Short answer: a winter car emergency kit should keep you warm, visible and reachable if you're stuck for hours: blankets and warm layers, water and snacks, a flashlight, a phone charger, an ice scraper and small shovel, traction aid, jumper cables or a jump starter, a first-aid kit and reflective warning triangles. Pack it in one bag that rides in the cabin or the top of the trunk, not under everything else.
Key facts
- Staying with the vehicle is usually safest when you're stranded, unless you can see help close by.
- Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow if you run the engine for heat, and crack a window to avoid carbon monoxide.
- Cold kills batteries: phones, flashlights and jump starters lose capacity fast in low temperatures.
- Half a tank minimum in winter gives you heat and options.
- Tell someone your route on long winter drives.
The winter kit checklist
| Job | Items | Where it rides |
|---|---|---|
| Stay warm | Blanket or sleeping bag, hat, gloves, spare socks, hand warmers | Back seat or kit bag |
| Be seen | Flashlight, reflective triangles, bright cloth for the antenna | Door pocket or kit bag top |
| Get moving | Ice scraper, small shovel, sand or traction mats, tow strap | Trunk |
| Power | Jump starter or cables, phone charger and cable | Kit bag |
| Sustain | Water, high-calorie snacks | Kit bag, refreshed each season |
| Fix and help | First-aid kit, multitool, duct tape, zip ties | Organizer in the kit bag |
Pack it so you can reach it
A kit buried under luggage is no kit. Use one bag that lives on the back seat or on top in the trunk. The ICONTACTIC 14L Modular Backpack works as a winter car bag: layers and water inside, and small items on the front modular panel where you can find them with gloves on. Keep cables, the charger, tape and a multitool together in a Compact Zip Organizer so they don't scatter around the trunk. For more on setting up a car that doesn't rattle, see vehicle EDC.
Light in the cold and dark
Winter breakdowns happen in the dark more often than not. A light that sticks to the car frees both hands for chains, a jack or a battery. The Compact Flat Flashlight has a magnetic tail that holds on a steel car body, flood and spot beams, and a side strip with colored emitters for signalling. Keep it charged; cold drains batteries, so store it in the cabin rather than the trunk and top it up monthly. More in how many lumens you need.
If you're stuck
- Pull off as far as safely possible, hazards on, triangles out behind the car.
- Call for help and share your location.
- Stay in the car, wrapped up, seat belt off if the car is safely stopped.
- Run the engine in short bursts for heat, with the exhaust clear and a window cracked.
- Move your arms and legs to stay warm, and drink water.
Before winter starts
- Check the battery, tires, wipers and antifreeze.
- Swap summer water bottles for fresh ones; check snack dates.
- Charge the jump starter and flashlight.
- Put the kit bag back in the car the same day.
For a walking backup if the car can't move, see the get-home bag checklist.
FAQ
What should be in a winter car emergency kit?
Blankets and warm layers, water and snacks, a flashlight, a phone charger, an ice scraper and shovel, traction aid, a jump starter or cables, first aid and reflective triangles.
Should I stay in my car if I'm stranded in snow?
Usually yes: the car is shelter and easier to find. Keep the exhaust clear and a window cracked if you run the engine.
How do I keep my phone and flashlight working in the cold?
Keep them in the cabin or an inside pocket, charge them before winter trips, and carry a charger.
Where should the kit go in the car?
On the back seat or on top in the trunk, where you can reach it without unloading.
How often should I check the kit?
At the start of winter and once a month: charge devices, refresh water and snacks.
Shop Bags & Packs and Everyday Utility.
General information. Follow official road and weather advisories and your vehicle manual.