How we choose what goes in the Shop

1. It has to do a real outage job

Each pick belongs to one of seven jobs: power, light, radio and comms, water, cash and documents, cooking, or first aid. If we can't say in one sentence what a product does for you when the power, internet, or card readers are down, it doesn't go in.

2. Buy, Borrow, or Skip comes first

Before we list anything, we ask whether most households should buy it, borrow it, or skip it. Only “Buy” items link to the Shop. Things you'd rarely use, like a friend's power station for a test run, stay in the Borrow column with no link. Things we think you shouldn't buy get named in the Skip column, also with no link.

3. It has to clear a quality bar

• A rating of at least 4.3 stars on Amazon.
• At least 500 reviews for electronics (power, light, radio) and at least 100 for everything else.
• Sold by the brand itself or by Amazon, not an unknown third-party seller.
• We read the low-star reviews for patterns, such as batteries that die early, parts that break, or a product that doesn't match its photos. A repeated failure pattern keeps a product out, even if its rating is high.

4. Claims are stated exactly, or not at all

• If a manufacturer says a product is certified, we say "the manufacturer states" and name the standard. We don't upgrade that into "UL Listed" unless it is.
• We say "fire-resistant" with the rated time, never "fireproof."
• We only list a water filter if its listing names certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 42 or 53, or NSF P231.
• We don't list products that make medical-cure claims, and we don't make health claims about anything we list.

5. It has to work in an apartment

We note weight when it matters (a full 5-gallon water jug weighs about 42 pounds), we say when a part is sold separately, and we don't recommend fuel generators for apartments. Generators and camp stoves give off carbon monoxide and belong outdoors, well away from windows.

6. A primary and a backup

Most categories have one main pick and one cheaper or simpler backup, so you can match the job to your budget.

What we won't list

• "Survival" megakits full of filler
• Gold, silver, or crypto sold as outage prep
• Conspiracy guides and fear-based merchandise
• Militia or "tactical" gear sold as an identity
• "AI-proof" or "anti-AI" products
• Potassium iodide or "radiation" pills

How we make money

Shop links go to Amazon, and brands can't pay to be listed. We earn a small commission from Amazon when you buy through our links, and that never decides what we list. The price you pay doesn't change. See our affiliate disclosure.

What we don't do

• We don't lab-test products. We pick from the product listing, the manufacturer's stated specs, and patterns in verified buyer reviews. If we ever test something hands-on, we'll say so on that card.
• We don't show prices. Amazon prices change often, so every card says "Check price on Amazon."
• Product images are illustrations. Check the Amazon page for the actual item.

Keeping it current

We re-check every listing's seller, rating, and availability when we update the Shop, and we replace picks that slip below the bar. If you spot a problem with a pick, email hello@outagedepot.com.