Ask any local and they’ll tell you: the skiing isn’t the risky part — the drive is. Here’s the kit we keep in the car all winter, built around getting unstuck, staying warm, and not needing a stranger’s help on an empty pass.
Our picks at a glance
Everything below, side by side:
The picks
All-in-one roadside emergency kit — the foundation
Jumper cables, an air compressor, a tow strap, tire tools, a first-aid kit, and safety gear in one case. The single easiest way to cover most roadside emergencies — buy it, toss it in the trunk, and forget about it until you need it.
- Comprehensive Car Emergency Kit: This all-in-one roadside assistance kit includes essential tools like jumper cables, Portable Air Compressor, and First Aid Kit, ensuring you're prepared for any car emergency. Perfect for women, men, and teens.
- Roadside Safety for All Seasons: Designed for year-round use, this car safety kit features durable tools to handle emergencies in winter and summer, making it ideal for drivers of all ages.
- Portable and Easy to Store: Compact and lightweight, this car basic tool kit fits easily in your trunk, ensuring you’re always prepared for breakdowns, flat tires, or other roadside emergencies.
- Perfect Gift for Drivers: A practical and thoughtful gift for women, men, and teens, this emergency roadside kit ensures safety and peace of mind for every driver in your life.
- All-in-One Roadside Emergency Solution - This 112PCS car emergency kit includes essential tools like a portable air compressor for quick tire inflation, heavy-duty jumper cables for dead battery jumpstarts, and a reflective safety triangle to ensure visibility during breakdowns. Be prepared for any roadside crisis year-round.
Portable jump starter & air compressor
A cordless jump starter means you never need a second car for a dead battery — critical on an empty mountain pass. This one adds a tire inflator, a power bank for your phone, and a light. Cold kills batteries, so this earns its trunk space.
- ➤【10-IN-1 CAR BATTERY JUMP STARTER】This AP01 12V jump starters highlight 10 useful functions but more portable, transcending general car starter jump box. It's a 6000A car battery jumper starter portable, 150PSI tire inflator, pressure gauge, 23800mAh power bank, 400V insulated gloves, 4-mode lights, 150W DC out with DC cigarette lighter adapter. Portable, versatile and must-have emergency roadside kit to keep in the trunk for daily use, road trips, and emergencies.
- ➤【6000A POWERFUL CAR JUMP STARTER 】 The 6000A car jumper starter portable instantly jump start your 12V dead vehicles, supporting engines up to all gas and 10.0L diesel. Even if the batteries are completely drained or low-voltage, simply press the "FORCE START" button to BOOST your car. Durable extended jumper cables to reach varied battery terminals. Standby for about 24 months, multiple starts per charge with maximum energy every start.
- ➤【5+4+3 150 PSI FAST TIRE INFLATOR & 3.3" LCD DISPLAY】 Smart preset, pressure detection & auto shut-off. With high turbo 35L/Min (150PSI) lasting 25 minutes, the portable car jump starter with air compressor fills a flat tire to 20 PSI in just 2 mins. 5 inflation modes, 4 different nozzles, 3 optional units and and extended air tubes for inflating cars, motorcycles, bikes, balls, etc. Large 3.3-inch screen, visible in sunlight, displays tire pressure in real time with ±1 PSI accuracy.
- ➤【 3*18W+150W FAST CHARGING, BUILT TO LAST 】 The portable jump starter for car is also a 23800 mAh power bank. Dual 18W USB-A ports and upgraded 150W DC output, ready to power tablets, phones, , car air compressors and other devices. USB-C 18W input port for faster self-charging. Whether it's car emergency or daily charging, the car battery charger jump starter is ready to provide strong power anytime and anywhere!
- ➤【 400V INSULATED GLOVES & 10 SAFETY PROTECTIONS 】 400V insulated electrician gloves are perfect for professional and emergency maintenance, such as handling mechanical equipment, automotive work, and various installation and maintenance projects. The jump box for car battery auto runs 10 protections include spark-proof and reverse polarity protection without worrying about incorrect connections or sparks, 100% safe to use.
Tire traction mats
Stuck in snow at a trailhead or on an unplowed shoulder? Slide these under your drive tires and go. No installation, no tools — the easiest way to self-rescue from a slick spot.
- Provides emergency traction for your tires in snow, ice, mud and sand. Works on all vehicles with summer, winter, or all-season tires.
- Comes with 2 reusable polypropylene solid and virtually indestructible traction mats.
- No installation required, making it hassle free, easier and safer to use than tire chains and snow chains.
- Each only 2.5 pounds and 36 inches long, allowing easy storage in your trunk or under your seat.
- Avoid the stress of shoveling, slipping and sliding, being stranded, or calling for a tow truck in emergency situations.
First-aid kit
A proper kit for the small stuff and the serious stuff. Keep one in the car year-round — you’ll use it for far more than winter emergencies.
- Comprehensive Home and Car Emergency Kit: Includes adhesive fabric and plastic bandages, antibiotic ointments, BZK antiseptic towelettes, burn cream packets, gauze roll and pads, wound closures, cold pack, and other first aid items; HSA/FSA eligible
- Easy Access: An ideal workplace and home first aid kit, this complete basic first aid kit comes in a soft-sided zippered case, featuring 2 separate layers with individual compartments and clear plastic pockets, so first aid supplies are easy to locate
- HSA Eligible and FSA Eligible First Aid Kit: Stay prepared and prioritize your safety with this convenient FSA and HSA eligible first aid kit, ready with the emergency supplies you need to handle cuts, scrapes, and burns
- Fits In A Glove Box or Backpack: Small enough to fit nicely into a backpack, vehicle compartment, or desk drawer, this travel-size first aid kit for car helps you keep peace of mind in easy reach when at home, college, the office, or while on the go
- Be Prepared Everywhere: Whether you need a camping first aid kit, backpacking first aid kit, first aid travel kit, college first aid kit for dorm, or first aid kits for vehicles, our first aid kits have the supplies you need for minor emergencies anywhere
Hand & body warmers
If you’re ever stopped for hours in a storm, staying warm is the priority. A box of air-activated warmers costs almost nothing and makes a stuck-in-the-canyon wait genuinely bearable.
- 🔥NATURAL LONG-LASTING HEAT - Odorless, Disposable, Single-Use Item, Do Not Apply Directly to The Skin. TSA Approved. No shaking or kneading required
- 🔥HOW TO ACTIVATE - Open the package, expose the warmer to air, and allow 15-30 minutes to heat up fully. If warmth decreases, expose warmer to air again and shake. After use, dispose of with regular trash.
- 🔥QUALITY INGREDIENTS - Each HotHands Hand Warmer is made in the USA using domestic and imported materials that don't harm the environment like iron, water, vermiculite, charcoal, polymer & salt.
- 🔥CONVENIENT & PORTABLE - Small enough to pack in a backpack and safe enough to go through TSA, HotHands warmers are easy to travel with no matter where you're going.
What to carry — and why, on I-70
- A way to get unstuck. Traction mats (above) or chains/AutoSocks, plus a folding shovel. CDOT’s Traction and Passenger Chain Laws are real, and getting stuck blocks the whole highway.
- A jump starter. Cold weather kills batteries, and you can’t count on another car on a quiet pass. A cordless jump pack is trip insurance.
- Warmth & a full tank. If you’re stopped for hours, heat is life — blankets, warmers, hats and gloves, and never head up with less than half a tank.
- Food, water, first-aid, and a light. Snacks, water that won’t freeze in the cabin, a first-aid kit, and a headlamp or flashlight with fresh batteries.
- Visibility & comms. A reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a phone charger/power bank, and the COtrip app for real-time closures.
FAQ
What should be in a winter car kit for Colorado and I-70?
A way to get unstuck (traction mats or chains/AutoSocks plus a shovel), a jump starter, warmth (blankets and warmers), food and water, a first-aid kit, a light, a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, and a phone power bank. Start the trip with a full tank.
Do I need chains or traction devices for I-70?
When it snows, yes — CDOT activates a Traction Law (snow tires, AWD/4WD, or traction devices) and, in worse conditions, a Passenger Vehicle Chain Law. Carry chains or AutoSocks, especially in a 2WD rental, and know how to fit them.
Do I really need a jump starter?
It’s the smartest single item you can carry. Cold weather drains batteries, and on a quiet mountain pass you can’t rely on flagging down another car for a jump. A cordless jump pack removes that risk entirely.
What’s the biggest winter-driving mistake on I-70?
Heading up unprepared — low on fuel, no traction devices, no warm layers — and driving into a storm anyway. Check conditions and closures before you leave, and be willing to wait one out.
How do traction mats work?
You place them under your drive wheels to give the tires grip on snow or ice, then drive off — no tools or installation. They’re the easiest self-rescue for a stuck car, though for driving in an active chain law you still need chains or AutoSocks.
Where can I check I-70 road conditions?
CDOT’s COtrip app and website give real-time closures, chain laws, and traffic cameras for the corridor. Check it before you leave and again along the way — more in our I-70 guide.
Written by
Melissa
Melissa splits her year between Texas and Summit County, Colorado, where she has spent countless summers and winters hiking, skiing, fishing, and exploring the high country. She started Breckenmendations to help visitors make the most of Colorado's mountains with the gear, tips, and local know-how she wishes she'd had on her first trip up I-70.
Breckenmendations is written by locals who actually hike, ski, and explore Colorado — see how we pick what we recommend.