With a baby or young children in the house, a winter power cut moves fast from annoying to stressful: the room cools, night feeds and nappy changes still have to happen in the dark, and small children are far more sensitive to cold than adults. A little kit kept ready takes most of the panic out of it — you want light you can carry room to room, warmth you can trust, and a phone that stays charged.
These picks are built around a family's real evening. A large power bank keeps a phone alive for the torch, warming a bottle plan and calling for help; a rechargeable lantern gives safe, flame-free room light for feeds and changes; and a head torch keeps your hands completely free for carrying a child on the stairs. For warmth, a covered hot-water bottle takes the chill off a cot-side room (used to warm bedding beforehand, never left in with a baby), and a roomy sleeping bag lets everyone bunk down together in one warm room. A proper family first-aid kit and a pack of lithium AAs — the cells that actually work first time after months in a drawer — round it out.
Charge everything now and store it low and reachable, not at the back of a top shelf. For the wider plan — keeping one room warm, safe feeding and when to seek help — read our [winter power cut guide for babies and young children](/guides/winter-power-cut-baby-young-children-uk).
A portable battery pack keeps your phone, GPS, and headlamp charged when mains power is unavailable. Essential for maintaining communication, navigation, and emergency calling capability in the field.
For survival use, a minimum of 10,000mAh provides 2-3 full smartphone charges. A 20,000mAh unit covers a multi-day expedition comfortably. Balance capacity against weight — every 10,000mAh adds approximately 200 grams. For day hikes, 5,000mAh may suffice; for extended trips, go larger.
Look for at least two USB output ports so you can charge multiple devices simultaneously. USB-C Power Delivery (PD) or Quick Charge support significantly reduces charging time. Ensure the output is sufficient for your devices — phones typically need 5V/2A minimum for efficient charging.
Standard consumer power banks are fragile and water-sensitive. For outdoor and survival use, choose a ruggedised model with an IP65 or higher water-resistance rating, rubber bumper protection, and a dust-proof charging port cover. Some models include a built-in torch — a useful bonus.
Lithium-ion batteries lose capacity significantly in cold temperatures — up to 40% at freezing point. For UK winter use, keep your power bank inside your jacket close to your body. Some premium models use lithium polymer cells that perform better in cold conditions.
Always fully charge your power bank before any trip. A 20,000mAh power bank at 50% charge is effectively a 10,000mAh unit. Make charging your power bank part of your pre-trip preparation checklist, and keep your home emergency power bank on a maintenance charge cycle.
A power bank is useless without the correct charging cables for your devices. Carry a short USB-C and Lightning cable (or whichever your devices require). Keep dedicated cables stored with the power bank so they are never forgotten. Consider a multi-tip cable to cover all eventualities.
In a survival situation, ration your power bank capacity for genuine needs: emergency calls, navigation, and essential lighting. Avoid using it to scroll social media, take photographs, or play music. Put your phone in aeroplane mode when not actively using mobile data to dramatically extend both phone and power bank life.
A high-capacity 20,000mAh pack that keeps several devices going across a long outage. The choice when you need days of backup power, not hours.
A rechargeable LED lantern that throws a wide, even light rather than the narrow beam of a torch, which makes it the better tool for lighting a room or a tent during a power cut. It runs off its own built-in battery and recharges over USB, with brightness and runtime settings so you can trade light output for a longer burn. A sensible backup to keep charged on a shelf alongside your torches.
A bright rechargeable head torch with a strong beam and the option to swap to AAA batteries in a pinch. A dependable step up for regular outdoor use.
A simple, effective 2-litre hot water bottle with a soft removable cover. When the heating is off, a hot water bottle warms a bed or a chair using nothing but boiled water — the cheapest, safest way to stay warm through a cold night without power.
A warm, packable mummy sleeping bag suited to three-season UK use and cold-night emergencies. A comfortable way to stay warm if the heating fails or you're stranded.
A comprehensive multi-piece first aid kit in a compact case for home, car or travel. Covers everyday cuts, burns and sprains as the foundation of any preparedness kit.
Long-life 1.5V lithium AA batteries that hold charge for years, perform in the cold and resist leaking — ideal for emergency torches, radios and alarms kept in storage.
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