Kit selection rules
Written before choosing products. These are research rules, not claims that we have tested anything.
Method (amended 2026-10-29, before any product was chosen)
We do not run our own tests or write our own reviews. A pick is the product that reputable independent reviewers and buying guides recommend for the job (Which?, Stiftung Warentest, Consumer Reports, Choice, and named outlets with hands-on tests such as Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, Outdoor Gear Lab, Trusted Reviews), and that can be bought in Ireland. Start from their “best” lists and reviews, prefer products recommended by more than one of them, and summarise what they found in our own words with links.
Numerical minimums are advisory buying guides, not safety limits. Record the candidate’s documented figure and test conditions where available. If a candidate falls short or does not document a minimum or its test condition, disclose that on the page, for example “listening volume not stated by the maker”, rather than excluding it. An independent test takes precedence when it contradicts a maker figure. Derived figures are labelled as estimates. Record public compliance information where available; an absent public declaration is disclosed for products sold by an established Irish or EU retailer. Irish supply means an orderable offer delivering to Ireland at the check date.
Only these are hard requirements: sold to Ireland with an Irish or UK plug where it plugs in (for power stations and anything with AC outlets, the UK/Irish variant with Type G sockets and plug: an offer from an EU or other non-Irish store counts only if that listing is the UK/Irish variant, and an EU-socket model is never an offer); no medical equipment; outdoor-only and carbon monoxide warnings for stoves and gas; and for power stations, enough continuous and surge output for the tier’s loads. Where the sections below say “must”, “require” or “minimum”, read it as “should” unless it is one of those hard requirements.
When reviewers disagree or recommend several products, use the section’s tie-breakers. Cheaper and bigger alternatives are the reviewers’ budget and step-up picks where they name them.
Common checks
Every need below inherits these hard requirements: sold and shipped to an address in Ireland, a named seller with clear returns and warranty terms, and a delivered price including VAT, delivery and any import charges. Check the exact Irish variant, not a similarly named overseas model. Mains equipment must have an Irish or UK three-pin plug and suit Irish mains; rechargeable portable equipment should use USB-C. Replaceable standard batteries are acceptable where specified. Check CE marking and the maker’s compliance information where applicable; record UKCA if present, but UKCA alone does not establish suitability for Ireland. Do not demand electrical markings on ordinary blankets, food or water containers. See Irish product safety guidance.
Evidence order for every need: independent hands-on tests of the exact model first, maker specifications and manuals second, recurring owner reports third. Record dates, test conditions and source links. A missing test is a gap, not a favourable result. A main pick needs tester or owner evidence as well as sourced specifications. Every power tier needs both independent tester evidence and owner reports because any tier can become the reader’s pick. Owner reports can identify repeated faults but cannot prove safety. Summarise in our own words; do not reproduce Which? text, scores or badges.
Apply the hard requirements first, compare evidence for the stated job next, then apply each section’s tie-breakers in order. Record the deciding rule and any uncertainty. A cheaper alternative must still do the job; a bigger alternative must offer useful extra capacity or coverage, not just a higher price. If evidence or Irish supply is missing, leave the need unfilled. Commission is not a criterion. Choose the product before applying the separate EUR 5 delivered-price rule to shop links.
For tie-breakers, use the ordered comparisons below, stopping at the first difference. Compare like-for-like test conditions; do not rank an unmeasured quality above a measured one. If the evidence cannot support a comparison, record a tie and move to the next criterion. A complete tie ends with the lower delivered price, then the product ID in alphabetical order. Prices here compare products on merit, without affiliate status. Choose the lights and radio first, then choose spare batteries to match those exact picks. Recheck batteries whenever those picks change.
Power station
Job: keep selected plug-in household loads running through a power cut. This is one need with three tiers, not three unrelated picks.
Hard requirements: common checks; Irish or UK sockets, stated stored energy, continuous output, surge rating (surge duration recorded where published, not required), battery chemistry, charging limits and warranty. Use the existing typicalSupplies reference sizes: small 250 Wh / 300 W / 600 W surge, medium 1000 Wh / 1000 W / 2000 W surge, large 2000 Wh / 1500 W / 3000 W surge. A tier candidate must meet its reference ratings; if none does, record the gap rather than silently lowering the sizer’s promise. Where a surge duration is published, record it beside the start-up figures. Prefer LiFePO4 when other requirements are met. Exclude medical equipment sizing and generators. Hard-wired loads need an electrician; never suggest feeding a wall socket. Runtime is on paper using the wattage shown, not a guarantee.
Evidence order: independent usable-energy, sustained-output and start-up tests, then maker manuals, then owner reports of reliability and service. Tie-breakers: evidence of running the tier’s loads, usable energy at modest loads, repair and warranty support in Ireland, carry weight, then delivered price. Commission is not a criterion.
Phone bank
Job: recharge an ordinary phone for a day’s use away from mains power.
Hard requirements: common checks; USB-C input and output, stated energy and output ratings, compatible cable requirements, clear charge indication and documented protection features. Compare useful delivered energy with the phone battery being charged; do not equate the bank’s advertised cell capacity with charge delivered to a phone. State how many charges are supported by the evidence and the phone used.
Minimum: rated energy at least 37 Wh (10,000 mAh at 3.7 V), and an estimated two or more charges of a 12 Wh phone battery, calculated as rated or measured output energy x 0.85 / 12 Wh. Use the maker’s rated output energy where published, otherwise rated energy x 0.85 for conversion loss; an independent measured output figure replaces either. Label the charge count as an estimate.
Evidence order: independent delivered-capacity and charging tests, maker ratings, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: more demonstrated complete charges of the same reference phone, higher measured USB output Wh per gram, lower carry weight, then delivered price including the cable. Commission is not a criterion.
Laptop bank
Job: keep a USB-C charging laptop working as well as charging a phone.
Hard requirements: common checks; USB-C Power Delivery input and output with published voltage and power profiles, stored energy and cable rating. Match the laptop’s charger requirement, including when ports share power. Exclude claims of universal laptop compatibility and proprietary laptop charging without a documented adapter.
Minimum: rated energy at least 60 Wh, output energy at least 45 Wh (maker rated output energy, or rated energy x 0.75 where none is published; an independent measurement replaces either), and USB-C PD output of at least 65 W on one port with a documented 20 V profile and a suitably rated cable. Verify the 65 W remains available with any advertised simultaneous phone charging; otherwise describe single-port use only. These figures target one useful laptop top-up, not a whole working day.
Evidence order: independent sustained laptop charging and delivered-energy tests, maker port tables, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: higher measured delivered Wh at the same laptop load, shorter measured full recharge time, lower carry weight, then delivered price with the required cable. Commission is not a criterion.
Head torch
Job: leave both hands free for moving around the home and simple outdoor tasks in the dark.
Hard requirements: common checks; adjustable strap and beam angle, usable low mode, documented runtime at that mode and stated weather resistance. Accept USB-C charging or common replaceable batteries. Check controls can be found in darkness and that accidental activation can be prevented. Do not select on peak brightness alone.
Minimum: a named normal mode rated at least 100 lumens with a documented runtime of at least 4 hours on the supplied battery or a specified common cell set. Record ANSI/PLATO FL 1 figures and edition where published, otherwise the maker’s method. The 4 hours must belong to that same mode, not a dimmer mode or a boost burst. Standard-mode FL 1 runtime ends at 10% of initial output, so it does not establish four hours at 100 lumens; record a runtime curve where available and state any dimming. See the maker’s explanation of FL 1 measurements and the standards body’s distinction between normal and boost modes.
Evidence order: independent beam, runtime and control tests, maker instructions, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: longer measured time above 100 lumens under the same conditions, lower weight including batteries, fewer button presses from off to the qualifying mode, then delivered price. Commission is not a criterion.
Room lantern
Job: light a shared room safely without candles.
Hard requirements: common checks; stable base, diffuse light, low setting, carrying or hanging point and runtime stated at the setting used. Accept USB-C or common replaceable batteries. Reject fuel-burning lanterns for this indoor need; check any weather claims against the maker’s rating.
Minimum: a named diffuse white-light mode rated at least 200 lumens with at least 6 hours of documented runtime on that same mode. Record ANSI/PLATO FL 1 figures and edition where published, otherwise the test method. Apply the head-torch section’s runtime caveat: a 6-hour FL 1 rating does not mean six hours at 200 lumens. Compare measured output curves where available; never combine maximum lumens with minimum-mode runtime.
Evidence order: independent room-lighting and runtime tests, maker data, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: longer measured time above 200 lumens, fewer button presses to the qualifying mode, lower weight including batteries, then delivered price. Commission is not a criterion.
Spare batteries
Job: keep the chosen battery-powered radio and lights working without a charger.
Hard requirements: common checks; exact size, chemistry and voltage allowed by each device manual, marked shelf life and intact retail packaging from a traceable seller. Compare the cost of a complete replacement set, not a single cell. Rechargeable cells need a compatible charger and a plan to charge before an outage; do not substitute loose rechargeable lithium cells for ordinary household cells.
Minimum: two complete replacement sets for every selected light or radio using replaceable cells, with at least 3 years of stated shelf life remaining for primary cells. Record cell counts by device and sum them across the kit. Choose these only after the lights and radio. Rechargeable alternatives must provide the same two-set count, a compatible charger and documented retained capacity after 12 months of storage; keep primary and rechargeable test conditions separate.
Evidence order: independent capacity and leakage tests for the relevant size and load, maker storage instructions, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: more complete compatible sets per pack without mixing chemistries, longer documented storage life, higher measured capacity at the relevant device load, then delivered cost per complete set. Commission is not a criterion.
Battery radio
Job: hear national and local broadcasts without internet or mains electricity.
Hard requirements: common checks; FM reception covering Irish stations, built-in speaker, usable tuning and volume controls, replaceable readily available batteries and documented battery requirements. LW is optional, not a reason to pay more: RTÉ ended LW 252 in April 2023. Do not choose a DAB-only or internet-only radio for this need.
Minimum: FM coverage from 87.5 to 108 MHz, a built-in speaker, and at least 20 hours of documented speaker listening on one specified set of AA, AAA, C or D cells at a stated volume. Record the exact cell type and count. LW is optional; if present record its frequency range, but it does not win a tie.
Evidence order: independent reception, intelligibility and battery-life tests, maker data, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: more intelligible FM stations in the same reception test and location, longer speaker runtime at the same volume, fewer cells per replacement set, then delivered price. Commission is not a criterion.
Wind-up radio
Job: provide FM speech broadcasts with a hand-charging fallback when spare batteries run out.
Hard requirements: common checks; FM and speaker, USB-C charging, a working crank with documented charging instructions and a stated battery capacity. Record whether solar charging is fitted and its limits. Solar and crank claims must state conditions and listening time gained; neither is treated as dependable phone charging or the main energy supply.
Minimum: FM coverage from 87.5 to 108 MHz, speaker, USB-C input and a documented rechargeable NiMH or lithium-ion battery of at least 2 Wh. Require at least 5 minutes of speaker listening from 1 minute of cranking at a documented rate and volume, plus at least 4 hours of listening from a full charge. Record the battery chemistry, replacement or service route, and any solar panel rating separately. Solar is optional and earns no credit without measured charging conditions.
Evidence order: independent crank-to-listening-time and reception tests, maker instructions, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: more measured listening minutes per minute of cranking under the same conditions, longer full-charge speaker runtime, lower carry weight, then delivered price. Commission is not a criterion.
Water container
Job: store drinking water at home and dispense it without repeated handling of the water.
Hard requirements: common checks; explicitly suitable for drinking-water contact, stated capacity, secure lid, stable shape, manageable filled weight and an opening that permits cleaning. Check tap seals, replacement parts and the maker’s cleaning and storage instructions. A generic storage box is not enough. Use food-contact suitability information, not an unsupported claim about plastic type. This is storage, not water treatment.
Minimum: at least 10 litres usable capacity with a maximum 15-litre filled working volume for this carryable household need. Require a named food-contact material, such as food-contact HDPE or stainless steel, and the maker’s explicit drinking-water suitability documentation. Material name alone does not qualify. Record the empty and filled weights, opening diameter and usable capacity; 10 litres of water adds about 10 kg before the container.
Evidence order: independent leak and dispensing tests, maker food-contact and cleaning information, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: larger cleaning opening diameter, fewer leaks in a comparable filled 24-hour test, lower empty weight, then delivered price per usable litre. Commission is not a criterion.
Collapsible carrier
Job: collect drinking water and carry it home, then store the empty carrier in little space.
Hard requirements: common checks; stated drinking-water suitability and capacity, closable opening, secure handle and documented cleaning and drying instructions. Consider filled weight and whether it can be carried and poured without support. No claim that the carrier makes unsafe water drinkable.
Minimum: at least 5 litres usable capacity, with no more than 10 litres at the intended carrying fill, and documented drinking-water suitability for the named material. Require a closable spout and handle rated for that filled weight. Record the usable litres and packed dimensions, not just the nominal size.
Evidence order: independent filled-carry, seam and leak tests, maker material information, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: fewer leaks after a comparable filled-carry test, smaller empty packed volume, lower empty weight, then delivered price. Commission is not a criterion.
Outdoor stove
Job: heat water and simple food outside when normal cooking is unavailable.
Hard requirements: common checks; outdoor camping stove with clear English instructions, stable pan support, stated compatible gas cartridge or cylinder, regulator and hose where needed. Verify the exact fuel and fittings are sold in Ireland and can actually be delivered or collected. Price the working set including fuel. Carry the outdoor-only / carbon monoxide warning: never use in a house, tent, garage or other enclosed space. No generators or indoor heating claims.
Minimum: at least 1.5 kW rated heat output and documented support for a 1-litre cooking pot. Use a valved, screw-thread butane/propane cartridge with a 7/16-inch UNEF connection matching the stove manual. At research time verify compatible cartridges at two Irish retailers, with dated links and actual delivery or collection arrangements. Reject lookalike incompatible cartridges or adapters without maker approval. Include at least one compatible cartridge containing 230 g of gas in the priced set. Outdoor use only; this is not indoor emergency heating.
Evidence order: independent stability, control and fuel-use tests, maker fuel and safety instructions, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: lower measured gas consumption to boil 1 litre from the same starting temperature in the same conditions, lower complete set weight, then delivered set price. Commission is not a criterion.
Food basics
Job: provide familiar long-life meals, including meals requiring no heat, from ordinary Irish shops.
Hard requirements: common delivery checks; sealed shelf-stable food with ingredients, allergens, storage instructions and dates. Use the existing shopping basket offers where available, verifying that a row is food rather than treating the water basket as a food supply. Plan actual portions, preparation water, fuel and a tin opener where needed. Fit the household’s dietary needs; no supplements or medical nutrition products.
Minimum: a basket of at least 9 labelled meal portions per adult for 3 days, including at least 3 portions edible without heating, with at least 6 months of usable shelf life at purchase. This is a meal-count research baseline, not a calorie or dietary prescription. Record portion sizes and label energy, allergens and required water per meal; adjust quantities to the household before recommending a basket.
Evidence order: independent preparation and portion assessments, maker labels, then owner reports of usability. Tie-breakers: more complete no-cook meals, less total preparation water, longer shortest remaining shelf life across the basket, then delivered price per labelled meal. Commission is not a criterion.
Blanket or sleeping bag
Job: retain body warmth indoors during a loss of heating.
Hard requirements: common delivery checks; stated dimensions, materials, care instructions and intended user size. For a sleeping bag, use a documented comfort rating and its test basis, not an extreme survival rating. For a blanket, describe layers and coverage without inventing a temperature rating. Do not imply an adult sleeping bag is infant bedding or make medical claims.
Minimum for a sleeping bag: an adult fit for a person at least 185 cm tall and a published comfort temperature of +5 degrees C or lower under ISO 23537-1:2022, with the exact tested size recorded. The +5 cutoff is our buying criterion, not an ISO requirement. Use comfort, not limit or extreme, and do not extend the adult test rating to children. Minimum for a blanket: 150 x 200 cm, with stated material and washable care instructions; do not infer thermal performance from weight alone. A qualifying sleeping bag wins the main pick because it has a comparable comfort rating. A blanket can be the cheaper, indoor layering alternative but cannot substitute for a rated sleeping bag in a temperature claim. If only blankets qualify, state that gap explicitly.
Evidence order: independent comfort, fit and durability tests, maker specifications, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: sleeping bag before blanket for the main pick, lower tested comfort temperature among qualifying bags, lower packed volume, lower weight, then delivered price. Among blankets use larger covered area, smaller packed volume, then delivered price. Commission is not a criterion.
Heated throw
Job: warm a seated adult with modest plug-in power use.
Hard requirements: common checks; Irish or UK plug, CE information, stated maximum power including start-up, controller instructions, overheat protection and automatic shut-off. Check the manual permits the intended use and power supply. Record timer and washing limits. Calculate runtime from the selected power station using stated watts; do not promise an overnight runtime or suitability for someone unable to operate the controls.
Minimum: at least 100 x 150 cm coverage and a maximum rated input of 60 W, including warm-up, with automatic shut-off and overheat protection. This ceiling budgets 2.5 hours on the small tier with no other loads: 250 Wh x 0.75 / (60 W + 15 W) = 2.5 hours, using the same usable-energy share and inverter draw as the home plan. Use maximum power, not an assumed thermostat duty cycle. The result is an on-paper estimate; a shorter auto-off timer still applies and must be disclosed. Disclose a higher maximum draw even if its lowest setting is said to average less.
Evidence order: independent power-draw, control and heat-distribution tests, maker instructions, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: lower maximum watts for the same covered area, larger covered area within the 60 W ceiling, fewer control steps to a usable heat setting, then delivered price. Commission is not a criterion.
Household first aid
Job: keep basic dressings and supplies together for minor household injuries while seeking help when needed.
Hard requirements: common checks; itemised contents with quantities and sizes, sealed sterile dressings with expiry dates, gloves, simple instructions and a case that keeps contents clean and accessible. Check whether refill supplies are available separately. Exclude medicines, diagnostic or powered medical equipment and specialist treatment kits. Do not treat a large piece count as proof of useful contents or imply the kit replaces first aid training.
Minimum contents: 20 assorted sterile plasters, 2 sterile eye pads, 2 individually wrapped triangular bandages, 6 safety pins, 2 medium sterile unmedicated dressings (10 x 8 cm), 2 large (13 x 9 cm), 2 extra-large (28 x 17.5 cm), 10 individually wrapped wipes, 5 pairs of disposable gloves, one 7 cm crepe bandage and a first-aid guidance leaflet. These dressing sizes and quantities use the Irish HSA first-aid box guidance for 1 to 10 people as a reference; this deliberately narrower household dressing kit does not claim to meet the whole workplace list or BS 8599-1. Require at least 12 months before the earliest sterile-item expiry and itemised refill availability. Exclude medicines, medical devices beyond these basic dressing supplies, diagnostic instruments, powered equipment and specialist treatment products.
Evidence order: independent inspection of contents and access, maker contents and expiry information, then owner reports. Tie-breakers: more months until the earliest sterile-item expiry, more of the required consumables available as individual refills, smaller case volume for the required contents, then delivered price. Commission is not a criterion.