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There are some things that you just can’t live without. Whether it’s a small heater to keep your home office toasty in winter or a power station to take on-the-go for off-grid adventures (or for emergency use), these essentials make life better in so many ways. From space heaters to power stations, we tested more than 100 items that help keep you more comfortable and secure in your home. Of all of those products, these eight stood out from the crowd in our hands-on tests.
1. Tornado 24″ High-Velocity Metal Tilt Drum Fan
For superior airflow in areas that don’t have climate control— like a garage—the Tornado High-Velocity Metal Tilt Drum Fan can make them a whole lot more comfortable. If the garage is your workshop, this fan is worth a closer look. It features three aluminum blades to push air up to a whopping 8,540 cubic feet per minute. Equipped with handles, wheels, and an 8-foot power cord, this fan is also easy to move and maneuver. We liked it for its impressive power and durable construction so much that it topped our list of best garage fans.
Learn how we tested and reviewed more top picks in our best garage fans guide.
Get the Tornado high-velocity garage fan at Amazon or The Home Depot.
2. GE 50-Pint Portable Dehumidifier With Built-In Pump
Without a professionally installed dehumidifier, a basement or crawl space can get muggy fast. That’s where large-capacity dehumidifiers like this one from GE can add much-needed reprieve from soggy air. It removes up to 50 pints of water per day and keeps spaces up to 4,500 square feet dry. Not only was this model incredibly effective in our tests, but we liked its versatility—it can be used with or without a hose. For increased convenience, it also automatically adjusts fan speed based on detected humidity and is Energy Star certified.
Learn about how we tested and reviewed more top picks in our best dehumidifiers guide.
Get the GE dehumidifier at The Home Depot.
3. Honda 2200-Watt Inverter Generator With CO-Minder
This Honda inverter generator is compact and quiet enough to take anywhere and powerful enough for emergency and job site use. It delivers 1,800 running watts and 2,200 peak watts of power and is parallel ready for use with another Honda inverter generator for increased power. We used it with everything from a refrigerator to a miter saw, and were wowed by its whisper-quiet operation.
Learn how we tested and reviewed more top picks in our best quiet generators guide.
Get the Honda quiet generator at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Northern Tool + Equipment.
4. Dreo Solaris H3 Slim Space Heater
This small, but mighty space heater warmed spaces larger than its recommended 200-square-foot coverage area in our tests, making it our favorite electric heater this year. But that’s not all this heater has going for it. It features four heat settings, a programmable thermostat, and a fan-only option. It also oscillates to better distribute heat throughout a room. At just 5 pounds, it is easy enough to carry to any room that needs a warm-up. Plus, at just 15.8 inches tall by 5.9 inches in diameter, it fits just about anywhere too.
What our tester says: “This is my favorite electric heater of all the options I tested. I keep it by my desk for chilly mornings, and it warms my toes without taking up much space. Though I love its tall and narrow design, I’m glad it shuts off when it tips over. My dogs seem to have a special ability to run right into it when they come running in to say hi.” —Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Dreo electric heater at Amazon, Walmart, or Dreo.
5. Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier
With a 6-gallon water tank, the Levoit evaporative humidifier adds moisture to parched rooms up to 3,000 square feet. A powerful fan disperses ultrafine vapor throughout the room and, on auto mode, its built-in humidistat detects the humidity level and adjusts fan speed accordingly. It’s also easy to control manually, either on its console or via the VeSync app. In addition to its overall effectiveness, we appreciated this model’s ease of use and small footprint. Perhaps best of all, unlike most humidifiers, it can use tap water thanks to its built-in filter—so there’s no need to buy distilled water. One less thing to buy! We like that.
What our tester said: “I was amazed at how quiet it was, and I’ve been using it for a week post-testing. I’ve got it set to auto to maintain about 50 percent humidity in my home, and it’s been on regularly. I still haven’t had to refill it! After years of refilling tiny humidifiers, I’ve found that this one is well worth the investment.” —Amber Guetebier, Product Reviews tester and writer
Learn how we tested and reviewed more top picks in our best humidifiers for large rooms guide.
Get the Levoit Superior 6000S humidifier for large rooms at Amazon, Best Buy, or Levoit.
6. Arlo Essential XL Wireless Security Camera
Home security is a DIY cinch with the Arlo Essential XL. It features two-way audio, night vision, an integrated spotlight, a motion sensor, and 2K resolution video images. It’s also IP65 weather resistant and boasts a 130-degree field of vision. In our tests, we found it extremely easy to install and use. Arlo also offers several upgrades with its subscription service, including higher resolution and longer-term video storage.
Learn how we tested and reviewed more top picks in our best outdoor security cameras guide.
Get the Arlo Essential outdoor security camera at Amazon (2K), The Home Depot (HD), Best Buy (HD), or Arlo (2K or HD).
7. EcoFlow Delta 2 Max Solar Generator
The EcoFlow Delta 2 Max combines substantial backup power and flexibility for off-grid adventures, all while producing nearly no noise. It provides 2,400 watts of power and up to 3,400 watts in Xboost mode, supplying power to up to 15 devices simultaneously. It can charge via AC power, solar panels, or a combination of the two. It’s also compatible with the EcoFlow mobile app, allowing you to monitor charge status, input and output levels, and battery temperature—a feature we really appreciated. Knowing the hours of power you have left at the current usage rate is key if you’re trying to conserve battery power. For this amount of power and charging flexibility, the EcoFlow power station is tough to beat.
What our tester says: “It offers tons of flexibility in terms of charging, storage, and supplying electricity when and where it’s needed. It’s a robust solution for basic power needs.” —Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer
For more on how we tested this adaptable generator read our EcoFlow Delta 2 Max Solar Generator Review.
Get the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max Solar Generator at Amazon, The Home Depot (power station only), or EcoFlow.
8. Dreo 12,000 BTU Smart Air Conditioner
Portable and powerful, the Dreo smart air conditioner wowed us with its ability to lower the temperature in our test space 10 degrees Fahrenheit in just 45 minutes—-even when it was 98 degrees Fahrenheit outside. It’s easier to set up than many portable air conditioners thanks to its one-hose (rather than two-hose) design, and its handles and smooth-rolling casters make it easy to move. With 12,000 BTU of cooling power, it’s suitable for rooms from 200 to 300 square feet and features both remote control and app control options.
Learn how we tested and reviewed more top picks in our best garage air conditioners guide.
Get the Dreo garage air conditioner at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
