Ah, cars – while we love them and they make our lives so much more convenient, they always seem to play up at the very worst times- like when they decide to break down on the way to the airport or run out of gas in the middle of nowhere.
While there are some car problems that we simply cannot help, there are a few things I keep in mine at all times to make sure I’m covered in any event. Whether I’m stuck in traffic, stranded in freezing temperatures or simply really hungry on a long drive, I’m now always prepared. Here are 5 things I always have in my car, no matter what.
Kool8 water bottle
Road trips: they always seem like a good idea at first, but the excitement never really seems to last once you’re in the car, no matter how good your Spotify playlist is. One thing I always struggle with on long journeys is thirst and the need for a little boost. I used to visit Starbucks before a long drive for a little caffeine kick, except my tea seemed to always go cold before I could drink it, and I’d always end up spilling it everywhere.
After one particularly bad road trip that involved sharp breaking and coffee flying across the car, I decided to start the search for a bottle that could keep my drinks hotter for longer. That’s when I came across Kool8, which creates bottles that double up as both water bottles and tea flasks.
The cool thing about these bottles is they keep cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot drinks hot for 12 hours, so I’m never without the perfect beverage on long drives. They’re also made of industrial-strength stainless steel, so I’ve managed to curb my plastic Starbucks cup habit completely. Having a bottle of water to hand can save your life if you’re ever stranded and dehydrated. Check out Kool8’s bottles here.
Portable charger
Although I (obviously) don’t touch my phone while driving, it’s still always working hard – whether that’s streaming Spotify to my speakers, or running Google Maps to show me exactly where to go. Because of this, my phone’s battery does tend to drain quite quickly, and while I could just turn on the radio and use a paper map, I love my Spotify playlists way too much for my phone to die!
I came across the Anker Astro E1 Portable Charger on GiftWits’ list of the Best Gift Ideas Yet and it’s easily one of the best things I’ve ever purchased. More than 9,000 Amazon users swear by this extra lightweight product that charges devices four times faster than a computer and never leaves you without power. Whenever I see the dreaded power alert on my cellphone, I simply pull over, plug in my charger, and get on my way again knowing I’m covered.
First Aid Kit
The truth is that you can never be sure what’s going to happen when you’re on the road, which is why it’s so important to also carry a fully stocked first aid kit. Whether you witness an incident and need to clean a patient up while an ambulance arrives or your passenger cuts their finger cracking open the car snacks, you need to be prepared for every situation.
Purchasing a first aid kit that is always fully stocked and ready to go should have a place in everyone’s car, no matter how small.
A great first aid kit should contain plasters in a variety of sizes and shapes, small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings, sterile eye dressings, a variety of bandages, safety pins, disposable sterile gloves, and sterile tweezers. You should also keep a packet of alcohol-free cleansing wipes, pain killers, antiseptic cream, distilled water, sticky tape and a thermometer handy.
Faux fur coat
Originally discovered by Cool Things Chicago on their list of the 39 Best gifts For Her, the Simplee Apparel Warm Faux Fur Coat has become on absolute lifesaver for me. I always forget how much the temperature changes when I drive across the country, and I’ve been caught short without a warm coat a fair few times.
This gorgeous jacket now stays in my car to provide me with some warmth both when driving and getting out on the other side. Its lovely neutral color means that this coat goes with most of my outfits, too, so I always look effortlessly fashionable (and totally not like I didn’t check the weather before driving). It always carries me through every occasion, too, whether I’m visiting family or hitting the clubs.
For a super-warm, cozy, AND stylish coat that will take you through many winters without having to succumb to fast fashion, definitely take a look at this one.
Ice scraper and snow brush
Even when extreme weather hits, my world doesn’t just stop and cower inside with a hot chocolate. Instead, I have to get my coat on, warm up my car, scrape the ice off the windows and the windshield and attempt to get to work – even when hot chocolate at home sounds like the better option. With this in mind, I really would be going nowhere without a high-quality ice scraper and a snow brush.
Many drivers tend to forget to remove the snow from the roof of their car before setting off, but this is an absolutely vital step to driving safely in poor conditions. Not only do you look super silly leaving snow on the top of your car while the rest is spotless, but high winds met with high speeds can force the top layer of the snow to fall off, making it difficult for the driver behind you to see.
When looking to buy a high-quality ice scraper, look for one that is super heavy duty and has a long enough handle that you can completely reach across your car without putting yourself into compromising positions.