We start with what each base needs at home, then look for gear that does that job. The heat and cooling guide is live, with the carbon monoxide pick below. A family kit shows how the picks work together for a home with children. Picks are based on published specs and the store listing, checked on November 14, 2026. We have not tested these items hands-on, and we will say so on any pick until we have.
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Power
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Power Station
A quiet battery you can keep indoors, sized for lights, a router, a fan or a laptop.
What it does well
- 245 watt-hours of capacity with a 300 watt rated AC output, and up to 600 watts for some devices with X-Boost.
- A LiFePO4 battery rated for 3,000 cycles to 80 percent capacity.
- Switches to battery in under 20 milliseconds, so a router or a lamp can ride through a blip.
- Charges from the wall (about an hour, per the maker's listing), a car outlet or solar up to 110 watts.
What it does not do
- It is not for big loads. A space heater, kettle or well pump is beyond its 300 watt rating.
- 245 watt-hours is a small tank. A 60 watt laptop runs about three and a half hours, and a refrigerator may exceed the surge rating at start-up.
- It will not power a whole house or connect to a home circuit.
Good for: Apartments, short outages, keeping home internet up, and as a first power station.
See it on Amazon
Light
Energizer PRO-260 LED Headlamp
Hands-free light for cooking, resetting a breaker or walking the dog after dark.
Full spec notes coming once we check them against the maker’s own page.
Good for: One per person.
See it on Amazon
Light
Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Flash
A palm-sized lantern and flashlight in one.
Full spec notes coming once we check them against the maker’s own page.
Good for: A room light and a pocket light.
See it on Amazon
CommunicationPower
INIU 10000mAh 45W Power Bank
A pocket battery for the phone you use for alerts and family calls.
Full spec notes coming once we check them against the maker’s own page.
Good for: Phone charging in a short outage.
See it on Amazon
Heat and coolingPower
First Alert CO710 Carbon Monoxide Alarm
A carbon monoxide alarm with a sealed 10-year battery, so it keeps working while the grid is down.
What it does well
- A sealed lithium battery rated for up to 10 years, so there is no battery to forget or replace.
- An 85-decibel alarm at 10 feet when elevated carbon monoxide levels are detected.
- Listed to the UL 2034 standard, with an electrochemical sensor.
- A backlit digital display that can show temperature, current carbon monoxide concentration and recent peak levels.
- Designed to sit on a tabletop or shelf, with no installation required, and a single button to silence or test the alarm.
What it does not do
- The battery is sealed and cannot be replaced. The maker says to replace the whole alarm after 10 years, or sooner if the end-of-life signal sounds, whichever comes first.
Good for: A tabletop or shelf at home, and as a travel alarm you can set on a shelf or tabletop in a vacation rental or hotel room, per the maker.
See it on Amazon
Water
Igloo 6 Gallon Water Container
A 6-gallon jug with a spout that stows inside when you are not pouring, and handles on the top and the side.
What it does well
- Holds 6 gallons (24 quarts, or 22.7 liters), per Igloo.
- A long-pour spout that screws off and stows inside the container when you are not using it.
- Molded-in top and side handles for carrying and pouring.
- A pull-up vent for smoother flow.
What it does not do
- It is not insulated.
- Igloo's product page does not state a food-grade or BPA-free claim, so we do not list one.
Good for: Stored tap water you can lift and pour. One jug covers several days for one or two people, at Ready.gov's one gallon per person per day.
See it on Amazon
Water
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System
A small hollow-fiber filter that removes bacteria, protozoa and microplastics from clear water, and screws onto the included pouches or a standard 28 mm bottle.
What it does well
- A 0.1 micron absolute hollow-fiber membrane.
- Sawyer states it removes 99.99999% of bacteria (including salmonella, cholera, leptospirosis and E. coli), 99.9999% of protozoa (including giardia and cryptosporidium) and 100% of microplastics, citing Hydreion, LLC, Microbiological Report S05-03.
- The filter itself weighs about 3 ounces and fits standard 28 mm bottle threads.
- The kit includes two reusable BPA-free collapsible pouches, a cleaning plunger and coupling, gravity tubing, inline hydration-pack adapters and a mesh bag.
What it does not do
- Sawyer's own FAQ says it does not remove viruses, dissolved chemicals, heavy metals or salt.
- A filter alone does not make water safe when viruses may be present. After filtering, add a chemical disinfectant, as CDC advises.
Good for: Treating water after stored bottles run out, when you also add a chemical disinfectant, as CDC advises.
See it on Amazon
Water
Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets with PA Plus
Iodine treatment tablets, plus a second tablet that takes the iodine taste and color out of the water after the wait time.
What it does well
- The maker says the tablets make water of questionable quality bacteriologically suitable to drink, and are proven effective against Giardia lamblia when used as directed.
- Treatment takes 35 minutes: two Potable Aqua tablets per quart or liter, then the stated wait.
- The kit also includes PA Plus, an ascorbic acid tablet that neutralizes leftover iodine taste, odor and color after that wait. Two PA Plus tablets per quart or liter, then three more minutes.
- The brand chart for this kit lists a capacity of up to 25 quarts.
What it does not do
- The maker's compare chart lists virus and cryptosporidium claims only for its chlorine dioxide tablets, not for this iodine kit.
- It is not for everyday, continuous use. Follow the label, and do not add PA Plus until the 30-minute treatment wait is finished.
Good for: The disinfectant step after you filter, or when you cannot boil, used as directed on the label.
See it on Amazon
Coming
Picks for this base are on the way, along with its field guide. For now, see the power guide or the first 24 hours plan.
How we choose
- We start with the job: how much power, how much light, how long.
- We read the maker’s specs and the store listing, and we confirm the item is listed and in stock before it goes on the page.
- We tell you what each product is not good for.
- We do not show prices, because they change daily.
- Some links are affiliate links, and the disclosure appears on every page that has them.
Bases with picks coming: Food, First aid. Each one arrives with its own field guide.
Coming next: rugged gear and apparel
Next, we will add rugged gear and apparel for men and women who are ready at home and rugged anywhere. No products or dates yet. They will appear here first.
Sources: product details from each Amazon listing as of November 14, 2026, and First Alert CO710 product page. Detector placement: CDC, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics.
