The best light and survival gear for emergencies
Headlamps, lanterns, emergency blankets, multitools and fire starters.
Updated October 6, 2026
Ready.gov puts a flashlight and extra batteries in the basic kit alongside a whistle and a dust mask. The lights on this list split into headlamps, flashlights and lanterns. Some run on AA or AAA or D cells. Others carry a built-in pack charged over USB or from the sun.
Brightness and runtime figures are claims by the maker. On the lanterns that list both a high setting runs for hours and a low setting for days. Beyond light the list covers emergency blankets and bivvies and three multitools and two fire starters.
The shortlist, ranked
How the score works- 1
450 lumen headlamp that runs on three AAA cells or a BD 1500 rechargeable pack.
- Type: headlamp
- Brightness: 450 lumens
- Runtime: 200 hours
- Battery type: 3x AAA or BD 1500 Li-ion (Dual-Fuel, sold separately)
Why it is here: Dual-Fuel design takes AAA cells or the rechargeable BD 1500 pack.
- 2
600 lumen lantern that charges by USB, solar or hand crank and doubles as a power bank.
- Type: lantern (USB/solar/hand crank)
- Brightness: 600 lumens
- Runtime: 320 hours
- Battery type: Internal Li-ion NMC 5200mAh, USB out
Why it is here: Three ways to charge: USB, solar panel or hand crank.
- 3
Collapsible aluminum candle lantern with a windproof glass chimney and no batteries to charge.
- Type: candle lantern
- Battery type: none (9-hour/15-hour candle)
- Weight: 6.4 oz (181 g)
Why it is here: No batteries or charger to fail.
- 4
500 lumen rechargeable lantern with true-tone LEDs and phone charging from a 6400mAh battery.
- Type: lantern (USB rechargeable)
- Brightness: 500 lumens
- Runtime: 200 hours
- Battery type: 6400mAh Li-ion, USB charge-out
Why it is here: Rated for up to 200 hours on low with a 1 hour reserve.
- 5
2800 lumen USB-C flashlight with a 21700 cell and a beam rated at 1247 feet.
- Type: flashlight
- Brightness: 2,800 lumens
- Runtime: 42 hours
- Battery type: 5000mAh 21700 Li-ion, USB-C rechargeable
Why it is here: Turbo rated at 2800 lumens and 1247 ft of throw.
- 6
Inflatable solar lantern that floats and charges a phone from a 2000mAh battery.
- Type: inflatable solar lantern
- Brightness: 150 lumens
- Runtime: 50 hours
- Battery type: 2000mAh Li-ion, solar + USB, phone charging
Why it is here: Solar charging keeps it going without the grid.
- 7
Survival multitool with 19 tools including a ferro rod, a whistle and a hammer surface.
- Type: survival multitool
- Weight: 7.5 oz (213 g)
Why it is here: Ferro rod fire starter and emergency whistle built in.
- 8
18-tool multitool with outside-accessible locking tools and replaceable wire cutters.
- Type: multitool
- Weight: 8.5 oz (241 g)
Why it is here: All 18 tools open from the outside and lock.
- 9
Solar lantern rated at 300 lumens and 100 hours with a 4000mAh phone-charging battery.
- Type: inflatable solar lantern
- Brightness: 300 lumens
- Runtime: 100 hours
- Battery type: 4000mAh Li-ion, solar + USB, phone charging
Why it is here: Rated for 100 hours of runtime.
- 10
Budget 1000 lumen lantern on three D cells with daylight and warm light modes.
- Type: lantern (battery)
- Brightness: 1,000 lumens
- Runtime: 12 hours
- Battery type: 3x D alkaline (not included)
Why it is here: Dimmable up to a rated 1000 lumens.
- 11
2200 lumen USB-C rechargeable headlamp with a magnesium body and separate spot and flood.
- Type: headlamp
- Brightness: 2,200 lumens
- Battery type: 3400mAh 18650 Li-ion, USB-C rechargeable
- Waterproofing: IP68
Why it is here: Rated 2200 lumens with a beam distance of 741 ft.
- 12
98 by 58 inch heavy duty blanket with a waterproof coating that doubles as a tarp or shelter.
- Type: emergency blanket / tarp
- Waterproofing: windproof and waterproof coating
- Weight: 8 oz (227 g)
Why it is here: Windproof and waterproof coating.
- 13
15-tool stainless steel multitool with butterfly-opening pliers and a pocket clip.
- Type: multitool
- Weight: 6.7 oz (190 g)
Why it is here: Butterfly-opening pliers with 15 tools.
- 14
1018 lumen flashlight that runs on two AA cells and also charges over USB-C.
- Type: flashlight
- Brightness: 1,018 lumens
- Battery type: 2x AA (USB-C rechargeable)
Why it is here: Runs on AA cells so spares are easy to stock.
- 15
Sealed 84 by 36 inch bivvy at 3.8 oz that reflects 90% of body heat.
- Type: emergency bivvy
- Weight: 3.8 oz (108 g)
Why it is here: Sealed against wind, rain and snow.
- 16
25 stormproof matches that burn up to 15 seconds and relight after a dunk in a floating case.
- Type: stormproof matches
- Waterproofing: waterproof floating case
Why it is here: Burns up to 15 seconds and lights in wind.
- 17
D-cell lantern rated at 1200 lumens on high and 60 days of light on low.
- Type: lantern (battery)
- Brightness: 1,200 lumens
- Runtime: 1,440 hours
- Battery type: D batteries (not included)
Why it is here: Rated for 60 days on low.
- 18
Breathable reusable bivvy with an adjustable hood that reflects 70% of body heat.
- Type: breathable bivvy
- Weight: 8.5 oz (241 g)
Why it is here: Breathable fabric cuts condensation per the maker.
- 19
Orange 56 by 84 inch emergency blanket that reflects 90% of body heat and does not shred.
- Type: emergency blanket
- Weight: 2.9 oz (82 g)
Why it is here: Reflects 90% of body heat per the maker.
- 20
Ferro rod rated for up to 12,000 strikes that works wet and pairs with a whistle striker.
- Type: ferro rod fire starter
Why it is here: Rated for up to 12,000 strikes.
Head-to-head comparisons
All light & survival gear side by side
Specs from the makers. Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column.
| Model | Score | Type | Brightnessmaker's rating | Runtimemaker's claim | Battery type | Waterproofing | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Diamond Spot Headlamp | 8.9 | headlamp | 450 lumens | 200 hours | 3x AAA or BD 1500 Li-ion (Dual-Fuel, sold separately) | IPX7 | 3 oz (85 g) |
| Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 | 8.8 | lantern (USB/solar/hand crank) | 600 lumens | 320 hours | Internal Li-ion NMC 5200mAh, USB out | - | 17.6 oz (499 g) |
| UCO Original Candle Lantern | 8.7 | candle lantern | - | - | none (9-hour/15-hour candle) | - | 6.4 oz (181 g) |
| BioLite AlpenGlow 500 | 8.7 | lantern (USB rechargeable) | 500 lumens | 200 hours | 6400mAh Li-ion, USB charge-out | IPX4 | 13.4 oz (380 g) |
| Fenix PD36R PRO | 8.5 | flashlight | 2,800 lumens | 42 hours | 5000mAh 21700 Li-ion, USB-C rechargeable | IP68 (2 m submersible) | 5.96 oz (169 g) |
| LuminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1 | 8.5 | inflatable solar lantern | 150 lumens | 50 hours | 2000mAh Li-ion, solar + USB, phone charging | waterproof, floats | 12.5 oz (354 g) |
| Leatherman Signal | 8.3 | survival multitool | - | - | - | - | 7.5 oz (213 g) |
| Leatherman Wave Plus | 8.2 | multitool | - | - | - | - | 8.5 oz (241 g) |
| LuminAID PackLite Titan 2-in-1 | 8.1 | inflatable solar lantern | 300 lumens | 100 hours | 4000mAh Li-ion, solar + USB, phone charging | - | 12.5 oz (354 g) |
| Lepro LED Camping Lantern | 8.0 | lantern (battery) | 1,000 lumens | 12 hours | 3x D alkaline (not included) | IPX4 | - |
| Fenix HM65R V2.0 | 7.9 | headlamp | 2,200 lumens | - | 3400mAh 18650 Li-ion, USB-C rechargeable | IP68 | - |
| SOL Heavy Duty Emergency Blanket | 7.9 | emergency blanket / tarp | - | - | - | windproof and waterproof coating | 8 oz (227 g) |
| Gerber Suspension-NXT | 7.8 | multitool | - | - | - | - | 6.7 oz (190 g) |
| ThruNite Archer 2A C | 7.8 | flashlight | 1,018 lumens | - | 2x AA (USB-C rechargeable) | - | - |
| SOL Emergency Bivvy | 7.6 | emergency bivvy | - | - | - | - | 3.8 oz (108 g) |
| UCO Stormproof Match Kit | 7.4 | stormproof matches | - | - | - | waterproof floating case | - |
| UST 60-Day DURO LED Lantern | 7.2 | lantern (battery) | 1,200 lumens | 1,440 hours | D batteries (not included) | - | - |
| SOL Escape Bivvy | 6.9 | breathable bivvy | - | - | - | - | 8.5 oz (241 g) |
| SOL Emergency Blanket | 6.9 | emergency blanket | - | - | - | - | 2.9 oz (82 g) |
| Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Army 2in1 | 6.7 | ferro rod fire starter | - | - | - | - | - |
Frequently asked questions
What to use for light when the power goes out?
A lantern lights a room while a headlamp or flashlight lights where you look. The lanterns here run on three kinds of power. The Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 charges by USB, solar or hand crank. The UST 60-Day DURO LED Lantern and the Lepro LED Camping Lantern run on D cells. The UCO Original Candle Lantern burns a candle but brings an open flame indoors.
Rechargeable or battery headlamp?
Both headlamps here take a different route. The Black Diamond Spot Headlamp runs on three AAA cells or a BD 1500 rechargeable pack sold separately. Its 200 hour runtime is the maker's low mode figure. The Fenix HM65R V2.0 runs on an 18650 Li-ion cell charged over USB-C. It is rated at 2200 lumens against 450 for the Spot. Runtime for the Fenix was not in the description.
Emergency blanket or bivvy?
A blanket wraps around you and a bivvy is a bag you climb into. The SOL Emergency Blanket measures 56 by 84 inches at 2.9 oz and reflects 90% of body heat. The SOL Emergency Bivvy reflects the same 90% and is sealed against wind and rain at 3.8 oz. The SOL Escape Bivvy is breathable and reusable at 8.5 oz with 70% heat reflection.
Waterproof matches or a ferro rod?
Matches give a flame and a ferro rod gives sparks. The UCO Stormproof Match Kit holds 25 matches that burn up to 15 seconds per the maker. They relight after a dunk. The Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Army 2in1 is rated for up to 12,000 strikes. It works when wet per the maker. The Leatherman Signal carries a ferro rod as well.
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. Specs come from the makers; range and battery life are their claims. Our method.