7 Essentials For Your Winter Car Emergency Kit

You've already got the standard emergency roadside kit. This kit contains all the essentials such as jumper cables, duct tape, first aid, etc. While these basics will cover a road trip or daily driving, winter calls for a bit more. Here are seven essentials for your winter car emergency kit:

Snacks
Chances are low that you’ll be stranded for more than a day due to a blizzard, but a handful of energy bars and drinks don’t take up much space. If you often travel with pets, don’t forget their snacks, too.

Blankets
Pack thick blankets and hand/foot warmers. These will help to keep you warm without running the engine and running out of fuel should you be stuck in a blizzard or a major traffic jam.

Windshield De-Icer
It’s always a good idea to keep an extra bottle handy. You definitely don’t want to run out when the weather turns nasty and the temperature drops. Plus, this stuff can be used to melt ice on a road or a frozen part of your car, like door handles, in an emergency.

Snow Socks
These aren’t socks for you. They’re for your car. A temporary alternative to snow chains, snow socks are fabric doughnuts that fit over the drive tires of your car. They can muster enough grip to get you up a slippery hill. Alternatively, check out ZipGrips. These are heavy-duty zip ties that strap right onto your tires and dig into snow and ice with traction cleats.

Flares or LED Lights
LED lights are all the rage nowadays. But, don’t forget to bring a pack of flares, too. Flares generate heat, which prevents snow burying them.

Spare Phone Charger
Consider packing a hand-crank charger, as you may be stuck without a power source.

Shovel
Seems obvious right? But unless you’re digging things up during the warmer months, you probably don’t keep one of these in your car on a regular basis. I’m a fan of compact folding shovels. They don’t take up a lot of space but are big enough when digging my tires out of the snow.

Be prepared for the weather by packing these essentials in your winter car emergency kit.

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