23 Winter Emergency Supplies You Should Always Keep in Your Car

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Snow, sleet, ice, and sub-zero temperatures make winter driving unpredictable, and a slide into a snowbank or a dead battery can quickly turn into hours stuck on the roadside. In those situations, a well-stocked emergency kit can keep you warm and safe until you’re able to get moving again.

To help you prepare, we’ve rounded up 23 essential winter emergency supplies to keep in your car, from traction aids and ice scrapers to jump starters and emergency radios.

A flat tire on a freezing drive doesn’t have to mean calling for a tow. The Airmoto, our pick for best mini inflator in our best tire inflators guide, weighs just 1.2 pounds and fits in a glove box, meaning you never have to be without it. Dial in your target pressure on the digital gauge, and its built-in battery pushes up to 120 PSI, enough to fill a full-size truck tire.

What our tester says: “I was surprised at how long the Airmoto’s battery lasted and by its size. It’s small enough to live in a glove box and still powerful enough to get a low tire back on the road.”—Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester and writer

A dependable flashlight belongs in every roadside emergency kit, and the Olight ArkPro fits versatile lighting into a slim, pocket-friendly body. Its 1,500-lumen floodlight illuminates a broad area for roadside tasks, while the 800-lumen spotlight helps you see farther ahead. It also offers USB-C and magnetic charging, plus water resistance for wet-weather use.

Gloves aren’t optional when you’re scraping windows or digging out tires. As the best multilayer option in our tested winter work gloves guide, these Carhartt gloves combine a waterproof layer with a fleece lining for dryness and warmth on winter roads. The polyurethane palms and fingers provide plenty of grip in the cold, and the long fleece cuff keeps snow from sneaking in.

What our tester says: “These gloves were very warm and did an excellent job of keeping our hands dry.”—Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester and writer

When winter weather interrupts your trip, an emergency radio offers a reliable way to follow changing conditions. The Midland ER310, our top pick in our lineup of the best hand-crank radios, receives NOAA weather alerts and AM/FM broadcasts to keep you in the know. Its rechargeable battery can run the radio for up to 32 hours, with a hand crank and AA battery backup providing alternatives when charging isn’t an option. A phone-charging port is a welcome addition in an emergency.

What our tester says: “The built-in flashlight, multiple charging options, phone charging ports, and durable construction provided everything I could ask for in an emergency weather radio.”—Katie Barton, Product Reviews tester and writer

Changing a tire is hard enough without ice underfoot, but keeping a bag of Natural Rapport ice melt in your winter car kit can help you clear a slippery patch quickly. The shaker container makes it easy to spread salt around your tires so you can shovel away the buildup before placing traction mats, sand, or cat litter beneath the wheels.

Read our full review: Natural Rapport Ice Melt

What our tester says: “We really loved this ice melt’s shaker container for easy spreading. The larger granules also minimized our need to reapply.”—Zach Lazzari, Product Reviews tester and writer

When you’re stuck in snow, put the car in low gear and accelerate slowly, and sprinkle some kitty litter in the path of your tires. The grains act like gravel, giving the treads something to grip so you can pull out of a rut. A 25-pound bag of Premium Choice’s unscented clay litter is an inexpensive, no-fuss option to keep in the trunk.

A loose screw or stubborn fastener can turn a minor roadside problem into a frustrating delay. The Leatherman Wingman puts spring-action pliers, screwdrivers, scissors, and a knife within reach without requiring a full toolbox. As the best overall pick in the best multitools guide, it packs 14 functions into a tool that measures just 3.8 inches closed. Keep it in the console for small fixes, cutting tape, or opening packaged emergency supplies.

What our tester says: “It has all the tools you’re likely to need in a pinch, and they’re easily accessible with minimal effort.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

A good spray de-icer can solve myriad problems. Spray it on the windshield to break up ice and frost—especially useful if your car’s defroster is not in working order—or apply it to headlights and taillights to keep them from freezing over and losing brightness. It’s also a good idea to keep a small container of de-icer in your bag for those times when your car’s locks freeze over.

A snow brush is one of the most essential car accessories to have on hand when winter weather arrives, and the AstroAI combines a snow brush with a 4.5-inch scraper whose built-in knuckles help break up ice on windows. The cushioned foam grip provides a comfortable handhold, and the brush and scraper detach for separate use and compact storage. Featured in our best ice scrapers guide, the fixed-length, 27-inch tool is a practical size to keep in the car for frosty mornings and snowy commutes.

What our tester says: “We liked having the brush and scraper together so we could switch between clearing snow and tackling ice. Being able to take it apart also made it easier to stash in the car.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

A scraped knuckle or cut can add to the frustration of a winter breakdown, but with the Band-Aid portable first aid kit in your car, it’s easy to tend to small injuries while waiting for help or fixing a tire. Its 160 pieces provide supplies for minor cuts, scrapes, and burns, while the compact case keeps everything together instead of scattered throughout your glove box.

An unexpected roadside wait is no time to discover you’re out of water. Fill the Yeti Rambler 64-Ounce Water Bottle before winter trips to keep a half-gallon of drinking water within reach. Its stainless steel construction stands up to everyday knocks, while double-wall vacuum insulation helps maintain the water’s temperature.

When slippery conditions leave your tires spinning, these 36-inch polypropylene traction mats provide extra grip in snow, mud, or sand. Each weighs just 2.5 pounds, making them easy to carry and keep in the car for unexpected trouble. While there are several ways to melt ice without salt, these mats take a different approach and make for a fast solution if you find yourself stuck on the side of the road.

If a snowbank or ditch has you stuck and mats and a shovel aren’t enough, a tow strap lets another driver pull you free. This Rhino USA strap is 20 feet long and 2 inches wide, with a lab-tested break strength of 20,024 pounds, reinforced loop ends, and a drawstring bag for storage. Attach it only to your vehicle’s designated recovery points, make sure your vehicle weighs less than the strap’s 6,666-pound working load limit, and have the other driver take up slack and pull gradually instead of yanking.

If you become stranded on the side of the road, the last thing you want is to be uncomfortable and shivering. HotHands Hand Warmers activate when exposed to air, providing up to 10 hours of warmth without batteries, charging, or a working car heater. The compact, single-use packets tuck easily into your emergency kit and slip inside gloves, boots, or pockets to help keep your digits warm during a long wait for roadside assistance.

Whether you’re putting top snow-shoveling tips to work or driving in icy conditions, the Bogs Arcata II boots are a winter weather must-have. Their waterproof rubber will keep your feet dry in deep snow, and their flexible construction and cushioned footbed make for a comfortable fit. Along with GlacialGrip outsoles for traction on ice, the boots have a Chelsea-style design that makes them easy to slip on and off.

Whether you’re a passenger on a winter road trip or waiting for roadside help, the Stalwart Electric Car Blanket adds warmth without cranking up the cabin heat. Its soft polyester fleece provides plush lap coverage, while a 96-inch cord reaches back-seat passengers from your vehicle’s 12-volt outlet. The flexible blanket folds for storage in the trunk or back seat. Because it draws power from the car, pack a wool blanket in the trunk as a backup in case the engine won’t run. And if you do idle the engine for heat, clear snow from the tailpipe first so exhaust can’t build up in the cabin.

The Rubbermaid 24-Gallon ActionPacker keeps spare food, first-aid supplies, and gear from this list together and easy to find. Its impact-resistant construction stands up to rough handling while the double-walled lid helps protect the contents from getting smashed. Secure latches keep the lid closed to reduce spills and discourage curious dogs, and it doubles as a table or a seat.

A shelf-stable protein bar is definitely one of the smartest things to keep in your car, especially when winter weather or car trouble could delay your next meal. The RxBar comes with plenty of protein to stave off hunger for the long haul, and the individual wrapping means you can easily tuck a few into a glove box or your emergency kit. They come in multiple flavor options to please many a preference, though we’re suckers for the peanut butter.

A dead battery is frustrating in any season, but winter is an especially unwelcome time to wait for help. Keeping a portable car jump starter on hand lets you jump-start a car without another car, so you don’t have to rely on a passing driver or wait for a tow truck. A USB port also provides backup power for your phone.

The AstroAI snow shovel is a handy addition to any emergency supply setup. When snowstorms hit, the telescoping handle extends to three different lengths to help dig you out of trouble, then collapses back down for compact trunk storage. It pairs lightweight aluminum construction with a reinforced iron hinge for added durability. You’ll also get solid stability from the flat shaft and large D-shaped grip, along with a raised blade point designed to break apart thin ice.

Charging your devices can be a lifeline in a winter roadside emergency, and the Marbero Portable Power Station is more than capable of the task. The best lightweight pick in our portable power stations guide, it fits easily in your emergency kit and offers USB-A, USB-C, and AC outputs for charging phones, tablets, and other small electronics.

What our tester says: “The compact size makes it easy to pack, and the flashlight could genuinely come in handy during a roadside emergency.”—Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer

Help approaching drivers spot your disabled car in snow or fog with the Orion Safety Highway Flare Kit. Its six red flares each burn for 30 minutes and ignite without a lighter or batteries, giving you a dependable warning signal during a roadside emergency. An included high-visibility vest helps make you easier to see when tending to your car, while the heavy-duty polyester carrying bag keeps everything together.

A crash, flood, or electrical failure can leave a seat belt jammed and the power windows useless, and this tiny tool is built for exactly that. The resqme has a razor-sharp stainless-steel blade for cutting a jammed belt and a spike for breaking a tempered-glass side window, all in a 1-ounce body. Keep it within reach of the driver’s seat rather than in the trunk, and know that it won’t break laminated glass.

The post 23 Winter Emergency Supplies You Should Always Keep in Your Car appeared first on Bob Vila.

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