Since traditional travel has been a no-go for most Americans since the spring, 2020 has been a year of road-tripping and RV’ing unlike any other. You might be the kind of traveler who can hop in the car with zero planning and go where the wind takes you. But, if you’re not — or even if you are — a little pre-trip preparation goes a long way. Let’s round up our favorite must-have gadgets and tools for traveling comfortably and safely on your next winter road trip.
Sierra Designs Borrego Hybrid Jacket
Staying warm is important when road-tripping in winter. Having a cold-weather kit in your car — with essentials like a first aid kit, extra food and water, and a camp quilt — all the time is smart. We love the idea of keeping an extra layer in the back too. The new Borrego Hybrid Jacket from Sierra Designs is a perfect solution. The Primaloft Eco Silver insulated core is guaranteed to keep you warm, while four-way stretch panels allow you to move freely during the most active pursuits. Plus, it packs down extremely small and weighs just eight ounces, so you can tuck it in your car and practically forget it’s there until you need it.
weBoost Drive Reach Cell Phone Signal Booster
For camping or road trips far off the beaten path, we’re all about “the less technology, the better.” But, having a reliable source of communication — even if only for emergencies — is critical. The problem is, escaping too far from civilization means you may be out of luck when you need to call for help. The Drive Reach by weBoost is a simple device that boosts the signal from the cell towers nearest you. So, you can make calls from almost anywhere, even in remote areas. It’s dead-simple to install in any vehicle, even for non-DIYers. Plus, it supports multiple users and works with every major U.S. cell carrier. Of course, if you’re the type who can’t be without Candy Crush and an always-on mobile internet connection, even while camping, this is good for that too.
Leatherman Signal Multitool
Choosing the right multitool can be a challenge. But, if you’re planning an extended road trip, it might be the single most useful thing you pack. Leatherman’s Signal multitool is an excellent all-around choice. It offers 19 tools — including pliers, a bottle opener, a saw, a mini hammer, and a 420HC combo knife — to help you survive and thrive on any long-distance road trip. Plus, it’s made in the USA and boasts a 25-year warranty, so it’ll probably outlast you. For a bespoke upgrade, check out Leatherman’s new Custom Shop, where you can add engravings, patterns, and images to make your Signal truly one-of-a-kind.
Goal Zero Yeti Portable Power Station
For a carload of roadtrippers with smartphones, tablets, laptops, digital cameras, and more, all that tech adds up. That gear has to plug in somewhere. If you’re keen not to drain your vehicle’s battery while parked or camping, Goal Zero’s Yeti portable power stations are the perfect solution. In winter, when you might also want to run an electric blanket at night, the compact Yeti 500X is a good option. If money is no object, the beefier Buy at Amazon is even better for a group of travelers. The latter is good for around 30 recharges of most laptops or 61 run hours of a portable refrigerator.
RoadPro Polar Fleece Heated Travel Blanket
There are few things in life as satisfying as climbing into a nice, toasty bed at night. RoadPro’s Polar Fleece Heated Travel Blanket ensures no one ever needs to be deprived of that joy, even while camping. The eight-food cord gives you plenty of flexibility, while an LED indicator makes sure you know it’s working. It plugs directly into a standard cigarette lighter socket or, even better, the above Yeti portable power station for all-night heat without sapping your car’s battery.
Bravo Sierra Antibacterial Body Wipes
After a long weekend or a week of camping, few things can make you feel human again like hot, running water. But, showering in the woods in the dead of winter is something else entirely. Sometimes, body wipes are the best alternative. Bravo Sierra’s Antibacterial Body Wipes are the answer. They’re military-tested, kill 99.99% of bacteria in 60 seconds, and extra-thick to tackle every part of your stinky business in one go.
Camp Chef Sherpa Table and Organizer
More important than organizing your clothing, toiletries, or even emergency gear is knowing where your food is when you need it. As its name implies, Camp Chef’s Sherpa Table & Organizer is an all-in-one solution for storing your eats and cooking them, too. The cooler-sized organizer is soft-sided with a lightweight frame, so it’s portable yet sturdy. Inside are four color-coded, zippered bags for stowing food, dishware, cutlery, and other kitchen essentials however you like. One features a special waterproof liner, so it doubles as a cooler or even a camp sink. The included aluminum tabletop provides a stable, heatproof surface for cooking, then rolls up and stows in a dedicated pocket when it’s time to break camp.
GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Chair
If you’re still using the same tired camp chair you bought at CVS ten years ago, it’s time to upgrade. GCI Outdoor’s Freestyle Rocker is a legit portable rocker. Dual gas struts at the rear provide smooth rocking action on almost any terrain, from pavement to dirt to gravel. The sturdy, powder-coated frame is durable enough to support up to 250 pounds, yet it folds almost completely flat for easy transport and storage.
REI Co-op Outward Side Table
Of course, a comfy chair isn’t of much use in the outdoors without somewhere to put your beer down. For that, you need the REI Co-Op Outward Side Table. This compact camp table is ultra-packable but sturdy enough to hold up to 50 pounds. A 21-inch by 12-inch rigid aluminum tabletop provides plenty of space for serving dinner or throwing down cards.
Garmin Dash Cam 66W
Filming your road trip is mandatory these days. If you don’t Instagram it, did it really happen? The Garmin Dash Cam 66W is an all-in-one solution with plenty of useful features. The camera features an extra-wide, 180-degree lens that captures crisp 1,440p HD video, even in low-light conditions. But, a dashcam is also invaluable in the event of an accident. A slew of clever safety features makes it a must-have to both prevent and document accidents, including GPS-enabled incident detection that can automatically save recent footage. Plus, voice control lets the driver take still pictures and start/stop the video without taking their hands off the wheel.
Therm-A-Rest Pillow
Copiloting a road trip is hard work. It means long hours spent fiddling with the GPS, poring over paper maps, picking the right playlist, and doling out gas station snacks to fellow passengers. That’s why naps are an important part of a copilot’s duties. The Therm-A-Rest Compressible Pillow is our go-to for snoozing comfortably on long highway stretches. The pillow foam fill is upcycled from the company’s camping pad manufacturing process to reduce waste. It packs down small but expands when you need it, with the XL size measuring 27 inches by 16.5 inches (almost the size of a standard pillow).
The Dyrt Camping App
If you’re planning a road trip right now, it probably doesn’t involve traditional hotel or motel stays. For finding the best camp and RV sites anywhere in the U.S., The Dyrt is our go-to app. The newest version covers more than one million locations around the country, including Hipcamps, primitive tent sites, RV campgrounds, state and national parks, and even free dispersed campsites on BLM land. The search results can be filtered to pinpoint your preferred type of site, and most are bookable directly within the app. Plus, it’s available for both Android and iOS.
SlimK LED Road Flares
There are two kinds of road-trippers in this world: Those who’ve broken down and those who will. Shopping for automotive safety gear is hardly fun, but it pays to be prepared. Old-school road flares add a bit of Fourth-of-July-inspired excitement to any roadside breakdown. But, this isn’t 1985, so it’s time to upgrade your emergency kit accordingly. These chemical-free LED “road flares” serve the same function as traditional flares, but without the risk of a 3,000-degree magnesium burn. Each one is about the size of a hockey puck and lasts up to 36 hours on a single charge. Plus, they’re magnetic, so you can affix them directly to your car if you like.
Yeti Loadout GoBox Gear Case
Road trips are messy business. When several human beings (or even a solo traveler) cram into a confined space for days or weeks on end, it’s almost impossible to keep things organized. Invest in a good storage strategy to keep those clothes, snacks, emergency equipment, and outdoor gear wrangled. Yeti’s Loadout GoBox 30 is the ideal solution. This rugged storage case offers 30L of storage, so it’s spacious yet compact enough to secure to a factory roof rack. It’s also dustproof, waterproof, and — perhaps most importantly — bearproof (with Yeti’s Bear Proof Locks), so it doubles as an outdoor food pantry, should you find yourself camping among grizzlies.
