times. Rotate every 12-18 months.
Heavy-gauge generator extension cords Standard cords overheat under generator loads — fire risk.
Transfer switch or interlock kit Required for safe home panel connection. Licensed electrician install.

Portable batteries for charging phones and small electronics via USB. The most accessible form of backup power — small, cheap, and the first thing that keeps communication alive.

Pocket / EDC Power Banks

5,000-10,000 mAh

1-2 phone charges, pocket-sized. The one you have on you when it happens, not the one in a drawer. $15-50.

1-3 phone charges Best use: daily carry Price: $15-50

High-Capacity Power Banks

20,000-30,000 mAh

5-7 phone charges or a laptop. 100W+ USB-C PD models charge MacBooks at full speed. Right choice for go-bags and multi-day outages.

5-7 phone charges Best use: go-bags, laptops Price: $50-120

Solar Power Banks

Self-Charging

Standard bank with a small built-in solar panel. 5-10W input, full solar charge takes 20-40+ hours. A last-resort trickle, not a primary charging method.

5-10W solar input Solar: last-resort trickle Best as: bank + solar backup

What to own

Pocket bank, 10,000mAh, always carried In your bag, not on a shelf. First line of defense.
High-capacity bank with USB-C PD, in go-bag Laptop + several phone charges. Real multi-day staying power.
Multi-cable kit (USB-C, Lightning, Micro-USB) A bank with no matching cable is useless.
One pocket bank per household member Everyone needs a charged phone. Sharing is not a plan.

Light is the first thing you notice when power goes out, and the easiest to solve. Battery, USB, and fuel-based options cover every scenario.

Battery / USB Lanterns

Most Practical

50-200+ hours on low mode. USB-rechargeable models pair with power banks or stations. Multiple brightness modes, hanging hook for hands-free use.

50-200+ hrs runtime USB-C rechargeable options Room-filling light

Fuel Lanterns (Oil / Candle)

No Electricity Needed

No batteries, no charging. Lamp oil stores for years, candles indefinitely. Ventilation and fire safety required. Dietz hurricane lantern is the classic choice.

7-12 hrs per fill Fuel stores for years Ventilation required

Headlamps + Flashlights

Hands-Free / Focused

Hands-free task lighting. 300-800+ lumens, red light mode preserves night vision. USB-rechargeable. A lantern + headlamp covers all lighting needs.

100-800+ lumens USB-C rechargeable Red mode preserves night vision

What to own

LED lantern, 300+ lm, per main room Hanging hook, battery or USB. This lights the room.
Hurricane oil lantern + lamp oil Zero tech backup. No batteries, no charging.
Headlamp per person, with red-light mode Hands-free is essential. One per person, always charged.
Spare batteries (AA, D-cell) Match to your lanterns. Two full sets. Rotate every 2-3 years.
Glow sticks (approx. 12) Mark exits in total darkness without draining a lantern.

The small items that fill gaps between major power sources. Stormproof matches, EDC flashlights, hand-crank chargers, battery stock. Individually minor, collectively critical.

Fire Starters

Fundamental

Redundancy is key: stormproof matches, ferro rods (3,000°F sparks, works wet), and windproof arc lighters. At $5-15 each, have all three.

Multiple methods recommended Waterproof options available Price: $5-30

EDC Flashlights

Every Day Carry

Pen-sized, 200-500 lumens, USB-rechargeable. The point is having a light on you at all times — in your pocket, not in a kit.

200-500 lumens USB-C rechargeable Pocket-clip design

Hand-Crank Chargers

Last Resort

10 minutes cranking = ~1-3% phone battery. Slow, but zero dependencies. Emergency crank radios with AM/FM/NOAA + flashlight + USB are the most practical form.

1-3% per 10 min cranking No dependencies whatsoever Best use: last resort only

Battery Supply (AA, AAA, D-cell)

Stock Up

Most emergency gear runs on AA/AAA. Alkaline: 10-year shelf life, cheap in bulk. NiMH rechargeable: 2-5 years stored charge, better long-term value.

AA, AAA, D-cell cover most gear Alkaline: 10-year shelf life NiMH: 2-5 yrs stored charge

What to own

Stormproof matches (2+ boxes) Burns in rain and wind. Store in waterproof container.
Ferrocerium rod with striker 3,000°F sparks, any weather, lasts thousands of strikes.
Windproof arc lighter (1-2) USB-C rechargeable. Works in conditions that kill flame lighters.
EDC flashlight, pocket-clip 200+ lumens. Always clipped, always on you.
Hand-crank emergency radio with USB NOAA alerts with no power source. Last-resort phone charge.
Battery stock (AA, AAA, D-cell) Match to your gear. NiMH for long-term, alkaline for rotation.

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