Ready for the night the lights go out.
It always starts the same way. The lights flicker, then go. The boiler clicks off. The fridge goes quiet. Outside, the wind is still building, and inside, everyone is looking for a torch that nobody can find.
Most power cuts in Britain are over in hours. Some aren't. Storms take down lines in places crews can't reach until the wind drops. Water pumps stop. Mobile masts run out of battery. And for a day or two, a normal home becomes a cold, dark, quiet place.
That's why the UK Government now asks every household to be ready to manage on its own for three days. We think that's right. We also think it should be simple.
Why we built The 72 Hour Kit
Getting ready used to mean a dozen shops, a hundred gadgets and a lot of people telling you the world is ending. We wanted the opposite: one box for home, one bag for the door, one kit for the car. No fear. No padding. Just the things that make the first 72 hours calm instead of chaotic.
So we went through the official 3-day checklist line by line and asked one question about every item: will this make a real difference on a real night without power? If the answer was no, it didn't go in.
What goes in, and what never does
- Light first. Hands-free head torches, a room light and flameless tealights, because candles and children don't mix.
- News when the internet is gone. A wind-up radio, so you're never waiting in silence.
- Power for your phone. A power bank, so you can still call, text and check in on family.
- Warmth without electricity. Foil blankets, a hot water bottle and draught-stoppers in the bigger kits.
- Never in our kits: blades, fuel, matches, medicines or food that silently goes out of date. You add water and the food you already eat; we show you exactly how much.
Our promise
Every kit page lists every item and the reason it's there. We tell you what we cover and what you add yourself. We'll never sell you fear, and we'll never pretend a box can do more than it can.
Questions? Write to us at info@the72hourkit.com. Real people read every message.
The 72 Hour Kit is an independent shop. We are not part of, or endorsed by, the UK Government, the Met Office or any emergency service. The official 3-day advice is at beready.campaign.gov.uk. In an emergency call 999; for a power cut call 105.
The 72 Hour Kit is operated by Living the Life B.V., Jacob Leendert van Rijweg 50, 2713 JA Zoetermeer, the Netherlands.