10 accessories to keep you safe and warm on a winter road trip

Photo Remy Penet / Unsplash

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. It’s generally sound advice, but especially so when taking a road trip in the unpredictable winter weather.

So before you jump into your car with just a jumper and an optimistic outlook you might want to consider the following ten items which could make your drive a little more comfortable and safer to boot.

Ice scraper

Since none of us carry cassette tapes or CDs in our cars any more we can’t use their cases to clear our icy windscreens and windows. A few quid on a decent ice scraper will make scraping the ice off much easier and with less risk of damaging your car.

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Touchscreen Gloves

Only if you have the luxury of a heated steering wheel should you skimp on a set of gloves. But these days your old woolly mittens will be of little use, so a pair that allows you to still operate the touch screen in your car or on your phone are an excellent idea.

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Indoor and outdoor shoes

Motoring in a pair of moon boots is best avoided, so pack a pair of suitable driving shoes alongside those designed for the great outdoors. You’ll never have to make a journey in soggy socks again.

Battery Booster

The cold weather can take its toll on car electrics so a fully-charged booster pack is wise investment. Most offer USB charging points, some come with built-in tyre inflators and you can even get special batteries that can extend the range of electric vehicles in an emergency.

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Snow chains or socks

Unless you live in a country where switching to winter tyres is mandatory then you’re going to struggle in the white stuff. Snow chains are the traditional way of getting extra grip, but there are new options including socks, clips and even sprays that could keep you moving.

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Heated car blanket

If your travelling companions complain of the cold then a heated blanket could keep them quiet. Directly heating the body rather than the air is a more effective way of warming but will use your 12v socket and could sap your battery.

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Heated travel mug

Keeping your tea or coffee up to temperature might be just the ticket to staying warm and alert, so a heated mug might be worth considering. Or if you like to brew on the go you could even pick up a car kettle or coffee maker.

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12 volt heater

Older car owners might find that their heating systems aren’t quite up to the job of clearing a fogged up windscreen, but a small 12-volt heater should be able to the job. They’re not normally designed to be run for long periods but could be handy until the engine fully warms up.

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First aid and tool kits

Honestly you should have these in your car whatever the weather, but if winter is the excuse you need to stow a first kit and tool kit within easy reach then so be it.

Sunglasses

The low winter sun can be blinding and the glare off snow positively disorientating so a good pair of polarising sunglasses are a must.

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