Gear Lab

Need it, situational, or skip.

Six scores, one straight answer. Spend on what matters first.

SituationalCommunication$$

Hand-crank emergency radio

Worth it if your outages last days or you are in fire country. If your power comes back in hours, your phone and a charged power bank already do this job.

usefulness: 4/5
reliability: 3/5
ease: 4/5
durability: 3/5
portability: 4/5
value: 4/5

Full review

Need itPower$$$

Portable power station

The backup power most households should buy before a generator. Silent, safe indoors, and it runs phones, lights, a router and a CPAP overnight.

usefulness: 5/5
reliability: 4/5
ease: 5/5
durability: 4/5
portability: 3/5
value: 4/5

Full review

Need itWater$

Stackable 7-gallon water container

The first thing to buy. One jug is about two days for a family of four, it stacks in a garage, and it costs less than a takeout dinner.

usefulness: 5/5
reliability: 4/5
ease: 5/5
durability: 4/5
portability: 3/5
value: 5/5

Full review