How we rank preparedness gear

How a product gets on a shortlist

We start from the models people actually buy and research: the products recommended by independent testers, the top sellers named by retailers and testers, and the models people search for by name on Google. Each candidate then has to pass two checks. It has to be the current model of its series, and it has to be on sale.

When a maker releases a successor, we flag the old model. When a product is no longer sold, it leaves the site.

Where the specs come from

Every spec comes from the maker: the product page, the manual or the spec sheet. We list the sources on each product page. Figures that only hold under the maker's own test conditions, like the filter life of a water filter or the runtime of a power station, are labeled as the maker's claim.

We do not run lab tests and we never write that we did.

The Shortlist score

The score runs from 6.0 to 9.8 and is calculated from three parts:

• Emergency features (35%). A fixed checklist per category, filled in from the maker's specs. For emergency kits: water, food, first aid supplies and a radio in the kit, and enough supplies for 72 hours or more.
• Tester picks (30%). How many independent testing outlets recommend the model. One pick counts for a lot, three or more count in full.
• Search demand (35%). How often people search Google for the model by name, on a logarithmic scale within the category. This measures what buyers consider, not what is better, which is why it never outweighs the features.

A product that scores nothing on all three parts still starts at 6.0, because being on the shortlist already means it was selected. Commission is not part of the score.

Prices

We show a price only when the maker sells the product in its own US store, and we name the date we checked it. Amazon prices change often, so Amazon links carry no price. We do not track price history and we do not send price alerts.

Stores for your country

Each store button goes to a store that delivers to the country you shop from. A maker's own store often ships within one country only, so visitors from other countries see other options. Amazon buttons go to the Amazon store of your country. You can change your country at the top of every page.

Rules that differ by country

Power stations sold in the US have 120-volt outlets, and UK models have 230-volt outlets with UK sockets. Many UK first aid kits are built to the British Standard BS 8599. Where that matters, the page says so for your country.