Join us on an adventure around the world; travel throughout the US and abroad by cruise, plane, and train and take the vacations you've always dreamed about.
Winter travel can be full of unique and amazing experiences, as long as you come fully prepared.
Whether you are walking through a winter wonderland, skiing down the slopes, or taking a December drive, winter travel can be an exciting vacation, but it is more important than ever to be properly prepared. When traveling in the winter, any problems can quickly become emergencies or cause enough discomfort to completely ruin your vacation. Having lived in the lake effect snows of Chicago, the rustic winter wilderness of Alaska, and the mountainous heights of northern Nevada, we are all too familiar with the products that can turn a fun snowy vacation into an unforgettable winter adventure. These are just a few of the travel products that we recommend you consider for your next winter travel plans.
Mylar blankets, also called space blankets, are a common and essential winter item. Mylar blankets are made of a foil-like material that is waterproof and provides excellent thermal insulation, trapping in up to 90% of body heat. While great to have if you are camping or hiking, these blankets are also essential just for regular winter driving. Every year there are news articles about major highways being closed, sometimes for more than a day, due to inclement weather and accidents. You can only keep the car running for so long before running out of gas, and once the heater shuts off things will get very cold very fast. We love this set because of the unique and vibrant colors, as well as the nylon storage bag that they come in.
While images of sunglasses usually bring to mind long, bright summer days, sunglasses are just as important in the winter. Snow can be extremely reflective, and snow blindness is a real concern, but frames on traditional sunglasses can get extremely cold, and are susceptible to falling off if you slip on an icy patch. This unique hat is designed to come down over your eyes with two sunglass lenses built-in. You will be able to keep your head and ears warm, while also protecting your eyes and avoiding snow blindness.
Smartphones are everywhere these days, but traditional winter gloves are often too bulky for the precision required when using a touch screen. Instead of fumbling with trying to take off your gloves, grab your phone, quickly make a search or send a text, and then glove back up, why not use a pair of gloves specifically designed to work with smartphones? These gloves are water resistant, warm, and come with silicone ridges on the fingers and palm to ensure that you have a solid grip on your device. Fishing a thousand dollar smartphone out of a snow bank is no fun, so ensuring that your gloves have a solid anti-slip gripability is crucial.
Another alternative to traditional tire chains, these "textile snow chains", or as I like to call them, tire socks, are easy to install and remove and offer a nice boost to traction where needed. This set comes with metal grommets installed, which increase the traction even more than other models of tire socks. Compared to chains, tire socks do not significantly increase the clearance of your vehicle, and reduce the vibration that comes from driving with chains. The material is durable and machine washable, and folds down to be extremely compact and portable.
Having car troubles is no fun even in the best of times, but in the winter it can be deadly. An emergency roadside assistance kit is practically a necessity for any car, but we particularly like the completeness of this 90 piece kit. This kit includes all of the typical essential tools, including jumper cables, warning triangles, flashlights, and a first aid kit, but also includes some less typical items. Among the 90 items in the kit are a 10,000 pound towing cable, a portable air compressor for flat tires, an emergency tire repair kit, and a window glass breaker. The entire collection fits comfortably in the included travel bag so it's easy to grab if you should ever need it.
Ice scrapers are a convenient way to clear snow and ice from your windshield, but the downside is that by the time you are clear your hands are practically frozen solid. This fleece mit solves that problem by incorporating an ice scraper into the end of the mit, so your hand stays nice and warm while you scrape off any ice accumulation from your windows. With an elastic band to keep the glove insulated, this is a one size fits all solution that the whole family can share.
This is an item that we find beneficial to have year round, but in the winter it can be even more important to have an emergency shovel on hand. This compact survival shovel can be used to dig your car out of snow drifts or mud, and also includes a pickaxe head and a serrated edge for sawing, in case a rock or tree branch blocks your path. This style of emergency shovel got its start with the Navy Seabees, and has proven its usefulness time and time again. I highly recommend keeping one in each vehicle, especially if traveling on more rural roads or in the winter.
Traditional tire chains are bulky and a challenge to put on, especially if you do not have a regular need to install and uninstall them. This chain alternative comes as 10 separate pieces that go on around your tire much like oversized zip ties. Quick and intuitive to put on and take off of your tires, these ties are both portable and convenient if you find yourself in need of a little extra traction. Much like traditional tire chains, these are not intended to be permanently affixed to your tires, but offer some great traction improvement when needed.
The modern age is all about sustainability and reusability, and this product is an excellent choice. The old, single use disposable hand warmers are a relic of the past now that we have options such as this rechargeable electric hand warmer. Available in three bright colors, this hand warmer has three different heat settings, so you can get the perfect temperature every time. A full charge will give you anywhere from 10 to 12 hours of heat, and the heat is double sided so you only need one for both hands. This model is also able to double as a 10,000 mAh portable battery pack to charge your phone, which is able to be used even with the heating function turned off.
Before power locks became standard, it was pretty common for people to carry around small bottles that would spray de-icing fluid on their car door locks. These old de-icing solutions never really worked that great; more of the spray would get all over your door and hands than actually in the lock, and in the worst case not enough would get inside to actually defrost your lock. While most cars now have electronic locks, there are still plenty of manual locks that you can get frozen out of. This bottle is able to be applied directly into the lock itself, minimizing the waste and the mess. There is enough de-icing fluid for 8 to 10 uses per bottle, so with luck a single bottle can last the entire season.
Whether it's ice, snow, or mud, getting your car stuck can be a lesson in frustration. Instead of carrying around sacks of gravel or plywood boards to try and provide some additional traction, you can use these traction mats. Made of strong engineering rubber and a galvanized steel core, these mats are built to last season after season. Easier and quicker to deploy than installing chains, traction mats can get you out of the mess and back onto the road in no time.
Is there anything more cozy than a thick, fluffy, electric blanket on cold winter nights? This electric blanket comes with a 12V cord that plugs into any standard car outlet and then quickly warms up to your desired temperature. At the highest setting, this blanket can reach a beautifully toasty 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The included cord is six feet long, so you are free to enjoy the comfort of this blanket from anywhere in your car.
Ice scrapers have been a staple for winter car travel for over 50 years, and the improvements in that time have been great. This model has three different functions; a scraper, brush, and squeegee to clear your car of ice, snow, and water. It also comes with a telescoping rod design, with the large version expanding to over 5 feet long so there's no need to lean over your windshield to reach across. If it isn't small enough for you when not extended, the scraper and brush heads are both removable, making storage a breeze.
When it gets cold out, are you still wrapping cloth around your hands to keep them warm? It's the 2020s now, and the future is here with these rechargeable electric gloves. These gloves offer three levels of heat, and a battery life ranging from 2 hours on high heat to 6 hours on low heat, although even low heat is a nice and toasty 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The material is thin, but will keep your hands warmer than even the most bulky, awkward, heavy gloves you may have at home today. Even better, these gloves are able to work with touchscreen devices, like your smartphone.
When we lived in Alaska, the start of winter was also the start of chain and spike season. When you were driving, it was important that you had either specialized snow tires or installed chains or spikes on your car tires. When you were walking, it was just as important to have spikes on your feet. These slip on crampons are a great, budget friendly alternative to buying an expensive pair of dedicated ice cleats. Simply slide the crampons over your shoes or hiking boots before going outside in the snow and ice. When you are ready to go inside it is easy to slip them back off so that you can walk normally without scratching up interior floors.
There is almost nothing worse than walking through the snow and getting snow into your shoe. Traditional socks already don't offer much warmth in the winter, and as soon as they get even slightly wet you might as well cancel your plans until you can change into a fresh pair. A pair of thick, moisture-wicking hiking socks will solve all your snowy sock woes. These socks have extra padding, offering Achilles support, arch support, and shin protection. Unlike some other thick socks, these are designed for active use and are made of a super-breathable, moisture-wicking material that keeps your feet dry both from sweat inside the sock and snowmelt from outside the sock.
A good pair of hiking boots is one of the single best investments you can make for any winter activities, and Timberland is a well-established brand for very good reasons. We love the classic leather fit and look of these boots, and the fact that they are waterproof is icing on the cake. Timberland also features their specialized anti-fatigue technology, keeping your feet comfortable even through hours of hiking or work.
Would you buy it?
So what did you think? Have any of our picks been added to your packing list for your next winter escape? We'd love to hear about your past winter travels as well as help you plan any future winter trips you may want to take. Would you rather stay warm while traveling in the winter? Why not check out our selection of recommended gear for cruising? And if your pets are coming with you to enjoy the snow, check out these gear for travelling with pets.
