What’s Your Go-To Item for Power Outages?

[MeadowWhisperer]

When the grid goes down, I always reach for my LED lantern and a solar charger. Curious what everyone else relies on first—portable batteries, hand-crank radios, or something else? Trying to decide if I should diversify a bit more.

 

[StarlitNavigator]

First thing I grab is my hand-crank radio with the built-in flashlight—never fails me and doesn’t need batteries. Ever tried one with the USB phone charger too?

 

[BlueSkyWanderer]

Candles and a wind-up lantern are my immediate grab, mostly out of habit. But honestly, solar chargers have been a real game changer for me, especially for keeping my phone alive during longer outages. I did try one of those hand-crank radio/flashlight combos but found the cranking tough on my wrists after a bit. Anyone found a brand that’s a little gentler on the hands?

 

[AquaFern1028]

Always grab my rechargeable headlamp first—hands free and bright enough for most tasks. Has anyone tried one of those magnetic LED work lights during outages?

 

[OrbitJazz21]

Portable power station’s my number one grab, every single time. Picked up a mid-sized solar generator a couple years back—charges with fold-out solar panels that I set up on the porch if the grid’s down more than a few hours. Keeps my basic music gear running (never know when inspiration might hit during a blackout), and it’ll top up phones, run a fan, small lights, etc. Not as cheap as lanterns and candles, but the peace of mind and flexibility? Worth every penny.

Used to be candles and battery lanterns, but candles make me nervous, and batteries add up. Those magnetic LED work lights are slick, by the way—super handy if you wanna keep your hands free, and some have magnetic bases that stick right up above your workspace.

Funny thing about those hand-crank radios—love the idea, but totally agree that cranking gets old fast (and my elbows aren