I'm a big fan of rechargeable batteries, and that extends to the AA and AAA batteries found in myriad devices found around the home. I don't want to be throwing used batteries into the recycling bin, and I can save a whole bunch of money by buyinga good quality NiMH rechargeable batteries and charger .

But there are times when only disposable batteries will do.

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Rechargeable batteries, you see, have a downside: As soon as you remove the battery from its charger, the battery slowly starts to discharge. Give it several months to a year, and your fully charged battery will be quite depleted.

This is not a problem in most applications, because you rarely need to keep rechargeable batteries on charge for extended periods of time. But if you do need backups, then rechargeable AA and AAA batteries aren't a good choice.

4x Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA Batteries

These tick all the boxes for me:

• 20-year shelf life
• Designed to perform in extreme temperatures, from -40