ADVICE FIRST. EQUIPMENT SECOND.
What would we actually do?
Sometimes the smartest purchase is from your supermarket. Sometimes it is specialised equipment. And often the best answer is to use something you already own.
Go Prepare’s four-way recommendation
We compare four practical routes: use what you have, buy ordinary household supplies, make or improve a safe solution, and buy specialist equipment. We recommend the approach that suits your timeframe, budget, safety needs and storage—not simply the product we sell.
Our first rule: meet the need, not the marketing claim
For a three-day power cut, a sensible cupboard of food you already enjoy might matter far more than a costly specialist pack. Someone keeping a lightweight evacuation bag may benefit from compact long-life products. A household planning for years needs food rotation, replenishment, storage and practical skills as well as emergency supplies.
Our comparison topics
Food reserves
Supermarket food or freeze-dried food? Compare useful calories, preparation, household rotation, water needs, space and cost.
Water
Begin with safe stored drinking water and suitable food-grade containers. Specialist filtration or treatment makes sense only when its tested capabilities match the risks and source.
Power and lighting
A charged torch and phone power bank can cover many short interruptions. Larger batteries or solar systems require proper load, runtime and recharge planning.
Cooking
Check if shelf-stable ready-to-eat food is enough before buying cooking equipment. Outdoor-only gas or solid-fuel devices must never be treated as safe indoor substitutes.
Keeping warm
Start with existing suitable layers and blankets; address draughts and safe heat retention before considering specialist heating systems.
Communications
Keep offline contact details and charge what you own. A standalone radio or additional charging system is useful when it covers a clear reliability gap.
A decision you can trust
What we already know: your timeframe, available facilities and intended use can change the recommendation.
What we do not invent: product testing, food shelf-life, water safety, battery runtime, price savings, or a guarantee that equipment will cover a set number of months.
Count the meals you already have
Our Food Reserve Planner starts with three meals per person per day: estimate how many complete household days your cupboards, fridge and freezer can cover, then see how many more breakfasts, lunches and dinners to plan. It is a practical estimate, not an individual nutritional prescription.
Read the detailed comparisons
Supermarket food vs freeze-dried food · When specialist equipment is worth buying · Build to Last · Build your plan.
Safety and sources: UK Government: preparing for emergencies; Food Standards Agency: best-before and use-by dates. Follow manufacturer instructions and seek appropriate professional guidance for electrical, fuel and water-treatment systems.
INTERACTIVE BUYING ADVICE
What would we actually recommend?
Pick a requirement and your circumstances. This comparison is independent of product stock, pricing and any sales commission. No answers are saved or sent to a server for the general comparison. The optional Studio check below sends your selected answers only when you choose to run it.
Select your circumstances, then choose Compare the approaches. We will show all four options and which should usually come first.
Editorial guidance only. No invented prices, proven runtimes, food shelf lives or safety certifications. Always follow manufacturer instructions and official food, fire, fuel and water-safety guidance.
OPTIONAL READINESS CROSS-CHECK
Check your existing equipment against your plan
Our buying advice remains independent. For supported requirements, you can also check selected gaps against Preparedness Studio and real Catalogue matches. This does not mean you need to buy anything.
Your choices stay in this browser until you press the check button. The check then sends your selected answers to the Go Prepare assessment endpoint; it does not save a plan, create an account or add products to your basket. Normal server request logs may still apply.