For many people, winter can be the toughest time of year, especially when storms are raging. But with the right gadgets, you can weather any storm. In the 70′s, when I was a kid, there was a snowstorm in southern Indiana and the power was out for a few days. We’ve always had a wood-burning stove for warmth and for heating food. I know not everyone has access to wood, a fireplace, or a wood-burning stove, so here are five gadgets that can help almost anyone weather a winter storm with relative ease and comfort.
Portable power stations are a great way to stay connected during winter storms. It can provide you with electricity for lighting, heating, telephone, computer and other daily necessities. Depending on the capacity of the power plant, it could even power your refrigerator so your food doesn’t spoil while you wait for the power to come back on. Keep it properly charged and be sure to read the safety instructions before use. We recommend Bluetti, EcoFlow and Jackery for power plants. Our own Bill Henderson knows first-hand the importance of power plants during natural disasters. He used them a few months ago during Hurricane Young.
Aside from the Bill power plants mentioned above, if you want the best of the best, you can’t go wrong with power plants from BLUETTI and EcoFlow. To learn more about these brands, read our BLUETTI power station review and our EcoFlow power station review. You can also check out all of our power plant reviews for other brands worth checking out.
A regular FM radio or a dedicated emergency radio are essential gadgets during winter storms. Not only will this give you important weather updates, but it will also allow you to tune in to local radio stations with business closures and other information during the storm and recovery. The radio also lets you enjoy music when you’re out of battery, can’t watch your favorite shows on the TV, can’t play video games on your Xbox, and more. The radio pictured above is a Midland ER310. This is a great option because it can be powered in a variety of ways. It has a rechargeable battery, a crank that charges the battery when you turn it, it can run on regular AA batteries, and it can even be powered by solar power!
A flashlight is essential during a power outage. Not only can you use them to navigate your home in the dark, but you can also use the flashlight to signal for help in an emergency. Today, many flashlights can be recharged via USB. This is a great feature in most situations, but in an emergency without a power source, you won’t be able to charge the flashlight when the battery dies. That’s why you should have at least one traditional battery-operated flashlight at home. With readily available AA/AAA batteries, your flashlight will always be ready to go. Some of my favorite flashlights from Olight. While many of their flashlights come with rechargeable batteries, they also sell smaller EDC flashlights that run on standard AA or AAA batteries, like the 300-lumen i5T EOS flashlight for under $30. Check out all of our flashlight reviews.
When temperatures drop below freezing and your power fails, it’s important to stay warm. Heated jackets, vests and gloves will keep you warm during a power outage.
Post time: Dec-28-2022