Thermal Base Layer

A merino-blend long-sleeve top and long johns designed to trap warmth and wick moisture next to the skin. Merino stays warm even when slightly damp and resists odour over several days, which makes it a strong base for a cold power cut, a winter walk or a car left stranded in bad weather. Danish Endurance is a well-reviewed outdoor-basics brand.

• Merino blend stays warm even when slightly damp
• Full set — long-sleeve top and long johns together
• Wicks sweat and resists odour over several wears

A roomy two-person bag with a built-in pillow and hood from a trusted British outdoor brand, rated as a 2–3 season bag for milder camping and festivals. It also doubles as a warm, packable layer to keep by the sofa or in the loft for a winter power cut, when keeping two people warm together is more efficient than heating a room. It's bulkier than a solo mummy bag, so treat it as home or car kit rather than something to carry far.

• Sleeps two and shares body heat – useful in a cold-weather power cut
• Built-in hood and pillow for comfort without extra kit
• Waterproof, comfortable 2–3 season fill from a trusted UK brand

A proper technical base layer from a trusted Norwegian outdoor brand. The Lifa fabric wicks sweat off your skin and keeps warming even when damp — the difference between staying comfortable and getting a dangerous chill when you're cold and inactive during a power cut or out in winter weather.

• Wicks moisture and stays warm even when damp
• Lightweight first layer under any clothing
• Trusted outdoor brand, built to last

A well-priced synthetic sleeping bag that keeps its warmth even when damp. A sensible, affordable way to make sure everyone has a warm bag.

• Strong value for a warm bag
• Synthetic fill holds warmth when damp
• Tough outer shell

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.

• Warms a bed or chair with just boiled water
• No electricity — works in any power cut
• Soft cover is comfortable and washable

Air-activated hand warmers that give hours of gentle heat with no batteries or flame. Cheap, packable warmth to stave off cold hands in an outage or outdoors.

• Hours of warmth from a single packet
• Just open and shake — no power needed
• Small and light to stash in any kit

Air-activated single-use warmers that put out roughly 10 hours of gentle heat once you open the packet. A bulk box like this is the sort of thing you want stashed in a coat pocket, glovebox and grab bag before winter, especially if you're stuck at a cold bus stop, a match or a breakdown. They're disposable rather than reusable, so treat them as a backup rather than your only plan for staying warm.

• Around 10 hours of heat per pair, no charging or fuel needed
• 40 pairs means you can spread them across bag, car and coat
• Air-activated — just open and shake, works straight from storage