Gear

Flashlights vs. Headlamps vs. Lanterns

Different lighting serves different purposes during an outage. Here's what to own and when to reach for each.

Flashlight, headlamp, and lantern side by side

Most households only own a flashlight — and discover during an outage that it's not very useful when you need both hands.

A headlamp (hands-free), a good flashlight (directional), and a lantern (room illumination) cover the full range of what most households need. Here's exactly what to look for in each category.

Next StepsUse the guides and free checklists below to keep building.

Emergency Lighting
Emergency Lighting Guide
Power Outage
Power Outage Plan