Keeping warm in a power cut, safely (2026)

A well-made, reputable British-brand throw that heats in a few minutes, runs for around a penny an hour and is machine-washable. A sensible comfort-and-cost buy for everyday warmth, but treat it as an energy-saver rather than emergency kit.

Best for Cutting heating bills by warming the person, not the whole room, during normal winter evenings.

• Very cheap to run (roughly 1p per hour) and warms up in about five minutes
• Machine-washable and tumble-dry safe once the controller is detached, with a 2-year guarantee
• Multiple heat settings, auto-shutoff timer and overheat protection from a 50-year-old UK brand

• Needs a mains socket, so it is useless in a power cut
• Faux-fur and plush finishes can shed or flatten over time, and cheaper colours go in and out of stock

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy this as blackout or power-cut insurance - it does nothing without mains electricity. For resilience during outages, a non-powered wool or synthetic blanket (or a good sleeping bag) is the item to keep.

A good pure new wool blanket is one of the most reliable ways to stay warm if the heating fails, holding its insulating power even when slightly damp and needing no power at all. It is heavier and pricier than a foil blanket, but a British-made one lasts decades and earns its place in the airing cupboard.

Best for Dependable home warmth during a winter power cut when the heating is off.

• Keeps you warm even when damp, is naturally breathable and is slow to ignite, so it is more forgiving than synthetics if you are heating a room by other means.
• Genuinely durable, lasting decades with basic care, so it doubles as everyday bedding rather than kit that only appears in a crisis.
• No batteries, power or setup, and works the instant you need it.

• Bulky and heavy, so it belongs at home rather than in a grab bag or car kit.
• Quality British wool is not cheap, and coarser weaves can feel scratchy for sensitive skin unless you choose a softer lambswool or merino.

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy this for packable warmth in a grab bag or car — a compact foil or synthetic emergency blanket is far lighter, cheaper and better suited to that. Wool is for staying put and staying warm at home.

A thermal top-and-bottom set is one of the cheapest, most reliable ways to stay warm when the heating is off, since it needs no power, fuel or batteries. Generic synthetic sets do the job well for occasional use; just check sizing and don't expect the comfort or odour resistance of merino.

Best for Cheaply adding real warmth during a winter power cut or in an unheated home

• Adds genuine warmth for very little money and packs down small in a grab bag or drawer
• Works with no power, fuel or batteries, so it keeps you warm when the heating cannot
• Layering traps body heat efficiently, which is cheaper than heating a whole room during a cold snap

• Quality and sizing vary widely between generic brands; the cheapest sets can feel thin and pill quickly
• Synthetic fabric can feel clammy and hold odour if worn for days without washing

Who shouldn't buy it: You already own decent thermals or merino kit, in which case a second budget set adds little; and if you expect to wear it for days on end without washing, it is worth paying more for a merino set that resists odour and feels warmer for its weight.

A light, inexpensive reflective bag that traps most of your body heat and packs down to nothing, which makes it a sensible always-there emergency layer. It is a single-use-minded backstop rather than proper shelter, so treat it as insurance and not a sleeping bag.

Best for A cheap warmth backstop to keep in a grab bag or car for one person.

• Reflects about 90% of body heat and blocks wind and rain via taped seams
• Very light and compact (around 108g) so it lives in a bag or glovebox unnoticed
• Low cost, with a quiet, tear-resistant material that won't shred once it's nicked

• Non-breathable, so condensation builds up inside on longer use
• Thin material is not durable and won't survive repeated real-world use

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy if you want a reusable, breathable shelter for regular camping or repeated overnights - pay more for a breathable reusable version (e.g. SOL Escape) or a heavier-duty Blizzard bag instead.

A practical, low-cost comfort item that reheats hands on cold days and doubles as a small power bank, though generic units vary in build quality and honest runtime. Reasonable value if you keep expectations sensible and buy from a seller with a clear returns policy.

Best for Commuters, spectators and anyone with cold-sensitive hands who wants reusable warmth without disposable sachets.

• Reusable and rechargeable over USB-C, so no ongoing cost or single-use waste versus disposable warmers
• A 2-pack gives one warmer per hand or a spare to charge, with 3-4 heat settings on most models
• Many double as a modest power bank, adding a little emergency phone top-up in a kit

• Generic branding means quoted battery life and mAh figures are often optimistic; real runtime on high heat can be a few hours, not the headline number
• Lithium-ion cells are a fire risk if damaged or cheaply made, and are not a substitute for proper heating in a genuine cold emergency

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy if you need dependable warmth in a power cut or off-grid cold spell - a rechargeable unit is only as good as its last charge, so a well-insulated layer, blankets and a hot drink matter more. Also skip if you specifically want a phone charger, where a dedicated power bank is better value.

A genuine down or feather throw is warm, light and needs no electricity, which makes it a sensible comfort layer if the heating fails. It is more a nice-to-have than a survival essential, and a wool or synthetic-fill throw does much the same job for less fuss.

Best for Quiet, no-power warmth on the sofa or bed during a cold snap or heating outage.

• Warm and lightweight with no power needed, so it keeps working through an outage
• Packs down small and lofts up quickly, useful for staying warm while conserving heating
• Natural down insulates well for its weight and breathes better than most synthetics

• Down loses much of its warmth if it gets damp, and it is slow to dry
• Costs more than an equivalent fleece or wool throw for broadly similar everyday use

Who shouldn't buy it: You need something you can machine-wash easily, that shrugs off damp, or that suits a down allergy. In those cases a wool or synthetic-fill throw is the calmer choice.