When SHTF, the convenient things will be the first to go.

Electricity powered by fossil fuels, the kind that's wired directly to the wall, is unreliable enough as it is – not to mention very easy to mess with. Not having to rely on the power grid is a good start for being prepared when the convenience of 21st-century life falls through – and that means solar power is the way to go.

I'm not saying we all have to invest thousands of dollars to install solar arrays on our roofs. Not only are they susceptible to the first bad hailstorm that rolls around, but that kind of investment assumes you'll stay tethered to your home, which isn't always practical.

But there are some solar-powered items that really do make sense to keep handy, whether you're just suffering from a power outage or things have really gone south.

Here's a list of some of the most practical solar items that'll keep working as long as the sun is still shining.

Solar-Powered Radio

Radio communication is more reliable than other forms like television or the internet, and a solar-powered radio is more reliable still. Getting yourself a radio that can be powered by the sun or a hand crank will make sure you're always getting radio updates in case of power outages, bad weather, or any other sort of emergency.

Most solar-powered radios also come with an LED flashlight attached, able to be powered by a hand crank that generates electricity, which will also power the radio. With this redundant power system, solar-powered radio/flashlight combos are great to keep around in case of an emergency. Not only this, but the crank also acts as a small generator, often able to produce enough electricity to power something else—perhaps to charge a cellphone or a walkie talkie.

Although these types of radio can't send radio signals, they do often come equipped with an SOS feature that'll blare a loud alarm in case of emergency, broadcasting your position so that help can find you easily—all of which make solar-powered radio/flashlight/generator combos extremely useful to have at hand in a sticky situation.

Solar-Powered Generator

A generator is always a good thing to own in case the power grid falters, and if gas and other fossil fuels are in short supply, you'll be glad you chose a solar-powered generator.

The benefit to these is that many of them are highly portable, meaning you can take them with you in case you find yourself on the move, and they're easy to set up and tend to charge quickly as long as there's sunlight. Even the smallest solar-powered generators are made to hold enough juice to power communication devices, lights, fans, and other items you'll need to survive.

If you have room, say on the roof of your RV, you can purchase large solar panels to capture sunlight and power a larger generator for heavier-duty power needs. Having these spread out permanently will make your generator a sustainable power option no matter what happens.

Solar-Powered Lantern

If a whole generator and solar panel array is larger-scale than you're thinking at the moment, no worries—a much smaller and extremely practical solar-powered device you'll be glad to have at the ready is a solar-powered lantern.

Since LED lights can be very bright without needing so much power, solar-powered lanterns can be quite inexpensive and very useful when regular lights fail. Letting the lantern charge during the day will ensure that it'll have plenty of power to light up in the dark, indoors or outdoors.

Most solar-powered lanterns have multiple functions, able to act as a lantern if you need it to light up a whole space, or a flashlight if you need to be able to direct it. Lightweight and compact, low-cost, and totally reliable as long as there's sunlight, the solar-powered lantern is one emergency tool that it'd just be silly to go without.

Solar Camp Stove

Solar cookers are another smart thing to own in case traditional cooking methods aren't an option. With one of these, as long as you've got sunlight, you can cook your food.

Cooking food isn't just a matter of preference—it can be a matter of survival. Cooking food partially breaks it down, which means that it's easier to digest; when you spend less energy digesting your food, you get more calories out of it. If food becomes a scarcity, then cooking it is absolutely vital.