Your trunk probably has the usual stuff, like a spare tire & maybe some jumper cables, as well as five grocery bags you always forget to bring into the store. But there are some things you should store in there that come in clutch when you’re in a weird situation. Let’s look at eleven items to keep in every car trunk. Some are useful, some are random—but they all earn their spot in the back of your car.
Featured Image Credit: ANDRANIK2017 /Depositphotos.com.
A Cheap Pair of Walking Shoes
You don’t want to hike a mile in Crocs if your car dies on a back road, so keep a pair of beat-up sneakers back there—nothing fancy, just something you’re actually able to walk in. These should be yard work shoes, not gym-ready shoes, and they should stay out of sight until that one time you really need them. Wet feet in cold weather or blistered heels in summer heat just make everything worse when you’re already having a rough day.
Roll of Contractor Trash Bags
Contractor trash bags are more useful than most people realize, as you can put one down if the ground’s gross or line a box if something’s leaking—you could even throw one over your head in a rainstorm. They’re thicker than regular bags & won’t tear when you need them most, so throw a roll in the trunk and forget about it. Better yet, you could use these to wrap up muddy shoes, and since they fold flat, they don’t take up much space either.
Zip Ties in Mixed Sizes
Anytime that something breaks or starts rattling mid-drive, that’s where zip ties come in handy, so keep a variety of lengths and you’ll be able to MacGyver your way out of more problems than you’d expect. They weigh basically nothing and fit in a sandwich bag—you’ll be surprised how often you use them. Zip ties are also great if something won’t stay closed, like a broken glove box, or if you need to bundle cords or secure something in place while driving.
A Can of Insect Repellent
Being stranded somewhere and getting immediately swarmed by bugs is a nightmare, and that’s why having some bug spray in the trunk is great for your sanity, especially if you live near water or trees. It doesn’t matter if it’s fancy natural stuff or industrial strength—just something to keep the biters off if you’re stuck outside for a while. Look for one with a locking cap to prevent leaks, and stick to spray-on ones because they work faster than wipes.
Prepaid Phone With Emergency Minutes
During those times when your phone’s dead or there’s no signal and you’re in a bad spot, a cheap prepaid phone with a bit of credit comes in handy. Keep it powered off with a full charge and store it in a ziplock bag so it stays dry—you don’t need a fancy model, just something basic with a decent battery. Check it once in a while to make sure it still works and the SIM hasn’t expired.
Hand-Crank Flashlight
Similarly, when it’s dark and your phone’s dead, you might think about using that old flashlight in your glove box—but it hasn’t worked since 2017. A hand-crank flashlight is much better because it doesn’t need batteries, and some even have built-in radios or USB chargers to help you go full scout mode. They’re not extremely bright, but they’re reliable, and that’s the whole point of having them, since you can just crank & go.
A Compact Folding Dog Bowl
Even if you don’t own a dog, a folding dog bowl will still come in handy because you can use it to pour water for your child or rinse your hands. They squish flat and weigh nothing, while the majority of them are also dishwasher-safe, so cleaning them after use is easy. You should also keep it with a bottle of water for quick pit stops.
Vacuum-Sealed Towel
A regular towel in the trunk ends up smelling like feet quite quickly, but a vacuum-sealed one stays clean & compact until you need it to dry off after rain or deal with a spill. You could even lie it on the seat after you’ve done a sweaty workout. Microfiber ones dry faster and don’t hold odor as long—they’re also easier to wring out. Just reseal it in a plastic bag once you’re done with it so that it doesn’t get everything else damp after you’ve used it.
Small Dry Box For Paperwork
Glove compartments aren’t waterproof, and that’s why keeping a plastic dry box there is a good idea—it stops stuff like your registration or emergency cash from getting soaked. Simply snap it shut and leave it there until you need something inside, which will save you from digging around in there when it’s freezing out. Try to choose one with a rubber seal or latch because those hold up better over time.
Travel-Size Toilet Paper and Sanitizing Wipes
No one wants to talk about this, but life happens, and you never know when the gas station will be out of TP or your kid spills juice all over themselves. A tiny roll of toilet paper & a travel pack of wipes are very helpful for cleaning up messes (or at least saving your dignity), so keep them sealed and ready to go. You’ll need to make sure they’re stored in something airtight so they don’t dry out in the heat.
A Small Box of Snacks With a Long Shelf Life
Traffic jams and having to wait for roadside help drag on longer than most people realize, and that’s where a small stash of snacks like granola bars or trail mix could help—they make those moments less miserable. Try to avoid anything that melts or needs refrigeration and forget about making a meal, as you’re trying to have something to keep the hunger away if you’re stuck. You should use a hard container or lunchbox and check it every few months so you can swap out anything stale.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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