C1 Paraffin Review: Which Paraffin to Buy for Heaters and Lamps
C1 paraffin is the clean-burning grade for indoor heaters and paraffin lamps, and it’s easy to buy the wrong one. What to look for, and why this is our pick.
Power, Light & Comms
Reviews of emergency radios, torches, glow sticks, power banks, and off-grid communication devices.
Lepro Torch Review: The Battery Torch That Lives By Your Front Door
The Lepro torch runs on AAA batteries, so there’s nothing to charge when the power goes. Why this two-pack belongs by your front door.
Motorola T42 Review: Talkabout Walkie Talkies on Batteries
Motorola T42 walkie talkie review: the Talkabout twin pack runs on AAA batteries, so it still works in a power cut. Real UK range, licence-free, who it suits.
Lepro 2000lm Rechargeable Camping Lantern Review: Good Enough for a Power Cut?
The Lepro 2000lm lantern charges by USB or runs on AA batteries. We look at the light modes, brightness and whether it earns a place in your power cut kit.
Anker SOLIX C300X Review: Keep the Router, Phones and Lights On in a Power Cut
Anker SOLIX C300X review: the updated C300, with 288Wh of LiFePO4 power for the router, phones and lights in a power cut, and what 300W rules out.
Cyalume SnapLight Review: Colour-Coded Emergency Glow Sticks
The Cyalume SnapLight mixed pack gives you six colours of fire-free, waterproof light for up to 12 hours, and each stick keeps for five years in a kit.
Renogy N-Type 320W Monocrystalline Solar Panel 2-Pack Review: The Perfect Rigid Match for the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max
The Renogy N-Type 320W Monocrystalline Solar Panel 2-Pack is a rigid, permanently mounted option rated above the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max’s 500W input cap — because real-world UK sun never hits the spec sheet number. £319.99 for the pair.
Renogy 220W Lightweight Portable Solar Suitcase Review: EcoFlow Delta 2’s Official Pairing
The Renogy 220W Lightweight Portable Solar Suitcase matches EcoFlow’s own official two-panel setup for the Delta 2 — £219.99 each, wired in parallel to reach 440W. Here’s the full breakdown.
Renogy 400W Lightweight Portable Solar Suitcase Review: One Panel, No Wiring Decisions
The Renogy 400W Lightweight Portable Solar Suitcase lands exactly on the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2’s solar input ceiling — one panel, one connection, no series-versus-parallel wiring decision. Here’s the full breakdown.
Renogy 100W Portable Solar Panel Review: The Perfect Match for Small Power Stations
The Renogy 100W Portable Solar Panel is sized exactly for entry-level power stations like the Anker SOLIX C300 — £99.99, folds flat, kickstand included. Here’s whether it earns its place.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Review: 2kWh Backup Power That Charges in Under an Hour
EcoFlow’s Delta 3 Max holds 2,048Wh and charges to 80% in 51 minutes — double the capacity of standard 1kWh stations, at £999 (or £799 with the current Amazon voucher). Full UK review of the 3,200W X-Boost power station.
EcoFlow Delta 2 Review: The Expandable Home Backup Power Station
1024Wh LFP, 1800W AC, X-Boost runs standard UK kettles, and expandable to 3kWh with extra battery packs. The EcoFlow Delta 2 is the most capable unit in the power station cluster — and at £399, it’s exceptional value for whole-house backup power.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Review: The 1kWh Power Station That Runs a UK Household
1070Wh LiFePO4, 1500W pure sine wave, 1-hour fast charge. The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 runs your fridge, CPAP machine, and kitchen through a power cut — silently, and without petrol. Here’s what it genuinely powers, and what it doesn’t.
THUNDERPOLE T-800 Review: The Starting Point for CB Radio in the UK
The THUNDERPOLE T-800 is a £65 12V CB radio covering 80 UK/EU channels — the practical starting point for vehicle or home emergency comms. Here’s the full verdict.
BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus Review: The UV-5R, Upgraded
The UV-5RM Plus gives you USB-C charging, a colour display, airband receive, and a bigger battery over the UV-5R — for £39. Here’s the full verdict.
Kuulaa Magnetic Charging Cable Review: 3-in-1 Cable for Every Device in the House
One magnetic cable that snaps onto USB-C, Micro-USB, and Lightning — leave a tip in every device, grab the cable, charge anything. 2,200+ reviews at £13.99 for two. Here’s what we found.
OCOOPA Desk Fan Review
A 5-inch rechargeable desk fan with airflow you can feel from 8 feet away and up to 15 hours on a single charge. No mains socket needed — reviewed by someone who bought two.
INIU 20,000mAh Power Bank Review: The Sensible Portable Charger for UK Households
When the power goes out, your phone becomes your lifeline. News updates, contacting family, checking whether the outage is just your street or the whole postcode — all of it depends on a charged battery. If your phone’s already at 40% when the lights go off, you need a backup. That’s what a power bank … Read more
Energizer Vision HD+ Head Torch Review: The Prepper’s Case for AAA Batteries
Last winter, during a power cut that lasted most of an evening, I found myself rummaging through a kitchen drawer with my phone torch balanced between my chin and shoulder. Both hands were occupied and the beam kept moving every time I turned my head. What I needed — what any sensible prepared household needs … Read more
XtraLite NiteSafe Review: The Power-Cut Torch That Turns On Automatically
Most torches in UK homes have one thing in common: nobody knows where they are when the power goes out. The XtraLite NiteSafe solves this with an approach so simple it’s almost annoying — it lives in the plug socket, charges itself, and turns on automatically the moment the lights go out. No hunting through … Read more