If you camp, you may already own some useful blackout supplies. The catch is that camping gear tends to live in several places: a lantern in the shed, a cable in the car and the headlamp still in last weekend’s backpack.
Rather than buying everything twice, decide which items have a job at home. Then make sure they return to a known place after each trip.
Headlamps: a light that leaves your hands free
A headlamp is handy for finding clothes, reading instructions or carrying supplies. Test the fit and controls before an outage. A complicated sequence of modes is less useful if nobody remembers how to turn on the ordinary light.
Check whether yours uses replaceable batteries or needs charging. Keep the appropriate supplies beside it. If you are replacing a missing light, our COB motion-sensor headlamp is an option to compare with the equipment you already own.
Lanterns: share the light in one room
A lantern suits a table or shared living space better than asking everyone to hold a torch. Try it in the room where you would spend an evening during a blackout. You may find a modest setting is more comfortable than the brightest one.
Store it somewhere you can reach without dragging out the entire camping box. Check its manual for battery life and use conditions, and keep a separate small light available for moving between rooms.
Power banks: keep the matching cable with them
A camping power bank can help with phone charging at home. Charge it according to the manufacturer’s instructions and test the cable with the device you intend to use.
Do not assume every USB port can power every device. If you are considering a larger portable power station, make a list of loads and check its output limits and battery capacity. Charging a phone and running household appliances are different jobs.
For a fuller plan, read our Queensland power outage guide, including the separate planning needed for powered medical equipment.
Dry bags: give loose essentials a home
A dry bag can keep spare clothes and small supplies together inside a grab bag. Choose a size you can pack without crushing everything, and practise closing it properly.
Our 10-litre roll-top dry bag is one example. A dry bag’s protection depends on its design, condition and closure. Do not assume it is suitable for prolonged submersion or use it as your only protection for irreplaceable documents.
Cookware and eskies: useful, with a few limits
Camping mugs, bowls and a compact pot can simplify an outdoor meal. Keep the utensils needed for the food you have planned, and check that cookware is suitable for the appliance you would use. A small camping pot and pan mess kit may suit limited storage, but ordinary kitchen equipment may already cover the same job.
An esky and frozen ice bricks can help keep food cold. They still need a food-safety plan; they do not make perishables safe indefinitely. See FSANZ’s emergency food guidance for advice on refrigeration during an outage.
Portable camping stoves are for outdoor use. Queensland Health warns that outdoor fuel-burning equipment must not be used in homes, garages, tents or caravans, or near openings where fumes can enter. Check current fire restrictions and the manufacturer’s directions before cooking outdoors. Keep ready-to-eat food for conditions when you cannot safely use a stove.
Sleeping gear: comfort rather than a complete plan
Sleeping bags and mats can help if household members need to sleep in a different room or stay somewhere with limited bedding. Air them out, check their condition and pack them so they are easy to carry.
They do not replace a safe evacuation destination. Confirm what you will need with the place you plan to stay, particularly if you have children, pets or accessibility needs.
Put borrowed kit items back after every trip
Keep a short list on the camping box: light returned, batteries checked, power bank charged, clothes repacked and food replaced. If an item travels often, consider keeping only a simple dedicated backup at home.
Our household emergency kit checklist will help identify what camping gear does not cover, such as medicines, documents and everyday hygiene supplies.