Umbrella and maxpedition micro with: leatherman, flashlight, knife, paper/pen, meds, power bank/cable, and lighter (all mini items that fit inside the micro pouch).
RainX/Papertowls, blanket, 2x liters of water, dollar store work gloves (use to change a tire if needed), Costco cooler bag (Costco has a new one every year, they are great), Dude Wipes (always come in handy after fast food on the road), tire pressure gauge.
These were some great suggestions! I especially like that air compressor. I need one for my car. One thing that always lives in my car is an emergency kit. Extra clothing, water, food, blankets, car repair stuff, etc. I can’t tell you how many times it has come in handy on trips (even for not so serious things).
Cool stuff, as always! ;-) We do a lot of road trips, since years mainly but not exclusively long distance trips. Here some of what we learned: - We split our luggage in a) what we need for a one-night-stay in a hotel, b) what we need additionally for a multiple-night-stay and c) what is additionally required or serves as exchange/emergency stock. The reason for such a split is mainly that we have usually long distances to cover before we reach the region where we finally stay for longer, means we would stay 2 nights on a 2000km ride to the destination region in different hotels and the same on the way back, but we stay then a couple of weeks in several places for a couple of days at each place. So we bring only what we need for one night to our room if we stay there only one night, and bring more if we stay longer, but let the rest in the car. About our luggage, a) is packed in a rucksack and a duffle (for 2 persons more than enough, mainly our laptops, chargers and cabling, underwear, cosmetics, some eatables etc.), b) is packed in suitcases (on rolls, containing mainly clothes, more cosmetics, more eatables and cooking stuff) and c) is packed in plastic containers which stay usually during the whole travel in the car. In all our luggage (including the containers) we use a lot of packing cubes and ziplock bags. For longer stays we have also daypacks/folding rucksacks which we use for walks etc. - We found that a huge 20+ liters cooler like the one in the video makes no sense for us, since it is over bulky and we never need to cool so many things at once (e.g. why would we want to permanently cool a sixpack if we need only 2 cans a day). After trying initially a small passive cooler box (cooled by ice/fridge packs) with mixed results we use meanwhile a small 12V DC thermoelectric car refrigerator (approx 5-6 liters capacity) which keeps everything we use in a day cool. It can be also easily carried (it comes with carrying straps) to the hotel room and run there by AC, what is especially convenient in simple stays which do not offer a fridge in the room. If there is a fridge in the room we usually precool things there in before we put them in our car fridge. The pros for us are: Less space consumption in the car, no ice required, no problems with water in the box, only 50Watts DC consumption (60W on AC), it cools approx 25° below environmental temperature, and it comes even with USB charging ports for whatever USB equipment you want. As usual with all these thermoelectric boxes, we could also use it to keep things warm, but we never did that so far. It is a local Indian brand (Blackcat), currently sold especially for vaccine cooling in ambulances etc, but you can get such things everywhere. - We do not use a blanket with waterproofing on one side but prefer using a small tarp and a (separate) blanket. That way you don't have sand and grass in your blanket, can easily wash and dry the blanket, can use the blanket also for other purposes and use the tarp as well also for other uses (e.g. as sunshade, raincover or ground sheet, or as a mat if you have to go under your car). - What remains in the car is besides of all the car stuff (e.g. tools, spares, tyre inflator, first aid kit, shovel, starter cable, towing string etc.) the containers, as already mentioned. We have also always extra rations of drinking water and a dedicated emergency/survival rucksack ready in the car since our trips lead us usually through areas (deserts, mountains, jungles) where it makes a lot of sense to have such stuff ready ...
Wow! Thank you for the detailed information about how you pack and prepare for road trips. Do you have a backpack or duffel that is your go-to? How about a car refrigerator? Again, thank you so much for taking the time to put so much detail into your comment. We love hearing how folks pack for different trips! -Eric
@@PackHacker Hi Eric, I can recommend everything we use ;-) The rucksack we use as basic rucksack in our vehicle is an Osprey Farpoint 40, which we use also for air/rail travels. The duffel is from a local indian brand (forgot the name), it is a foldable model which fits in its own pocket when not in use. The emergency/survival rucksack is a Burton Kilo. As daypacks/shopping bags we use a Salewa Chip 22, a foldable Matador and some foldable rucksacks from Decathlon (20l /10 l size). The two suitcases we use are from local Indian brands (VIP). The thermoelectrical car refrigerator we use is a portable Blackcat AT-08, made in India by Bajaj Autotronix, and I doubt that you get that exactly same model anywhere in other countries, but very similar thermoelectric fridges are available everywhere. You simply plug it in your lighter socket in the car. The point is that such refrigerators are relatively small and can be easily carried up to the hotel room or so (what we need to do since the hotel rooms we use are usually without fridge, that's also the reason why a built-in car fridge wouldn't serve the purpose). The model we use has both DC and AC input, what is required for such double purpose use. One point I forgot to mention is the fact that it is difficult or sometimes even impossible to get here ice for using it in a cooler. We travel through India in our car, and Indian petrol stations or supermarkets don't sell ice.
Thank you for such an in-depth and insightful comment! So much great information. That’s a great little piece of info about travel in India that we did not know. You learn something new every day! -Eric
I would recommend some form of battery pack with a car jumping option. Good in an emergency I'd your car battery dies, or need to jump someone else's car (without the hassle of connecting your car to theirs). They also double as a gear charger since they all have USB ports on them too.
For longer trips and when I take my (motor)bike, I never leave home without my jump starter pack. You never know when you may need it, and even if you never do, you might be able to help out someone who does. On top of that you can charge your usb devices the same as a power bank. It can that be easily charged up at your destination or on the road using a 12 volt adapter.
@@PackHacker I have the Noco GB40, but there's newer models out that are USB C. Project Farm tests out several models; for me in Canada my options were limited.
You hooked me by showing the Miata. My parents have done month-long road trips across USA in their Miata. My mom even packs her paper maps along with her Garmin and smartphone. Dad even brings his rice pillow and full car service kit. I don't think they pack their table and chairs anymore though.
Just a reminder to never leave valuables in sight when leaving your car to explore. Stow any tablets, laptops, purses under seats or in the trunk to deter opportunists peering in your windows for an easy smash and grab.
I always pack a first aid kit, multi tool and a disposable urinal bag with the solidifying granules in it. 😂 my daughter had a knack of drinking lots of iced tea during our restaurant stops 🙄
lol I have over half of this stuff. Can you tell I love road trips? I love my BirkenCrocs lol I use them as my shower shoes too when I’m traveling. Two for one!
A 12v cooler from brands like dometic, iceco, or setpower is a road trip must these days. Never worry about ice and keep your food frozen and cool for days.
Unless you are getting the ultra high end large capacity coolers for keeping ice alive for multiple days, you REALLY dont need a yeti branded product and can go by just fine with a cheaper alternative. I travel with an igloo cooler that's bigger than this at less than half the price and it also has wheels...ice stays in it for over 2 days when sealed.
That car might be cheaper than that Yeti :) I know their products are good quality, but the competition offers better value for money, in premium coolers as well.
Honestly the air compressor is so cheap that I might just buy one to keep for emergencies. I thought that I bought premium tires, but I’ve had to add air to my tires more than usual over the past year. It’s hell finding a gas station that has one that works in my area.
@@PackHacker I don't really understand why you would recommend this enormous compressor? Are there any advantages of this particular one over smaller compressors like the one from Xiaomi? It seems to be half the size and I can fill up all 4 tires or even more.
I like the pouch. Looks functional. The chargeable mount isn’t necessary for us because we’ve got a screen with Apple Car Play. Many cars have this nowadays, so I’m wondering if this isn’t a moot thing to have.
An electric cooler/ fridge is much more convenient than a cooler if you are travelling long distances or for long periods of time (multiweek vs weekend) but remember to unplug it if it's plugged into a port that still runs when the vehicle is off. There is nothing worse than being in line to board a ferry and finding out the cooler killed the battery while you were waiting to board. Speaking from experience LOL.
Not sure about the english word. But a can of sealant you pump into the tire in case of a puncture and no way to make it to shop. It sucks for the mechanic to remove from the inner rim. But I would rather pay the mechanic 15-30 minutes extra work than being towed.
Families of 5 who still want to travel. Airfare is more expensive and with 5 people, we either need a rental car when we arrive or TWO taxis anytime we want to go somewhere. But you are right, with prices being what they are, we are staying closer to home.
What gear never leaves your car? 🚘
Umbrella and maxpedition micro with: leatherman, flashlight, knife, paper/pen, meds, power bank/cable, and lighter (all mini items that fit inside the micro pouch).
RainX/Papertowls, blanket, 2x liters of water, dollar store work gloves (use to change a tire if needed), Costco cooler bag (Costco has a new one every year, they are great), Dude Wipes (always come in handy after fast food on the road), tire pressure gauge.
Thanks for the recs, Travis!
-Eric
Thanks for the recs, GiGi! What micro pouch do you use?
-Eric
Oil, jack, tire fix kit, duchtape, zippers, fuses, seat cover, just what I might need one day
Would love to see some baby packing essentials, while on the go. (Dad to be)
Thanks for the suggestion, Travis, and congratulations!
-Eric
Check out Tactical Baby Gear. Congratulations !!
- Dad Already.
Ziploc baggies
Any toys kiddo loves attached to pacifier clips
Agreed 👍
These were some great suggestions! I especially like that air compressor. I need one for my car.
One thing that always lives in my car is an emergency kit. Extra clothing, water, food, blankets, car repair stuff, etc. I can’t tell you how many times it has come in handy on trips (even for not so serious things).
Thanks for the suggestion, Kota! It’s always a good idea to be prepared for the worst, even if you don’t need to use it.
-Eric
Cool stuff, as always! ;-)
We do a lot of road trips, since years mainly but not exclusively long distance trips.
Here some of what we learned:
- We split our luggage in a) what we need for a one-night-stay in a hotel, b) what we need additionally for a multiple-night-stay and c) what is additionally required or serves as exchange/emergency stock. The reason for such a split is mainly that we have usually long distances to cover before we reach the region where we finally stay for longer, means we would stay 2 nights on a 2000km ride to the destination region in different hotels and the same on the way back, but we stay then a couple of weeks in several places for a couple of days at each place. So we bring only what we need for one night to our room if we stay there only one night, and bring more if we stay longer, but let the rest in the car.
About our luggage, a) is packed in a rucksack and a duffle (for 2 persons more than enough, mainly our laptops, chargers and cabling, underwear, cosmetics, some eatables etc.), b) is packed in suitcases (on rolls, containing mainly clothes, more cosmetics, more eatables and cooking stuff) and c) is packed in plastic containers which stay usually during the whole travel in the car. In all our luggage (including the containers) we use a lot of packing cubes and ziplock bags. For longer stays we have also daypacks/folding rucksacks which we use for walks etc.
- We found that a huge 20+ liters cooler like the one in the video makes no sense for us, since it is over bulky and we never need to cool so many things at once (e.g. why would we want to permanently cool a sixpack if we need only 2 cans a day). After trying initially a small passive cooler box (cooled by ice/fridge packs) with mixed results we use meanwhile a small 12V DC thermoelectric car refrigerator (approx 5-6 liters capacity) which keeps everything we use in a day cool. It can be also easily carried (it comes with carrying straps) to the hotel room and run there by AC, what is especially convenient in simple stays which do not offer a fridge in the room. If there is a fridge in the room we usually precool things there in before we put them in our car fridge. The pros for us are: Less space consumption in the car, no ice required, no problems with water in the box, only 50Watts DC consumption (60W on AC), it cools approx 25° below environmental temperature, and it comes even with USB charging ports for whatever USB equipment you want. As usual with all these thermoelectric boxes, we could also use it to keep things warm, but we never did that so far. It is a local Indian brand (Blackcat), currently sold especially for vaccine cooling in ambulances etc, but you can get such things everywhere.
- We do not use a blanket with waterproofing on one side but prefer using a small tarp and a (separate) blanket. That way you don't have sand and grass in your blanket, can easily wash and dry the blanket, can use the blanket also for other purposes and use the tarp as well also for other uses (e.g. as sunshade, raincover or ground sheet, or as a mat if you have to go under your car).
- What remains in the car is besides of all the car stuff (e.g. tools, spares, tyre inflator, first aid kit, shovel, starter cable, towing string etc.) the containers, as already mentioned. We have also always extra rations of drinking water and a dedicated emergency/survival rucksack ready in the car since our trips lead us usually through areas (deserts, mountains, jungles) where it makes a lot of sense to have such stuff ready ...
Wow! Thank you for the detailed information about how you pack and prepare for road trips. Do you have a backpack or duffel that is your go-to? How about a car refrigerator? Again, thank you so much for taking the time to put so much detail into your comment. We love hearing how folks pack for different trips!
-Eric
@@PackHacker Hi Eric, I can recommend everything we use ;-) The rucksack we use as basic rucksack in our vehicle is an Osprey Farpoint 40, which we use also for air/rail travels. The duffel is from a local indian brand (forgot the name), it is a foldable model which fits in its own pocket when not in use. The emergency/survival rucksack is a Burton Kilo. As daypacks/shopping bags we use a Salewa Chip 22, a foldable Matador and some foldable rucksacks from Decathlon (20l /10 l size). The two suitcases we use are from local Indian brands (VIP).
The thermoelectrical car refrigerator we use is a portable Blackcat AT-08, made in India by Bajaj Autotronix, and I doubt that you get that exactly same model anywhere in other countries, but very similar thermoelectric fridges are available everywhere. You simply plug it in your lighter socket in the car. The point is that such refrigerators are relatively small and can be easily carried up to the hotel room or so (what we need to do since the hotel rooms we use are usually without fridge, that's also the reason why a built-in car fridge wouldn't serve the purpose). The model we use has both DC and AC input, what is required for such double purpose use.
One point I forgot to mention is the fact that it is difficult or sometimes even impossible to get here ice for using it in a cooler. We travel through India in our car, and Indian petrol stations or supermarkets don't sell ice.
Thank you for such an in-depth and insightful comment! So much great information. That’s a great little piece of info about travel in India that we did not know. You learn something new every day!
-Eric
I would recommend some form of battery pack with a car jumping option. Good in an emergency I'd your car battery dies, or need to jump someone else's car (without the hassle of connecting your car to theirs). They also double as a gear charger since they all have USB ports on them too.
Thanks for the suggestion! It’s always good to be prepared, especially if you’re headed off the beaten path.
-Eric
For longer trips and when I take my (motor)bike, I never leave home without my jump starter pack.
You never know when you may need it, and even if you never do, you might be able to help out someone who does. On top of that you can charge your usb devices the same as a power bank.
It can that be easily charged up at your destination or on the road using a 12 volt adapter.
Thanks for the insight! Is there a model that you would recommend?
-Eric
@@PackHacker I have the Noco GB40, but there's newer models out that are USB C. Project Farm tests out several models; for me in Canada my options were limited.
Thanks for the info!
-Eric
You hooked me by showing the Miata. My parents have done month-long road trips across USA in their Miata. My mom even packs her paper maps along with her Garmin and smartphone. Dad even brings his rice pillow and full car service kit.
I don't think they pack their table and chairs anymore though.
It sounds like they know how to roll in style! Our videographer Ahmad loves his Miata. Thanks for watching!
-Eric
Just a reminder to never leave valuables in sight when leaving your car to explore. Stow any tablets, laptops, purses under seats or in the trunk to deter opportunists peering in your windows for an easy smash and grab.
Great advice, Rebecca! Thanks for watching.
-Eric
I always pack a first aid kit, multi tool and a disposable urinal bag with the solidifying granules in it. 😂 my daughter had a knack of drinking lots of iced tea during our restaurant stops 🙄
Thanks for the insight! Who can blame her? Ice tea is delicious!
-Eric
lol I have over half of this stuff. Can you tell I love road trips? I love my BirkenCrocs lol I use them as my shower shoes too when I’m traveling. Two for one!
You have good taste 😉
-Eric
Love these essentials videos 😊😊😊
Thanks for watching, Eyal.
-Eric
A 12v cooler from brands like dometic, iceco, or setpower is a road trip must these days. Never worry about ice and keep your food frozen and cool for days.
Thanks for those tips, Lee! Do you have a model that you’re a big fan of?
-Eric
Unless you are getting the ultra high end large capacity coolers for keeping ice alive for multiple days, you REALLY dont need a yeti branded product and can go by just fine with a cheaper alternative. I travel with an igloo cooler that's bigger than this at less than half the price and it also has wheels...ice stays in it for over 2 days when sealed.
Thanks for the insight again, Chris! Do you know which model you have on hand? It sounds like it’s working well for you!
-Eric
That car might be cheaper than that Yeti :)
I know their products are good quality, but the competition offers better value for money, in premium coolers as well.
They are of great quality but come at a premium price. Do you have a cool or brant you would recommend we check out?
-Eric
I always have extra trash bags in my car. They have come in handy, and not only for trash haha
Great call! I’ve had to wear a trash bag for a Pack Hacker video in the past, so I understand 😃
-Eric
A tire patch kit would be useful
Good call, Mario! Better safe than sorry.
-Eric
travel necessary!
Honestly the air compressor is so cheap that I might just buy one to keep for emergencies. I thought that I bought premium tires, but I’ve had to add air to my tires more than usual over the past year. It’s hell finding a gas station that has one that works in my area.
A few members of our team have it in the car at all times, and it really is a helpful product! It’s simple to use and can be a lifesaver.
-Eric
@@PackHacker I don't really understand why you would recommend this enormous compressor? Are there any advantages of this particular one over smaller compressors like the one from Xiaomi? It seems to be half the size and I can fill up all 4 tires or even more.
I like the pouch. Looks functional.
The chargeable mount isn’t necessary for us because we’ve got a screen with Apple Car Play. Many cars have this nowadays, so I’m wondering if this isn’t a moot thing to have.
That’s a good call! Most cars don’t have screens like that, but you’re right; that will probably be the norm in the future.
-Eric
Thank you
Thanks for watching 😃
-Eric
iOttie also has an INCREDIBLE 2 year warranty
What is the small bag at 9:51?
a refrigerator would have been a better recommendation than the yeti, i think. far more versatile without needing to constantly get/buy ice.
Do you have one that you would reccomend? Thanks for the tip!
-Eric
An electric cooler/ fridge is much more convenient than a cooler if you are travelling long distances or for long periods of time (multiweek vs weekend) but remember to unplug it if it's plugged into a port that still runs when the vehicle is off. There is nothing worse than being in line to board a ferry and finding out the cooler killed the battery while you were waiting to board. Speaking from experience LOL.
Did they have jumper cables to help you out? Thanks for sharing that story, Janelle!
-Eric
Not sure about the english word. But a can of sealant you pump into the tire in case of a puncture and no way to make it to shop. It sucks for the mechanic to remove from the inner rim. But I would rather pay the mechanic 15-30 minutes extra work than being towed.
I spy a Miata!
Good eye! That’s our videographer Ahmad’s Miata. It’s his pride and joy!
-Eric
@@PackHacker That miata is the reason I clicked on this video, lol. If you can pack for a miata, you can pack for anything
Yeti…. 😆
Sandals, mobile mount, sheets? This is to basic.
I just can never get past how overpriced Yeti products are
Right!!!!
Im going on a 40+ hour trip lol
That sounds like a good time. Is there any gear you're excited to take along your journey? Stay safe! 😎
More of an advertorial than an honest review. 😟
Who’s really road tripping with this gas ⛽️ price unless u have a ev lol 😂
Use Pack Hacker to save money on gear so you can spend more on gas 😉
Families of 5 who still want to travel. Airfare is more expensive and with 5 people, we either need a rental car when we arrive or TWO taxis anytime we want to go somewhere. But you are right, with prices being what they are, we are staying closer to home.
Thanks for the insight, Janelle. Finding ways to travel no matter how far is a great skill.
-Eric
Birken crocs🤣🤣🤣🤣
No one ever talks about rain gear while on the road. It is essentially especially parked in the middle of a lot while there is a downpour happening.
Unoriginal and lame