Essential Gear for an Emergency Kit—for Cars or Go-Bags

That said, doesn’t everyone always have an emergency fund with two dozen extra packets of Maruchan ramen? I can’t be alone in this situation.

An excellent flashlight

Photography: Martin Cizmar

Olight

Arkfeld Pro Flashlight

Dare we suggest…the absolute best flashlight? The one you can drown in water – and then purify the water with its light?

A lantern

Courtesy of Coleman

Coleman

4D LED camping lantern

Flashlights are great for walking around. But to stay still, you need a lantern. There are, of course, plenty of fuel-based options, but a battery-powered Coleman Long-Life LED Lantern ($22) is a proven, no-frills option that promises 175 hours of life before needing to change batteries.

A first aid kit

You can, of course, purchase a ready-made emergency kit from the American Red Cross ($43), or one meant to stay in your car. Adventure Medical Kits also offers a more extravagant Mountain Series Explorer Medical Kit ($83).

But for the thrifty, check out this guide to building a better emergency kit yourself for less money.

Face masks

Courtesy of Honeywell

Honeywell

DF300 N95 Disposable Safety Respirator

Sometimes what worries us is illness. Sometimes it’s wildfire smoke. Or particles from God knows what else. But have you ever regretted having cute filtering masks lying around?

Digital document backups

According to Sury, the most important category that people tend to overlook when thinking about emergency preparedness is intangible assets. This can be as simple as having a family communications plan and predefined meeting points, so you know what to do if members of your family become separated. But it’s also important to have digital backups of key documents, Sury said, “anything that has high value and could potentially be damaged in a disaster.” This may include insurance documents, property and car titles, medical information such as prescription drug lists and instructions, physician contact information, and passport and state ID photographs.

You probably have access to some form of cloud storage. Check out WIRED’s guide to the best cloud storage services for every need and device type, and be sure to use a good password manager to secure all sensitive data. But especially if Internet access is not assured or if you prefer not to store certain documents on the cloud, another secure option is a portable external storage drive that can easily be slipped into a waterproof pouch. WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson recommends OWC’s Envoy Pro Elektron SSD ($179) as a portable storage drive that will withstand the elements and can get wet and travel with you anywhere. Or just store the essentials on a USB drive like WIRED’s top pick, the SanDisk Extreme Pro ($42).

A burner phone, a passport and a Faraday bag

Wait, does that sound dramatic? Well, maybe, but it’s better to be safe than to be sorry. Disasters take many forms, some of which are human-made. Here’s WIRED’s guide on how to get and set up a burner phone in a way that can’t be tracked. But to avoid trackers on phones, you’ll also need a Faraday bag to block tracking signals, like a SLNT Faraday bag from Silent Pocket. Real burner phones are not purchased online. But if all you need is a secure phone for crossing a border, what you really want is an affordable alternative phone, free of incriminating data: the Moto G Stylus 5G will meet your needs here.

Portable Power Banks

The world runs on electricity. The electricity network can be fragile. Lithium-ion power packs are the modern answer, but they’re a volatile technology, so you don’t want to resort to just the cheapest ones. Among larger-capacity portable power banks and power stations, WIRED testers have long recommended Jackery’s portable devices, ranging from the 8-pound, 288-watt-hour Model 300 that also includes solar options to a 62-pound monster with about seven times that capacity.

For your car: a starter

In addition to basic power banks, you’ll probably want to make sure you can jump out of your own car without needing (overwhelmed) emergency personnel. WIRED testers had great luck with the Noco and Gooloo devices.

A radio

Courtesy of Sony

Yes, a radio. You know that thing in your car that you sometimes plug your iPhone into? Either way, whatever is happening with the Internet or satellites, a radio is a good source of information in an emergency. Have one. The classic prepper tip is a crank radio. But for short-term emergencies, batteries are also useful.

Emergency phone apps downloaded

Courtesy of Rescu

Another thing people forget to do until the internet is already down? Download emergency phone apps. Since October 2025, FEMA has had an application. Your local city or state government probably also offers opt-in emergency push notifications: consider signing up. WIRED has also cataloged a number of other personal safety apps, including a subscription service called Rescu that can connect you directly to first responders.

Extra batteries

What battery-powered portable devices do you own? Have extra batteries for them.

A cooler and ice packs

Courtesy of Pelican

A cooler is of course useful for keeping food cold. But many medications also need to be temperature controlled, noted Sury, a disaster preparedness expert in Colombia. And so, if it’s a member of your family, a small cooler can also be emergency equipment, when combined with a block or two of ice from the freezer.

Games for children

Courtesy of Nintendo

This is another overlooked item that is recommended by everyone from emergency experts to anyone who has ever encountered a child. In stressful or prolonged situations, rely on distraction. It can be as simple as a puzzle book, a good construction kit, or the foresight when walking out the door to pick up the Nintendo Switch 2 and a small power bank like WIRED’s top pick, Nimble.

Medical and personal items

In addition to prescription medications, an over-the-counter pain reliever and antacid tablets are helpful additions to any emergency kit. The same goes for feminine hygiene products. The same goes for toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Disinfectants

An emergency is not the time to get a stomach illness or any other type of infection. “Anything that maintains hygiene is very important,” says Sury. “Especially if we don’t have running water, we just don’t want to get viruses, fecal or oral-borne bacterial infections.” And so hand sanitizers end up being…a big deal. The same goes for good old disinfectant wipes.

Nitrile gloves

Courtesy of Medpride

Med Pride

Powder-free nitrile gloves

The world is full of horrible things. And in certain types of emergencies, contaminants are a real concern. Nitrile gloves will help keep you from touching things you’d rather not touch and are cut and tear resistant. They are also essential in first aid situations.

An action plan for pets

Do you plan to leave Fido or Meowser behind when the rains come to clean these streets? Assuming not, perhaps keep a pet carrier with portable food and water dishes on hand. If you have horses? You will need to have a trailer and something that can tow it. If you have a pet boa constrictor, I don’t have any good advice. [I do have a pet boa constrictor, and I recommend putting it in a pillowcase. —Ed.]

Additional Useful Articles

A can opener, to open cans. A pair of scissors for all kinds of things. Duct tape and sheets to build temporary shelters or to protect against rain. A box of matches in a ziplock bag. A notepad and a pen. Unbreakable plates and cups, whether paper or metal.

Paper maps of your area

Yes, they still exist. Yes, that’s a good idea.

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