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The best emergency kits for power outages
Redfora’s Complete Earthquake Bag wins for its broader 72-hour coverage; the Ready America kits cost less but need more added supplies.
| Best overall | Best value | Cheapest that's still good | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Redfora Complete Earthquake Bag | Ready America 72 Hour Deluxe Emergency Backpack, 2 Person (70285) | Ready America 72 Hour Emergency Backpack, 2 Person (70280) |
| Price | about $165 | about $110 | about $39 |
| Why | NBC Select named it best overall among its 2026 emergency-kit picks. It includes a hand-crank radio, first-aid kit and water pouches, with labeled, color-coded supplies; the two-person bag is about 18 pounds. | This adds a radio, flashlight and phone-charging feature, water purification tablets and hygiene kits to a two-person emergency backpack, for substantially less than the featured Redfora bag. Ready America lists two 2,400-calorie bars and six 4.225-ounce water pouches. | NBC Select named the Ready America 72 Hour Emergency Backpack a budget pick at about $39. It provides a compact starting set of food, water pouches, lightsticks, blankets and basic first aid for two people. |
| Good to know | It still lacks some useful shelter and communication supplies, so it is not a complete one-purchase solution. | Its small amount of water means you must store much more separately. | The limited food and water and lack of a radio or flashlight make it a starter kit, not a complete outage kit. |
| See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
picture by AINBC Select named it best overall among its 2026 emergency-kit picks. It includes a hand-crank radio, first-aid kit and water pouches, with labeled, color-coded supplies; the two-person bag is about 18 pounds.
Good to know: It still lacks some useful shelter and communication supplies, so it is not a complete one-purchase solution.
See on Amazonpicture by AIThis adds a radio, flashlight and phone-charging feature, water purification tablets and hygiene kits to a two-person emergency backpack, for substantially less than the featured Redfora bag. Ready America lists two 2,400-calorie bars and six 4.225-ounce water pouches.
Good to know: Its small amount of water means you must store much more separately.
See on Amazonpicture by AINBC Select named the Ready America 72 Hour Emergency Backpack a budget pick at about $39. It provides a compact starting set of food, water pouches, lightsticks, blankets and basic first aid for two people.
Good to know: The limited food and water and lack of a radio or flashlight make it a starter kit, not a complete outage kit.
See on AmazonDanilli may earn a small commission from Amazon when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Product pictures are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.
What matters
A ready-made kit is a starting point: check how many people it serves and add what your household needs. Plan for about 1 gallon of water per person per day, and keep extra drinking water and familiar nonperishable food at home. Check food and water expiry dates; for a first-aid kit, check the supplies and ask a pharmacist or doctor about medicines you may need.
Who this is for
These picks suit people who want a grab-and-go emergency kit for storms, evacuations or outages, then can add household-specific supplies. They are not complete solutions for every household or a substitute for enough water, food, lighting and communications gear.
The picks, one by one
Best overall: Redfora Complete Earthquake Bag
NBC Select named it best overall among its 2026 emergency-kit picks. It includes a hand-crank radio, first-aid kit and water pouches, with labeled, color-coded supplies; the two-person bag is about 18 pounds. The kit comes in versions for different household sizes, so choose the one that matches yours. NBC Select reports that the included supplies are organized and labeled, but also notes that you may want to add plastic sheeting, batteries, charging tools and local maps. The article lists about $165 for its featured option on Amazon. This is a better fit for someone who wants a more comprehensive prebuilt bag than a bare-bones starter kit.
Good to know: It still lacks some useful shelter and communication supplies, so it is not a complete one-purchase solution.
See on AmazonBest value: Ready America 72 Hour Deluxe Emergency Backpack, 2 Person (70285)
This adds a radio, flashlight and phone-charging feature, water purification tablets and hygiene kits to a two-person emergency backpack, for substantially less than the featured Redfora bag. Ready America lists two 2,400-calorie bars and six 4.225-ounce water pouches. The maker says the food and water have a five-year shelf life from manufacture, so check the dates on the items you receive. The included food is 4,800 calories total, and the supplied water is far below what two people need for three days: store about six gallons separately. A 2026 NBC Select article backs the brand’s less expensive 72-hour backpack as a budget starter, though it does not review this exact Deluxe model. Add household-specific food, water, batteries and other supplies; check the first-aid contents and ask a pharmacist or doctor about medicines you may need.
Good to know: Its small amount of water means you must store much more separately.
See on AmazonCheapest that's still good: Ready America 72 Hour Emergency Backpack, 2 Person (70280)
NBC Select named the Ready America 72 Hour Emergency Backpack a budget pick at about $39. It provides a compact starting set of food, water pouches, lightsticks, blankets and basic first aid for two people. The included food totals 4,800 calories, or about 800 calories per person per day for three days—emergency rations, not normal meals. Twelve small pouches provide only about 51 fluid ounces of water in total, so store substantially more; the general planning amount is about one gallon per person per day. The maker lists a five-year shelf life from manufacture for food and water; check the expiry dates when it arrives. It lacks a radio and flashlight, so add those, along with household-specific supplies.
Good to know: The limited food and water and lack of a radio or flashlight make it a starter kit, not a complete outage kit.
See on AmazonHow we chose
The recent articles reviewed agency guidance, product contents, customer ratings and listed prices; they did not report hands-on, timed tests of these complete kits. PreparedStates explicitly says its Ready America review is researched from specifications and owner reports, not product use. Danilli read the reviews and tests listed below and compared current prices; it does not take money from brands to pick a product.
Sources
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Written with Danilli's AI from the sources above and refreshed about once a month; prices change, check Amazon for today's price. Danilli may earn a small commission from Amazon when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Product pictures are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.