When the Snow Hits the Fan

In late January, Winter Storm Fern slammed the U.S. with blizzards, ice storms, and more "arctic blast" headlines than we could count. Thirty-four states got hit. We got walloped here in Northeast Ohio. Not the worst snow we’ve ever seen, heck, we’ve seen comparable snow this winter, but bad enough that everyone started asking the same thing:

"What should I actually keep in my vehicle in case I get stranded in this mess?"

We’ll be honest with you: we didn’t pack for Fern. With the kids off of school and the shop closed, we didn't have a reason to leave our cozy homes. It did get us talking, though. We did what we always do. We made a list. Discussed what we’ve done in the past, including a younger-self considering a single granola bar and opened water bottle in the backseat an “emergency kit.” Then we built a real emergency kit.

Why Every Driver Needs a Winter Car Kit (Yes, Even You)

We find most emergency kit lists are way too vague. They’ll say “blanket” but not tell you to keep it in the cab, not the bed. Or they’ll say “food” like you’ve got a pantry in your gear tunnel. We build gear for Rivian R1T owners, but this checklist works for anyone with four wheels, a starter motor, and the unfortunate need to drive through Ohio winters. And this isn’t just our take, most of these items are backed by agencies like Ready.gov, the National Weather Service, and even AAA.

Here’s our personal, field-tested, snowstorm-endured input on a real winter prep kit.

What’s In Our Trucks (and What We Wish We’d Had)

The Non-Negotiables:

These are the “of course” items, the things every winter-driving human should have:

• A real flashlight or headlamp. Phone lights are fine until your phone’s dead. Pack batteries, too. The Rivian Torch takes care of this one.
• Blanket or sleeping bag. Wool, space blankets, or a thick throw will all work.
• Food and water. We keep protein bars in sealed pouches and water bottles.
• Phone charger + battery pack. Don’t trust your truck to stay on forever.
• Ice scraper. Obvious, but people forget.
• First aid kit. Doesn’t have to be fancy. Bandages, tape, meds, tweezers. Basic stuff. 

Vehicle Recovery Tools - both EV and ICE needs included:

• Traction boards or sand. The mini ones work in snow too.
• Folding shovel. For digging yourself out. Or whacking snow off the wheel wells.
• Lock de-icer. Keep it in your jacket, not your glovebox (trust us).
• Windshield washer fluid (winter-grade). One bottle minimum.
• Tire inflator + pressure gauge.
• Portable jump starter. 

The Human Survival Layer:

• Hand warmers. They weigh nothing and make life suck less.
• Gloves, hat, base layers. Wool, synthetic, or whatever keeps you warm when you’re sitting still.
• Emergency whistle. If you’re stranded somewhere remote, sound carries farther than yelling.

Comfort, Extras, and the “We Might Be Here Awhile” Kit:

• Small notebook + pencil (for passing time, or leaving a note).
• Headlamp clip.
• Trash bag. Multi-use item.
• A laminated card with emergency contacts, med info, and tow service details.

Final Thought from the Shop Floor

You can read all the prep lists you want but at the end of the day, you’ll be real cold, real fast, if you didn’t throw this stuff in your truck before the snow hits.

We build Rivian R1T accessories for the kind of driver who doesn’t wait for a recall or a rescue. If that sounds like you, make sure your kit matches your gear.

Got a better item? Something we missed? Send us your kit or drop a comment on our latest post. We’re always curious how other folks pack.

Stay warm. Stay weird. And keep tinkering.