16 things every driver should carry in the trunk

When you’re driving in terrible weather, your odds of making it home could depend on how well you’re prepared.

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Grabber Space Blanket, $20 to $25

It's useful in the event of heat loss, and you can also stick it under your tires to gain traction when you're spinning your wheels in a snowbank.

Gerber E-Tool With Pick, $90

A regular shovel is too large to carry around all the time, so get a foldable one that can chop through the nastiest of frozen snow and muck. The E-Tool also has a sharp pick in the event that tree roots, rocks, or zombie snow wolves are what stand between you and the open road.

Light & Motion Gobe+ 700 Spot, $299

Consider the conditions in which you'll be using your flashlight: You want one that's waterproof, long-lasting, and bright as heck. This one even has an SOS mode.

Leatherman Wave, $100

Tim O'Neil, owner and president of Team O'Neil Rally School, puts it this way: "Everyone has a Wave, so sometimes I'll try to use a multitool from another company just to see what I think. Then the screwdriver bit will break off. That's why everyone has a Wave."

Thule Easy-Fit CU-9 Tire Chains, $400

The worst time to apply chains is right when you realize you need them. Get these easy-on versions and save your frozen hands. They snap over tires in 15 seconds apiece.

Powerflare PF-200 Safety Lights, $55 TO $68

If you got yourself into this mess, other drivers will get themselves into this mess as well. Keep yourself well-lit and out of their way.

VSSL First Aid Kit, $59

You probably keep a first-aid kit in your car already, but consider changing it out for this prefilled canister. It's got the usual bandages, antiseptics, and tweezers, along with rubber gloves, a backup flashlight, and a roll of medical tape you could use for repairs in a pinch.

A Few More Indispensable Supplies

• Ice Scraper
• Jumper Cables
• Windshield-Washer Fluid (Try Rain-X De-Icer Brand)
• Coolant
• Tow Strap
• Gorilla Tape
• Energy Bars
• Cat Litter or Sand
• Water

What to Do When Everything Goes Wrong

Poor-weather driving tips from Colin Moffatt, instructor at the 4x4 Center in South Burlington, Vermont.

If You're Hydroplaning

Ease off the throttle and keep the tires pointed where you want to go. It seems simple, but when the wheel stops responding, our natural reaction is to turn it further. Then, when the tires get traction again, the car gets jerked in that direction, which you don't want.

If You're Stuck in Mud

Let the wheels spin with the engine at 3,000 to 4,000 rpm to give your tires the best chance of digging in. Then "saw" the steering wheel: Quickly turn it back and forth about 90 degrees to the left and 90 degrees to the right. This allows the front tires to find purchase.

If You Can't See Through Your Windshield

The only good wiper blades are new wiper blades. Even the expensive ones go bad. So just put new, cheap ones on more often. Twice a year is good. If you don't have new blades on you, you can use really fine, wet sandpaper, like 400-grit, to remove the nicks in your old ones.

If You Really, Really Need to Stop

Trust your antilock braking system. Hold the brake pedal down as far as it will go. Remember, though, if you have to steer to avoid something, you'll have to come off the brakes a bit. If 100 percent of a tire's grip is being used for braking, it cannot also steer.

[Related: 100 Skills Every Man Should Know]

[Related video: Road to the Future: Airless tires]