A rechargeable battery in a box with real mains sockets and USB ports — enough to keep phones, a router, lights and small medical devices running through a power cut, silently and indoors.
A power bank keeps a phone alive; a portable power station keeps a household going. It is a large lithium battery with proper 230V plug sockets and USB ports, so during an outage you can run a Wi-Fi router, charge laptops and phones, power a lamp, and keep essential medical equipment such as a CPAP machine going for hours. Unlike a petrol generator it is silent, produces no fumes and is safe to use indoors, which matters when the power goes out on a cold, dark evening and you are not going to run an engine in the garden.
Most UK power cuts are short, but storm-driven outages can last a day or more — Storm Eowyn left some homes without power for days. A power station turns that from a crisis into an inconvenience. Charged and kept ready, it is one of the few pieces of kit that genuinely changes how a long outage feels, especially for families, anyone working from home, or those who depend on powered medical devices.
Bring it out during any mains failure: to keep phones and a router live so you can get flood or weather warnings, to run a lamp instead of candles, or to power a small heated blanket or medical device. It is equally useful off-grid for camping, campervans and market stalls, which means it earns its keep rather than sitting idle waiting for an emergency.
Keep it charged to around 60-80% between uses and top it up every few months, as lithium batteries slowly self-discharge. Charge it fully as soon as a storm is forecast. Pair it with a folding solar panel if you want to recharge it during a multi-day outage.
Capacity is measured in watt-hours (Wh). Around 250-300Wh keeps phones, a router and lights going for a day or more; 500-1000Wh adds headroom for laptops, a small fridge in short bursts or a CPAP machine overnight. Bigger means heavier and pricier, so match it to what you actually need to run.
The AC output should be a pure sine wave, not modified. Pure sine wave is clean power that is safe for sensitive electronics, chargers and medical devices. Check the continuous watt rating too — it must exceed the running wattage of whatever you plan to plug in.
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cells last far longer than older lithium types — often thousands of charge cycles — and are more stable. They cost a little more but hold up over years of occasional use, which is exactly how a preparedness item gets used.
Look for at least two 230V UK sockets, a couple of USB-C ports with fast charging, and USB-A. A USB-C port that also charges the unit itself keeps your cable count down and speeds up recharging.
A tiny 100Wh unit is really just a big power bank. If you want to run a router, lights and charge several devices through a real outage, aim for 250Wh or more. Undersizing is the most common regret.
A power station is no use discovered dead when you need it. Store it part-charged, top it up every few months, and charge it fully whenever bad weather is on the way.
Kettles, ovens, electric heaters and hobs draw far more power than most portable stations can supply. Use it for electronics, lighting, communications and low-draw medical kit, not for heating or cooking.
A compact 256Wh LiFePO4 power station with a 300W pure sine wave socket and 100W USB-C. Light enough to carry one-handed, big enough to keep phones, a router and lights running through an outage, and it recharges fully in about an hour.
A 1kWh portable power station that can keep phones, routers, lights and small medical devices running through a prolonged power cut. It charges fast from mains and pairs with solar for genuine off-grid top-ups. A bigger-ticket alternative to a Jackery when you want serious backup capacity rather than just a power bank.
A small 288Wh LiFePO4 station that keeps phones, a router, a laptop and lights going through a short outage, then packs away in a cupboard. It recharges fast and takes a solar panel for slow top-ups, so it suits flats and smaller homes that don't want a heavy unit sitting around. Think of it as the step up from a big power bank when you need a proper 230V socket.
A 768Wh LiFePO4 station with a 1000W AC output that lifts to 2000W for brief surges, so it copes with more than just phones and lights. It's a sensible mid-size choice for a UK household that wants to run a router, a few lamps, laptops and small kitchen jobs through a longer power cut. Solar input is optional if you want to top it up off-grid.
A 1024Wh LiFePO4 station with a strong 1800W AC output, well suited to a household that wants real backup rather than just phone charging. It recharges very quickly from the mains and can be expanded with extra batteries later if your needs grow. A solid mid-to-large option for storm-season outages in an all-electric home.
A large 2042Wh LiFePO4 station with a 2200W output, aimed at homes that want to ride out a long outage rather than just keep phones alive. It has the capacity for a fridge or freezer in short bursts, medical devices, lighting and repeated device charging over a day or two. It's heavier and pricier than the smaller units, but it's the one you reach for when you want serious backup.
A 20,000mAh bank with a USB-C cable built into the body, so there is one less loose lead to lose in a grab bag. The capacity is enough for several phone recharges, and the higher-wattage output will also top up a tablet or small laptop. A practical middle-ground bank for a power cut or a weekend off-grid.
A 10,000mAh bank that clings magnetically to the back of a MagSafe iPhone and charges wirelessly at up to 15W, with a USB-C cable in the box for everything else. The small display showing remaining charge is genuinely useful when you are rationing power in an outage. A tidy grab-and-go option for iPhone users.
A compact 10,000mAh charger with a built-in cable so there's nothing extra to pack. The grab-and-go option for a pocket or small kit.
A slim, well-regarded 10,000mAh power bank that keeps a phone alive through a multi-day power cut. A sensible balance of capacity, size and reliability for a household emergency kit.
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 compact foldable 21W solar charger with two USB ports from a trusted brand. A reliable way to top up phones and small devices off-grid.
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.
A portable solar panel provides renewable off-grid power for charging devices and power banks indefinitely. The ultimate self-sufficient power source for extended expeditions and prolonged emergency situations.
A wind-up or solar-powered emergency radio keeps you connected to weather warnings, emergency broadcasts, and rescue coordination when the power grid fails. Your lifeline to critical information.
Handheld LED flashlight providing reliable illumination. Essential for navigation, signalling, and camp tasks after dark.
A practical UK winter home kit for the first three days of a storm, power cut, cold snap or water disruption, with calm priorities and sensible gear.
A practical UK home emergency kit checklist for power cuts, storms, water disruption, first aid, heating outages and short periods stuck at home.
A practical UK power-cut plan for medicines, fridge items, medical devices, carers and vulnerable households, with safe steps to prepare before winter storms.
