Duracell Powerpack 600
During the Northeast winter storm last week, this thing helped get us through a couple nights without power. The Duracell Powerpack 600 ($130) is a portable, heavy duty battery that acts an emergency power unit indoors and outdoors, and as a jump starter when carried in your trunk. Packing a 600-watt inverter, the Powerpack sports three AC outlets, one DC socket, an AM/FM radio with alarm clock, and an LED battery indicator. It comes with a set of jumper cables, and can be recharged from any household AC outlet or DC cigarette-lighter outlet. Device run times are pretty impressive. For your wife's car, pick up the Duracell Powerpack 300 ($69), which has less power but adds a built-in air compressor.