Always prepped and ready: 100+ Useful items for your car’s glove compartment

10/04/2022 / By Zoey Sky

You can use your car as extra storage space for useful prepping items. One way to do this is by keeping unusual but useful tools and items in your glove compartment like a can of bear spray or a shemagh.

Below is a list of assorted survival items that you may want to keep in your glove compartment for small emergencies while on the road or while bugging out after SHTF. (h/t to TheSurvivalMom.com)

Note that you don’t need all the items in the lists below so just choose which ones are useful for your various prepping needs.

Survival tools

These items may prove useful when SHTF and you have to bug out for your safety.

.38 handgun and permit to carry
9mm handgun and extra clips
An AR14 with 50-round mags
An atlas for navigation
Axe
Baton/cudgel for self-defense
Bolt cutters for a quick escape
A bush knife, which you can use for food prep or self-defense
A can of bear spray
Cheap poncho for rainy days or as a makeshift shelter
Crowbar for prying doors open after SHTF
Cooling towels
Duct tape
Emergency tool for breaking windows or cutting seat belts if you get in a car accident
Emergency blanket
Ferro rod for firestarting
Firestarting kit
A full-size fire extinguisher
An inflatable kayak may seem unusual, but you may need one if you often pass by a bridge on your commute to work. This item will prove useful in case the bridge goes down because of an earthquake or bridge collapse. You can also add the current year’s tidal charts so you’ll know the best time to get your get-home bag and head back home.
A survival knife
Large pocket knife
Life Straw
A powerful magnet
Rescue scissors
Retractable baton
A sharp knife
Sillcock key for faucets, valves and spigots
A small shovel, compact fruit picker and tongs for foraging (Related: 5 Survival essentials for your bug-out vehicle.)
Taser
Throwing knives
Two new two-gallon gas cans. If you have to shelter in your vehicle, two small gas cans are easy to carry and a balanced load. Two cans of gas should also be enough fuel to run your vehicle for a while.
Waterproof matches
A windproof lighter
Whistle
Wire cutters
Zip ties

First aid and medications

Bleeding control trauma kit
BleedStop blood coagulant
A complete trauma kit
An emesis bag/barf bag
Hand sanitizer
IFAK with water purifying tabs
Medications
Opioid overdose kit
Tourniquet

Food and utensils

Army can opener/P-38 can opener
Canteen with stainless canteen cup
A car kettle for your car, which is a slim device (like a 24 oz. bottle) that fits into a cup holder. You can plug it into the car charger to heat water for ready-to-eat meals, hot chocolate or whatever food and beverage that require hot water.
Cat food, if you’re traveling with a pet cat
Cheese knife
Chocolate
Chopsticks
Dog food, if you’re traveling with a pet dog
Juice box and crackers for family members with diabetes
Ketchup packets, which can be combined with hot water to make tomato soup if you run out of food
Napkins and straws
Salt packets
Salt shaker
Ice chest with wheels and handle with all kinds of emergency supplies, like food and water along with a first aid kit and maps. An ice chest is great if you need a non-traditional container.
Real silverware, salt and pepper
Seeds and bread crumbs for feeding wild birds at a park
Tic Tacs, especially if you need to freshen up but don’t have a toothbrush and toothpaste

Clothing and personal items

Bandana, which can be used as a sling, washcloth or towel when SHTF.
Bible for personal reflection
Bible tracts
CDs of your favorite songs to listen to while driving
A complete seasonally-appropriate change of clothes like socks, underwear and shoes
Dry shampoo
Flip flops, which will be useful if you have small kids that always lose their shoes at friends’ houses.
Hand/foot warmers
Lint roller
Toothbrush, toothpaste and floss
Playing cards to entertain the kids while bugging out
Sewing kit
Shemagh/cotton square scarf
Socks
Spare eyeglasses
Travel hair brush
Washcloth, water purification tablet, bottled water and gloves
Yarn and crochet hook to help nervous family members cope with anxiety if you are stuck in traffic when SHTF

Assorted tools

A battery starter
A machete
A monkey wrench for repairs. It can also be used for self-defense if you are attacked by carjackers.
Pipe insulators to protect vehicle roof racks and paint and ratchet straps to strap things on

Random useful items

Box of kitty litter, especially if you are bugging out and using a camping or composting toilet
Bug spray
Children’s scissors for cutting wildflowers
Dog toys and a leash
Empty reusable tote bag to carry all the stuff in the vehicle if you need to leave it behind
Extra charging cables
Fold-up yoga mat
Fruit and vegetable seed pods
Gripping gloves and cleaning gloves
Old ski poles for use as walking sticks
Permanent marker
Petty cash
Picnic blanket
Quarters for small purchases or vending machines
A roll of blue mechanics’ paper towels
Scissors and tape
A step stool, especially if you are rather short and need a boost for getting into tow trucks
Sunscreen
Tape measure
Wasp spray
Wine opener
Zip lock bags for car sickness

Don’t clutter your car with trash. Before SHTF, keep useful things like a bandana or extra charging cables in your glove compartment to utilize the space in your car.

Visit Preparedness.news for more articles about unusual but useful prepping and survival tools.

Watch the video below about 10 useful items for your bug-out bag.

This video is from the Prepping101 channel on Brighteon.com.