Everlit car kit review

What is in the bag

Everlit lists a digital tire inflator with automatic shutoff, 12-foot jumper cables, a tow strap, a reflective warning triangle, a glass breaker with a seatbelt cutter, a 108-piece first aid kit, a hand-crank flashlight, an emergency blanket and a rain poncho. The bag measures about 17 by 7 by 7 inches and weighs 8 lb, so it fits in a trunk or under a back seat without taking over.

Two points to check when it arrives. Everlit's site sells this kit as the Road Guardian, and the contents above come from that page; store listings may word them differently. And some listings describe the whole kit as 108 pieces, while on Everlit's own page 108 is the count for the first aid kit inside.

The tire inflator is the star

Of everything in the bag, the inflator is the tool you are most likely to use, often for a slow leak or a cold morning rather than an emergency. NHTSA advises checking all tires, including the spare, at least once a month when they are cold, and keeping a tire pressure gauge in the vehicle. The right pressure is on the label on the driver's door edge or in the owner's manual, not the number on the tire.

Everlit describes the inflator as digital with an automatic shutoff, so you can set the pressure and let it stop. Its page does not give a maximum pressure, cord length or run time, so read the instructions in the box before you need it.

Against Ready.gov's car kit list

Ready.gov's list of automobile extras includes jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a car phone charger, a blanket, a map, and cat litter or sand for traction. This kit covers the jumper cables, triangle and blanket. It does not list an ice scraper, phone charger, map or traction aid, and it has no water or food.

For winter driving, add those, plus warm layers and snacks. Our winter car emergency kit guide lists the rest, and Ready.gov's advice to keep your gas tank full and drive in bad weather only when you must still applies.

Warranty and the maker

Everlit offers a lifetime warranty covering defective materials, faulty workmanship and shipping damage, with replacement parts or a refund for the defective item. It excludes abuse, accidents, normal wear and improper handling. Everlit says it is owned and operated by veterans. Everlit's page gives no gauge or amp rating for the jumper cables, so if you drive a large truck or SUV, check the cables before relying on them.

How it compares, and the verdict

On our car emergency kit comparison, the LIANXIN, Vetoos, PACETAP and Beloskida kits are cheaper roadside bundles. The Everlit stands out for including an inflator alongside the first aid kit and a window breaker. Everlit also makes a home go-bag, reviewed as the EVERLIT 72-Hour kit for two.

Verdict: a well-rounded roadside kit built around the tool you will actually reach for. Skip it if you already carry a tire inflator and jumper cables, or if you mainly want a winter survival kit with food, water and warmth.

Is the Everlit car kit really 108 pieces?

Everlit's own page uses 108 for the first aid kit inside, which comes with the inflator, jumper cables, tow strap, warning triangle, glass breaker, flashlight, blanket and poncho.

Is the Everlit car kit enough for winter?

Not on its own. Ready.gov's car list adds an ice scraper, phone charger, map and sand or cat litter for traction, and the kit has no food or water. Add those and warm layers.

How do I know what pressure to fill my tires to?

NHTSA says to use the pressure on the Tire and Loading Information label on the driver's side door edge or in your owner's manual, checked when tires are cold.

What does the warranty cover?

Everlit's lifetime warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship and shipping damage. Abuse, accidents, normal wear and improper handling are excluded.