Manual / Winter emergencies
Winter Car Emergency Kit: 15 Things to Keep in Your Trunk
A realistic kit for cold roads, from jumper cables and a blanket to snacks and a phone charger.
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You'll probably never need most of it. When you do, you'll need it badly. Pack it once in a plastic tote and forget it until spring.
The list
- Jumper cables or a charged jump pack
- Wool blanket or sleeping bag
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Small folding shovel
- Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries
- Phone charging cable and power bank
- Water bottles (leave room to expand) and granola bars
- Hand warmers
- Gloves, hat and spare socks
- Bag of kitty litter or sand for traction
- First-aid kit
- Reflective triangles
- Tire gauge
- Basic tool roll
- Paper map and a written list of emergency numbers
From the toolbox
The best emergency kit item is a battery that starts. If yours has been slow lately, read our notes on Easy Battery Fix, a DIY guide to testing and reconditioning batteries.
See the review →Keep it working
Check the power bank and flashlight monthly. Swap snacks each fall.
Want to get ahead of a dead battery instead? Here's the battery guide we reviewed.
| Easy Battery Fix | Battery testing and revival guide for car, garage and household batteries | See it |
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