Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Review

Adventure Medical Kits (AMK) makes a number of very popular stock first aid kits, and we tested the AMK Mountain Series Hiker on several backcountry trips in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It scores well in most of our metrics, notably in weight, durability, and the overall quality of the supplies and tools included. We appreciate how organized it is and how easy it is to restock.

Performance Comparison

Quality

The AMK Hiker is a high-quality first aid kit, and we give it great marks in this metric. The case is constructed from a rugged nylon material that resists wear and tear. It unfolds into three discrete sections, and its internal organization makes finding what you need easy in an emergency. It is impressive that such a small kit can conceal a pair of full-size, medical-grade trauma sheers; the tick tweezers and whistle are also a nice touch.

Similar to many other models in the category, we were not as impressed with the medical tape. Our testers preferred to replace the small roll with a more useful roll of cloth, athletic tape for wrapping ankles. And as with other products from Adventure Medical Kits, we opted to reseal the contents in individual ziplock pouches so that they would be further protected from water damage. We appreciate that this case includes basic medications, but the medication packaging is not resealable, making all of these essentially single-use packages.

Assortment

The AMK Hiker has a nice assortment of supplies and additional features. One thing that makes this case stand out is its superb organization. Having all the contents in separated zippered pockets makes the layout much neater and keeps things clean. As with many of AMK's kits, this one includes a thick 160-page wilderness medicine book, great for some light reading if you want to brush up on basic first-aid know-how. This kit contains an adequate variety and quantity of wound care items; the only thing it lacks that we really wanted is a CPR mask.

The kit includes enough materials for a small group; it is designed for a group of two on a shorter trip and simply does not have enough supplies to cover a group of 3-4 on a long trip. However, if you are traveling with a larger group, bringing a few of these kits along would be pretty convenient to increase the number of available supplies. We do wish that this kit included more than just one pair of nitrile gloves, as the one included pair is not enough to protect the responder from more than one exposure to another person's bodily fluids.

Versatility

Similar to most of the small kits we reviewed, the AMK Hiker is designed for small groups on short trips. In this regard, it works well. But don't expect this model to match the resources of a larger kit. This kit is best used on day trips, multi-pitch rock climbs, mountain bike rides, and other short adventures that do not take you very far from the trailhead, as the included materials do not allow you to perform any kind of significant trauma care.

The AMK Hiker isn't ideally suited for front-country use — we would want some additional adhesive bandages for minor abrasions. But it could be a nice addition to an RV or car as an emergency kit if you find yourself far from home.

Durability

The case is made of good heavy-duty nylon and should last quite a while, which is what we expect from a high-quality first aid kit. Resupplies of single-use items are inevitable with any first aid kit. But this kit makes that process simple with an easy ordering guide, which helps you avoid keeping a closet full of resupply materials.

All things considered, this kit is relatively easy to pack up after each use. Though it is intentionally compact, putting things back in their proper places is easy. If you need to bulk up on a small quantity of additional supplies, some extra space is built into the kit. Just be aware that the trauma shears can poke through their nylon pocket if they aren't oriented with care.

Weight

The AMK Hiker weighs ten ounces, making it one of the lighter kits in our review. This kit is small and stowable enough to take along in a summit pack, which is what it is perfectly suited for.

First aid kits are not something we typically review based on weight specifications, as their usefulness is often directly linked with their weight. However, this model balances those two metrics well, as long as you do not plan on using it on extended trips or for huge groups.

Should You Buy the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker?

The Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker is a perfect kit to bring with you on your next adventure close to home. Although it is best suited for 1-2 people on a weekend-length trip, it is also very useful on longer trips if each group member brings their own kit. This is our favorite option for day trips and short overnights. It is also an attractive option as a satellite kit if you are leaving a base camp for the day on a longer trek. It has top-quality supplies and construction but remains one of the least expensive in the category, giving it a very impressive value-to-cost ratio.

What Other First Aid Kits Should You Consider?