Essential gear you need for that cross-country road trip

A road trip is the perfect means of escape for those looking for low-cost ways to travel. New territory to explore, a personal playlist to jam out to, a variety of snacks to nibble on — What more could one ask for? But before hopping in that car, it’s important to make sure all the essentials are taken care of. When it comes to the essential road trip gear you need for traveling across the country, we’ve got you covered.

Essential Road Trip Gear – The Charger

Arguably the most important thing to have on hand during your road trip is power. We’re talking about chargers and batteries for your various devices. You don’t want to get caught stranded with no cellphone service, the most precious gear you carry anytime, not just on the road. Also, if you travel with kids, you’ll want to ensure their devices are fully charged before the long drive or else face the wrath of backseat complainers.

An affordable option we like is the INIU Portable Charger. With two USB ports, this compact device can charge multiple cellphones (it’s compatible with iPhone, Samsung and Google devices), headphones and more. It features high-speed charging, so there’s no need to wait endlessly for that 100% battery life.

2. For someone will a little more money to spend on a charger, Anker’s products are outstanding when it comes to delivering “high power capacity.” Specifically, we like the Anker PowerCore 26800, which can charge your phone 10 times on one charge of its own. That’s enough to get you through several days of driving without breaking a sweat over your phone’s battery life.

Essential Road Trip Gear – The First Aid Kit

Safety should always be a priority when it comes to traveling, and bringing along a fully-stocked first-aid kit is a must. For those who want to skip the DIY assembly, these helpful suggestions will ease the worry of acquiring all the right supplies.

1. Specifically designed for automotive use, the hefty Lifeline AAA 121-Piece Road Trip First Aid Kit features a wide variety of emergency supplies such as bandages, gauze pads and antiseptic wipes. In case of truly dangerous situations, the kit also contains scissors, tweezers, a carabiner and an emergency whistle. This kit is widely available, and for around $25, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

2. If you can get by with something a little bit more portable, we really like the Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose First Aid Kit. It’s lightweight, easy to carry and fits in your glove compartment. And it’s got plenty of first aid gear in it for those common cuts, scrapes and burns.

Essential Road Trip Gear – The Cooler

One of the most fun parts of hitting the road is taking plenty of snacks for the ride. After all, you don’t want to have to stop and find a decent place to eat every time your tummy grumbles. That’s why you need a excellent cooler for the back seat. When it comes to food and beverage storage, it’s essential to keep everything stored in the right container and at the right temperature.

1. You can’t go wrong with any of Yeti’s Tundra series of coolers. Built for durability and with 3 insulation, these tough coolers can withstand the rigors of the road and beyond. We like the Yeti Tundra 35, which even smaller cars should have enough room for. But feel free to scale up to a larger Yeti Tundras depending on the size of your vehicle (and the size of your budget).

2. Dometic CFX3 100 Powered Cooler: For the road-tripper with plenty of money to spend, we think the high-tech Dometic CFX3 55IM Powered Cooler + Icemaker is an impressive cooler indeed. This cooler lets your travel not only with cold food, but frozen if that’s what your into. Finally, you can not only take ice cream on your road trip, but make ice as well. The impressive 99-liter capacity allows for plenty of storage and features an ExoFrame for durability

Essential Road Trip Gear – The Flashlight

Frankly, everyone should keep a flashlight in the car for safety anyway. But if you don’t, and you’re planning a long road trip, it’s the perfect time to get yourself this essential road trip gear. After all, you don’t want to find yourself having to fix a flat tire in the dark, or trying to signal for help with a dead phone. We recommend the ThruNite Archer 2A V3. This specific model features five light modes and a strike bezel for emergency situations. Powered by two AA batteries, the flashlight boasts “20+ years of run time.” And it’s small enough to fit just about anywhere in your car.

Essential Road Trip Gear – The Bag

Road tripping is about packing smart. Avoid bulky suitcases and multiple tote bags and instead invest in a quality duffle bags. Patagonia is a trusted name, and their Black Hole Duffle Bag is one of the best to use for road-trip travel. Made from 100% recycled fabric, this bag, which is available in multiple sizes, is both weather and abrasion resistant and comes with detachable, padded shoulder straps that make it easy to carry.