As the old adage goes, if you fail to prepare, you’re preparing to fail. With a new season just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to take stock of your supplies and make sure you’re setting yourself up for success in every area of your routine.
Luckily for all of us, Shop TODAY executive editor Adrianna Brach is always at the ready. Brach stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY to share those products you really ought to keep around “just in case.” From emergency essentials like a fire blanket (did you know the National Fire Protection Association reports one home structure fire every 96 seconds?) to smart upgrades that every house should have, you never know when these finds will come in handy.
Keep reading to shop all of our favorite products for maximum preparedness. Your future self will thank you!
Best products to shop just in case, as seen on 3rd Hour of TODAY
House fires can happen fast — there’s often only a two-minute window to escape when a home fire occurs, according to Consumer Affairs. That’s why this fire blanket is one of those “just in case” products that’s important to have but you hope you never need. Brach says it’s designed to “help smother a small fire by cutting off its oxygen supply.” Unlike many traditional fire extinguishers, there’s no powder cleanup and no expiration date to worry about.
“You pull down on two tabs to release the blanket, hold it by the corners and carefully place it over the fire to help smother the flames,” Brach instructs. “It’s such added peace of mind. It’s easy to store in the kitchen, near the grill or in the garage... Grab one or two and then you’ll never have to think of it again!”
For those important documents that are difficult to replace, like birth certificates, passports and insurance paperwork, it’s a smart idea to have a place to store them that’s fireproof and waterproof. This organizer is Brach’s pick, with 13 accordion pockets and additional spaces for smaller items, like cards and USB drives. For added security, there’s a three-digit combination lock. So, in the event you ever need to grab your important documents quickly, you’ll know exactly where they are.
You never know when a power outage might happen. Brach thinks these light bulbs are genius to have handy, because they work like a regular everyday light bulb, but with a rechargeable backup battery built right inside (so there’s no need to wait for the electric company to bring your lights back!). “If the power goes out, the bulb can stay illuminated using that battery, and GE says it can provide up to five hours of light on a full charge,” Brach explains.
“And here’s the really cool part: You can actually unscrew the bulb and switch it into handheld flashlight mode, so now your regular light bulb becomes your emergency flashlight,” Brach shares. “When you first install it, the brand recommends leaving it on for 10 consecutive hours to fully charge the battery.”
Is there anything more frustrating than getting caught in the rain unprepared? This umbrella folds down to just under seven inches, so Brach says it’s small enough to leave in your purse, backpack or work bag. Don’t be fooled by the small size, though, as you get great coverage when it’s opened. Plus, it comes with a case, so you can easily store it dry and take it with you without dripping water all over.
When’s the last time you checked that your first aid kit is well-stocked and nothing inside has expired? It might be time for a fresh start, and this compact kit is our recommendation, ringing up at only $8.99. It has 140 pieces, covering everyday essentials like adhesive bandages, gauze, cleaning wipes, medical tape and even scissors. Brach suggests buying several so you can keep one in your car, travel bag and more so your first aid supplies are always nearby when you need them.
This “just in case” find could seriously save the day in a roadside emergency, packing eight functions into one rechargeable, compact device. It’s a 100-decibel siren, electronic strobe, flashlight, alarm, SOS signal, seatbelt cutter, window breaker and a power bank, the brand says. Plus, it’s on sale right now and the brand is even offering free shipping!
“And here’s the feature I really like: If you don’t have another power source available, there’s a hand crank that can actually generate power,” Brach reports. “So, instead of keeping a bunch of different emergency gadgets in the car, you’re getting several useful functions packed into one tool.”
More safety products and tools to shop
Peace of mind is priceless. That’s why this portable travel safety device earned a place among the winners in this year’s Shop TODAY Travel Awards. It’s compact in size, but don’t be fooled — our testers found it to be very, very loud when it’s activated.
Not cleaning your dryer vent properly? You could be risking a fire from build-up in the lint trap. This bestselling tool attaches to your vacuum hose and allows you to easily reach deep into the crevices of your dryer where debris accumulates.
Not only does this bestselling gadget serve as a surge protector, but it also multiplies your outlets, so you can charge more devices at once. There are even options available that extend up to 20 feet, so there can be a place to plug in wherever you need it.
We love Apple’s AirTag for keeping tabs on our valuable belongings, no matter where we go. We’ve previously used them to track down our wallets, passports, keys, checked luggage and more precious cargo.
The last thing you want when you’re out and about is to run out of battery. This portable charger ensures you’ll never suffer that fate, as it’s got an impressive battery life and the ability to charge up to four devices at once.
Personal and health items to shop just in case
Between supplements and medications, there are a lot of doses to keep track of when we’re on the go. Stay organized and keep your most important pills handy with this case, which has eight compartments.
Did you know that an estimated 68% of the world’s population has issues digesting lactose, per the National Institutes of Health? If you fall into the majority, you’ll want to try these stick-on patches, which solve the pain point of having to time out a pill to enjoy anything that might have dairy in it. We tried them out and found that they really work, supporting lactose digestion for eight to 12 hours at a time.
No one wants bad breath, as evidenced by the fact that these packets were purchased over 10,000 times on Amazon in the last month alone. That’s a lot of people staying prepared with minty-fresh breath when they’re out and about!
Clean up mascara shadows, smudging eyeliner and more makeup “oopsies” on the go with these ready-to-use swabs. They come filled with a makeup-removing solution, so you can precisely swipe away any mishaps without disturbing the rest of your makeup.
This is one of those finds you’ll be relieved to have in a moment of need. The brand shares that the idea for the product was sparked by its own in-house laboratory bathrooms, where surplus vials of oils were placed and the brand discovered tangerine peel, mandarin peel and ylang ylang were particularly adept at reducing and masking disagreeable smells.
Having a back-up pair of emergency underwear can truly be a lifesaver. The brand shares that these lightweight, travel-friendly underwear are antibacterial and skin-friendly, and they come pre-packaged in tubes that are easy to throw in your carry-on, car or desk... just in case!
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team, along with Adrianna Brach
- Adrianna Brach is the executive editor at Shop TODAY, with over a decade of experience as an editor covering beauty, fashion and shopping.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more finds available on Amazon that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
