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A Winter Power-Outage Kit That Saves Your Phone Battery: A Flashlight, Headlamps, a Power Bank, and the Batteries to Keep With Them

By Best Items Staff
A winter-storm evening during a power outage: a couple in their thirties at a kitchen table in sweaters, the man wearing a headlamp on its red setting as he sorts AA and AAA batteries into a clear storage bin, the woman checking a phone plugged into a compact black power bank, a zoomable flashlight lying on the table with its beam across the wood, snow falling past the dark window, mugs and a folded wool blanket nearby, calm and cozy, candid editorial

The first winter storm of the season usually arrives with a weather alert on your phone. The trouble starts a few hours later, when the power goes out and that same phone is suddenly your flashlight, your news feed, and your only way to call anyone, all on one shrinking battery. The fix isn't one gadget. It's a small kit that takes light and backup power off the phone, so its battery goes to calls, texts, and updates. Here are the five products already on Best Items we'd put in that kit, and how to set it up before the first storm.

Why the phone shouldn't be your flashlight

In a long outage, cell networks can get congested or lose power too, and every minute of using the phone's flashlight or streaming news comes out of the battery you're saving for calls. Dedicated lights and a charged power bank cover most of what the phone would otherwise do. For storm news, turn on your phone's emergency alerts before the season starts, and if you already own a battery-powered radio, add it to the bin with fresh batteries. Prices on the site update daily, so check each product page for the current price.

Light: a flashlight to carry and headlamps for your hands

Lepro LED Flashlight, High Lumens Zoomable Waterproof is the grab-it light. Per its product page, it's a compact, high-lumen flashlight with adjustable zoom focus, a waterproof design, and a wrist strap, pitched for power outages, camping, and everyday carry. Zoom out to light a room, zoom in to find the breaker panel or check the steps outside. Catalog rating: 4.6 / 5.0.

LHKNL Rechargeable LED Headlamp Flashlight, 2-Pack is for everything you need two hands for: cooking without power, hauling blankets, or getting kids to bed. The listing describes ultra-light, waterproof headlamps with white and red light, a motion sensor, eight modes, and USB charging. Red light is easier on everyone's eyes in a dark room, and the 2-pack means two adults each have one. Catalog rating: 4.6 / 5.0.

Backup power for the phone

INIU 10000mAh 45W Fast Charging Portable Power Bank, Travel Charger is what keeps the phone going. Per its product page, it's a compact 10,000mAh power bank with up to 45W fast charging for phones, tablets, and small gadgets. Depending on your phone, that's roughly one full recharge, so treat it as a reserve: turn the phone's brightness down, close apps, and top up when the phone gets low rather than keeping it at full. Catalog rating: 4.5 / 5.0.

Charge the power bank fully when it arrives, then top it up every few months so it's ready when you need it. That's the most important habit with any backup battery.

The batteries to keep with it

Energizer Alkaline Power AAA Batteries, 32 Pack cover the AAA devices in the house, from flashlights to the TV remotes, wireless mice, and holiday decorations that eat AAAs all winter. The listing notes they hold power in storage, which is what you want in a kit that sits in a closet. Catalog rating: 4.8 / 5.0.

Amazon Basics AA Alkaline High-Performance Batteries, 1.5 Volt, 48 Pack are for everything else: flashlights, battery lanterns, clocks, and the kids' toys that keep them busy when the screens go dark. The listing describes a 10-year leak-free shelf life. Catalog rating: 4.7 / 5.0.

Before you stock up, look at what you actually own. Check which size each flashlight, lantern, and radio takes, and buy for those. Store batteries in their packaging in a cool, dry place, and don't leave alkaline cells sitting in devices you rarely use, where they're more likely to leak.

Build a simple outage bin this weekend

Use one clear bin or a sturdy tote that lives somewhere everyone in the house knows about, like the hall closet or the bottom of the pantry. Inside: the flashlight, the headlamps (charged) with their USB cable, the power bank (charged) with a cable that fits your phone, the AAA and AA packs, and a list of important phone numbers on paper. Add blankets, water, and food you can eat without cooking according to the guidance from your local emergency management office or Ready.gov. Put a reminder in your calendar for the day the clocks change each year to charge the power bank and headlamps, test the flashlight, and swap any batteries that look tired.

A safety note: during an outage, use battery lights rather than candles where you can, and never run a generator, grill, or camp stove indoors or in an attached garage.

Who this kit is for, and who needs more

It's a good fit if you live where winter storms, ice, or high winds knock out power, you've been relying on your phone as a flashlight, or you want a kit that's easy to hand to a parent or a first-time homeowner. You'll need more if you want a dedicated weather radio that sounds alerts on its own (look for listings that specifically mention that feature), or you need a large power station to run medical equipment or a refrigerator, which is a different and much bigger purchase.

The bottom line

A winter outage is easier when the phone isn't doing every job. Keep the Lepro flashlight and LHKNL headlamps for light, the INIU power bank for the phone, and Energizer AAA and Amazon Basics AA batteries for everything else, in one bin everyone can find. Charge it all before the first storm, and check each product page for the current price.