Sootch, great channel. In Western Canada, we have several dead zones for cell coverage. My best "survival item" is the OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle). I drive a Dodge Ram, but this GM based mirror installed right in my truck. It gives me a satellite phone, road side assistance, and most importantly dispatches EMS to me in the event of a crash (even if I can't answer their call). I hit a moose last year and OnStar detected that my airbags deployed, called me on the sat phone, and dispatched a rescue team. It was 30 below and I probably wouldn't have survived the night due to injury. This saved my life. Highly recommend it.
I live in Wisconsin, and I would substitute road flares for the flare gun. In a low-visibility snow storm, a flare gun isn't going to be seen from very far away. But a road flare could stop someone from rear-ending you if you get stuck in the middle of the road. Glow sticks are probably not bright enough to be seen through a snow storm either, but could be used for light inside the vehicle (rather than the tea-light candle which produces CO2).
JoshGrami You got that bang on the money. I have road flares in my car even a road triangle can be blown away or can’t be seen sometimes because it’s only about a foot high but the flyers because if they’re bright light will work. You also need to know how to deploy flayers in front of and beside and behind your vehicle. You need to have at least three or four in your car. Depending on your state there is a certain distance that you should put them from your car for safety sake but also to give people maximum warning time in slippery conditions so they don’t scare into your car. I would put one about 20 feet from your car and another one about 40 feet from your car I would also put one out beside it or in front of it so that someone can mark where the corner of the vehicle is. Don’t put them too close to the car because I have actually seen flares be pushed by the wind across pavement that was frozen If you have any doubts consult your state drivers handbook for the safety Recommendations they may use warning triangle or marker instead of the word flair. You can probably use the same guidelines though.
reconreserve Also keeping your sunvisor down. Polarized sunglasses are the best ones. You know you’ve got polarized sunglasses on when you can see the patterns in the glass that the manufacturer installed on your vehicle. Polarize sunglasses don’t have to be that expensive though you can find them here and there just don’t get the ones from the cheap stores because they’re not Polarized
full gas tank is a very helpful piece of gear in winter. this winter in russia (near orenburgh) there was an accident with a big group of cars that got stuck for 16 hours in snowstom. those people aren't used to low temperatures, orenburgh is one of the southernest parts of russia. one man died - his car ran out of gas, he went out looking for a car that still had gas for heating, he lost the road and froze somewhere in the middle of a field. and many people got frostbites while getting to the cars that still got gas.
The Air force made all troops keep a winter kit in their vehicles. SAC would even inspect them to aid our winter safety in the Rockies. Even near Portland; many Californians can't drive in bad weather and can muck-up traffic and you may get stranded overnight. But rehearsal is everything!
I live pretty far north, good kit I would just include some type of heat source.. Also a real blanket.. It just depends on your temps.. We are far below zero for a good portion of the winter, exp at night.. We have disused it a few times and realized that most of the time we aren't adequately dressed.. 20 below isn't something a normal coat can protect against.. So we pack heavy and bring a small propane heater as well.. Always be prepared..!! Love your videos.. thanks..
AVanilla Gorilla definitely bring blankets. Extra blankets as well. One thing I learned when we got stuck once was that if you wrap a blanket around yourself that’s a good thing but if you’re able to somehow put a blanket up in your window it actually insulates the windows from the cold getting into the car. Cold is going to get into the car no matter what if you’re stuck somewhere especially if it’s windy and below freezing. The blankets act as a shield or a barrier to keep the heat that’s in the car from going out through the windows. That glass is ice cold when you touch it with your hands. The Doors at least have a space between the outside and the inside although that’s not much protection either. Cars aren’t meant to really be shelters against the elements but that’s what they end up being in an emergency. I don’t ever recommend anybody get out of your car unless they absolutely have to. I also recommend that you park your car not right in the middle of the road but not down in any kind of depressed or low lying area either. Snow can build up very quickly around the side of your car if it’s drifting. I’d say two Tires on the pavement and two tires on the shoulder. I also don’t recommend that you put your hazards on for very long. You don’t want to run your battery completely down unless that’s what’s already happened. Flares are a good idea and some people even carry a wind sock or a flag on one of those flexible fiberglass poles that I can attach to the car so that people can see the car with the flag waving above it
Sootch, I live in the Atlanta area and was stuck in the gridlock for hours. Although I didn't have to abandon my vehicle, I was prepared to do so. I actually got started with being prepared about a year ago after seeing a few of your videos. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into teaching others how to be sensible about their prepping!
Great video.I use a large 40 mm ammo can in both of my vehicles.Kind of heavy but lots of room and I am not going to be taking it with me.I also carry a medium size bag of extra clothes , either summer or winter.A versa shelter based on Wilderness survival site. I can carry this with my get home bag if I have to abandon my vehicle.Some other useful tools.Alcohol stove, With extra fuel.Head lamp.Pioneer kit with Axe, shovel, machete,20 inch bow saw, crow bar, toll kit,etc.Case of bottled water.Cell phone charger.Stay safe my friends.
Good items to have. I hadn't thought to add a flare gun. I do recommend that you add a tow strap, or maybe even a recovery strap. I did a video a couple weeks ago. With snow, you never know when you may find yourself off the road.
I am one of those Up in Canada Preppers & in my Jeep I have flares, a Blaze Orange Nylon sheet about 12"Wx80"L places in drivers window & run across to pass window so it sticks outside booth door window. I also have Rothco emergency tarp like you have, three 3" Soya candles (Non Toxic) wool hat, gloves, socks & blanket. Food (Can of SPAM & Sardines) water 1 gallon. for 72 hrs. & a UCO Lantern from LLBean which hangs from roll bar. Even in a 4X4 its no match for 10' snow drifts.
The best equipment for an emergency vehicle is a well maintained vehicle with as much common sense as can be added one you get into the driver's seat. Certainly you can't predict everything and your video is very helpful for those unpredictable moments, but the rule of thumb should be - NEVER put yourself in a situation that has a high risk of turning into a survival situation. Don't drive around parts of your home town with a high concentration of crack dens and such. Don't escalate a fight because you have a gun your adversary doesn't know about, don't eat your wife's last few Oreos when you know full well she's in the middle of that thing our wives deal with every month. Common sense saves lives ten thousands times better and easier than any survival skills or gear ever can. A poorly maintained vehicle isn't an accident. It's negligence. Money is an issue for some, and I am sincerely sorry if that's the situation. For the most part, however, faulty cars are a result of faulty ownership. Get them fixed. Don't try to climb a mountain road in a Prius during a snowstorm. Actually, better yet, don't ever drive a Prius. Take care...
Thanks for all you do. I live in New England and recently drove to Utah and back via MN, ND, WY, MT and ID. IT was -16 in Fargo. In Medicine Bow the skies were blue and the sun was shining but we were in white out conditions for 45 min. due to 50 mph winds and blowing snow. On the way home it snowed from Illinois to NY. When the sun came out again there was black ice everywhere. If you live or travel up north you need to be prepared for an unexpected multi-day back-country winter camping trip. Extra warm clothes (fleece, wool, synthetics, gore-tex), waterproof pants, etc. wool blankets, winter sleeping bags (-20 or better), MORE food, water, msr pocket rocket stove or similar (your water will freeze). Bring extra ammo in case you are lucky enough to find a less than desirable hotel. During blizzards there is often "no room at the inn". Inexpensive motels are often frequented by addicts and other desperate people. (But for the grace of God go I) Never let your gas tank fall below 1/2. Bring cash in case the power is out. There were dozens of wrecks, jack knifed tractor trailers, abandoned cars, 4X4s and even a downed helicopter. Police, fire, etc may be to busy to come to your rescue. Think like a boy scout.
All good ideas for keeping in your vehicle in the winter. I would add one thing that I like to keep in each of my vehicles. I keep a bottle of Windshield Washer Fluid in my truck bed and trunk of SUV. I mix it 50/50 with water to make it last longer and unless it gets sub zero degrees it does not freeze up on me. Living in New England we see several snow storms a season. With each storm more and more sand/salt get layered on the roads to melt Ice (a good thing in my opinion). This causes a lot a dirty spray on windshields. I regularly use my wipers/washer fluid to clear the windshield otherwise dangerous conditions can occur when you can't see the road. I have ran out of windshield washer fluid on the road before, had to pull over and try to wipe windshield with snow. It worked but it took a few stops before I could get to Walmart for fluid.
I would add a shank or so of paracord with that kit in case you do have to use that tarp as a shelter of some sort. Having a couple of flashlights as well. Great review. Thx for sharing Sootch. Stay safe and take care.
Bart Van Riel that’s why you always carry para cord. And alternative would be taking one of the laces out of your boots if you’re wearing boots. If it’s winter and snowy you should be wearing boots. You can tie a knot on the end of the boot laces and usually they’ll be at least 3 feet long. Can you swing them around and you can do that. I wouldn’t recommend getting outside your car and swinging a glow stick around though unless the wind in the snow have stopped or calm down depends on where you live. You also could be hit by another car traveling on the road. Better off having some flyers or toad triangle signals in your car.
Myself being in Iowa, Weather hear can go to crap in 3 hours time. So we carry some blankets, water, snacks, small throw pillows, so if we are stuck overnight we can stay warm.
I keep the following in my truck year around. sun glasses, flashlight, multiple pairs of gloves (cotton, leather & extrication), basic tool kit (including spare fuses), three 30 minute road flares, chemlights, hatchet, jumper cables, hi vis jacket (vol. fire & EMS), 4 way lug wrench, fire starters, med bag, 20 ft tow chain, and 2" and 2 5/8" receiver hitch. During the winter I add. studded snow tires, 5 gal bucket of ice melt, shovel, hand warmers and ice scrapper. I prefer the chemlights or flashlight vs a candle because the candle will produce C02. Also, in my mind a ice scrapper should have a longer handle for better reach across the windshield (at least with my big truck). Having one with a brush is also nice so you don't get your hands wet scraping off the snow. I also keep road flares in my truck instead of a flare gun because in a bad snow storm arial flares won't be visible from very far anyway. Road flares have the advantage of being much longer lasting and can be placed on the road to alert other drives which can help keep you from being rear ended wether you slide off the road into a snow bank or are just changing a tire. Hope this helps!
As a survivalist all you really need in your vehicle is a zero degree sleeping bag, food, and water. A tiny stove to melt ice or snow could save your life. If you are prepared with enough food and can get clean water you can last a long time. Obviously, like you said, that is assuming you are sensibly dressed. I survive in the Olympic Mountains and I face this on a regular basis.
I'm from North Dakota. Winter here generally lasts from November-March, though it can vary greatly by year, for example, its February and this year its really nice and warm outside. From February to April I keep a heavy coat and snowpants in the back of my car., along with the shovel.
A colasable portable snow shovel. They can be found at super markets like Walmart made of plastic or aluminum. The folding NATO shovel is great for breaking ice and moving dirt or gravel, but you really need a snow shovel to move quantities of snow
In the UK you can get cheap snow/mud escape tracks that are nice and packable at about 18" long very good to get you moving again just rember to tie them to the back of your car so you don't have to stop till you have better ground
Something you may consider adding is a long tow strap. I keep one in my truck in case I need to pull someone back onto the road, or out of the snow. And if I get stuck, I've got one so another truck can pull me out. They're pretty cheap and I've already used it a few times.
I carry with me everything you said on the video plus more, being stuck before on bad snow storms on highways cause big trailers or down trees, I learned the hard way good pair of winter boots and shovel come along way to keep the muffler clear of snow especially in those 2 feet snow accumulation storms and extra snacks stay warm.
I just evolve my BOB as the season changes. And you aren't kidding, here in MI there is always people in the ditch and times when you certainly could have a disabled vehicle. Thanks for sharing ;)-
I live in eastern Canada and do get hit with northern frigid air and noreasters so on my day long trips I always carry my emergency kit. Not going to name the contents since many of it is already said in other's comments but I always carry my jumper cables, a portable battery booster in case no one is around to help me, a winter shovel, a rainsuit to fit over my clothing in case of freezing rain. Stay safe everyone.
Another thing to have on hand is jumper cables. A small spray can of lock de-icer from an automotive store helps. Keep a can inside your warm house also. Avoid the situation if possible. You should check weather conditions and current watches/warnings on your travel route. My EDC bag is never without a small portable NOAA weather radio. IMO If you get stranded in snow, you either have ignored the warnings not to drive or you haven't prepared by keeping tabs on the weather. Essential for any prepper.
I like to keep my car kit in a backpack alongside my get home bag. That way if there's someone else in the car with me, they can use that pack and take some stuff from the car kit that's too big/heavy for my get home bag, such as a stove or the extra water. Alternatively, if I have my edc pack we can do the same thing with that.
I live in Kansas so the cold is somethingi have to deal with. My best advice is dress in layers. A shirt+ heavy sweater+ heavy coat= sweat. You don't want sweat in the cold. Layers enables you to remove an article of clothing if you stay to sweat. They also make foot and toe warmers that are quite handy. I carry/use a military style, insulated baklava and it's great. Sun off the snow can cause temporary blindness for up to 72 hours so sunglasses are important. Got any questions? Don't be afraid to ask.
Sootch, great video sir. A couple items that I carry that you didn't mention are a US Army green wool blanket and I also have a small multi-use hatchet (blade, hammer, prybar combo) that I keep next to my seat.
I live in the lower parts of SC and I still get nights down to the 20's. In my truck and car we keep a fire kit and small bit of wood that is dry.. I keep it in tho's spaces bags and long as with a few covers on top of the tarps.. Thanks brother God Bless.
Another great item I keep as part of a fire kit is the smaller firestarting logs they are very cheap and come in a small brick I break them up and use them in smaller peices. They have them at most dollar stores and esp walmarts and k Marts and grocery stores.
I used to have a couple of bags of rock salt and kitty litter in the back of my truck for additional traction and to melt snow and ice. I always had a sleeping bag in the cab for when I did get stuck and had to wait out the night for a snow plow.
In 1 of out door magazines. It said have an orange hunting vest with you in the car. So can put on the outside of the car. When you get stranded. Also the orange triangles are a good idea. Wool blanket in the car. Along with a bivy sack.
If your in Canada like me. Other then candles, flashlight and matches. Your probably going to need a spare winter jacket because were not always wearing the right clothes. and definitely some big winter boots, if u need to walk for w.e reason and theres even a couple inches of snow on the ground shoes our even hiking boots will be useless. ur feet will get cold and or wet very fast and you'll be screwed. I leave my winter boots in the trunk and a winter jacket, and on top of that I have my standard car kit.
The best ice scrapers are about 18"-24" long. Make sure it's solid too, no swiveling or collapsing. Minnesota ice will chew through those little hand held ones before the windows are clear. Otherwise great info!
A shamagh is a good thing to keep handy. Can be used in place of or in conjunction with the hat and neck/face warmer. Plus you can carry tons of stuff in it.
Sensible prepping - just as advertised! The modular preparedness mentality is such a pragmatic one! i have a core G.O.O.D. bag that will offer *some* essentials for all seasons, but stored right next to it, i have some Winter gloves, a balaclava, extra food and water, tomahawk, machete, gps, - a bunch of other options for situation specific or seasonal predicaments. The closest thing i would offer to constructed criticism would be if it's a car prep kit, i would prefer a larger (&snow) shovel.
I like the volleyball player idea, but the rest is good too. I think you pretty much coved it all, maybe a come-a-long would be nice, incase you get stuck in the ditch, happens all the time up here in MI
oddly for winter gloves my old mill surplus gloves like you have in the video has been one of the best pairs i've had. they arnt as warm but your fingers can move easier. if i am not using my hands for something that i need the movement with there staying in my pockets.
coming to check vs what is in my car for Dec 2021. In winter I usually carry snow shovel, scraper, chain or tow strap, jumper cables, salt, sand space blanket and regular blanket. Quit smoking, so should add lighter, tinder and smoke generator for worst case.
Castin North I carry energy bars protein bars and fleece blankets. I learned the hard way not to carry chocolate because it melts and then it gets all nasty and stuff. Something that people used to remember back in the health food 70s days was a thing called carob some people call it Saint Johns bread. It doesn’t melt as quickly as regular chocolate and it’s still nutritious and gives you some calories. Also little games and puzzles and things for kids to do if you have kids it keeps their mind off the scariness of their situation for a little while at a time.
Maine here. We get 7 foot snowstorms and no one is stranded. Wish we were sometimes, it is ridiculous for people to have to go to work in storms like that in whiteout conditions. Here we have this mentality that people can still get plowed out so there's no reason not to get out and go anyway, despite emergency warnings and blizzards.
I would personally add a jacket of some sort. Something that can hold you warm either during resting or working. Now, I assume you have a jacket, but maybe someone else hasn't. I got one in mine as well as all the items you have listed except for the flare gun since that is hard to get here....
Thank you for showing a better look of the fleece lined bandana , just watched your bandana uses video and u had what i was lookin for a winter bandana and i seen that same one for 10 bucks on ebay , all of my bandanas dont cut it for the tennessee winters .
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Hello, can you tell me name of item at 3:30? I can't Google where to buy such nice one with Velcro. Thanks in advance
You might wanna consider adding a saw to the winterpack. It might come in very handy. To build a shelter or to move big amounts of snow. It's way faster then a shovel. God Bless
3640Timm have you ever tried kitty litter to aid vehicle traction? Never heard of this before, would be preferable to hassle of snow chains, when you know you'll have to take them off again in a few minutes.
To thejoshbtv: Good point! Keeping your skin covered in an icy wind is really important. In winter, I keep snow gear in the trunk which includes ski goggles, a face mask, and a warm headcover along with insulated boots, bib, and parka.. I don't have snowshoes so I keep close to main roads and highways when winter traveling conditions are really bad.
cwes41 When I lived overseas in Europe they have these great little things that you could strap on to your shoes or boots. They were basically ice cleats. They came in different sizes and designs. One company that made them was called Moose tracks I believe or yak tracks I can’t remember. I got the cheap version of them at a store called Aldi and they were a lifesaver more than once. They basically are a crisscross of rubber straps that come together to form a grid that looks like a sandal and they have built-in metal studs on the bottom. They’re not really sharp they’re kind of blunt like little nipple shapes but they will still grip ice really well. The best winter boots that you have will help you get through snow and a little bit of ice but they don’t have a whole lot of traction on sheet ice. Most of the accidents that I have seen are usually not because of the snow there because of slush and ice or because people are driving too fast for conditions. You can strap those suckers onto any boot or shoe because they are rubber they are elastic and will fit around the front and back of them. They give you enough grip to walk on ice and frozen slush. I still have them after 12 years and I make sure I keep the rubber in good condition. I keep looking for them here and there and it’s funny you can’t really find them in the states that much. The ones you do find our way overpriced. These only costed me the equivalent of about $12
I'm lucky; I wake up when my feet are cold. When I'd travel through sleet and snow going from LA up through the Oregon Cascades, I'd take extra heavy blankets and a big pillow and other cold weather gear. When waiting out a snowstorm, I'd pull into a rest stop. I'd warm up the car, get in the back and get cozy under the blanket with the motor off (I fear carbon monoxide). I'd leave my stocking feet outside the blanket so that they would get cold and wake me up later. Then I'd warm up the car again and repeat the cycle until I could leave. Oh, I also had a plastic snow shovel to clear a starting path in front of the vehicle. By keeping the interior warm, my drinking water didn't freeze.
If you live in an area with a lot of snow you may want to have a real snowshowel, a good arctic sleepingbag, a bag of sand (for traction If you get stuck), snowchains and an alochohol stove to.
Yeah I just got back from Idaho, You can travel on route 22 going North East and not see a car for hours during the day!!!!!!! And talk about FEET of snow, wow!!!
That Carolina Power and Light ice scraper is old ! I got one those from the nuclear plant I work at back in the day. Its Duke Energy now. LOL. Great Kit !! Thanks for sharing.
EffyJnr™ those are good but self-feeding meals are better because you don’t necessarily want to be boiling water over an open flame inside your car do you? It’s better to try to stay in the vehicle unless it’s more dangerous to stay in there than to get out. They have these weird little things that are like self heating cans of stew or stuff eating hot chocolate drinks etc. they don’t really get all that hot but they are very very warm and that’s better than being freezing cold. Also lots and lots of hot hands packets.
You guys with the water in freezing temps, everytime I've left water bottles in my truck by accident they've frozen and/or exploded. Wouldn't it seem easier to keep a cup and just melt the snow in it?
Will you get my vote for the Swedish female volleyball player in the for coat :-) that’ll keep you warm on the coldest night. Seriously though two or three items I noticed that you didn’t mention. I have personally had experience with this situation. I had the worst case scenario which was I had very little if any supplies in the back of a Volkswagen Passat and I was driving my two young children one of whom was just a toddler back from the day care to the house because my wife was working late so I picked them up first. It was wintry conditions it was snowing and there was already snow and ice on the roads. A little low lady who had absolutely no business whatsoever being on the road pulled out of her driveway in her car in front of me and I had no alternative but to apply the brakes and skidded off the road into a ditch. So the bottom line was I didn’t have anything to get myself out of that situation I tried calling my wife and couldn’t reach her I was a couple of miles away from the nearest town and a little low lady was totally oblivious and wet dodging and weaving down the road I’m sure she caught somebody else to go off the road too. That’s another thing I should mention here is if you don’t have to go out please don’t. You’re providing a hazard for other people to navigate around. Stay off the roads unless you have to. I see some of these good old boys go out in hurricane weather when they don’t need to. Are used to drive for a living and I had to go out even if I didn’t want to. I left that job. Three things I always carry with me one of them is water. No matter where you go no matter what time of year it is Carrie bottled water or water in a canteen or some kind of container at least. In fact if you carry it in a thicker walled bottle such as an insulated steel or aluminum bottle or a plastic military issue canteen it will not actually freeze. Regular bottled water will freeze in your car during wintry conditions. If it’s below freezing outside. Second thing is a tow rope or tow strap. If you go off a ditch like me one of the things that I did not have was a tow rope or a tow strap. If you drive a substantial vehicle that is capable of it you can also help assist and rescue other people and get them out of the ditch or at least loan somebody a tow strap or a tow rope to be pulled out. The other thing is jumper cables or A car battery jumping device. Preferably charged up. You should always check it before you go out. I’ve had it turn out where folks got stranded in the middle of nowhere and asked me to jump off their batteries which I did. I would recommend getting heavy duty battery cables extra long. Make sure you’re not overdoing it and biting off more than you can chew and make sure that your own battery is in good shape before you do that. If you boost off enough people who have dead batteries it will take a toll on your own battery. Believe me I know. Other than that it’s common sense you pretty much covered all the bases there. I would suggest a different kind of shovel though are used to go backpacking a lot when I lived overseas And I carried a portable lightweight two handed snow shovel with me. You can literally dig your own self out of an avalanche or a snowfall as long as the avalanche is not a major one. It’s made out of a very resilient rubberized plastic and it looks like a great big Pringles potato chip. With handle holes on each side And it is great. It’s lightweight very durable you can hold it with your bare hands without gloves because it’s got rubberized grip’s and a hand holes. I always carry those little cheap gloves that are coded with nitrile that you can get at Lowe’s or Home Depot or just about anywhere now. Also a good thing to help keep your hands from getting wet is to wear these really tough gloves called venom steel. I believe they are nitrile and they are industrial strength. Other than a very sharp knife these things just don’t get punctured. If you wear those as a liner underneath your regular winter gloves just in case. That way if your other gloves get wet your hands don’t. You must protect your hands and your feet at all costs if you’re in snow especially if it is the wet yucky kind of snow. Dry powder isn’t a big deal the worst enemy you have there is wind. Are used to do a bit of wildlife photography outdoors and I can tell you from experience wind is not your friend. I have a little thing called a snood which is a similar thing to what you showed in the video it’s made of fleece and it basically is like a flat donut that goes around your neck it keeps the cold from getting through your clothing or around your collar and into your neck and insulate your neck against the wind and any moisture that gets in there. You can also pull it up or over your nose in the lower half of your face and up around the lower half of the back of your head. That way your winter hat and your snood cover pretty much everything except for a area around your eyes and above your nose. You can also wear another layer underneath that like an under layer. They sell those at Walmart As a brand name called Swiss
If you live up north I would add a blanket for each person just a moving blanket is better than nothing, but wool if you can afford it. Water and food, I keep a few gallons of water nothing fancy just you local store gallon of water I keep one per person so have 3. I throw a few MRE's into the bag cause you never know. Also a bag of salt and kitty litter, weird yes but you can salt down the exhaust pipe exit to keep snow from accumulating so you can keep the car running and warm, and kitty litter will get you out of a bind with black ice. Thick rope as well.
Hey sensible prepped can you do a review on the grabber brand emergency all weather space blanket? It is bigger than the other all weather space blanked but I'm am not sure if it is the same quality of the smaller one
@redmudpei I totally agree with your comment I drive a jeep and I get sooooooooo pissed off when people ride my ass of fly by me in there suvs esp suburbans and bigger ones they think they can do whatever in 4 wheel drive it's rediculous
Not the clay clumping kitty litter. Not me but someone who shares my last name tried it. Talk about making a bad thing worse! If you are carrying kitty litter for stuck in the ice/snow the cheaper the stuff is the better it works.
Don't forget comms, a CB radio / walkie talkie could come in handy if you are stranded, also, any old cell phone, even if it is not activated with an account, will still call 911. So I have my old cell phone with charger stashed in my car, just in case.
Hehe...=) Awesome video man... I have made a kit myselfe that i have in my car every winter for the past 2 years. Never really thought about that in the before but our winters here in Sweden can bring the temp. down to -20 to -35 degree celcius sometimes so having that in mind i think everyone schould have a nice kit in the car.. Take care...
Food is a good idea. Last year in NY hundreds of drivers were stranded for over 12 hours in their cars. www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/09/new-york-blizzard-new-england/1904215/
People nned to wake up and prepare for the worst. Lots of people ask me "do you think we are going to war or something?" Well in a year we have 30 below zero temps at least one flood and several tornados in this area so prepping has nothing to do with our poorly run government but lots to do with taking care of yourself and your family.
I live in Canada - people get stranded all the time in the snow/cold! all of these items are great to have, if it is a *car kit* and it gets cold enough to kill you i would even venture as far as a sub zero sleeping bag that can double as a blanket- something 6 lb or more that stays in the trunk(can be expensive for quality) i personally keep a pair of insulated coveralls that i also use for work(and i have worked in -40 degrees celsius and lower with windchill) the best thing is i can wear them anywhere i go or sleep in them!! i also have a separate set of extreme cold neoprene boots that are waterproof and an axe. if it snows and ices where you are a shovel and a small bag of sand or gravel can save your ass. overall they are all useful items in a compact little kit you can carry- trunks are big though, use them.
+IanMShooter yeah where you live you need it but for us not that bad.Funny thing it gets about thrity degrees here we are all bundledb up oh one qestion how much snow do you get in a year
a fire kit is a bit redundant if your caught out on a Motorway (Freeway) good if you out in the sticks but as i said redundant if you caught on the majority of urban roadways in a off road vehicle yes its common sense, yes a tea light is a good idea but any open flame in an enclosed environment especially in a stranded vehicle situation can be extremely dangerous, a small portable space heater that plugs in to a 12 volt cigarette lighter would be a better idea www.ebay.com/itm/150W-12V-Car-Van-Boat-Ceramic-Fan-Heater-Defogger-Defroster-Demister-PORTABLE-/191018437229?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item2c79960a6d&vxp=mtr that with that emergency tarp used as a divider to close of unused space in the vehicle (the one in that link is looks to be the same size or near to it as your fire kit, this is just my take on a winter type stranded vehicle situation, i would love to hear you take on this, Regards, Ken.
Being in WNY i definately like your kit. I never thought of the flare option but i will definately look into it. Are there any you recommend? Like the Vid's btw..
ForeverGhostdoggg it looks good in theory but in practice you need to know what you’re doing with the flare gun. You need to know the right time to use it and you need to know what the wind conditions are like. If you’re in an area where there are Highwinds and low visibility a flare gun will do you no good whatsoever. Most of the time if I’m being completely honest, rescuers will not go out in really bad conditions to go find somebody they will hope that you have enough common sense to hunker down and stay alive for at least 24 hours until the worst of the conditions pass and they can come out and look for you. I had a friend a number of years ago who went and trained with the Rocky Mountain rescue team then he went back home and took those skills with him to North Georgia. He does mountain rescue and he is also a volunteer firefighter. And those are just his side jobs. He taught me a few things and he said don’t get out of your vehicle unless you have to. He recommended that if you’re on a road that you know somebody’s going to come along sooner or later to at least put out a couple of flyers so that they don’t hit you from behind and also put out one in front of your car from the other direction so that people know that somebody is there. Most people don’t think about it but also having a windsock or something that you could hang off your wing error or attached to your antenna as long as it won’t break it so that people can see you because it’s up higher. The thing about Flyers is they only work in certain conditions. Somebody needs to be in the area to see them and there are different flavors that go different heights depending on the gun and how much of a charge is in the flare. Do you want a flair to go as high as it possibly can. If you’re in the mountains or a wilderness area you need to fork over a little bit of dough And they’re going to run you at least $50 or more. The best ones I’ve seen are about $150 and up with the flyers. You can get refills on the flyers as well. That’s for serious lost in the frontier type situations. Mostly it’s about common sense and don’t get yourself into that situation. Don’t be traveling in an area that’s risky when you don’t need to be.
Yes and no on the body heat. Yes, it's true the levels of heat loss aren't as drastic as has been traditionally believed. No, it's not "any exposed part of the body loses heat." When you wrap your feet and your head to keep them warm, it functions more to keep warm blood circulating all over as well as the two most important parts of your anatomy that are needed for survival/rescue. Further, Our bodies are smart. They know how to prioritize. This translates into perspiration forming extensively all over the head of someone who is overheating due to exercise of whatever sort before it's as rampant over the rest of the body. That's because our brains don't tolerate a wide range of temps. Hence headaches and such when conditions are not optimal. There's even more to it, but I'm trying to keep it simple because anyone can google the science and find better qualified individuals than myself to explain the importance of head and foot coverage.
Why not throw in a surplus M-65 Field Jacket and a good blanket and put all of it including the ammo can and bag in something like an 8 gallon Rubbermaid Action Packer. Here is a like to the container. www.amazon.com/Unknown-Action-Packer-8-Gallon/dp/B00AZYENNG/ref=pd_sim_hg_1
Hundreds of people were stranded overnight on the Freeways going through Atlanta yesterday, Jan 29, 2014. Be Prepared and stay alive. .
sootch, check out my comment above
Sootch, great channel. In Western Canada, we have several dead zones for cell coverage. My best "survival item" is the OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle). I drive a Dodge Ram, but this GM based mirror installed right in my truck. It gives me a satellite phone, road side assistance, and most importantly dispatches EMS to me in the event of a crash (even if I can't answer their call). I hit a moose last year and OnStar detected that my airbags deployed, called me on the sat phone, and dispatched a rescue team. It was 30 below and I probably wouldn't have survived the night due to injury. This saved my life. Highly recommend it.
I live in Wisconsin, and I would substitute road flares for the flare gun. In a low-visibility snow storm, a flare gun isn't going to be seen from very far away. But a road flare could stop someone from rear-ending you if you get stuck in the middle of the road.
Glow sticks are probably not bright enough to be seen through a snow storm either, but could be used for light inside the vehicle (rather than the tea-light candle which produces CO2).
JoshGrami You got that bang on the money. I have road flares in my car even a road triangle can be blown away or can’t be seen sometimes because it’s only about a foot high but the flyers because if they’re bright light will work. You also need to know how to deploy flayers in front of and beside and behind your vehicle. You need to have at least three or four in your car. Depending on your state there is a certain distance that you should put them from your car for safety sake but also to give people maximum warning time in slippery conditions so they don’t scare into your car. I would put one about 20 feet from your car and another one about 40 feet from your car I would also put one out beside it or in front of it so that someone can mark where the corner of the vehicle is. Don’t put them too close to the car because I have actually seen flares be pushed by the wind across pavement that was frozen If you have any doubts consult your state drivers handbook for the safety Recommendations they may use warning triangle or marker instead of the word flair. You can probably use the same guidelines though.
A pair of sunglasses really helps reduce fatigue on a long drive when the sun is reflecting off the snow.
reconreserve Also keeping your sunvisor down. Polarized sunglasses are the best ones. You know you’ve got polarized sunglasses on when you can see the patterns in the glass that the manufacturer installed on your vehicle. Polarize sunglasses don’t have to be that expensive though you can find them here and there just don’t get the ones from the cheap stores because they’re not Polarized
full gas tank is a very helpful piece of gear in winter.
this winter in russia (near orenburgh) there was an accident with a big group of cars that got stuck for 16 hours in snowstom. those people aren't used to low temperatures, orenburgh is one of the southernest parts of russia.
one man died - his car ran out of gas, he went out looking for a car that still had gas for heating, he lost the road and froze somewhere in the middle of a field.
and many people got frostbites while getting to the cars that still got gas.
Илья Медов, Very good point. I think in a couple years I may have to jump to a solar/electric car though.
The Air force made all troops keep a winter kit in their vehicles. SAC would even inspect them to aid our winter safety in the Rockies. Even near Portland; many Californians can't drive in bad weather and can muck-up traffic and you may get stranded overnight. But rehearsal is everything!
I live pretty far north, good kit I would just include some type of heat source.. Also a real blanket.. It just depends on your temps.. We are far below zero for a good portion of the winter, exp at night.. We have disused it a few times and realized that most of the time we aren't adequately dressed.. 20 below isn't something a normal coat can protect against.. So we pack heavy and bring a small propane heater as well.. Always be prepared..!! Love your videos.. thanks..
AVanilla Gorilla definitely bring blankets. Extra blankets as well. One thing I learned when we got stuck once was that if you wrap a blanket around yourself that’s a good thing but if you’re able to somehow put a blanket up in your window it actually insulates the windows from the cold getting into the car. Cold is going to get into the car no matter what if you’re stuck somewhere especially if it’s windy and below freezing. The blankets act as a shield or a barrier to keep the heat that’s in the car from going out through the windows. That glass is ice cold when you touch it with your hands. The Doors at least have a space between the outside and the inside although that’s not much protection either. Cars aren’t meant to really be shelters against the elements but that’s what they end up being in an emergency. I don’t ever recommend anybody get out of your car unless they absolutely have to. I also recommend that you park your car not right in the middle of the road but not down in any kind of depressed or low lying area either. Snow can build up very quickly around the side of your car if it’s drifting. I’d say two Tires on the pavement and two tires on the shoulder. I also don’t recommend that you put your hazards on for very long. You don’t want to run your battery completely down unless that’s what’s already happened. Flares are a good idea and some people even carry a wind sock or a flag on one of those flexible fiberglass poles that I can attach to the car so that people can see the car with the flag waving above it
extra fluids for your vehicle, washer fluid, oil, anti-freeze, driving in heavy snow can be taxing on your vehicle
Sootch, I live in the Atlanta area and was stuck in the gridlock for hours. Although I didn't have to abandon my vehicle, I was prepared to do so. I actually got started with being prepared about a year ago after seeing a few of your videos. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into teaching others how to be sensible about their prepping!
Great video.I use a large 40 mm ammo can in both of my vehicles.Kind of heavy but lots of room and I am not going to be taking it with me.I also carry a medium size bag of extra clothes , either summer or winter.A versa shelter based on Wilderness survival site. I can carry this with my get home bag if I have to abandon my vehicle.Some other useful tools.Alcohol stove, With extra fuel.Head lamp.Pioneer kit with Axe, shovel, machete,20 inch bow saw, crow bar, toll kit,etc.Case of bottled water.Cell phone charger.Stay safe my friends.
Good items to have. I hadn't thought to add a flare gun. I do recommend that you add a tow strap, or maybe even a recovery strap. I did a video a couple weeks ago. With snow, you never know when you may find yourself off the road.
I am one of those Up in Canada Preppers & in my Jeep I have flares, a Blaze Orange Nylon sheet about 12"Wx80"L places in drivers window & run across to pass window so it sticks outside booth door window. I also have Rothco emergency tarp like you have, three 3" Soya candles (Non Toxic) wool hat, gloves, socks & blanket. Food (Can of SPAM & Sardines) water 1 gallon. for 72 hrs. & a UCO Lantern from LLBean which hangs from roll bar. Even in a 4X4 its no match for 10' snow drifts.
The best equipment for an emergency vehicle is a well maintained vehicle with as much common sense as can be added one you get into the driver's seat. Certainly you can't predict everything and your video is very helpful for those unpredictable moments, but the rule of thumb should be - NEVER put yourself in a situation that has a high risk of turning into a survival situation. Don't drive around parts of your home town with a high concentration of crack dens and such. Don't escalate a fight because you have a gun your adversary doesn't know about, don't eat your wife's last few Oreos when you know full well she's in the middle of that thing our wives deal with every month. Common sense saves lives ten thousands times better and easier than any survival skills or gear ever can.
A poorly maintained vehicle isn't an accident. It's negligence. Money is an issue for some, and I am sincerely sorry if that's the situation. For the most part, however, faulty cars are a result of faulty ownership. Get them fixed. Don't try to climb a mountain road in a Prius during a snowstorm. Actually, better yet, don't ever drive a Prius. Take care...
Thanks for all you do. I live in New England and recently drove to Utah and back via MN, ND, WY, MT and ID. IT was -16 in Fargo. In Medicine Bow the skies were blue and the sun was shining but we were in white out conditions for 45 min. due to 50 mph winds and blowing snow. On the way home it snowed from Illinois to NY. When the sun came out again there was black ice everywhere. If you live or travel up north you need to be prepared for an unexpected multi-day back-country winter camping trip. Extra warm clothes (fleece, wool, synthetics, gore-tex), waterproof pants, etc. wool blankets, winter sleeping bags (-20 or better), MORE food, water, msr pocket rocket stove or similar (your water will freeze). Bring extra ammo in case you are lucky enough to find a less than desirable hotel. During blizzards there is often "no room at the inn". Inexpensive motels are often frequented by addicts and other desperate people. (But for the grace of God go I) Never let your gas tank fall below 1/2. Bring cash in case the power is out. There were dozens of wrecks, jack knifed tractor trailers, abandoned cars, 4X4s and even a downed helicopter. Police, fire, etc may be to busy to come to your rescue. Think like a boy scout.
All good ideas for keeping in your vehicle in the winter. I would add one thing that I like to keep in each of my vehicles. I keep a bottle of Windshield Washer Fluid in my truck bed and trunk of SUV. I mix it 50/50 with water to make it last longer and unless it gets sub zero degrees it does not freeze up on me. Living in New England we see several snow storms a season. With each storm more and more sand/salt get layered on the roads to melt Ice (a good thing in my opinion). This causes a lot a dirty spray on windshields. I regularly use my wipers/washer fluid to clear the windshield otherwise dangerous conditions can occur when you can't see the road. I have ran out of windshield washer fluid on the road before, had to pull over and try to wipe windshield with snow. It worked but it took a few stops before I could get to Walmart for fluid.
I would add a shank or so of paracord with that kit in case you do have to use that tarp as a shelter of some sort. Having a couple of flashlights as well. Great review. Thx for sharing Sootch.
Stay safe and take care.
A piece of rope to put on the glowstick and swing around for much more effective signaling would be very helpful
Bart Van Riel that’s why you always carry para cord. And alternative would be taking one of the laces out of your boots if you’re wearing boots. If it’s winter and snowy you should be wearing boots. You can tie a knot on the end of the boot laces and usually they’ll be at least 3 feet long. Can you swing them around and you can do that. I wouldn’t recommend getting outside your car and swinging a glow stick around though unless the wind in the snow have stopped or calm down depends on where you live. You also could be hit by another car traveling on the road. Better off having some flyers or toad triangle signals in your car.
Myself being in Iowa, Weather hear can go to crap in 3 hours time. So we carry some blankets, water, snacks, small throw pillows, so if we are stuck overnight we can stay warm.
I keep the following in my truck year around.
sun glasses, flashlight, multiple pairs of gloves (cotton, leather & extrication), basic tool kit (including spare fuses), three 30 minute road flares, chemlights, hatchet, jumper cables, hi vis jacket (vol. fire & EMS), 4 way lug wrench, fire starters, med bag, 20 ft tow chain, and 2" and 2 5/8" receiver hitch.
During the winter I add.
studded snow tires, 5 gal bucket of ice melt, shovel, hand warmers and ice scrapper.
I prefer the chemlights or flashlight vs a candle because the candle will produce C02.
Also, in my mind a ice scrapper should have a longer handle for better reach across the windshield (at least with my big truck). Having one with a brush is also nice so you don't get your hands wet scraping off the snow. I also keep road flares in my truck instead of a flare gun because in a bad snow storm arial flares won't be visible from very far anyway. Road flares have the advantage of being much longer lasting and can be placed on the road to alert other drives which can help keep you from being rear ended wether you slide off the road into a snow bank or are just changing a tire.
Hope this helps!
thanks for your videos, during this last ice storm we had in florida, your information can in handy and everyone was ready, thanks again.
As a survivalist all you really need in your vehicle is a zero degree sleeping bag, food, and water. A tiny stove to melt ice or snow could save your life. If you are prepared with enough food and can get clean water you can last a long time. Obviously, like you said, that is assuming you are sensibly dressed. I survive in the Olympic Mountains and I face this on a regular basis.
I'm from North Dakota. Winter here generally lasts from November-March, though it can vary greatly by year, for example, its February and this year its really nice and warm outside. From February to April I keep a heavy coat and snowpants in the back of my car., along with the shovel.
A colasable portable snow shovel. They can be found at super markets like Walmart made of plastic or aluminum. The folding NATO shovel is great for breaking ice and moving dirt or gravel, but you really need a snow shovel to move quantities of snow
In the UK you can get cheap snow/mud escape tracks that are nice and packable at about 18" long very good to get you moving again just rember to tie them to the back of your car so you don't have to stop till you have better ground
Something you may consider adding is a long tow strap. I keep one in my truck in case I need to pull someone back onto the road, or out of the snow. And if I get stuck, I've got one so another truck can pull me out. They're pretty cheap and I've already used it a few times.
I carry with me everything you said on the video plus more, being stuck before on bad snow storms on highways cause big trailers or down trees, I learned the hard way good pair of winter boots and shovel come along way to keep the muffler clear of snow especially in those 2 feet snow accumulation storms and extra snacks stay warm.
a bucket of kitty litter also helps when you don't have any traction in the snow. Toss a couple handfuls under the tires and it grips like crazy
Ian Brazier I've even used fresh snow as traction on packed snow. Kinda hilarious but it worked.
I just evolve my BOB as the season changes. And you aren't kidding, here in MI there is always people in the ditch and times when you certainly could have a disabled vehicle. Thanks for sharing ;)-
Yeah Down here South Carolina. We had a decent winter back in 2014-2014 specially Jan - Feb
I live in eastern Canada and do get hit with northern frigid air and noreasters so on my day long trips I always carry my emergency kit. Not going to name the contents since many of it is already said in other's comments but I always carry my jumper cables, a portable battery booster in case no one is around to help me, a winter shovel, a rainsuit to fit over my clothing in case of freezing rain. Stay safe everyone.
Another thing to have on hand is jumper cables. A small spray can of lock de-icer from an automotive store helps. Keep a can inside your warm house also. Avoid the situation if possible. You should check weather conditions and current watches/warnings on your travel route. My EDC bag is never without a small portable NOAA weather radio. IMO If you get stranded in snow, you either have ignored the warnings not to drive or you haven't prepared by keeping tabs on the weather. Essential for any prepper.
I like to keep my car kit in a backpack alongside my get home bag. That way if there's someone else in the car with me, they can use that pack and take some stuff from the car kit that's too big/heavy for my get home bag, such as a stove or the extra water. Alternatively, if I have my edc pack we can do the same thing with that.
I live in Kansas so the cold is somethingi have to deal with. My best advice is dress in layers. A shirt+ heavy sweater+ heavy coat= sweat. You don't want sweat in the cold. Layers enables you to remove an article of clothing if you stay to sweat. They also make foot and toe warmers that are quite handy. I carry/use a military style, insulated baklava and it's great. Sun off the snow can cause temporary blindness for up to 72 hours so sunglasses are important. Got any questions? Don't be afraid to ask.
Sootch, great video sir. A couple items that I carry that you didn't mention are a US Army green wool blanket and I also have a small multi-use hatchet (blade, hammer, prybar combo) that I keep next to my seat.
I live in the lower parts of SC and I still get nights down to the 20's. In my truck and car we keep a fire kit and small bit of wood that is dry.. I keep it in tho's spaces bags and long as with a few covers on top of the tarps.. Thanks brother God Bless.
Another great item I keep as part of a fire kit is the smaller firestarting logs they are very cheap and come in a small brick I break them up and use them in smaller peices. They have them at most dollar stores and esp walmarts and k Marts and grocery stores.
That overpriced Al Gore book could be used for emergency toilet paper
Good video. Being here in the south, the ice storms are the killers. I keep the basic and add for winter or summer.
I used to have a couple of bags of rock salt and kitty litter in the back of my truck for additional traction and to melt snow and ice. I always had a sleeping bag in the cab for when I did get stuck and had to wait out the night for a snow plow.
In 1 of out door magazines. It said have an orange hunting vest with you in the car. So can put on the outside of the car. When you get stranded. Also the orange triangles are a good idea. Wool blanket in the car. Along with a bivy sack.
If your in Canada like me. Other then candles, flashlight and matches. Your probably going to need a spare winter jacket because were not always wearing the right clothes. and definitely some big winter boots, if u need to walk for w.e reason and theres even a couple inches of snow on the ground shoes our even hiking boots will be useless. ur feet will get cold and or wet very fast and you'll be screwed. I leave my winter boots in the trunk and a winter jacket, and on top of that I have my standard car kit.
The best ice scrapers are about 18"-24" long. Make sure it's solid too, no swiveling or collapsing. Minnesota ice will chew through those little hand held ones before the windows are clear.
Otherwise great info!
A shamagh is a good thing to keep handy. Can be used in place of or in conjunction with the hat and neck/face warmer. Plus you can carry tons of stuff in it.
Sensible prepping - just as advertised!
The modular preparedness mentality is such a pragmatic one! i have a core G.O.O.D. bag that will offer *some* essentials for all seasons, but stored right next to it, i have some Winter gloves, a balaclava, extra food and water, tomahawk, machete, gps, - a bunch of other options for situation specific or seasonal predicaments.
The closest thing i would offer to constructed criticism would be if it's a car prep kit, i would prefer a larger (&snow) shovel.
I like the volleyball player idea, but the rest is good too. I think you pretty much coved it all, maybe a come-a-long would be nice, incase you get stuck in the ditch, happens all the time up here in MI
Kroeger & Co. sells the Space Blanket type tarps for around $20.00
In OR & WA, that's Fred Meyer. Wal Mart MAY have them as well.
oddly for winter gloves my old mill surplus gloves like you have in the video has been one of the best pairs i've had. they arnt as warm but your fingers can move easier. if i am not using my hands for something that i need the movement with there staying in my pockets.
coming to check vs what is in my car for Dec 2021. In winter I usually carry snow shovel, scraper, chain or tow strap, jumper cables, salt, sand space blanket and regular blanket. Quit smoking, so should add lighter, tinder and smoke generator for worst case.
I would add a couple of wool blankets and some chocolate
Castin North I carry energy bars protein bars and fleece blankets. I learned the hard way not to carry chocolate because it melts and then it gets all nasty and stuff. Something that people used to remember back in the health food 70s days was a thing called carob some people call it Saint Johns bread. It doesn’t melt as quickly as regular chocolate and it’s still nutritious and gives you some calories. Also little games and puzzles and things for kids to do if you have kids it keeps their mind off the scariness of their situation for a little while at a time.
That picture at the end of that global warming book for $1 and said "overpriced" was hilarious.
Maine here. We get 7 foot snowstorms and no one is stranded. Wish we were sometimes, it is ridiculous for people to have to go to work in storms like that in whiteout conditions. Here we have this mentality that people can still get plowed out so there's no reason not to get out and go anyway, despite emergency warnings and blizzards.
You forgot one thing you should always pack protein bars
LOVED your comment at the end regarding the Fur coat- My wife is Swedish, lol!
I would personally add a jacket of some sort. Something that can hold you warm either during resting or working. Now, I assume you have a jacket, but maybe someone else hasn't. I got one in mine as well as all the items you have listed except for the flare gun since that is hard to get here....
Excellent and timely! Thanks!
Thank you for showing a better look of the fleece lined bandana , just watched your bandana uses video and u had what i was lookin for a winter bandana and i seen that same one for 10 bucks on ebay , all of my bandanas dont cut it for the tennessee winters .
Hello, can you tell me name of item at 3:30? I can't Google where to buy such nice one with Velcro. Thanks in advance
You might wanna consider adding a saw to the winterpack. It might come in very handy. To build a shelter or to move big amounts of snow. It's way faster then a shovel.
God Bless
3640Timm have you ever tried kitty litter to aid vehicle traction? Never heard of this before, would be preferable to hassle of snow chains, when you know you'll have to take them off again in a few minutes.
I live in a northern area. One thing that is nice is half bottles of water. When they freeze they don't burst . I like my swede's coatless
Glad I live in Florida. But I still have a survival bag in my car at all times :)
Great info. I have a walmart kit that I keep in my vehicle but will be adding some of these items as well.
To thejoshbtv: Good point! Keeping your skin covered in an icy wind is really important. In winter, I keep snow gear in the trunk which includes ski goggles, a face mask, and a warm headcover along with insulated boots, bib, and parka.. I don't have snowshoes so I keep close to main roads and highways when winter traveling conditions are really bad.
cwes41 When I lived overseas in Europe they have these great little things that you could strap on to your shoes or boots. They were basically ice cleats. They came in different sizes and designs. One company that made them was called Moose tracks I believe or yak tracks I can’t remember. I got the cheap version of them at a store called Aldi and they were a lifesaver more than once. They basically are a crisscross of rubber straps that come together to form a grid that looks like a sandal and they have built-in metal studs on the bottom. They’re not really sharp they’re kind of blunt like little nipple shapes but they will still grip ice really well. The best winter boots that you have will help you get through snow and a little bit of ice but they don’t have a whole lot of traction on sheet ice. Most of the accidents that I have seen are usually not because of the snow there because of slush and ice or because people are driving too fast for conditions. You can strap those suckers onto any boot or shoe because they are rubber they are elastic and will fit around the front and back of them. They give you enough grip to walk on ice and frozen slush. I still have them after 12 years and I make sure I keep the rubber in good condition. I keep looking for them here and there and it’s funny you can’t really find them in the states that much. The ones you do find our way overpriced. These only costed me the equivalent of about $12
I'm lucky; I wake up when my feet are cold. When I'd travel through sleet and snow going from LA up through the Oregon Cascades, I'd take extra heavy blankets and a big pillow and other cold weather gear. When waiting out a snowstorm, I'd pull into a rest stop. I'd warm up the car, get in the back and get cozy under the blanket with the motor off (I fear carbon monoxide). I'd leave my stocking feet outside the blanket so that they would get cold and wake me up later. Then I'd warm up the car again and repeat the cycle until I could leave. Oh, I also had a plastic snow shovel to clear a starting path in front of the vehicle. By keeping the interior warm, my drinking water didn't freeze.
Very nice list! Makes a person think about possible gaps in their personal gear. Thanks!
If you live in an area with a lot of snow you may want to have a real snowshowel, a good arctic sleepingbag, a bag of sand (for traction If you get stuck), snowchains and an alochohol stove to.
Yeah I just got back from Idaho, You can travel on route 22 going North East and not see a car for hours during the day!!!!!!! And talk about FEET of snow, wow!!!
That Carolina Power and Light ice scraper is old ! I got one those from the nuclear plant I work at back in the day. Its Duke Energy now. LOL. Great Kit !! Thanks for sharing.
I found it in an old Barn. Still works great : ) Thanks Brother
Put some Hot Cans or Mountain House Meals in the pack too - Vital !!!
EffyJnr™ those are good but self-feeding meals are better because you don’t necessarily want to be boiling water over an open flame inside your car do you? It’s better to try to stay in the vehicle unless it’s more dangerous to stay in there than to get out. They have these weird little things that are like self heating cans of stew or stuff eating hot chocolate drinks etc. they don’t really get all that hot but they are very very warm and that’s better than being freezing cold. Also lots and lots of hot hands packets.
Also the paint can heater/stove. cheap easy and it works. search it on here if you dont know about it. its worth the time
Sootch, you should check out the blizzard bivi. It's like the sol emergency bivi on steroids. I have one in all of my bug out bags.
A bag of kitty litter also, it will help with traction if stuck.
USnerDoc has a great car heater vid, made up of a roll of tp, paint can, and some isopropy alcohol
Lets see about this year here in SC
its hypothermia when your body temp. drops below a homeostatic level, not hyperthermia which is when it raises above this level.
You guys with the water in freezing temps, everytime I've left water bottles in my truck by accident they've frozen and/or exploded. Wouldn't it seem easier to keep a cup and just melt the snow in it?
Tow straps change of clothes and a pot. Put a candle in the pot and it's like a mini heater
Sensible prepper some other kits you can make are 1$ store survival kit and. A summer kit
About time you do some preparedness vids Sootch!!
Will you get my vote for the Swedish female volleyball player in the for coat :-) that’ll keep you warm on the coldest night. Seriously though two or three items I noticed that you didn’t mention. I have personally had experience with this situation. I had the worst case scenario which was I had very little if any supplies in the back of a Volkswagen Passat and I was driving my two young children one of whom was just a toddler back from the day care to the house because my wife was working late so I picked them up first. It was wintry conditions it was snowing and there was already snow and ice on the roads. A little low lady who had absolutely no business whatsoever being on the road pulled out of her driveway in her car in front of me and I had no alternative but to apply the brakes and skidded off the road into a ditch. So the bottom line was I didn’t have anything to get myself out of that situation I tried calling my wife and couldn’t reach her I was a couple of miles away from the nearest town and a little low lady was totally oblivious and wet dodging and weaving down the road I’m sure she caught somebody else to go off the road too. That’s another thing I should mention here is if you don’t have to go out please don’t. You’re providing a hazard for other people to navigate around. Stay off the roads unless you have to. I see some of these good old boys go out in hurricane weather when they don’t need to. Are used to drive for a living and I had to go out even if I didn’t want to. I left that job. Three things I always carry with me one of them is water. No matter where you go no matter what time of year it is Carrie bottled water or water in a canteen or some kind of container at least. In fact if you carry it in a thicker walled bottle such as an insulated steel or aluminum bottle or a plastic military issue canteen it will not actually freeze. Regular bottled water will freeze in your car during wintry conditions. If it’s below freezing outside. Second thing is a tow rope or tow strap. If you go off a ditch like me one of the things that I did not have was a tow rope or a tow strap. If you drive a substantial vehicle that is capable of it you can also help assist and rescue other people and get them out of the ditch or at least loan somebody a tow strap or a tow rope to be pulled out. The other thing is jumper cables or A car battery jumping device. Preferably charged up. You should always check it before you go out. I’ve had it turn out where folks got stranded in the middle of nowhere and asked me to jump off their batteries which I did. I would recommend getting heavy duty battery cables extra long. Make sure you’re not overdoing it and biting off more than you can chew and make sure that your own battery is in good shape before you do that. If you boost off enough people who have dead batteries it will take a toll on your own battery. Believe me I know. Other than that it’s common sense you pretty much covered all the bases there. I would suggest a different kind of shovel though are used to go backpacking a lot when I lived overseas And I carried a portable lightweight two handed snow shovel with me. You can literally dig your own self out of an avalanche or a snowfall as long as the avalanche is not a major one. It’s made out of a very resilient rubberized plastic and it looks like a great big Pringles potato chip. With handle holes on each side And it is great. It’s lightweight very durable you can hold it with your bare hands without gloves because it’s got rubberized grip’s and a hand holes. I always carry those little cheap gloves that are coded with nitrile that you can get at Lowe’s or Home Depot or just about anywhere now. Also a good thing to help keep your hands from getting wet is to wear these really tough gloves called venom steel. I believe they are nitrile and they are industrial strength. Other than a very sharp knife these things just don’t get punctured. If you wear those as a liner underneath your regular winter gloves just in case. That way if your other gloves get wet your hands don’t. You must protect your hands and your feet at all costs if you’re in snow especially if it is the wet yucky kind of snow. Dry powder isn’t a big deal the worst enemy you have there is wind. Are used to do a bit of wildlife photography outdoors and I can tell you from experience wind is not your friend. I have a little thing called a snood which is a similar thing to what you showed in the video it’s made of fleece and it basically is like a flat donut that goes around your neck it keeps the cold from getting through your clothing or around your collar and into your neck and insulate your neck against the wind and any moisture that gets in there. You can also pull it up or over your nose in the lower half of your face and up around the lower half of the back of your head. That way your winter hat and your snood cover pretty much everything except for a area around your eyes and above your nose. You can also wear another layer underneath that like an under layer. They sell those at Walmart As a brand name called Swiss
Thanks Sootch! Looking forward to the Female Swedish volleyball player review!
If you live up north I would add a blanket for each person just a moving blanket is better than nothing, but wool if you can afford it. Water and food, I keep a few gallons of water nothing fancy just you local store gallon of water I keep one per person so have 3. I throw a few MRE's into the bag cause you never know. Also a bag of salt and kitty litter, weird yes but you can salt down the exhaust pipe exit to keep snow from accumulating so you can keep the car running and warm, and kitty litter will get you out of a bind with black ice. Thick rope as well.
Hey sensible prepped can you do a review on the grabber brand emergency all weather space blanket? It is bigger than the other all weather space blanked but I'm am not sure if it is the same quality of the smaller one
I would add some tools just in case. In my vehicle I keep a spare fuel container, air compressor and jump box.
Sootch you rock brother,I always enjoy the vidz-CC
@redmudpei I totally agree with your comment I drive a jeep and I get sooooooooo pissed off when people ride my ass of fly by me in there suvs esp suburbans and bigger ones they think they can do whatever in 4 wheel drive it's rediculous
10# bag of gravel or kitty litter can help people get unstuck even in a urban area. Kinda a mini shtf day saver.
Great addition! Thanks~
Not the clay clumping kitty litter. Not me but someone who shares my last name tried it. Talk about making a bad thing worse! If you are carrying kitty litter for stuck in the ice/snow the cheaper the stuff is the better it works.
Don't forget comms, a CB radio / walkie talkie could come in handy if you are stranded, also, any old cell phone, even if it is not activated with an account, will still call 911. So I have my old cell phone with charger stashed in my car, just in case.
Hehe...=) Awesome video man... I have made a kit myselfe that i have in my car every winter for the past 2 years.
Never really thought about that in the before but our winters here in Sweden can bring the temp. down to -20 to -35 degree celcius sometimes so having that in mind i think everyone schould have a nice kit in the car..
Take care...
Bah, I keep getting the UA-cam "An error occurred, please try again later." message when the pages loads. HNNNGGGG
Is that an MTM watch your wearing?
Do people really get stranded for days often? Food is a good idea to get that internal furnace going
Food is a good idea.
Last year in NY hundreds of drivers were stranded for over 12 hours in their cars. www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/09/new-york-blizzard-new-england/1904215/
People nned to wake up and prepare for the worst. Lots of people ask me "do you think we are going to war or something?" Well in a year we have 30 below zero temps at least one flood and several tornados in this area so prepping has nothing to do with our poorly run government but lots to do with taking care of yourself and your family.
I live in Canada - people get stranded all the time in the snow/cold!
all of these items are great to have, if it is a *car kit* and it gets cold enough to kill you i would even venture as far as a sub zero sleeping bag that can double as a blanket- something 6 lb or more that stays in the trunk(can be expensive for quality) i personally keep a pair of insulated coveralls that i also use for work(and i have worked in -40 degrees celsius and lower with windchill) the best thing is i can wear them anywhere i go or sleep in them!! i also have a separate set of extreme cold neoprene boots that are waterproof and an axe.
if it snows and ices where you are a shovel and a small bag of sand or gravel can save your ass.
overall they are all useful items in a compact little kit you can carry- trunks are big though, use them.
+IanMShooter yeah where you live you need it but for us not that bad.Funny thing it gets about thrity degrees here we are all bundledb up oh one qestion how much snow do you get in a year
SGT SAM is
a fire kit is a bit redundant if your caught out on a Motorway (Freeway) good if you out in the sticks but as i said redundant if you caught on the majority of urban roadways in a off road vehicle yes its common sense, yes a tea light is a good idea but any open flame in an enclosed environment especially in a stranded vehicle situation can be extremely dangerous, a small portable space heater that plugs in to a 12 volt cigarette lighter would be a better idea www.ebay.com/itm/150W-12V-Car-Van-Boat-Ceramic-Fan-Heater-Defogger-Defroster-Demister-PORTABLE-/191018437229?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item2c79960a6d&vxp=mtr that with that emergency tarp used as a divider to close of unused space in the vehicle (the one in that link is looks to be the same size or near to it as your fire kit, this is just my take on a winter type stranded vehicle situation, i would love to hear you take on this,
Regards,
Ken.
where to get the money tube/pod?
Come On Sootch!!!! You forgot the cigars??? Those are essential!!!
Being in WNY i definately like your kit. I never thought of the flare option but i will definately look into it. Are there any you recommend? Like the Vid's btw..
ForeverGhostdoggg it looks good in theory but in practice you need to know what you’re doing with the flare gun. You need to know the right time to use it and you need to know what the wind conditions are like. If you’re in an area where there are Highwinds and low visibility a flare gun will do you no good whatsoever. Most of the time if I’m being completely honest, rescuers will not go out in really bad conditions to go find somebody they will hope that you have enough common sense to hunker down and stay alive for at least 24 hours until the worst of the conditions pass and they can come out and look for you. I had a friend a number of years ago who went and trained with the Rocky Mountain rescue team then he went back home and took those skills with him to North Georgia. He does mountain rescue and he is also a volunteer firefighter. And those are just his side jobs. He taught me a few things and he said don’t get out of your vehicle unless you have to. He recommended that if you’re on a road that you know somebody’s going to come along sooner or later to at least put out a couple of flyers so that they don’t hit you from behind and also put out one in front of your car from the other direction so that people know that somebody is there. Most people don’t think about it but also having a windsock or something that you could hang off your wing error or attached to your antenna as long as it won’t break it so that people can see you because it’s up higher. The thing about Flyers is they only work in certain conditions. Somebody needs to be in the area to see them and there are different flavors that go different heights depending on the gun and how much of a charge is in the flare. Do you want a flair to go as high as it possibly can. If you’re in the mountains or a wilderness area you need to fork over a little bit of dough And they’re going to run you at least $50 or more. The best ones I’ve seen are about $150 and up with the flyers. You can get refills on the flyers as well. That’s for serious lost in the frontier type situations. Mostly it’s about common sense and don’t get yourself into that situation. Don’t be traveling in an area that’s risky when you don’t need to be.
Yes and no on the body heat. Yes, it's true the levels of heat loss aren't as drastic as has been traditionally believed. No, it's not "any exposed part of the body loses heat." When you wrap your feet and your head to keep them warm, it functions more to keep warm blood circulating all over as well as the two most important parts of your anatomy that are needed for survival/rescue. Further, Our bodies are smart. They know how to prioritize. This translates into perspiration forming extensively all over the head of someone who is overheating due to exercise of whatever sort before it's as rampant over the rest of the body. That's because our brains don't tolerate a wide range of temps. Hence headaches and such when conditions are not optimal. There's even more to it, but I'm trying to keep it simple because anyone can google the science and find better qualified individuals than myself to explain the importance of head and foot coverage.
When I lived in Ohio, I use to have a some insulated bibs and winter boots in the vehicle all winter.
I know that ice scraper is old. CP&L...gotta be 20 years ago.
Why not throw in a surplus M-65 Field Jacket and a good blanket and put all of it including the ammo can and bag in something like an 8 gallon Rubbermaid Action Packer. Here is a like to the container.
www.amazon.com/Unknown-Action-Packer-8-Gallon/dp/B00AZYENNG/ref=pd_sim_hg_1