Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Blackout Tech: Portable Power Stations, Solar Panels & Emergency Radios
24
items After a long power outage last winter, our family put together a real blackout kit. A portable power station, folding solar panels, and a hand crank radio kept our phones charged, our fridge cold, and us informed. These are the blackout tech essentia...
Sections
3
Portable Power Stations
Solar Panels & Generators
Radios, Lanterns & Flashlights
Portable Power Stations
Battery stations that run essentials during outages.
This Jackery power station kept our fridge, phones, and a lamp running through a long winter outage, and it was completely silent. It recharges quickly from the wall or solar panels, and the push button start is simple. I felt real peace of mind duri...
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra Portable Power Station
This EcoFlow DELTA Pro has enough capacity to run our refrigerator, sump pump, and internet for days during an outage. It rolls on wheels, recharges fast, and the app shows exactly how much power we are using. It is a serious investment that I think ...
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station
This compact EcoFlow RIVER keeps our phones, laptops, and a light running when the power goes out. It recharges to full in about an hour, and it is light enough to carry anywhere in the house. We also take it camping, so it earns its spot in our clos...
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Portable Power Station
This Anker SOLIX power station has enough output to run a microwave or space heater during outages, and it recharges remarkably fast. The handles make it easy to move between rooms, and the app tracks our usage. It is the backup battery I recommend t...
Anker SOLIX C1000X Portable Power Station
This BLUETTI power station packs a lot of capacity into a small, quiet box that runs our essentials during outages. The long lasting battery chemistry means it will serve us for years, and it charges quickly. I keep it charged in our hall closet, and...
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 Portable Power Station
This DEWALT power station runs on the same batteries as my power tools, which makes it a smart backup for our garage and home. It powers lights, chargers, and small appliances during outages, and it also charges my tool batteries. It is rugged enough...
DEWALT 1800 Watt Portable Power Station and Battery Charger
This Anker SOLIX station kept our refrigerator and internet running through a full day without power, and it stayed quiet enough to sit in the kitchen. The push button start is simple, and it recharges quickly from the wall. I like that the handles m...
Anker SOLIX S2000 Portable Power Station
This BLUETTI is the mid sized station I grab first when the lights flicker, because it is light enough to carry with one hand. It runs our router, lamps, and phone chargers for hours, and it recharges fast. I keep it topped up in our hall closet, and...
BLUETTI AC70 Portable Power Station
Solar Panels & Generators
Panels and generators for recharging off the grid.
This Jackery SolarSaga panel folds small and weighs very little, which makes it easy to set up on our deck during an outage. It recharges our power station in the sun, so we are never stuck without power for long. I also bring it camping, and it has ...
Jackery SolarSaga 100W Air Portable Solar Panel
This EcoFlow solar panel recharges our power station quickly on sunny days, and the built in kickstand makes angling it easy. It is waterproof, folds into a carrying case, and sets up in a minute. It keeps our blackout kit running indefinitely, which...
EcoFlow 160W Portable Solar Panel
This Goal Zero solar briefcase has a rugged aluminum frame and folds into a protective case, so it survives being stored in our garage for years. It charges our power station reliably, and the kickstand makes setup easy. It is built to last, which is...
Goal Zero Boulder 200 Solar Panel Briefcase
This Generac generator runs on gasoline, propane, or natural gas, which gives us flexibility during long outages when fuel is scarce. The electric start is easy, and it powers our whole essential circuit. It is our heavy duty backup for the big storm...
Generac Tri Fuel Portable Generator with Electric Start
This Westinghouse generator runs on gas or propane and powers our refrigerator, furnace fan, and lights during long outages. It starts reliably every time, and the fuel gauge makes refilling easy. It has carried our family through several winter stor...
Westinghouse 5000 Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator
This Jackery solar generator bundle gives us a large battery plus a solar panel, so we can run essentials quietly for days. It has an app to monitor usage, and it recharges from the sun or the wall. It is the quiet, indoor safe backup I recommend to ...
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 v2 with 200W Solar Panel
This DuroMax inverter generator produces clean power safe for our electronics and enough output to run most of our home during outages. It runs on gas or propane, and the electric start is simple. It is a powerful backup that kept our house comfortab...
DuroMax XP9500iH Dual Fuel Inverter Generator
This Goal Zero Nomad panel folds down small enough to store behind our couch, and it unfolds in seconds when I need to recharge our power station. It works well even on hazy days, and the loops let me hang it from the deck rail. It is the panel I pac...
Goal Zero Nomad 100 Portable Solar Panel
Radios, Lanterns & Flashlights
Radios and lights for staying safe in the dark.
This Midland weather radio sounds an alarm for severe weather warnings in our county, even in the middle of the night. It woke us before a tornado warning last spring, which convinced me every home needs one. It has a battery backup, so it keeps work...
Midland WR120B NOAA Weather Alert Radio
This Black Diamond headlamp keeps my hands free while I check the breaker box or cook by candlelight during outages. It is bright, waterproof, and the red light mode keeps night vision intact. Everyone in our family has one in their emergency kit, an...
Black Diamond Storm 450 Headlamp
This Midland crank radio gives us weather alerts even when the batteries are dead, since I can power it by hand or with the solar panel on top. The flashlight is bright, and it can top up my phone in a pinch. It sits on our kitchen shelf all storm se...
Midland E+READY Emergency Crank Weather Alert Radio
This Coast flashlight throws a wide, bright beam that lights our whole backyard, and the slide focus lets me switch to a tight spot in a second. It recharges by cable, or runs on regular batteries as a backup. I keep it by our back door, and it has n...
Coast XP11R Rechargeable LED Flashlight with Slide Focus
This Eton radio pulls in weather alerts and local stations clearly, and I can charge it with the hand crank, the solar panel, or a wall plug. It also plays music from my phone, so we use it on camping trips too. During our last long outage it kept us...
American Red Cross by Eton ODYSSEY Portable Weather Radio
This Milwaukee lantern runs on the same batteries as my drill, so it is always charged when the power goes out. It lights our whole kitchen with a soft, even glow, and the hook lets me hang it over the stove. It also charges my phone, which makes it ...
Milwaukee M18 Cordless LED Lantern Trouble Light
This Sangean radio feels tougher than any emergency radio I have owned, with rubber bumpers and a big handle. It runs from the crank, the sun, or its rechargeable battery, and the reception is excellent. I keep it in our basement shelter kit, and my ...
Sangean MMR-99 Portable Emergency Weather Radio
This RYOBI area light uses the batteries from my yard tools and brightens an entire room during a blackout. It has three brightness levels, and the handle hangs from a hook in our garage. I set it on the dining table so we can play cards, and it runs...
RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless LED Area Light