Look, we get it. It's 2022: you carry a smartphone with you at all times, and you have both an AAA membership andthe app. In most situations, that will be the most important tool in your arsenal in getting you out of whatever roadside jam you find yourself in.
But it's always a good idea to have a backup plan — especially if you're planning a long highway drive, leaving the pavement, encounter inclement weather frequently or don't want to entrust matters to your not-so-reliable cell service provider. In other words, you should have a roadside emergency kit.
In a perfect world, money wouldn't be an issue, and you'd have ample time to research the best jumper cables, best portable jump starter, best tire repair kit, best portable air compressor, best portable shovel and so forth to build out your own optimal roadside emergency kit. But most of us, well, have other things to do — so the best option for most people is a simple pre-assembled roadside assistance kit that you toss in the trunk and hope you never need.
What do you need for a roadside emergency kit? It depends on your circumstances. Everyone will want basic tools for repairing tires, jump-starting a dead battery and alerting other cars to your presence, particularly at night. If you live somewhere like Vermont or Minnesota, you probably want to pack an extra shovel and winter gear for the cooler months. And if you're going overlanding, you may want a more robust first aid kit than can transition from a car to the campsite.
Here's a look at some of the best roadside emergency kits you can buy.
Lifeline is the exclusive manufacturer of AAA-branded kits. This is their top-of-the-line 76-piece kit, which includes both medical and roadside essentials, as well as a portable air compressor.
First Secure's 90-piece roadside assistance kit focuses on providing high quality, essential tools for roadside emergencies. It includes both an air compressor and a tire repair kit.
This isn't the most compact option, but Swiss Safe's 2-in-1 sets you up with a solid basic toolset with jumper cables and a premium 348-piece first aid kit for less than $50.
If you're set on road accessories and need a first aid kit, Huckberry's is neat, portable, employs single-use packaging to keep everything sterile and contains all the things you hopefully never need.
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