Keith The Prepper

Energizer Vision HD+ Head Torch – Read the full review →

Doesn’t come in camo, only ‘rust’, so I can only wear it with my matching autumn gillie suit. A full 5 stars for performance. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

INIU 20,000mAh Power Bank – Read the full review →

I already built my own power bank from nine AA batteries, a USB hub, and a biscuit tin I waterproofed with a tube of bathroom sealant. It holds 40% less charge, weighs twice as much, and destroyed my wife’s phone. In hindsight the INIU is probably more practical. Five stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Portwest C474 Hi-Vis Vest – Read the full review →

I already own four hi-vis vests. One from a motorway breakdown kit I bought in 2019, one from a charity shop that may have belonged to a lollipop man, one I found in the garage that I don’t remember purchasing, and one I ordered specifically for this review. They are all medium. I am not a medium. The Portwest goes up to 5XL. I have ordered three. Five stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

XtraLite NiteSafe – Read the full review →

I’ve been meaning to build one of these myself using a motion sensor, a USB battery pack, and a length of conduit cable from B&Q. This is basically the same thing but it works, fits the socket, and hasn’t tripped the fuse box. I’ve ordered four. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hi-Spec 24pc Tool Kit — Read the full review →

I already have a comprehensive individual toolkit with professional-grade tools, but I bought this for the shed as a backup. I’ve since added a tactical carrying strap to the case and labelled each tool with a unique identifier in case of audit. Five stars for the tools. Would benefit from a military spec locking mechanism. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

FireShield Home Fire Safety Pack Review — Read the full review →

I have this mounted in the kitchen. I also have a 2kg CO2 for the home office, a 6kg ABC in the garage, and a wet chemical K-class rated unit adjacent to the hob. The lady from the fire service who did our home safety check stopped writing at some point and just looked at me. My wife pretends she doesn’t know where any of them are. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Best Energy Bars for Your UK Emergency Kit: Five Honest Recommendations — Read the full review →

I have conducted a full cost-per-calorie analysis across all five brands using a spreadsheet I built in 2019. The spreadsheet has an error in column F that I haven’t found yet. In the meantime I have ordered 100 Eat Natural bars because they were on offer. The offer has since ended. Five stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Manthorpe Airbrick Flood Defence Review — Read the full review →

I’ve fitted six frames. My house has four airbricks. I found two more on the front elevation that I’m fairly sure are decorative, but I’ve covered them anyway. My wife has drawn a map. I consider this thorough. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

British Army 24-Hour Ration Packs: The Honest UK Emergency Food Review — Read the full review →

I have all thirty-six menus in the garage. Organised by menu number on a custom shelving unit. None are open — I’m sourcing a temperature-controlled storage solution first. Fifteen degrees is optimal. It’s on order. Has been for a while. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

OCOOPA USB Rechargeable Desk Fan Review — Read the full review →

I’ve positioned mine on top of my go-bag in the hallway for rapid deployment. It provides a 45-degree cooling arc from that location and I’ve mapped the airflow pattern with a piece of ribbon. I ordered a second before my wife could ask any questions. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pecute Dog Cooling Mat Review: No Freezer, No Plug, No Problem — Read the full review →

I have one in every size. The XS is for the cat, the M is for the living room, the L is for the garage, and the XXXL is on my side of the bed for emergency personal cooling. My wife has questions I have not answered yet. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SOL Collapsible Dog Bowl Review: £4.99 for Two, Clips to Your Bag, Job Done — Read the full review →

I have forty-seven of these across my bags, coat pockets, vehicles, and garage shelving. This may be slightly more than I need. I have not yet needed all forty-seven simultaneously but I am prepared for the scenario in which I do. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SnuggleSafe Microwave Heat Pad Review: No Electricity, 10 Hours of Warmth — Read the full review →

I have ordered six. One for the dog, one for backup, one in the car bag, two for the go-bag, and one I cannot currently locate. My wife says she has not moved any of them. The investigation is ongoing. For the record: twenty-four pounds and works without electricity. That is the correct answer to the question of how to keep a small animal warm in a power cut. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SentrySafe 1160 Review: UL-Tested Fireproof Document Safe That Actually Takes A4 — Read the full review →

I have one for documents, one for the backup documents, and one for the backup backup documents — each with a laminated index. My wife has pointed out that the index lives inside the first box, which she says defeats the purpose. I say the index is a navigation aid, not a document. This is an ongoing discussion. The box itself is excellent. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

FRIO Insulin Cooling Wallet Review — Read the full review →

I’ve got a diabetic in the family — when I started prepping seriously, one of the first questions I asked was what happens to their insulin in a power cut. This wallet was the answer. Fill it with cold water, it stays cool for 45 hours without any electricity. Costs less than a decent torch. Sorted. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Riemann P20 Sensitive SPF50+ Review: One Application, All Day — Read the full review →

Took me three summers to admit my wife was right about this one. Put it on in the morning, done for the day. No reapplying, no faffing, no excuses. I’ve said it once, I won’t say it again. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lifesystems Sun Cream Sachets Review: SPF50 for Your Kit, Not Your Bathroom — Read the full review →

I had a bottle of sun cream in my kit bag since 2021. Cap had welded itself shut. My wife threw it out and replaced it with these. Begrudging admission: they are better. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Craghoppers Kiwi II Review: Sun and Insect Protection in One Shirt — Read the full review →

The NosiDefence fabric is a physical insect barrier — no DEET required, no reapplication in the field. I’ve briefed this into my summer tactical rotation alongside the trousers. The roll-up sleeves allow temperature adaptation without removing the layer. My wife pointed out I now own four versions of essentially the same shirt. That’s called redundancy. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Aloe Vera Gel Review: The Natural Aftersun That’s Been Working for Centuries — Read the full review →

I have an aloe vera plant in the garage as part of my emergency botanical preparedness station. I also carry the tube as a field-deployable backup. My wife pointed out the tube is essentially the plant in a different format. I have ordered three more plants. Redundancy is not the same as duplication. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tifosi Navar Review: Wrap-Around UV400 Sports Sunglasses That Actually Prove It — Read the full review →

I already owned fourteen pairs of sunglasses. None of them were polycarbonate, wrap-around, UV400 certified from a verified UK brand with six size options and grips that improve in sweaty conditions. I now own fifteen. My wife has asked me not to open the box until I have worn one of the other fourteen. I have opened the box. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat Review: Wide-Brim Done Right — Read the full review →

I already own several sun hats but none of them have a built-in neck cape, UPF50+ rating, six size options, and eleven colour choices from a brand that actually tests what they claim. I ordered immediately in olive, which coordinates with the autumn ghillie suit. My wife has pointed out it is May. I am prepared for October. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Braun PRT2000 Age Precision Digital Thermometer Review — Read the full review →

I have six thermometers — a clinical digital, two tympanic ear probes, an infrared forehead model, a thermocouple from a catering supplier, and the Braun PRT2000 my wife pointed out I already had before I bought the others. She keeps it in the first aid kit. I cannot find three of the others. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kuulaa Magnetic Charging Cable Review: 3-in-1 Cable for Every Device in the House — Read the full review →

I already have fourteen charging cables — one for each device in each room, plus one for each vehicle and two spares in the tactical bag. This single cable would have made all of them redundant. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I’ve ordered four of these anyway, as backup for the backups. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sukeen Cooling Towel Review — Read the full review →

I had developed a cooling vest using frozen water bottles sewn into a tactical vest which my wife described as “both dangerous and a waste of a good vest.” The Sukeen towel is significantly lighter, requires no freezing, and takes up a fraction of the space. My wife uses hers during her morning walks in summer. My cooling vest is in the shed with the other projects. Five stars for the towel. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One Step Pet First Aid Kit Review — Read the full review →

I already have a pet first aid kit but I built it myself from individual components sourced across seven different websites. Mine has more items but I had to be honest with myself that I keep mine in a carrier bag. The tick remover in this kit is the same correct hook type I use. Keith’s wife handles all pet first aid in this house now. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

General Medi First Aid Kit Review: 309 Pieces, ISO Certified, Actually Complete — Read the full review →

I keep one in the 4×4, one in the garage, one in the tactical bag, and one clipped to the side of my vest. My wife suggested we should also have one we might actually use. I have ordered a fifth. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Faithfull Jerry Can Review — Read the full review →

I’ve had the same Faithfull can for four years. When the petrol queues hit in 2021, I had 20 litres in the shed, certified and legal, stored exactly as the PCR 2014 requires. My wife thought I was being ridiculous right up until she needed to drive somewhere urgently and the pumps were empty. The triple handle takes some getting used to — grip the swing handle with both hands for a full can — but once you know what you’re doing, it’s solid. Don’t mess about with cheap plastic cans for petrol. This is the one. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Motorola T42 Review: Talkabout Walkie Talkies on Batteries — Read the full review →

I already have a CHIRP-programmed Baofeng and a CB rig in the Land Rover Discovery. The T42 is not that. But when the power goes and someone in my house needs to grab a radio without reading a forty-page manual first, this is the one they grab. I have a drawer for these. They’re in it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus Review: The UV-5R, Upgraded — Read the full review →

I have owned four UV-5Rs since 2019. None of them were legal. I have since obtained a Foundation licence, which — as it turns out — takes one evening and costs £27. The UV-5RM Plus is a significant upgrade. I’ve ordered two. My wife is not thrilled, but she has already claimed one for herself, so. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

THUNDERPOLE T-800 Review: The Starting Point for CB Radio in the UK — Read the full review →

I had a CB radio in the van for about twelve years. Never needed it. Then we had a week where the mobile signal dropped out across three counties and I needed it every single day. The T-800 is exactly what I’d have bought if I was starting from scratch. No licence, no faff, eighty channels, fits on the dash. Buy one. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Review: The 1kWh Power Station That Runs a UK Household — Read the full review →

I’ve wired mine into a series circuit with three solar panels, a hand-cranked dynamo I adapted from an old food processor, and what I’m calling a ‘passive charge multiplier’ which is currently made of copper pipe and good intentions. The unit itself is producing negative six watts. The issue is the multiplier. I’m close. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EcoFlow Delta 2 Review: The Expandable Home Backup Power Station — Read the full review →

I’ve connected both Extra Batteries and wired all three units in series through a junction box I built from a biscuit tin. The biscuit tin caught fire again. I have ordered a second biscuit tin. The X-Boost is a genuinely impressive feature and I have already designed a modification that should double its effective range. My wife has asked me to do this outside. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Portable Power Station Review — Read the full review →

I ran the numbers on this one. The 51-minute charge means you can refill it from a generator in under an hour and put it away. 2,048Wh runs the fridge, freezer, and boiler controller simultaneously without watching the percentage. The maths works out. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Renogy 100W Portable Solar Panel Review — Read the full review →

Bought the 400W one first, obviously. This is the one that actually fits my wife’s little power bank. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Renogy 400W Lightweight Portable Solar Suitcase Review — Read the full review →

One panel, one cable, no wiring decisions to get wrong. Even I couldn’t mess this one up. Mostly. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Renogy 220W Lightweight Portable Solar Suitcase Review — Read the full review →

Bought one, waited a week wondering why it wasn’t charging properly. Turns out you need two. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Renogy N-Type 320W Monocrystalline Solar Panel 2-Pack Review — Read the full review →

Drilled straight through the shed roof felt mounting these. Panels are fine. The shed has questions. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Review — Read the full review →

Found a tick the size of a baked bean on my ankle two summers ago before I knew what Lyme disease actually does to you. This lives in the day bag now, no exceptions — 12 hours means I’m not faffing with it every time I stop for a brew. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tick Twister Tick Remover Review — Read the full review →

Lives in the first aid kit, not loose in a pocket — three separate bits is one too many to carry rattling around, but I’m not precious about that when Tick Twister actually gets the whole tick out first time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lifesystems Tick Tweezers Review — Read the full review →

One tool, one pocket, no faffing about which of three hooks I need. Lifesystems Tick Tweezers are the ones actually on me day to day — the bigger kit stays in the car for when I’ve got time to think about it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Smidge Tick Removing Card — Read the full review →

I used to carry the full tick kit — headtorch, tweezers, alcohol wipes, the lot — in a bumbag just for a dog walk round the block. Turns out a fiver’s worth of plastic card in my wallet does the same job without me looking like I’m about to defuse something in the park. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

FRONTLINE Spot On for Cats — Read the full review →

Applied it, then immediately let the cat sit on my lap for an hour like an idiot. She headbutted the spot twice before it dried. Spent the evening washing my jumper and explaining to my wife why I smelled odd. Give it a few hours, unlike me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

FRONTLINE Spot On for Dogs — Read the full review →

Applied it, then immediately scooped the dog up for a cuddle like an idiot. Spent the rest of the afternoon smelling faintly of pesticide and explaining to my wife why I couldn’t hold the baby for two hours. Read the instructions, unlike me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lepro Torch Review: The Battery Torch That Lives By Your Front Door — Read the full review →

I’ve got a rechargeable tactical torch with six modes, and I’ve never used it past “on”. My wife bought a pair of these and put one on the shelf by the front door. Hers has worked every single time. Mine has been “charging” since March. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

NOCO Boost GB40 Jump Starter: The One Piece of Kit That Pays for Itself the First Time Your Car Won’t Start — Read the full review →

I’ve got the NOCO Boost GB40, the GB70, and the GB150. The GB150 handles my 4×4 which has a 4.2L diesel — the GB40 wouldn’t manage it, but it handles my wife’s Fiesta perfectly when she leaves the interior light on. One in every vehicle and a spare in the garage. I actually had to use it last February and it was the most unexpectedly practical thirty seconds of my preparedness career. Five stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thetford Porta Potti 365 Review: The Emergency Toilet That Needs No Mains — Read the full review →

I have a full composting toilet system in the garage that has never been opened. The Thetford Porta Potti 365 is the one that lives in the utility room, because it takes up about the space of a laundry basket and works with no power at all. My wife has stopped asking questions about it, which I am treating as approval. The field latrine kit is still in its box. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Silentnight Heat Genie Review: Warmth With No Plug Needed — Read the full review →

I already own seventeen blankets, but none of them have a foil layer. I have since added foil to all of them using kitchen roll, a roll of Bacofoil and a stapler. My improved version now also doubles as a Faraday cage. Five stars for the original concept, which I have now significantly enhanced. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EcoAir DD1 Simple Review — Read the full review →

I’ve got 400 tins of beans in the garage and I only found out last month that half the labels had peeled off in the damp. My wife says I now own “mystery tins”. I should have bought one of these before I bought the beans. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cyalume SnapLight Review — Read the full review →

I used to keep 60 candles for power cuts. Then the power went and I realised I’d packed the matches in the loft. My wife now keeps a glow stick on every door handle, and I’m not allowed near the candle box. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

HotHands Hand Warmers Review — Read the full review →

I have forty-seven of these across three locations. The Land Rover has a dedicated hand warmer caddy I fabricated myself, and my tactical vest has two pockets specifically allocated. I rotate stock on a rolling twelve-month cycle. My wife keeps two in her handbag and has never once consulted the rotation schedule. They still work. I find that unsettling. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Anker SOLIX C300X Review: Keep the Router, Phones and Lights On in a Power Cut — Read the full review →

Charged, labelled and sitting next to the blackout box. When the grid goes, I’ll have Wi-Fi and the kettle… well, not the kettle. 300 watts, apparently. My wife read the box before I did. But the router stays on, and that’s what counts when the neighbours come knocking for the password. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Drench Body Wipes Review: Staying Clean When the Water’s Off — Read the full review →

My grab bag hygiene module has a camping shower, a solar shower bag and a gravity-fed water carrier. None of them work without water, which I’ve only just realised. My wife has put a pack of these in my bag, at the front. I’ve been told not to move them. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

AA Emergency Winter Car Kit Review: Should You Buy One? — Read the full review →

I bought one of these for my wife’s Fiesta as a stopgap while I assembled her proper kit. That was in 2023. The proper kit now has its own shelf in the garage, a laminated contents sheet and a spreadsheet. The AA kit is still in the Fiesta. She says it’s fine. I’ve stopped arguing. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Adeste FFP2 Masks Review: For Viruses, Dust and Your Grab Bag — Read the full review →

I have a full-face respirator with NATO-standard filters for exactly this scenario. It’s in the loft. Behind the Christmas decorations. My wife keeps a box of these by the front door, and she’s used three this week. I’ve used none. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lepro 2000lm Rechargeable Camping Lantern Review — Read the full review →

Charged, on the shelf, with a sealed pack of AAs taped to the side. When the lights go, I’ll have the brightest kitchen on the street. My wife has asked me to stop testing it at 2,000 lumens while she’s watching telly. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

FireAngel SCB10-R Review — Read the full review →

My wife asked me to change the batteries in the smoke alarms. I explained this one is sealed for ten years. She said it was the first thing I’d bought that didn’t need anything from her. I’ve fitted one on the landing and one in the hall. I’ve also bought a spare. For the spare. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BEEWAY Outdoor Tap Cover Review — Read the full review →

I bought one for the outside tap and one for the tap I thought we had round the side. We don’t have a tap round the side. My wife says the spare can go over my head next time I suggest a project. I’ve fitted it to the tap anyway. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unibos Universal Stopcock Key Review — Read the full review →

I bought this the day I read the utility shutdown guide. It lives in the boot of the Discovery next to the roadside kit. I haven’t actually found my external stopcock yet, but I know roughly where the boundary is and I’m confident. The tool itself is excellent. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Portable Gas Stove Review: Hot Food and a Brew When the Power Goes — Read the full review →

I own a four-burner expedition stove that runs on six different fuels and needs a spanner to assemble. During the last power cut my wife made tea on one of these on top of the hob before I’d found the instruction manual. She’s now asked if the expedition stove can go in the loft. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ration-X Self Heating Meals Review — Read the full review →

I’ve got forty of these in the Land Rover, sorted by menu letter in a custom drawer system, plus a second set in the garage. I haven’t heated one yet because I’m saving them for a proper emergency. My wife ate a Menu D on a fishing trip and says it’s the best thing I own. I’ve chosen not to take that personally. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

MEIJIA Waterproof Case Review — Read the full review →

I packed the wedding album, the deeds and my medal from the 1994 village fun run into it, sealed it up and felt very pleased with myself. Then my wife asked where I’d put it. The garage. The lowest room in the house. It now lives on top of the wardrobe, and I’m told that’s not up for discussion. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gritin Book Light Review — Read the full review →

I’ve got four torches in the Land Rover Discovery, one of which could signal aircraft. Last power cut I spent forty minutes reading the fuse box with my phone in my teeth. My wife used one of these. She found the problem in about ten seconds and then went back to her book. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Floodshield Flood Sock Review — Read the full review →

I measured every door in the house, built a spreadsheet, and ordered the 3m for the garage and a 1.5m for the front door. Then I spent a weekend designing a wall rack for them. My wife pointed out they store flat in a drawer. The rack is now for my other racks. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

LifeStraw Go Review — Read the full review →

I bought one for every grab bag, then my wife asked why two people needed four bottles. Contingency, I said. She’s since taken one for her handbag and uses it every day, which I’m told was the point all along. The two stages are proper kit. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

C1 Paraffin Review — Read the full review →

I bought 200 litres of the other stuff because it was cheaper. Turns out it was C2 and it’s for the boiler, which we haven’t got. My wife says the drums make the garage smell like a petrol station. I’ve now got C1 paraffin for the heater, and 200 litres of character-building in the garage. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Paraffin Heater Review — Read the full review →

I’ve got two now, one for the house and one for the garage where the Discovery lives. My wife asked why a garage needs heating when the car doesn’t feel the cold. Morale, I said. She’s since claimed the house one for her evening crossword during the last power cut, kettle on top, which I’m counting as a win for preparedness. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Manhattan Gas Heater Review — Read the full review →

I went for the Manhattan gas heater because it looks like a proper stove, which means my wife lets it live in the lounge instead of banishing it to the garage with the rest of my kit. I’ve also bought a second CO alarm, a spare AA battery and a laminated copy of the instructions. The battery is in a labelled tin. The tin is in a labelled box. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Forest Fundamentals Millbank Bag Review — Read the full review →

I bought my Millbank bag so the water butt can become drinking water if the mains ever goes off. I’ve practised twice, hanging it from the washing line. My wife has asked me to stop practising with pond water next to her tea towels. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Core Medical 70% Isopropyl Alcohol Swabs Review — Read the full review →

I designed my own skin prep station from a repurposed fishing tackle box, a travel UV steriliser wand and some small jars of medical-grade saline I found on eBay. It takes about four minutes to set up. My wife pointed out these cost pennies each and fit in a pocket. She may have a point. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Self Amalgamating Tape Review — Read the full review →

I bought three rolls. One by the stop tap, one in the Discovery and one in my grab bag. I practised on an old length of hose and wrapped it so well I couldn’t get it off again. My wife says that’s the point. I’m not sure she meant it kindly. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Aquatabs Review — Read the full review →

I keep a pouch in the grab bag, one in the Discovery and one in the kitchen drawer. I’ve read the instructions eleven times. I have not yet met any water I didn’t trust, but when I do, I’m ready for it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Heavy Duty Ground Anchors Review — Read the full review →

I’ve put them under the trampoline, the gazebo, the wheelie bins and the bird table. My wife asked whether the bird table was really at risk. I said the next storm doesn’t care about her opinion of the bird table. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐