Emergency supplies that hold up when the grid goes down.
Emergency kits, water filters, power stations, first aid kits and long shelf life food compared on what they actually contain. Every claim has a source. Every store we show delivers to your country.
Top pick per shortlist, by our published score
- Emergency kitsReady America 2 Person Emergency Kit8.9 out of 10
- Water filtersGRAYL GeoPress 24 oz9.4 out of 10
- Power stationsEcoFlow DELTA Pro 39.3 out of 10
- First aid kitsMyMedic MyFAK9.3 out of 10
- Emergency foodMountain House Just In Case 3 Day Emergency Food Supply8.2 out of 10
- Light & survival gearBlack Diamond Spot Headlamp8.9 out of 10
Shortlists
Best emergency kits
All 20 ranked
Entry-level 2-person 72-hour backpack with food bars, water pouches and first aid.
Best water filters and water storage for emergencies
All 20 rankedPress purifier bottle rated for 99.99% virus removal with a 24 oz capacity and 8 second fills.
Best portable power stations for power outages
All 17 ranked
A 4,096 Wh LFP station rated for 4,000 W with 240 V output and 2,600 W solar input.
Best first aid kits for emergencies
All 20 ranked
IFAK in a ballistic nylon MOLLE bag with OTC meds and a tourniquet on the Pro versions.
Best emergency food supplies
All 20 ranked
Three days of freeze-dried pouch meals for one person with a 30-year taste guarantee.
Best light and survival gear for emergencies
All 20 ranked
450 lumen headlamp that runs on three AAA cells or a BD 1500 rechargeable pack.
Built for 72 hours and longer
We check what each kit covers per person and per day: water, food, light, first aid and power.
Ranked on contents, not commission
The order comes from features, tester picks and how many people search for a product. Our method is public.
Stores that deliver to you
We show only the stores that ship to your country, so you never land on a shop that cannot deliver.
Sources for every claim
Specs come from the maker. Shelf life, battery cycles and filter life are labeled as the maker's claims.
Questions people ask
- How much water should you store for an emergency?Ready.gov advises storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days. That gallon covers drinking and sanitation together. A household of four planning for three days would therefore set aside twelve gallons as a floor.
- What should be in a 72-hour emergency kit?Ready.gov's basic kit starts with one gallon of water per person per day and several days of non-perishable food. It adds a battery-powered or hand crank radio, a flashlight and a first aid kit. Extra batteries and a whistle follow along with a dust mask and a manual can opener.
- Do water filters remove viruses?Most portable water filters remove parasites but not viruses or bacteria according to the CDC. The Sawyer Squeeze and LifeStraw Personal claim bacteria and parasites and LifeStraw states that viruses are not removed. The GRAYL GeoPress and Aquatabs tablets each carry a maker's virus claim of 99.99%.
- Is a portable power station the same as a generator?No. The CPSC warns never to use a portable generator indoors or in a garage because it produces deadly carbon monoxide. That warning names generators. The four power stations on our shortlist are LiFePO4 battery packs with a stated capacity in Wh and output in watts.
Frequently asked questions
What should be in an emergency kit?
Ready.gov's kit list starts with a battery-powered or hand crank radio and a flashlight. It adds a first aid kit and extra batteries. A whistle and a dust mask are on the list too. A manual can opener and a cell phone with chargers and a backup battery round it out. Ready.gov also advises at least one gallon of water per person per day.
How much water should I store for an emergency?
Ready.gov advises storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days. That covers drinking and sanitation. The Government of Canada recommends two liters of water per person per day for drinking, cooking and hygiene. It also advises a kit that lasts at least 72 hours.
Is a portable power station safe to use indoors?
The CPSC warns never to use a portable generator indoors or in a garage because it produces deadly carbon monoxide. Ready.gov advises planning for batteries and other alternative power sources for power outages. Capacity and output figures on this site are figures from the maker. For anything beyond those points read the manual of the unit you own.
Is a water filter enough to make water safe?
The CDC says most portable water filters remove parasites but not viruses or bacteria. A filter needs an absolute pore size of 0.3 micron or smaller to also remove bacteria. The CDC also says that boiling clear water at a rolling boil for one minute kills germs. Above 6,500 feet it advises three minutes.
How does PrepShortlist make money?
Some store links are affiliate links. If you buy after clicking one, the store may pay us a commission. Your price does not change. Commissions are not part of how we rank products.
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking one, the store may pay us a commission. The price stays the same for you, and commissions do not decide which emergency supplies we recommend.