Emergency Kit For Your Car: Essential Survival Gear

Whether it’s a sudden snowstorm or out of gas on a remote road, when something goes wrong your best bet is to be prepared. In addition to roadside safety gear, food and water, a few pieces of survival gear can make the best of a bad situation.

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[henryvandeventer]

Great kit and suggestions. I've had a a seasonal emergency bag in the trunk for years and the wife has always complained about it. "It takes up space" "What kind of incident do you think will happen for us to need it", so I explained it as having insurance and that we've had our car for 5 years and never had an accident, that doesn't mean we should have accident insurance.
She stopped complaining after we were stuck on a highway for 14h during a winter storm after a rather large accident blocked all traffic.
Winter kit has all the basics including a MSR Pocket Rocket and packs of soups, tea, water, MRE meals and few wool blankets.
I even managed to make some tea and soups and lend a blanket to people in another car who had a small kid and a baby with them.
I also alway make sure my tank is topped up and on some longer trips I'll have a 5l cannister of gas, which helped in this instance as I could lend some gas to 2 others to keep their engines running.
Now for every long term the wife always asks if the bag is stocked and up to date 😁

[lanedexter]

Good basic starting point, David. Should give people food for thought. Here in the PNW I carry full sized axe & shovel in winter, along with a chainsaw. Tow strap and jumpers are mostly to help others. But tree in the road or even a piece of highway washed away, definitely does happen. Final thought: whether it’s putting on tire chains or using that Esbit stove, practice using the gear you carry, so you are familiar with it and confident.

[TheSaneHatter]

For a deck of cards, I've got the "Don't Die Out There! Deck, " where every card has a survival tip on it. Now THAT will make for a useful game of Solitaire!

[jeffslaven]

It is important to note, that some of those fire starter fuel tabs produce cyanide, and should not be used in enclosed spaces such as a car. Always check with the manufacturer, or the instruction manual to see if that particular tab is safe to do so.

[ANukeWithLegs]

Didn't expect a Knife Salesman to give such a good advice on emergency kit.

[chinezerebel]

I recommend keeping a small fire extinguisher readily accessible in your vehicle as well

[danielcluley]

Great list. I have a lot of that. Mora, pump, multi-tool/wrenches, jumper cables, spare fuses, gorilla tape, shop towels and wool blankets/moving pad blankets in the hatch trunk. Two liters of water, a space blanket, headlamp, bic lighter, and a razorblade knife directly in my console within reach to cut seatbelt if necessary.

In my Glove box I have ACTUAL GLOVES, LOL, great for changing a tire or if you have to dig or repair something when it is cold out, an umbrella, and Poncho/Tarp with Amsteel cordage.

One thing I have had in the past and need to add is a heavy-duty ratchet strap/tow strap. Has gotten me out of a bind before in my old SUV and used for tie-down. I have a hatchback now so haven't put one in there, but now that I think about it I should. . .

I thought I was the only person who has playing cards in my car. I also have an Aesop's Fables kids book to keep youngins somewhat entertained for a while waiting in a situation if necessary.

One thing that was not mentioned is a Fire Extinguisher. This can be critical!

[matthewcampbell]

Exotac also makes beeswax candles that are contained in a tin with a removable cap. The 16-hour candle can actually boil water when all three wicks are lit, it will heat up the inside of a car relatively well, and I would recommend having an ammo can, or a metal coffee can to place the candle in, for an added measure of protection

[georgebulbakwa]

First aid kit. So many times I've needed those for just minor things that they always stay in the car. Often small scrapes and dings of people around me but most of my camping buddies trained with the red cross at one point in time that when someone gets hurt, we head to any of our vehicles and there will be a first aid kit in any of them.

[pfg_pedals]

The saw is essential on forested roads. I remember traveling the Poconos in winter to find a tree across the road. This was before cell phones and in a fairly remote area, but thanks to a small bow saw we were back on our way in less than an hour. A small saw can cut a much larger tree if needed, roughly about twice the diameter of the saws length.

[mikenadler]

Thank you for some very good ideas.
Let me add that your engine is a good source of heat. You can melt some snow in a cup set on your engine. You can even cook a meal wrapped in aluminum foil set on your engine while idling or even driving. Also, a dry sweat suit is great.

[StevenRWeaver]

Thanks for this. We've got a daughter heading to college in the fall and the 8 hour drive from there to here is not the most populated. There are a lot of things here that so be useful to get her vehicle ready.

[kenjifox]

I’ll add two points:

1) Cost. Some survival items can be pricey, but consider this: this is for YOUR survival. Why would you want to choose inferior products that could fail you in your time of need? of course, expensive does not mean best, and cheap does not mean worst. But in general, the rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. Do research on each item.

For example, for a headlamp I selected the Princeton Tec Sync. Why?

- It’s one of the few lamps that use an actual switch lever for on/off/light modes. Even a small child can pick it up and understand how to use it immediately.

Most headlamps use a series of over-complicated button presses, combinations and sequences, etc that require memorizing and having the user manual handy. It’s nonsense and no one is going to remember, least in emergency situations.

- uses AA batteries
- red light mode
- waterproof
- made in USA

2) Food. Keep snacks and other long-expiration food in the car. You’ll be hungry if you’re stuck for long hours.

Other stuff no one thinks about:
Keep a roll of toilet paper 🧻 in the car too!

[ModernRefugee]

I did a vid a few weeks back on that topic. I even spent the night out in my vehicle to show people what to do. I wish more people would have seen it before the current situation.

[AmericanMade]

I would add: a puzzle book and pencil, coloring book or pad of paper and colored pencils, a couple of magazines and children's books. Hygiene items like wet wipes and paper towels. Some food, like cookies, peanut butter, crackers, jerky, single packs of lemonade drink mix, and if you can heat water - single packets of instant coffee, sugar packets. Some plastic spoons & forks and cups. All these things would keep well and most will nest together to store in a small space.

[Oldsparkey]

Mine is a cooking kit using the Stanley Cook Kit to keep in different vehicles since 2003. Using a Condor H20 pouch. Starting at the bottom of the pouch there is a Oilcamp Stainless Steel Space Saver Cup. Then the Stanley Adventure Cook Camp System which fits ( sits ) inside the cup. The tapered sides of the Stanley Camp Cook kit fits inside the cup like it was made for it. Along the outside of the Stanley is a long handled Titanium spoon. Inside the Stanley is the Gen2 Folding Firebox Nano Ultralight Backpacking 3" Stove. On top of the Stanley is a Trangia Alcohol burner so I can cook with either alcohol or wood. The outside pocket of the Condor has a plastic ( Flask shaped ) 8 oz bottle which has the Denatured Alcohol for the Trangia. Next to the bottle is a Swiss Army Knife with assorted attachments including a blade that's a wood saw. Next to that is a ferro rod for lighting the burner or starting a fire. Folded next to the ferro rod is a bandana which can be used if the handles of either pot gets too hot for a bare hand to touch. A few months later I added two canteen pouches, one on each side of the Condor H20 pouch. One pouch has a Nalgene canteen in it and the other pouch has a couple dehydrated meals. Thanks to using a wood fire the Stanley has a nice blackened bottom and sides which I think helps it to heat up quicker.

[Swearengen]

As a hunter, camper, hiker, and generally cautious about the uncertainty of the future, I have far more than all of this between my toolbox and under the rear seat. The only problem with food and batteries - The Florida heat. I have a flashlight and lantern in there, but just in case the batteries are dead, I also have glow sticks and a solar powered light.

[dandeleona]

Luci light. Crushes flat, charges on the dashboard even when overcast, no batteries, weighs a feather, plenty of illumination.
What about bathroom stuff? Who doesn't need to 'go' over 36 hours of drinking tea and bottled water, or getting stuck out there after tacos?

[ScottieG]

During my time a a soldier, I did a lot of training and real world survival, including winter in the Arctic and summer in the desert. Any environment has its own challenges and equipment is important. I just want to highlight that my survival depended a lot on training, fitness and experience. Ultimately, survival will depend on what you do and whether you are alone.

[johnstack]

For cold weather pack a 0 degree sleeping bag. Walmart sells them pretty cheap, and it will keep you warm, and let you sleep properly even in frigid conditions without any external heat. Also pack a couple of survival ration bars. Each bar provides about 2200 calories, and unlike many other foods, these bars have an almost indefinite shelf life.