Emergency lighting serves one basic need: being able to see when the grid is down. The right combination depends on your household size and scenarios, but most households benefit from having all three types: flashlights, headlamps, and at least one lantern.
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What to Look For
- LED technology — all emergency lighting should be LED. Longer battery life, brighter output, more durable than incandescent.
- Multiple brightness modes — a high mode for navigation, a low mode to conserve battery for extended use.
- Runtime on a set of batteries — more hours on standard batteries means fewer battery changes during an outage.
- Standard battery sizes — AA or AAA batteries are the most widely available. Lithium batteries last longer and perform better in cold.
- Durability — water resistance and impact resistance matter for real use.
What to Avoid
- Lights with proprietary battery systems that can't be replaced in an emergency
- Cheap flashlights that fail after one use — buy once, buy quality
- Relying on your phone flashlight as your only option — it drains the battery you need for communication
Related Guides
72-Hour Kit
72-Hour Emergency Kit Guide
Power Outage