Winter-Proof Your Ride With These 7 Road-Trip Essentials

Getting your car ready for winter is a must if you spend a lot of time on the road, to both protect your ride from damage and to keep you safe in an emergency. Along with essentials like a flashlight and portable jump starter, it’s just as important to have things like a snow brush that won’t scratch the exterior and heavy-duty floorboard liners to prevent salt and debris from ruining the car’s carpeting.Below you’ll find a list of seven essentials to winter-proof your ride, including several that we’ve personally tested and reviewed.One of the best things you can do to protect your car’s interior is putting down floorboard liners. Husky’s Weatherbeater floor liners prevent salt and debris from staining carpeting and won’t slide around thanks to deeps nubs on the underside. They’re made in the U.S., designed to be tough but won’t crack and don’t contain materials like PVC or latex, which can produce off gassing odors.This portable jump starter from Gooloo is the model we recommend as best for most people. It’s capable of jump-starting a vehicle with up to a 12.0-liter diesel engine and has 27,000 mAh of capacity, plus it offers up to 24 months of standby time. Among standout features is its LED screen, which makes it easy to see all the various indicators.Having a multitool handy is smart in any situation, but particularly emergencies. We recommend this Leatherman as the best overall in our multitool buying guide because it simply does everything well. There are 20 tools on board, including a blade made of premium MagnaCut steel. Overall, the build quality is exceptional and it’s made in the U.S.Full Leatherman Arc ReviewRechargeable flashlights are convenient but in an emergency you really want one that has a battery. This MagLite classic has a long-range beam with a bright LED that illuminates at a distance of roughly 1,000 feet. It’s also water-resistant and can withstand a 3-foot drop.Anker’s Nano power bank is one of the best battery packs to keep in your car because it’s compact and offers solid capacity, with a maximum power output of 45 watts. We love the retractable USB-C cord and the gadget’s color display, which is easy to read.Full Anker Nano Powerbank ReviewThis combo ice scraper and snow brush is recommended by the folks at our sister publication, Car and Driver. It has a rotating head and an extendable handle, plus the whole thing breaks down into three pieces, which fit inside the included storage bag.We recommend this car emergency kit as the best overall because of the variety of items packed inside its rugged case. Along with a set of UL-certified jumper cables and a shovel, there’s a basic tool kit and a backup flashlight.Rachel is the Deputy Editor of Reviews for Hearst's Enthusiast and Wellness Group where she supports Popular Mechanics, Runner's World, and Best Products. Her background is in service journalism and earlier in her career she worked as a daily newspaper reporter and book editor. She spent more than a decade as a staff editor and writer at TripAdvisor and Penguin Random House and her byline has appeared in Time Out New York, the New York Daily News, and New York Magazine. Outside of work, Rachel can be found planning her next trip, visiting museums and galleries, and walking her wirehaired dachshund in Central Park.