Items to have in your car in winter in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin

You’ve probably seen the list of 16 items to have in your car in the winter, especially if you live in Minnesota, Iowa, or Wisconsin. These are not the elements I am talking about. Well, some of them are on this list but it’s not 16 items, it’s less than that and those seem really manageable to me.

The winter storm approaching us seems like no joke. Looks like the snowfall won’t be too bad, it’s windy and cold after that. The wind blowing over the snow like crazy. And if you’re stuck somewhere for some reason, being without heat for a few minutes is very dangerous.

Everyone says to stay home and change travel plans if you can. But if you have to go out, above all, take it easy, no need to rush anywhere. Second, make sure you have these items in your car! They’ll keep you safe if you end up in an accident, in a ditch, with a dead battery, whatever.

As I mentioned earlier, there is this list of 16 items. Of course it’s better to have the 16 but I thought this list of 12 which I found from KARE 11 is super manageable.

Items to have in your car in winter

A flashlight. Yes, your phone has one, but it’s easy to throw a flashlight in the car in case your phone doesn’t have enough battery life.

A first aid kit.

A snow shovel. And it doesn’t have to be big, I have a tiny one in case I get stuck somewhere.

And ice scraper with a brush. If you don’t already have it in your car… congratulations?

Blankets and/or sleeping bag. Something that will keep you warm if you’re out of heat.

Non-perishable foods like granola bars, nuts, stuff like that. When I head out the door for a longer ride, I almost always grab a snack, so do the same if you go out in a storm.

Water.

Jumper cables.

Extra clothing like mittens, a hat and an extra pair of boots. Same with snacks, if I’m going on a longer trip in the cold I usually take a few extra clothes on the way out.

Sand or kitty litter. Obviously, a bag of this stuff is heavy. I’ve never had this in my car, but if you’re going out in the storm, I’d say it’s better to be safe than sorry. You can put some in a smaller container so it won’t be as heavy.

Your phone and a charger. The charger is the important thing to remember because you will probably already have your phone on you.

And finally, something bright. Ideally flares or orange triangles/cones, but I think the reasoning behind this is that you are visible. So grab a shiny shirt or something and if you need it you can zip it up to your door so people can see you.

Here! Items you should have in your car if you’re planning on heading out in the coming storm. And these are good to have in your car whenever you’re driving in the winter, but especially if you’re driving long distances and/or there’s a storm. Stay safe!