What to keep in your car this winter, from a jump starter for dead batteries to the blanket you'll be glad you packed.
Updated October 2026 · save to pinterest
best for: Anyone who drives in freezing weather
Jump your own car in minutes — no second car or cables needed. Cold weather is hard on batteries.
best for: Snowy mornings
Long enough to clear the whole windshield and the roof. Driving with snow on the car is dangerous (and often illegal).
best for: Places with heavy snow
Dig out your tires if you get plowed in or stuck on a shoulder. Folds down for the trunk.
best for: Keeping tires right in the cold
Cold air drops tire pressure fast. Top up in your driveway instead of at a gas station.
best for: Every car — they take up no space
Feather-light foil blankets that hold in body heat if you're stuck waiting for help.
best for: Cold commutes and stranded waits
Shake to activate and they stay warm for hours. Keep a few pairs in the glovebox.
best for: Roadside fixes in the dark
Hands-free light for changing a tire or digging out after dark. Winter sunsets come early.
best for: An organized kit for the car
98 quality pieces in labeled pouches, in a tough water-resistant case that can live in the trunk.
best for: Staying reachable
A charged phone is your lifeline if you're stuck. Keep this one topped up in the glovebox.
A jump starter or jumper cables, an ice scraper and snow brush, a small shovel, blankets, hand warmers, a flashlight or headlamp, a first aid kit, a phone charger, water and some snacks.
Cold temperatures slow the battery's chemical reaction while engines need more power to start, and heaters, lights and wipers add strain. A portable jump starter gets you going without another car.
Keep your gas tank at least half full in cold weather, check tire pressure more often (it drops as temperatures fall) and clear all snow off the car before driving.
