{"id":119980,"date":"2025-02-11T16:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T00:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=119980"},"modified":"2025-02-11T19:57:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T03:57:01","slug":"what-to-keep-in-your-emergency-car-kit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/what-to-keep-in-your-emergency-car-kit","title":{"rendered":"The Perfect Kit: What To Keep In Your Emergency Car Kit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Maybe you\u2019re making a short drive to the mountains or hitting the road for a cross-country trip to places unknown. No matter your final destination, accidents happen. Bring these nine pieces of gear along for every ride so you\u2019re prepared for everything from a minor mechanical mishap to a night on the side of the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Product<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Coast G22R Flashlight<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pinpoint dropped or lost items between the seats (and the Clif Bar wrappers from last year\u2019s trip) with this 4-inch flashlight from Coast<\/a>. This little torch stores conveniently in the center console for emergency use or even in a pants pocket as an everyday carry. But don\u2019t let the size fool you\u2014at 150 lumens, it still throws a whopping 206-foot beam. And Coast claims it will run for up to six hours with the included rechargeable battery. (Though it’s always a good idea to keep spare batteries<\/a> in your emergency kit, too.) $14.95<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Product<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Hydro Flask Lightweight Wide-Mouth Vacuum Water Bottle – 24 fl. oz.<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to a double-wall, vacuum-insulated design, this ultradurable Hydro Flask<\/a> bottle keeps beverages hot for twelve hours and cold for 24. Stash one filled with water in your emergency car kit, and rest assured the liquid won\u2019t freeze\u2014even if you find yourself overnighting on the side of the road or bailing out of a snowdrift. $44.95<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Adventure<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker Medical Kit<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seems obvious, but no emergency kit is complete without first-aid stuff. Any set<\/a> will do, but we like this one from Adventure Medical Kits.<\/a> This two-person, four-day supply includes gauze, EMT tools, bandages, basic meds, an irrigation syringe and even a wilderness medicine guide. The whole set stows neatly into a small pouch that fits inside a pack\u2019s brain or a car\u2019s side-door compartment. $47.95<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Black
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Black Diamond Evac 9 Snow Shovel<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moving serious amounts of snow requires more than your hands. The Evac 9 from Black Diamond<\/a> has a longer handle and larger blade than most portable shovels to ensures speedier snow removal during an emergency. A telescoping shaft makes for easy storage, and the D-shaped handle guarantees a confident grip. Flip the blade and convert the shovel into a hoe to excavate compacted snow. $109.95<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Zippo<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Zippo Mag Strike Fire Starter<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

More reliable than a gas station cheapie, the Zippo<\/a> Mag Strike\u2014a ferro rod with a stainless-steel striker blade\u2014is basically weatherproof. Scrape the magnesium to shed fine flakes that spark your tinder and voil\u00e0!<\/i> The rod and blade nest together for easy storage. $16.95<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leatherman Rebar Multi-Tool<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fix your rig, cut fishing line and even perform first aid when the moment calls. The Rebar is a pocket-size multi-tool featuring straight and serrated blades, a range of screwdrivers, bottle and can openers, a wire stripper and more. With\u00a0Leatherman’s<\/a> signature needle-nose pliers, it\u2019s fierce. The tool is small enough for a pocket or your car\u2019s glove box. $89.95<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Amphipod<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Amphipod Xinglet<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stay visible when performing roadside maintenance with this one-size-fits-all reflective vest from Amphipod<\/a>. The strap design makes the wearer visible from all angles with 40 percent more reflective area than a typical running vest. A simple, quick-release clasp on the front makes for easy on and off. $35<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Kelty<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Kelty Cosmic 20 Sleeping Bag <\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Supreme warmth and decent packability at a superb price point make this Kelty<\/a> sleeping bag a great insurance policy against an unintended night out. It\u2019s rated to 20\u00b0F, and the high-quality insulation consisting of 550-fill untreated duck down helps ensure a comfortable night’s sleep. (Consider adding a few emergency blankets<\/a> or camp blanket<\/a> in your kit, too). $159.95\u00a0\u2013 $18<\/span><\/i>9.95<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Non-Perishable Snacks & Food<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No car emergency kit is complete without snacks. Keep non-perishable food like energy bars<\/a>, dried fruit<\/a> and other snacks<\/a> on hand in case you have to wait out an unexpected road closure. We like the Ah<\/a>i<\/a> Tuna Jerky Strip<\/a> from Pescavore <\/a>but the choice is entirely yours. Just make sure to check expiration dates and rotate the products frequently.\u00a0Varies<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more about Emergency Preparedness Basics<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Interested in more staff picks and kits? Find more collections here<\/a>. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editors’ note: This article has been updated <\/span>since it first published in 2021.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maybe you\u2019re making a short drive to the mountains or hitting the road for a cross-country trip to places unknown. No matter your final destination, accidents happen. Bring these nine pieces of gear along for every ride so you\u2019re prepared for everything from a minor mechanical mishap to a night on the side of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12183,"featured_media":119984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1491,1951],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-119980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camp","tag-gear-list","tag-the-perfect-kit"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/camp\/what-to-keep-in-your-emergency-car-kit","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"The Perfect Kit: What To Keep In Your Emergency Car Kit","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/what-to-keep-in-your-emergency-car-kit","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/what-to-keep-in-your-emergency-car-kit"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/01\/00-EmergencyCarKit_Hero_v1.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/01\/00-EmergencyCarKit_Hero_v1.jpg?fit=2000%2C1266"},"articleSection":"Camp","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Maren Horjus"}],"creator":["Maren Horjus"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["gear list","the perfect kit"],"dateCreated":"2025-02-12T00:00:02Z","datePublished":"2025-02-12T00:00:02Z","dateModified":"2025-02-12T03:57:01Z"},"rendered":"