Kit reviews
Independent, price-tracked comparisons of the kit that matters when the power cuts, the water stops or the shelves thin out. We tell you the best pick — and when not to buy at all.
Water filter straws
LifeStraw vs Sawyer vs Water-to-Go and more — the best water filter straws, bottles and pocket filters for UK buyers, compared on what they filter, lifespan and weight.
7 products compared →
Power stations
Keep the fridge, wifi and phones running in a blackout — the best UK power stations, tested against price and capacity.
10 products compared →
Emergency food
UK emergency food supplies and kits, compared on calories, shelf life and cost per adult per day — how long each lasts, plus the cheaper tin route.
5 products compared →
Water storage & purification
Containers to store emergency water, and tablets to purify it — compared on capacity, type and price for UK households.
12 products compared →
Grab bags & kits
Ready-made grab bags and emergency kits for UK households — compared on what's inside, who they cover and price.
6 products compared →
Torches & radios
Torches, head torches and wind-up/battery radios for a power cut — compared on brightness, power source and price.
5 products compared →
Fans & cooling
Portable air conditioners, tower fans and coolers for UK heatwaves — compared on cooling type, room size and price.
6 products compared →
Stoves & cooking
Portable stoves for cooking when the power's out — compared on fuel, boil time and price, with the safety rules that matter.
6 products compared →
First aid & alarms
First aid kits, carbon-monoxide and smoke alarms, and fire blankets for UK homes — compared on contents and price.
6 products compared →
Flood protection
Sandless sandbags, flood barriers, door guards and pumps to protect a home from flooding — compared on type, protection and price.
6 products compared →
Water filter jugs
Brita vs ZeroWater vs Aqua Optima and more — filter jugs compared on taste, certification, filter life and running cost.
6 products compared →
Gravity water filters
British Berkefeld, Doulton and more — countertop gravity filters compared for everyday use and water-supply resilience.
4 products compared →
Emergency toilets
Portable and chemical toilets, waste bags and sanitation kit for power cuts, burst mains and camping — compared for UK households.
11 products compared →
Water butts
Slimline and large water butts and diverters compared — collect rainwater for the garden and ride out hosepipe bans.
11 products compared →
Keeping warm without power
Hot water bottles, wool and down blankets, thermal layers and heated throws — how to stay warm in a winter power cut without the carbon-monoxide risk.
7 products compared →
Water purification tablets
Aquatabs, chlorine dioxide and more — purification tablets compared for treating drinking water in a boil-water notice, power cut or off-grid.
6 products compared →
Carbon monoxide alarms
FireAngel, Aico, Kidde and more — CO alarms compared on sensor life, standards and display, so you buy one that meets EN 50291 and actually lasts.
5 products compared →
Home fire safety
Fire blankets, extinguishers and smoke alarms compared for UK homes — what to buy for the kitchen, and, just as important, when not to fight a fire.
6 products compared →
Car emergency kits
Jump starters, winter kits and escape tools compared — what's genuinely worth keeping in the car for breakdowns, winter and getting stranded.
4 products compared →
Power banks
Anker, INIU, Belkin and more — power banks compared on real capacity, charging speed and ports, for keeping a phone going in a power cut.
5 products compared →
Two-way radios
Motorola, Midland and more — licence-free PMR446 walkie-talkies compared for staying in touch when the mobile network's down.
6 products compared →
Portable solar panels
EcoFlow, Jackery, Anker and more — foldable solar panels compared for recharging a power station or power bank off-grid.
6 products compared →
Fireproof document bags
Fireproof document bags and lock boxes compared — protect passports, deeds and cash from fire and flood, and keep them grab-ready.
5 products compared →
Multi-tools
Leatherman, Gerber, Victorinox and more — multi-tools compared for the home, car and grab bag, with the UK knife law you need to know.
6 products compared →
Sleeping bags
Snugpak, Vango, Rab and more — sleeping bags compared on warmth (comfort temperature), fill and weight for winter power cuts and camping.
5 products compared →
Head torches
Petzl, Ledlenser, Black Diamond and more — head torches compared on brightness, battery and comfort for power cuts, camping and dark jobs.
6 products compared →
Emergency radios
Wind-up, solar and DAB emergency radios compared — stay informed in a power cut when the wifi, TV and (eventually) your phone are down.
4 products compared →
Thermal base layers
Merino, synthetic and HEATTECH base layers compared — the cheapest, most effective way to stay warm in a cold house or winter power cut.
6 products compared →
Fire-starting
Stormproof matches, ferro rods and reliable lighters compared — dependable ways to light a camping stove or log burner, kept dry and ready.
6 products compared →
Pet emergency kits
What to pack for your pet in an emergency — carriers, travel bowls, first aid and ID — so a flood, fire or evacuation doesn't leave them behind.
6 products compared →
Portable air conditioners
MeacoCool, De'Longhi, AEG and more — portable air conditioners compared on cooling power, noise and running cost, with honest advice on whether you actually need one.
6 products compared →
Generators
Hyundai, Honda, Champion and more — portable inverter generators compared for power-cut backup, with the carbon-monoxide safety rules that matter most.
5 products compared →
Raised beds & planters
Wooden, metal and fabric raised beds compared — the easiest way to grow your own vegetables, on any plot or patio.
6 products compared →
Greenhouses & cold frames
Glass and polycarbonate greenhouses, growhouses and cold frames compared — extend the UK growing season and ripen tender crops.
5 products compared →
Vegetable seeds & propagation
Seed collections, easy beginner crops and propagators compared — the cheapest, most rewarding way to start growing your own food.
6 products compared →
Composters
Compost converters, hot bins, tumblers, wormeries and bokashi compared — turn kitchen and garden waste into free soil food.
6 products compared →
Watering & irrigation
Drip kits, water timers, soaker hoses and watering cans compared — keep crops alive through a dry summer and a hosepipe ban.
5 products compared →
Harvest preservation
Kilner jars, dehydrators, vacuum sealers and fermentation kits compared — turn a summer glut into a winter store.
8 products compared →
Dehydrators & freeze dryers
The best food dehydrators for UK homes in 2026 — plus the honest truth about £3,000 home freeze dryers, and when a £50 machine or the air fryer you already own does the job.
5 products compared →
Emergency shelter & tents
The best emergency shelter for UK households in 2026 — quick-pitch tents, tarps, bivvy bags and camp beds for being flooded out or displaced, chosen calmly and honestly.
6 products compared →
Fishing & foraging kit
A beginner's fishing and foraging kit for UK food resilience in 2026 — rod licence rules included, foraging law explained, no survivalist fantasy.
13 products compared →
Car security
The car security worth buying in the UK: Sold Secure steering locks, the Disklok, faraday pouches for keyless cars and a dash cam for the aftermath — tested picks, honest verdicts.
6 products compared →
Security cameras
Ring, Arlo and Reolink security cameras compared for UK homes — resolution, storage, ongoing subscription costs and which model actually suits you.
8 products compared →
Smart locks
Which smart lock actually suits a UK front door in 2026? We compare Yale, Nuki and SwitchBot on retrofit fit, battery life and insurance small print.
7 products compared →
Air purifiers
Levoit, Dyson and Philips air purifiers compared on real CADR, room size and running costs, with UK prices tracked daily.
8 products compared →
Draught proofing
Stormguard, Wickes and Chimney Balloon draught excluders compared for doors, windows, letterboxes and chimneys, with UK prices and the safety check to run first.
8 products compared →
Dehumidifiers
Meaco, EcoAir and Pro Breeze dehumidifiers compared and price-tracked for UK homes — including which ones work in an unheated garage, and which don't.
7 products compared →
Smart thermostats
Hive, tado°, Drayton Wiser and Honeywell smart thermostats compared on boiler compatibility, hot water control, zoning and install — with UK prices tracked.
7 products compared →
Home safes
Home safes compared on certification, not marketing — Burton, Chubbsafes, Yale and Phoenix, with the fire standards and cash ratings UK insurers recognise.
7 products compared →
Security lighting
Ring, Philips Hue and Luceco security lights compared for UK homes — brightness, IP ratings, PIR versus camera detection, and what installation actually costs.
7 products compared →
Air quality monitors
Airthings, Aranet and Netatmo air quality monitors compared on what each one actually measures — radon, CO2, PM2.5 — with UK prices tracked. None is a CO alarm.
6 products compared →
Satellite messengers & PLBs
Garmin inReach, ZOLEO, SPOT and 406MHz PLBs compared on subscriptions, SOS and battery life, with UK prices tracked. No active plan means no SOS.
12 products compared →
Jump starters
NOCO, CTEK, Ring and GOOLOO jump starters compared on the engines they honestly start — not inflated peak-amp claims — with UK prices tracked.
22 products compared →
Winter driving kit
Snow socks, chains, scrapers and shovels compared for UK winters, with prices tracked. No UK road requires chains — most drivers only need the cheap end.
22 products compared →
Water testing kits
Dip strips, TDS meters and UKAS lab tests compared, UK prices tracked. Most homes on mains water don't need one — private supplies and pre-1970 lead pipes do.
21 products compared →
Door & window alarms
Standalone door and window alarms and smart kits from Ring, Yale and eufy compared, UK price-tracked. None will cut your insurance premium.
24 products compared →
Tyre inflators
Ring, Michelin, Bosch, Makita and more compared across 12V, cordless and tool-battery inflators — UK prices tracked, bare-tool battery costs spelled out.
20 products compared →
Mobile signal boosters
Cel-Fi repeaters, Poynting antennas and mesh for Wi-Fi calling — UK-legal options only, prices tracked. Most marketplace GSM boosters are illegal to use.
10 products compared →
Personal & careline alarms
SureSafe, CPR Guardian, Doro and TTfone alarms compared — 4G status, fall detection and true monthly costs. Nearly all alert family, not a careline centre.
13 products compared →
Radiator & heating efficiency
Adey filters, tado and Hive smart TRVs, SpeedComfort fans and reflector foil compared, UK prices tracked — plus the free fixes worth trying first.
23 products compared →
Under-sink water filters
Doulton, BRITA and Waterdrop under-sink filters compared — carbon vs reverse osmosis, running costs tracked. Not a safety buy: taste, scale and lead pipes.
18 products compared →
Baby & child emergency kit
Milton sterilising, Braun thermometers, carriers, cots and first aid for under-5s — UK price-tracked. And why we inform on formula but never link it.
16 products compared →