Best Roadside Emergency Kits

Pros

• +Heavy wool insulates even when damp — fleece and cotton don't
• +Naturally flame-resistant; safe near a candle or hand warmers
• +Large 64×90" size — enough to wrap up fully or cover two people

Cons

• −Heavy (several pounds) and bulky — it's a trunk item, not a glovebox one
• −80% wool blend can be itchy against bare skin

Pros

• +Up to 10 hours of heat per warmer; heats up in minutes
• +Flameless, odorless, safe inside gloves, boots, and pockets
• +Long shelf life unopened — stock the car kit once every few years

Cons

• −Single-use — once opened they're spent
• −Slower to activate in very cold air; warm one in a pocket first

Pros

• +Covers the basics in one grab-and-go bag: cables, light, first aid, tools
• +Compact enough to live under a seat or in a trunk cubby
• +AAA-branded kit with a long track record and solid owner ratings

Cons

• −Booster cables are light-gauge and short — fine for a small car, not a cold V6 or V8
• −Nothing for warmth: add a blanket and hand warmers for winter

Pros

• +4 AWG handles four- through eight-cylinder gas engines from a good donor vehicle
• +20-foot length reaches between cars that can't park nose-to-nose
• +Insulation rated to stay flexible in deep cold (Cartman quotes -40°F)

Cons

• −Copper-clad aluminum conductors — fine for gas engines, marginal for large diesels (use 2 AWG or a big jump pack)
• −Bulkier to store than the thin cables in pre-packed kits

Pros

• +Reusable — no burn-out, no fire risk near fuel or in dry brush
• +Multiple flash patterns and a steady mode; magnetic base sticks to the car
• +Water-resistant, crush-resistant discs that survive being driven over

Cons

• −Dimmer than a burning flare in daylight or heavy snow; less visible at extreme distance
• −Battery-powered — check and replace AAAs each fall (cold drains them)