The winter car kit, in the order you'll reach for it

A good winter kit isn't a big box of everything. It's a short list of things you'll actually use, packed so the one you need is on top.

Before you leave the driveway

• An extendable snow brush with scraper, so the roof gets cleared too.
• Windshield de-icer spray for the glaze the brush can't lift.
• Washer fluid rated to -40°, plus a spare jug. Salt spray empties the tank fast.

When the car won't start

• A portable lithium jump starter. No second car needed, and most charge a phone.
• A USB-C car charger and a 10,000 mAh power bank for when the engine is off.

When you're stuck in snow

• A compact folding snow shovel for the packed snow around the tires.
• Traction mats to wedge under the drive wheels.
• Snow socks for your tires, if you drive on all-seasons.
• A digital tire pressure gauge: tires lose about 1 psi for every 10°F of cold.

When you're waiting it out

• A wool blanket for the back seat and a handful of hand warmer packets.
• Insulated boots for the trunk and insulated gloves and a warm hat, in case the last mile is on foot.
• Shelf-stable food bars and drinking water pouches.

After dark

• A rechargeable LED headlamp, so both hands are free.
• Reflective warning triangles, so other drivers see you sooner.

Pack the waiting-it-out items in one bag behind a seat, not under the trunk floor. If the trunk is buried, you still want the blanket.