Being prepared while traveling and out on the road can give women increased confidence and freedom to explore the outdoors. Eliminate excuses and worries about going the extra mile knowing that your vehicle is packed with essential items that you might need as conditions change. The recommended items on this list for women to keep in their car are for security, safety, survival, and creature comfort.
How many of these recommended items do you have in your car? What will you be adding? Let us know, and share what you keep in your vehicle in the comments.
Sunglasses
Outdoorswomen spend a lot of time in the elements including the bright sun - protecting your vision from harmful UV rays is a must. Sometimes the sun unexpectedly pops out on an overcast day or the lighting of the sun behind the clouds projects a glare. Be prepared and stash an extra pair of sunglasses in your car.
Keep at least one pair in the car that you don't bring into your home where they could get left behind. Polarized sunglasses with good coverage help protect your vision long-term so that you can continue enjoying the outdoors activities that you love.
Flashlight and headlamp
When you're traveling through the mountains or through rural locations, it's always best to be prepared for the dark by keeping a flashlight and headlamp in your vehicle. You never know when you'll be out at night with a car problem.
Keep a flashlight and headlamp in your car to address any issues you might experience while traveling at night. Headlamps make it convenient to have your hands free while a flashlight might be needed to point at something.
Sunscreen
You can never have enough sunscreen -- it's one of the most common things people forget to pack or run out of when exploring the outdoors, especially when we're going through so much of it during the sunny summer months.
Keep sunblock for your face and body in your car so you never run out. Having sunblock to share with friends and others in the parking lot will also score you social points.
Spare tire and car jack
Having a spare tire on hand will greatly reduce the stress of getting a flat tire. Being able to temporary replace the flat tire with your spare will get you off the road and safely to a shop for repair.
Always make sure that you have a spare tire in your vehicle. Double check it's there, especially if you bought your vehicle used, and make sure that the car tire is properly inflated. Be sure to have a car jack and crank which is typically included with the vehicle. The car jack may be specific for your car - make sure that you have the right one.
One gallon of water
Keeping a gallon of water in your vehicle is always a good idea. You'll have easy access to water to refill your Hydroflask after you drank more water than expected on a long hike. Having more water on hand will encourage you to drink more throughout your day on the slopes or at the beach, keeping you hydrated and energized.
Be prepared to get stuck in bad weather during the winter with a gallon of water on hand. Also for those who love the beach, keep a gallon of water for rinsing off sandy feet and rinsing salty hair.
First aid kit
It's important for everyone to carry a first aid kit, and especially true for active women who love exploring the outdoors.
You'll never know when you'll need a small fix like a Band-Aid or wrap, or a bigger one like a splint for a bone fracture. Purchase a first aid kit with everything you need and keep it stocked and ready in your car.
Combination lock box
Taking electronics or irreplaceable items out on the water is not advised. Surfers, kayakers, and stand-up paddleboarders can use lock boxes to keep their car keys safely locked on-shore. Use a combo code to access your key.
A lock box for your car keys is also helpful if you're out with a buddy who might head back to the car before you. Share the combo to access the key to the car, and they can lock up and leave it for you when they're done.
Battery pack phone charger
Sometimes we don't have the option of keeping our cell phone fully charged. Life can keep us moving longer than our phone battery allows, which is why you should always keep a fully-charged battery pack in your car to recharge your phone when you need it most. Having one is especially valuable when you use your phone to track your long hikes on an app.
Hat
Sun lovers, don't forget your hat! Keep a hat in your vehicle for the days when the sun pops out unexpectedly and you're not ready to go home.
Having items like a hat in your car allows for more spontaneity. Go on long walks, opt for lunch outside and stay outside a little longer knowing that you have everything you need with you.
Winter gloves
Whenever you're traveling through winter conditions, expect and be prepared to have to get out of the vehicle and and face the weather-- bring gloves!. Storms can move in quickly in the mountains in the winter, and sometimes we have to hop out of our warm vehicles and face the snowstorm to put on chains when we least expected it.
Wearing gloves will protect your hands if you end up putting on chains, moving rocks out of the road or help dig out the car from the snow. Keep a pair of gloves in your vehicle just in case.
Tire cable chains for driving in the snow
Even AWD and 4X4 vehicles are sometimes required to carry and install tire chains in extreme winter weather conditions. During the winter months be sure to carry tire cable chains with you for driving in the snow.
Check your vehicle's tires inscribed on the side for their size, then visit an auto shop or order tire cable chains online that fit your car properly. Tensioners make the task easier!
Sleeping bag or solar blanket
Adventurous women naturally find themselves in risk-taking situations. Sometimes that looks like being stranded in your vehicle on the side of the road during a fast-moving snow storm. Car trouble anywhere can unexpectedly lead to spending a night sleeping in the backseat.
To be prepared for times like these, keeping a sleeping bag and solar blanket in your vehicle. Knowing you have what you need to keep you warm will help put your mind at ease and can you help you make a safer decision to pull over and wait it out.
Collapsible chair
Life is meant to be enjoyed, and whenever you have the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the scenery, take it! Keeping a collapsible chair in your car can encourage you to sit back and take in the scenery after a long hike, or take a break to enjoy your sandwich before hopping back in the car.
Having a chair is always a good idea when you're exploring an area with wet ground that you wouldn't want to sit on during a lunch break. Bring a spare chair to offer a friend or socialize with new ones you meet in the parking lots of ski resorts and beach parks.
Beach towel
It's easy to love the water, but the sand...not so much. Once sand gets in your car it seems nearly impossible to get out. Keeping a beach towel in your car can help reduce the mess and help you shake off the beach bum aesthetic before dipping into a cafe.
It's also handy to keep a towel in your vehicle to wipe down skis and snowboards before putting them in bags to prevent the edges from rusting.
Lip balm
Women who love the outdoors know the battle of keeping your lips protected and moisturized. Our lips chap and sunburn just like the rest of our skin. I don't know about you but forgetting my lip balm can ruin my day!
Keep a stick of lip balm in your car out of the sun where it won't melt. Consider keeping one lip balm with sunblock and another lip balm for moisturizing.
Book
Sometimes you may find yourself not wanting to go back home or hit the road quite yet when you're parked in a beautiful location like a state park.
Keep a book in your car to pull out when you want to spend a little extra time out in nature, or for when you discover a local cafe with the best ambiance for reading.
Bungees
You might not have an idea for how you'll use a bungee when you put it in your car, but trust me, you'll need it at some point.
Bungees are a hack item that can help you secure gear, loop through your trucker hats to hang them in your car, or tie a trash bag to a picnic table or tree while camping. Bungees don't take up much space and they can come in handy!
Face wipes
The drive home from our favorite outdoor activities like hiking, biking and surfing can be a hot and sticky one. Refresh your face and wipe away the dirt, oil, and sunblock with face wipes.
Keep a packet of face wipes in your glove box or stashed somewhere else in your car to grab when you get back to your car. Face wipes are an essential hygiene product for women who enjoy outdoor activities.
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