Prepare for winter power cuts with this essential blackout kit
With potential storms and snow on the horizon, it's worth checking to make sure that you're prepared for everything the winter can throw at you!
Make sure your home is prepared for any unexpected outages – storms, wind, heat, ice and snow can all cause temporary blackouts, so we’ve had a look at the essential comforts that will help you stay comfortable in a power cut.
Our blackout must-haves include practical buys like a first aid kit and battery-powered lamps, as well as power banks that will keep your devices charged for messaging, streaming and social media. Plus, we always like to have a cuppa to hand on chilly winter evenings, so we’ve also included a couple of the best USB-rechargeable flasks and mugs.
Check that everyone in your family knows where the kit is stored in case of emergencies!
In the meantime, you can find advice and ideas for reducing your energy consumption and cutting down bills in our energy-efficient section.
Blackout kit: power cut essentials for your home
Lewis-Plast Premium 90-Piece First Aid Kit
Basic first-aid supplies are a must-have for any home, and Lewis-Plast's premium kit contains 90 items that cover all the essentials, including bandages, dressings, wound cleaning wipes, eye pads, forceps, hygienic gloves, ice packs, waterproof plasters, safety pins and scissors.
This one-stop safety kit is stored in a practical carry bag that’s not only easy to store but has been designed with plenty of compartments to make it easy to find what you need if you’re in a hurry. Larger households can upgrade to the 160, 220 or 309-piece kit.
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Everbright LED Camping Lantern
This clever rechargeable camping lantern also doubles as a phone charger, so you can kill two birds with one stone! This is a handy piece of kit to have in case your outage goes on for a couple of days.
While it looks bright, there are five lighting modes so you can choose the level of light that suits you. It also remembers the last setting that you used, so you won't dazzle yourself when you turn it back on!
It can give you 20 hours of light in an emergency and has a handle so you can hang it up if needed.
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Ember Smart Mug 2
Once charged this dapper self-heating smart mug keeps your drinks at just the right heat. Select the temperature you want using the app and an LED light will tell you when it’s ready, then use the charging coaster to keep it warm all day!
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Anker PowerBank 26800
If you don’t already have one, a power bank should be number one on the shopping list to get you through time spent off-grid. If you have a power bank you can charge your smartphone and other USB devices. Power capacity is measured in mAh, meaning milliampere hour.
Anker's PowerCore has a power capacity of 26800mAh, which means a full charge (taking just over six hours when using the dual-input ports) will give you enough juice to recharge a standard smartphone six times over and fully charge a tablet twice - plenty to see you through an outage or a long journey. Three USB ports allow you to power up to three devices at the same time, too.
And for even more charging solutions, check out our round-up of multiple USB power sockets.
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ONE cordless LED table lamp
- Buy now from Lime Lace (£139)
Available in four different colourways, this neat LED lamp might be petite (20cm high), but it packs plenty of power and can supply 100 hours of light. Charging comes via the included cable, or wirelessly on any Qi-standard charger (purchased separately).
NOBIS Power Bank
A reliable power bank is incredibly useful in a powercut or other emergencies, so it's worth investing in a good one. This NOBIS power bank can charge up your phone or laptop in no time at all, taking just 30 minutes to charge up an iPhone 15 to 60% battery.
It has four different ports, so you could potentially use it to charge multiple devices at the same time, which is a very handy feature.
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Stoov Homey Electric Hot Water Bottle
If you don't have the electricity to boil a kettle, this electric hot water bottle could help you stay warm for up to four hours (provided that you've remembered to charge it!).
It doesn't use any water, so there's no risk of scalding accidents, and it has a cosy fabric cover that's perfect for snuggling.
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