by Furnishly | Sep 26, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
From year-round flip-flop weather to spur-of-the-moment scuba dives, life in the Caribbean has its perks. Being in the path of hurricanes, however, is not one of them. I live on a small island near Puerto Rico, and I’ve experienced firsthand how quickly a blackout can turn your life upside down. In September 2017, back-to-back Category 5 storms — Hurricanes Irma and Maria — took down our entire power grid, and it took more than a year until electricity was fully restored.
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Okay, so my situation was a bit extreme, but natural and manmade disasters are only going to continue to push old technology to its limits no matter where you live. Trust me, when the lights go out, you want to be prepared. You can bet I learned a lot over the course of those sweaty days and pitch-black nights, including the most crucial items for storms. One of my most important essentials to have at the ready? JackonLux Rechargeable Emergency Light Bulbs. I was lucky enough to ride out the 2017 storms with a friend who had these lightbulbs in her hurricane kit, and now they’re a non-negotiable in mine. For less than $10 apiece, these babies make blackouts totally bearable.
On the surface, these wonders of modern technology look and work just like regular LED lightbulbs (albeit a bit bigger), but they function whether or not electricity is flowing from the grid. Plug them into an existing lamp or fixture, and when an unexpected blackout happens, these bulbs will stay on when everything else goes dark. The brand guarantees a three- to four-hour run time, but lots of users report that theirs have lasted up to 10. “I recently had about a 12-hour outage and I went to bed with the lamps on,” commented one happy customer. “When I woke up, about eight hours later, they were still on at about the brightness of a night light. I couldn’t believe they lasted that long.” In fact, more than 9,000 five-star Amazon reviews shower this product with high praise ranging from “safer and easier [than candles]” to “every home should have one or more in case the power goes out.”
Don’t have a lamp nearby? Don’t worry — the bulbs come with external sockets complete with their own on/off switches and hooks for hanging, which is why they’re pretty popular for camping, too. (Blackouts are about as close to camping as I like to get, so I keep them safely in my storm kit.) But here’s the real reason that these bulbs are so incredibly cool: You don’t even need to plug them into anything to get them to work. Simply press your finger to the port, and you’ll see the bulb “magically” light up! Expert tip: When you don’t have TV or internet, making a lightbulb work with just your finger suddenly becomes riveting entertainment.
“When I found these I had to try them, because it seems that power outages are becoming more frequent, lasting from seconds to lonnngg hours,” commented another user. “THEY WORK! You put one in whichever lamp you need to have light if the power goes off and use it like a normal bulb. It charges while you use it. I have experienced two times, so far, when there was a power outage and the bulb stayed on! YAY! TV, all other lights, fridge, etc. went off. But I wasn’t left in the dark!!!”
Each bulb emits up to 850 lumens, and this package comes with four bulbs, which is the minimum amount I’d recommend keeping on hand for emergencies. “I absolutely love them. Makes outages so much easier! No more fumbling around for flashlights or candles,” added yet another happy user. “I liked them so much I purchased them for Christmas gifts for all the households in my family.” Not a bad idea, come to think of it — especially now, when there’s a five percent coupon you can apply to your purchase.
by Furnishly | Sep 5, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
Olivia Harvey
Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via Instagram and/or Twitter.
by Furnishly | Apr 14, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Now that spring is here, chances are you may be ready to head outside and explore. And if you want to genuinely immerse yourself in the experience, there’s no better way to do so than to sleep outside. Having an outdoor space to call home after hiking, fishing, or stargazing can help you feel at one with nature, but investing in gear can seem daunting. However, purchasing a tent, camping stove, or a simple backpack doesn’t have to cost a fortune if you consider pre-owned equipment. If you’re already a camping pro and need to upgrade your sleeping bag, your castoff can get a new lease on life while helping fund the cost of your new gear.
So, before buying everything brand-new or dropping your gently used items off at the local donation center, think about using a resale site to save or make a little money. Although you can find pre-owned adventure items on eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace, outdoor-specific sites can help you hone in on your needs. Here are six sites designed for buying and selling used camping gear.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or heading out on your maiden camping trip, Out&Back offers everything you need to have a successful experience. This is partly because they only accept and sell trustworthy brands, such as Mountain Hardware, The North Face, and Big Agnes. As a seller, the process is relatively simple. “All you have to do is fill out our online form,” says Barruch Ben-Zekry, founder of Out&Back. “We give sellers an instant cash offer, we pay for shipping, and we pay in cash as soon as we receive the item.”
Because Out&Back handles the gear, they guarantee the quality of their products, offer free returns, and ensure that each item goes through a hospital-grade cleaning process. As a purchaser, you can also feel good about reducing waste. “By purchasing used items, you’re not only helping our environment, but you’re saving tons of money,” adds Ben-Zekry. “Used gear performs just as well as new, so save the money, save the planet, buy and sell used outdoor gear.”
The name REI is synonymous with quality outdoor equipment. Although their main website sells everything from hammocks to lanterns, REI’s used section is where you can save money on camping items. “The inventory is returned REI gear, and most of it is in excellent condition,” says Ian Swallow, who produces adventure guides with his wife, Emily. REI also backs its used product line, which is a significant point for those cautious about buying pre-owned things.
Another perk is that sellers also have the opportunity to get store credit toward future purchases. “They also just added a new feature where you can trade in old gear for REI gift cards,” adds Swallow. Trading now and buying later is the perfect option if you aren’t sure what you want to purchase or if you’re going to swap camping for a different hobby, such as biking or snowboarding, as REI supplies products for a wide variety of outdoor activities.
Patagonia is known for its clothing. Of course, you may want to outfit yourself from head to toe for upcoming adventures, but by keeping an eye on the Worn Wear section of their website, you can score equipment at about half of the original price. “Although they focus more on clothing, you can find some great Patagonia camping gear (sleeping bags, backpacks, etc.),” offers Swallow. Like REI, Patagonia has a trade-in program where you can receive gift cards for gently-used items.
Additionally, purchasing from a well-known brand offers the security of using a retailer you’re already familiar with. Gaby Pilson is an outdoor educator and prefers to use retailer sites like Patagonia when purchasing used gear. “I like these manufacturer-specific sites because they give me confidence that whatever I’m buying will be in good shape, even though it’s used,” she advises.
If having used camping gear at your fingertips via your smartphone sounds appealing, the Rerouted app is the way to go. Although they have a website where you can purchase pre-owned things, downloading the app is a must if you want to sell your castoffs. Like eBay, Rerouted lets you upload and list equipment to sell directly to buyers.
“One of the coolest new apps out there for buying and selling used outdoor gear is Rerouted,” recommends Kevin Callahan, who co-founded a campervan outfitting company. “The app allows users to upload pictures of gear they want to sell and lists it in just a click.” Additionally, because folks are constantly listing new items, Rerouted allows you to create a custom profile to help find exactly what you need as sellers list equipment on their site.
Although Outdoors Geek is known for renting outdoor supplies, you can score big by watching their preowned section. Mikaela Ferguson is a former wilderness guide who recommends scouring the gently-used area of Outdoors Geek’s website to purchase items. “Outdoors Geek has a gear rental program, and they sell the used gear when they’re done with it,” she says. “If you don’t mind using gear that’s been used by many people (appropriately cleaned and in working condition, though), they have some good prices — especially for sleeping bags and pads.” Another interesting point about Outdoors Geek is that you can rent items prior to purchasing to give equipment a road test before making a total financial commitment.
If you have items to sell, Geartrade offers a variety of options depending on your preferences. Either send them used camping goods or list things yourself — either way, you don’t have to pay for shipping. “One of the coolest features is that they give free shipping labels to either send the gear to them for listing or shipping if you want to sell it yourself,” advises Mark Joy, who is an avid outdoorsman. “They offer everything outdoor adventurers need to get outside at a discounted price.”
Joy also recommends Geartrade due to how user-friendly the site is. “It’s organized really well by activity, type, and brand, and you can also do general searches,” he says. In addition, using a reselling site like Geartrade encourages reducing waste while helping you clear out things that may otherwise go unused. Whether buying or selling, one person’s pre-loved item can become someone else’s next great camping find.
by Furnishly | Jul 21, 2021 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
There’s two camps of people (pun very much intended!) in this world: those who enjoy cooking and sleeping in the great outdoors and those who don’t. Anyone who knows me well can attest that I fall into the latter category — I’m more Meredith Blake than Ron Swanson.
Whether you’re in my shoes or you can’t wait for your next outdoor expedition, camping season’s officially in full force. Since I’m clearly no camping authority, I rounded up a list of supplies that caters to even the least outdoorsy of folks. They’re all a little bit fun and very much still functional, for both on and off the campsite. On top of, you know, actual necessities (First Aid kit, food, tent, sleeping bags, etc.), pack some (or all) of these camping-friendly finds before you set up your next tent.
by Furnishly | Jun 17, 2021 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
When you need sound advice, you go to the experts. Not sure if you need a jacket? Check The Weather Channel. For tips on how to get your oven-baked fries perfectly crispy, you turn to the team at our sister site, The Kitchn. And if you want to know how to function in the aftermath of a massive storm, you ask someone who’s been there before — like me. In September 2017, I rode out Hurricanes Irma and Maria in my home on Vieques, Puerto Rico, as the back-to-back Category 5 storms ravaged the island just two weeks apart. When the winds subsided, nearly all 3.5 million Puerto Ricans found themselves with no running water for weeks or more, and without stable electricity for much, much longer (in the case of Vieques, more than a year).
Those were strange times, my friends, but out of the most unwanted of circumstances comes the greatest knowledge, right? Chances are, no matter where you live, there’s some kind of weather-related event that could potentially leave you in the dark, too. Pre-storm panic shopping will ensure you have plenty of bottled water and non-perishable food (that you hope to never have to eat), but you’re gonna need much more than bottled water and canned spaghetti to keep you going! Below, I rounded up 10 items that I recommend ordering for your own storm kit ASAP. Take my been-there-done-that advice now, and stock up on what you need before you actually need it.
FYI: June 1 was the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, but it also marked the beginning of Community Month here at Apartment Therapy — and the timing couldn’t be better. Trust me when I tell you that, after a natural disaster, community is your most valuable resource. Taking care of each other is just as important as taking care of yourself, so when you’re adding the items below to your cart, consider tossing in a few extras for neighbors who might be in need.
