I hope this is the right forum for this. I found this article very interesting. I plan to use most of it and change some just for personal taste reasons.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago104.html

I think the kit is very well thought out.

David

 

As a backpacker I usually have some of these supplies around anyway. If you don't mind spending more than 25 dollars you can go to local REI and get better stuff, also more compact. As for the people mentioned in the article getting stuck in winter in thier cars. Most happen because of thier own stupidity. A little common sense and a look at the weather channel will keep you safer.

 

The thing I noticed as NOT mentioned was a method of keeping warm, and eliminating waste... in winter I keep a small mummy bag in the car, along with a small bucket (laugh if you will), a couple Powerbars and a couple bottles of water. Where I travel it'd take quite a lot to be stranded for more than 24 hours... but I do know people who've been stranded on interstates in metro NJ for 24 hours in ice storms - people who DO know how to drive, DO have snow tires, but are stuck in a bottleneck of pure ice and traffic - with nowhere to go. A sleeping bag, couple bottles of water and a Powerbar or two would certainly take the edge off.

I mainly agree with Jabel2r though, advance planning and preparation can make all the difference - and if I'm on a longer trip, I'm going to have luggage with me anyway (extra clothing for layering, toothbrush, etc.).

 

Conversely, Becky and I will be going to visit her folks in Nevada at the end of August, so the weather extreme will be on the opposite end of the scale: Extreme heat. So we take plenty of water, some heat proof snacks, and the car cover can double as a shelter. Plus the usual stuff like a first aid kit, etc.