Best car emergency kits: roadside kits for winter (2026)
A roadside kit puts jumper cables, warning triangles and basic tools in one bag in the trunk. Ready.gov's winter car kit goes further: jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a blanket, and cat litter or sand for traction, and CDC adds a flashlight with extra batteries, water and snack food, and a first aid kit. This page compares five kits on Amazon by what their listings say is inside. We haven't tested them ourselves.
By Tom Calder · Updated October 30, 2026 · 5 products, prices indicative
Our picks
Everlit car kit
The most complete kit, with a tire inflator
LIANXIN roadside kit
A winter roadside kit with a snow shovel
Vetoos roadside kit
Being seen on a dark roadside
All 5 compared
| Kit | Type | Pieces | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Roadside kit with tire inflator · 108 · 8-gauge 12 ft jumper cables, 12V tire inflator, first aid kit, gloves (listing) The most complete kit, with a tire inflator | Roadside kit with tire inflator | 108 | 8-gauge 12 ft jumper cables, 12V tire inflator, first aid kit, gloves (listing) | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The best-equipped kit here: 108 pieces including 8-gauge, 12-foot jumper cables, a first aid kit and a digital tire inflator that plugs into the 12-volt outlet, which is the item you're most likely to actually use. Add a blanket, water and snacks for winter. Best for The most complete kit, with a tire inflator Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you already carry a tire inflator. | ||||
Roadside kit with shovel · UL-certified jumper cables, snow shovel, flashing lights, reflective triangles, tow strap, safety hammer (listing) A winter roadside kit with a snow shovel | Roadside kit with shovel | — | UL-certified jumper cables, snow shovel, flashing lights, reflective triangles, tow strap, safety hammer (listing) | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The best-selling kit of the group, with a folding snow shovel for digging out, UL-certified jumper cables, flashing lights and reflective triangles. The cables are short at 8.2 feet, so you'll need the other car close. Best for A winter roadside kit with a snow shovel Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want a first aid kit in the same bag. | ||||
Roadside kit with vest · Jumper cables, reflective triangle and vest, tow rope, tire pressure gauge, shovel, safety hammer (listing) Being seen on a dark roadside | Roadside kit with vest | — | Jumper cables, reflective triangle and vest, tow rope, tire pressure gauge, shovel, safety hammer (listing) | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A roadside kit with a reflective vest as well as a triangle, which matters if you break down at night, plus jumper cables with fully covered clamps, a tow rope, a tire pressure gauge and a shovel. Best for Being seen on a dark roadside Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want a tire inflator, not just a gauge. | ||||
Compact roadside kit · LED road flare, jumper cables, tow strap, flashlight, safety hammer, warning triangle (listing) A compact kit with an LED road flare | Compact roadside kit | — | LED road flare, jumper cables, tow strap, flashlight, safety hammer, warning triangle (listing) | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A small, tidy kit built around visibility: an LED road flare, a warning triangle and a hand-powered flashlight, plus jumper cables and a tow strap. The flare needs three AAA batteries, which aren't included, so pack some. Best for A compact kit with an LED road flare Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you drive in deep snow and want a shovel. | ||||
Roadside kit with shovel and first aid · 6-gauge jumper cables, shovel, first aid supplies (listing) Heavier jumper cables for bigger vehicles | Roadside kit with shovel and first aid | — | 6-gauge jumper cables, shovel, first aid supplies (listing) | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The heaviest jumper cables in the group at 6 gauge, which suit trucks and SUVs better than thinner cables, along with a shovel and first aid supplies in one kit. Best for Heavier jumper cables for bigger vehicles Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you mainly want roadside visibility gear. | ||||
ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedStates earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes what we recommend. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and can change at any time.
Before you buy
Check the jumper cables.
Thicker cable has a lower gauge number: 6-gauge suits trucks and SUVs better than 8-gauge. Longer cables, 12 feet or more, reach when the cars can't park nose to nose.
Decide what else you'd really use.
A 12-volt tire inflator gets used far more often than most kit items; a shovel matters where it snows; a reflective vest and triangles matter on dark roads.
Add Ready.gov's winter items
A blanket, an ice scraper, cat litter or sand for traction, and flares or a reflective triangle if your kit has none. CDC adds water, snack food, a flashlight with spare batteries and a first aid kit.
Keep a phone charger in the car.
NWS says not to leave the house without a fully charged mobile phone, a car charger and an emergency supplies kit in your car.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test — and commissions never change a ranking either way. Read our full methodology →
Related gear comparisons
Guides that go with this
What to keep in your car for winter and what to do if you get stranded: stay with the car, clear the exhaust p…
A plain-English winter storm checklist: watch vs warning, home prep, supplies, staying warm, shoveling and car…
Common questions
What should be in a car emergency kit?
Ready.gov lists jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a car cell phone charger, a blanket, a map, and cat litter or sand for traction. CDC adds a flashlight with extra batteries, water and snack food, and a first aid kit with any medicines you need.
Do these kits include food, water or a blanket?
Not the kits on this page, going by their listings. Add a blanket, water and snacks from home, and keep them in the car through winter.
What gauge jumper cables do I need?
Lower numbers are thicker. 8-gauge cables handle most cars; 6-gauge suits larger engines, trucks and SUVs, and cold mornings when a battery is weakest.
Is a jump starter better than jumper cables?
A portable jump starter doesn't need a second car, which helps on an empty road. Jumper cables are cheaper and never need charging. Many drivers carry cables in a kit and a jump starter as well.
What should I do if I get stuck in the snow?
Follow the steps in our winter car emergency kit guide. The basics from the official advice are to stay with your car and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.