How we choose gear, and how we make money

BE Survival is an independent guide to emergency preparedness: getting a household ready for a power cut, a storm, an evacuation or a few days without running water, and heading outdoors with the right basics. Our buying guides recommend gear you can buy online, and we want you to know exactly how those recommendations are made.

How we make money

BE Survival is reader-supported. When you buy through a product link on this site we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. BE Survival is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also show display advertising.

No brand pays for a place in a guide, and a commission never changes a rating. Products linked from our guides are marked as sponsored links for search engines.

How we choose

Unless a guide says otherwise, we have not tested the products in it ourselves. We research them: we read the manufacturer's specifications, certifications and instructions, compare them with the alternatives at the same price, and look for the patterns in verified owners' reviews, the praise that keeps coming up and the complaints that do too. Each guide explains the scoring it uses in a "How we rate" box.

We do not show prices, because they change daily; the price band on each pick ($ to $$$$$) is a rough guide, and Amazon's page always has the current price.

Where our guides stop

Gear is no substitute for training or for official advice. A first aid kit is only as useful as the person holding it, so take a first aid course, and in an emergency call 911 or your local emergency number. For water, follow the filter maker's instructions and your local health authority: a filter that removes bacteria and protozoa does not necessarily remove viruses or chemicals. For storms, floods, wildfires and evacuations, follow your local emergency management agency and Ready.gov.

We don't publish made-up reviews, testimonials or experts. If something in a guide is wrong or out of date, please tell us and we will fix it.