I grabbed this inflatable solar-powered lantern on a whim - now I use it every trip

• The LuminAid solar camping lantern is available now for $25.
• It's the perfect lantern for emergencies with a very long runtime and chargeable with a solar panel or USB.
• The lantern could blow away if not properly secured outdoors.

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

One mistake I see a lot of people make with their portable power stations is hooking up mains-powered lights, like a desk or floor lamp. Despite the fact that your lamp might make use of a low-energy LED lightbulb (and it should, because those old incandescent bulbs are terribly wasteful), using the AC outlet on a power station is wasteful if low-voltage options exist. 

This is why I recommend keeping emergency lighting like camping lanterns handy, both for use outdoors but also situations when you find yourself stuck in the darkness. 

Also: I switched to a solid-state ...