Winter Kit+Emergency Gear Recommendations

With Winter fully here, I'm interested in people sharing what supplies they carry regularly and what you add for winter (recovery gear as well!). Specific items and brands that you've bought and actually used are helpful! Looking to add to my truck kit but I know many others haven't gotten around to doing this just yet and want to encourage people to be prepared, thanks!

 

Small hand tools like a breaker bar, a ratchet set (with sockets), etc. never hurt

Edit: craftsman stuff is pretty good, not sure about the new electric powered craftsman tools though

 

I carry tarps, blankets (those little emergency thermal ones along with down & fleece blanket), jackets, gloves, water, shovel, battery/jumper pack, fuel, snacks, paper towel, axe, med kit, straps (snatch and bungee/ropes), a tool set with sockets included, a jet boil with fuel, glow sticks, matches, flashlights + spare batteries, headlamp and spare socks. That's all I can think of off the top of my head right now. I try to be pretty prepared. Only thing I do in the winter is make sure I have enough blankets + jackets to keep warm if I have to be outside for long period of time.

 

Old safty high vis vest from work. Super ratty. Always clothing so if I have to spend a night in the car I'll be warm enough. I rotate out water from habit about every other day. Headlamp. Flash light. Another flash light. First aid kit. Ham radio.

Jack, tire iron, road flares, Craftsman 165pc tool set, shackles, recovery hitch for reciever, tow strap, snatch Strap, shovel and boards if the weather is bad enough but travel is required. Air pump always rides with me


Sure I'm missing some things.

 

Look, carry what YOU think you need. Nothing more, nothing less. Some of these guys carry a bed full of crap like Zombies are attacking.
I carry a blanket. I always make sure I have a few bottles of water. My phone. A small folding military shovel. A gallon of your favorite windshield washer. Duct tape. A tow strap not a snatch strap. Why? Because you can snatch with a tow but you can't tow with a snatch. That's it, unless you are going deep offroad then you need standard cold weather camp and recovery gear.

Here's a few facts though that will make you feel better:
You use between 1/3 and 1/2 a gallon of gas per hour idling. That means you have well over 36 hours of idle time if you get stuck. Even the worst blizzard is not going to last 36 hours.
The longest I have ever been stuck on a highway is eight hours. This is after a driving career of close to a million miles. It was a blizzard and I used less than a quarter tank of gas.

Just keep everything in perspective and you'll be fine.

 

Salt. Windshield washer fluid. Basic hand tools. Shovel. Blanket. Extra boots and clothes. Jumper cables. Tow straps. Rope. Hell keep this in your truck year round lol

 

well said. I'm fairly minimalist also but I tend to bring things that I can use for multiple purposes as well:

A blanket that folds up nice, and it's soft on one side an tarp like on the other - great for quick stop at the beach, or getting under the truck to change a tire on the side of the road.

+1 for shovel, super cheap, small, and has many purposes.
+1 for snatch strap

The one thing you didn't list that I personally think everybody should carry in every car - jumper cables. Your battery can die at any time for a variety of reasons. Have kids? Last 2 dead batteries were because they slapped the dome light and we didn't catch it. Also not uncommon to see somebody stranded for similar reasons and it's nice to be able to assist on the fly. It seems less frequent with newer cars that auto kill the headlights and probably saves 90% of dead batteries we used to see 20 + years ago.

For winter I have a small hand ice scraper, and an extra pair of gloves. If I get caught out in the snow and have to change a tire without gloves, that's going to be a bad day.

 

Though I have no snow here I keep packaged dry foods like crackers, granola bars, fruit packs, bottles of water, first aid kit wet wipes plus all my normal tools, tire plugs, gas can, small folding dolly. I'm adventurous and need to be able get to it. Skateboard soon to be replaced by mini mini bike. Rain coat and umbrella and gloves

 

My jumper cables are under back seat all the time lol. I have actually recovered using jumper cables. It was an easy stick but slight down hill on ice and front bumper against tree with three wheels on pavement. We just separated the cables, tied a knot and looped both ends. Very slight pressure and he was back on the road. They were 20' heavy cables though.

 

I would recommend one of the little battery jump packs, I pulled my car out of the garage the other day and accidently did not close the drivers door all the way. After sitting for 2 days in the teens and low 20s I hopped in the car only to realize the battery was dead, hooked up the Rugged Geek 1000 and it cranked a cold V8 over enough to start it.

 

Kind of depends on where you are and what you are looking to do

 

Here

 

Not to be morbid but if you find yourself in a ditch or some other situation where you have sit in your car with it running make sure the exhaust is clear. A family in I believe New Jersey died a year or two ago sitting in their car waiting for it to heat up. The exhaust was blocked by snow and leaked into the cabin and they all passed.

On a lighter note, how do you guys keep your water from freezing? I had a gallon sitting in my truck and it froze solid. Just bring it inside every night?

 

I swap it out with vodka... since it won’t freeze

 

Smaller bottles. Always crack a window.

 

Everything everyone else mentioned. If it’s an area with snow, then a collapsable snow shovel is a great add in.

Candles- in an enclosed space they can raise the temp level making it more bearable.

USB power bank for your cell phone OR even better a crank radio that will also charge a usb device.

Food coloring or koolaid could be mixed with water to leave a marking in the snow.

You can buy airsoft style smoke canisters- not an airsoft guy but they put out a decent amount of colored smoke. I take a red one in my truck and hiking.

Basic rations for a few days to include water and a life straw.

Going to stop there, I’m a mild prepper and don’t want to over do it!!

 

Very nice! Pay attention to the legend.

 

Agreed.

 

For starters I have my AAA payments up to date.
Other basic things I do and keep in the truck...
-im a big skier so I have extra socks and gloves in the truck for that, so that's covered.
-small collapsible plastic snow shovel
-tow strap
-jumper cables
-usually have a gallon or 2 of water in the truck
-i have a small sleeping bag kept in the truck as I often end up staying at a friends so have a emergency blanket
-basic tools, and have a 18v impact gun in the truck yr round
-try to keep a 1/2 tank or more of gas

Drive smart!!