Category Archives: Products

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Having a reliable light source is important during an emergency or a power outage.  In previous posts, I have reviewed flashlights, emergency lights, and headlamps.  In this post, I’ll review a larger light that you will want to have in your home.

The Energizer Weather Ready LED Night Light is a hand-held lantern that has multiple lighting modes that can be used depending upon the situation.  It can fold open and provide 360º illumination or it can remain folded and offer more directional lighting.  It has a night light which uses very little power along with a two multi-mode LED lights that have two brightness settings.  According to the manufacturer, this unit can provide 135 hours of operation on one set (4x D-cells) of batteries.  This is a long time and will come in handy during extended power outages.

I’ve had a pair of these for several years now and really like them.  They are rugged and have worked well during the last few power outages.  Lanterns like this complement the other flashlights and emergency lights I keep around the house, so I am glad I have these.  Normally, I keep one in the kitchen and one in my closet although you could also carry one of these in your car or keep one in your office.

Next time you see one of these online or at a local retailer, pick one up and see what I am talking about.  Small, compact lights are great to have but sometimes, you need a big lantern like this to really light things up.

Overall Rating:  7/10

Click here to order your Energizer Weather Ready LED Night Light

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A while back, I discovered how useful headlamps were.  They are a lot easier to work with than carrying a flashlight and whatever they lack in light output, they more than make up for with hands-free operation.  So I purchased a Petzl Tikka Plus several years ago at REI and LOVE IT!  Its one of the best purchases I have made, so I got another one for my Bug Out Bag.

Why do I like it so much?  The four LEDs put out a good amount of light and have multiple modes (three brightness settings plus strobe function) you can use.  It weighs less than 3 ounces and has a comfortable, adjustable headband that is just the right thickness for adult human heads.  I’ve used mine on camping trips for many years and don’t know how I lived without one.

Petzl makes a wide range of other quality products like this one.  If you are looking for a headlamp, this one is hard to beat.

Overall Rating:  9/10

Click here to purchase a Petzl Tikka LED Headlamp, Storm Gray

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One thing you need to have in an emergency is a good battery-powered radio.  If you want a great one, consider buying this one:

I purchased a Sony ICF-SW7600GR a few years ago based upon several outstanding recommendations and reviews.  Its an AM/FM/SW radio that is well-built and easy to use.  Many people use this as their everyday radio, especially in more remote areas.  The quality is second to none (Made in Japan), which is great when you have to rely upon it during bad times.

After I purchased mine, I created several lists of channels that I can access during an emergency.  I also set the clock so I can use it as a clock-radio alarm if the power is out for a long period of time.  The AA batteries in it will last over 40 hours, giving you a lot of time between changes.

The only downside to this unit is that the short-wave radio can only be tuned in 1kHz increments.  This isn’t a problem if the radio station you wish to tune in uses whole numbers like BBC (ex. 11910 MHz).  However, many broadcasters like NOAA Weather Radio use fractional frequencies (ex. 162.425 MHz) to transmit their signals.  This can be a problem because you won’t be able to hear broadcasts from FEMA, NOAA, local police, and other official agencies.  Just keep this limitation in mind if you are thinking about purchasing this radio.

Overall Rating:  7/10

Click here to buy the Sony ICF-SW7600GR AM/FM Shortwave World Band Receiver

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Its always good to have flashlights available for when things go wrong.  I my opinion, its even better to have one of these handy.

The classic Maglite 5 cell D is a great flashlight to have.  Its been used by police, fire and rescue, and military units from around the world for decades because of its legendary reliability.  Its manufactured from aircraft aluminum and is remarkably strong yet lightweight for its size.  It comes in many sizes but I’m going to focus this review on the 5-cell D version.

Why get this particular flashlight?  Well, its a multipurpose too; it can act as a flashlight, baton, and hammer when needed.  It is long, heavy, and strong which makes it a handy baton in a defensive situation.  Also, if you have to break glass to escape from a room (ex. during a fire) this flashlight is strong enough to do so.  Oh, and it produces a lot of light too.  The one I have uses an incandescent bulb, which can be focused from a wide cone to a narrow beam by twisting the top.  Maglite also manufacturers LED versions of this and other size flashlights.

The Maglite also has the twin virtues of being manufactured in the USA and widely available.  I purchased mine at Fry’s Electronics for less than $25 and see them at sporting goods stores and other retailers.  Parts are widely available too since Maglites have proven so popular since their introduction.  Their quality is second to none as well, meaning that a well-maintained Maglite will last for many years.

If you have a moment, read the story of Mag Instrument, Inc. and its founder Anthony Maglica.

Overall Rating: 10/10

Click here to purchase a Maglite 5 Cell D Flashlight, Black

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One thing you need to have handy is a radio, preferably one that can run from multiple power sources.  This will come in handy during an emergency when power is out, allowing you to get news and updates so you can be informed.  I’ve owned an ETON Solarlink FR360 like this one for a few years:

So what do I think?

Its a really handy item because it can do a lot of things and comes in a nice, small package.  It has a Ni-MH battery that can be charged by the solar panel, the hand crank, or an option AC adapter.  It can also use AAA Alkaline batteries as an additional power source.  All of this means you have multiple ways of powering the unit in the event that one fails.  The FR360 also has a USB plug that you can use to recharge your cell phone or other battery-operated device.

Also, this unit has AM, FM, and NOAA band capabilities.  The digital tuner is used for the AM/FM radio while the NOAA weatherbands are on a side dial.  You only get about five minutes of radio time per 90-second crank so keep that in mind if the alkaline batteries aren’t available.

Lastly, the Solarlink has some LEDs built into one side of the unit that provide some illumination.  They aren’t particularly bright but they are good enough in an emergency.  The lights have multiple modes which can be used in an emergency to signal for help.

I keep one of these handy in my safe room and have taken it camping with me in the past.  Its a great tool to have and I strongly suggest you either purchase this unit or something similar to it.  Being in touch during an emergency is a great capability to have, especially when there is no power.  The ETON Solarlink FR360 is worth the $50 or so you will spend on it, particularly since it does well as a radio, charger, and light source.  I use it and recommend it.

Overall Rating:  7/10

Click here to purchase the Eton FR360B Solarlink AM/FM/NOAA Radio (Black)