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Looking for a new first aid kit for your home, car, or next backcountry adventure? We have been testing the best first aid kits for eight years, and our current selection includes 16 of the top options on the market. Our test team is comprised of first aid professionals, including mountain guides, ski patrollers, and wilderness first responders. These kits are evaluated using a set of standardized tests to judge key metrics like component quality, assortment, and versatility. Our expert panel field tested, analyzed, and ranked all of these first aid kits to help you find the perfect one for your next adventure.
We take safety in the backcountry seriously. But being prepared for your outdoor adventures also helps make them more fun. While you're planning your next excursion, check out our reviews of the best backpacking tents and our favorite backpacking sleeping bags to help you rest easy. Our backcountry experts have also tested the top-ranked backpacking water filters so you can safely pull water from that pristine – but potentially unclean – alpine stream.
Editors' Note: This review was updated on April 24, 2023, to add two new products, the Homestock+ Professional and the Protect Life First Aid Kit 250pc. We also addressed our scoring metrics to put more emphasis on kit Assortment and Versatility and less emphasis on Weight.
The Surviveware Small kit is comprised of a solid variety of quality supplies in an ultra-rugged container with water-tight zippers. It is condensed but not too small, and it features everything you need to deal with most injuries, minor or major. It contains high-quality components that increase its value, like hospital-grade forceps, trauma shears, and Ace bandages. We also appreciate the inclusion of gloves and a CPR mask in this compact travel kit.
One surprising fault of this kit is the lack of over-the-counter medicines. You will need to add your own if you want to have them on hand. We also added a roll of tape and gloves due to a limited supply of these key components. Fortunately, there is extra space for these supplemental items or any other additional supplies that you decide to include based on your trip's specific needs.
If you are looking for solid value, check out the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker. This small kit is about as wide as a postcard, so you won't have any trouble fitting it into even your tiniest daypack. It weighs only ten ounces, and you can lighten it even more by removing the first aid book. We love taking this kit along on mountain bike rides, day hikes, and multi-pitch rock climbs because of how little it weighs. It is our favorite compact option for short trips and offers an impressive assortment of supplies for the price.
While we highly recommend this product because of its overall value, you cannot expect this compact option to have the same components as the larger kits. It doesn't include extra nitrile gloves or a CPR mask, meaning it offers less personal protection equipment, making it less adaptable to certain medical emergencies. The quantities in this kit are intentionally minimal to keep it lightweight, so it's best suited for just one or two people as opposed to a larger group. But you will be hard-pressed to find a more adaptable, compactable first aid kit for the size, weight, and price.
Total Weight: 31 oz | First Aid Manual: Yes (eBook)
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent quality
Well-organized
Includes a tear-away pocket kit
Incorporates advanced tools
REASONS TO AVOID
First Aid book only available as a digital eBook
Expensive
Bulky
The MyMedic MyFAK is the burliest first aid kit we've tested to date. It looks and feels super durable and features the heavy-duty medical gear many other kits lack. Pressure bandages, saline irrigation tubes, medical-grade thermometers, and trauma shears are just a few of the high-quality pieces of equipment included. This kit also includes a small, tear-away pouch that can be packed for short trips away from camp for those times when you don't want to carry the entire case.
The MyFAK is bulky and heavy, so you probably won't bring it along for shorter hikes. More than other kits, this model will be appreciated by trained medical professionals. It is best for situations that require more serious medical attention in remote areas when preparedness trumps the weight of the first aid kit. We like this kit for car camping, job sites, off-road driving, or other activities where you can establish a well-stocked home base.
The Homestock+ Professional is our favorite first aid kit for taking out on a road trip. It comes in a durable soft case that is designed to attach to the back of a headrest. We love that this kit is super well-organized. Every item has a labeled slot that also provides the intended use for that item (e.g., sterile gauze pad for wound cleaning). It includes a solid supply of a wide variety of basic items, which are robust enough for extended road trips or just simply keeping your car well-stocked in case of everyday emergencies.
We think this kit could be improved in a couple of ways. The individual compartments are tight and inflexible, making it somewhat difficult for people with larger hands to pull out some of the supplies. It also doesn't come with any medications, so we would definitely want to supplement it with some over-the-counter basics. While all basic first aid kits can be dialed in for specific uses, if you are planning on keeping a kit in your car, this is our top choice for the long road ahead.
The Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose is what we go to for a reliable at-home kit. It comes with an ample supply of the basics we most commonly need: Band-Aids of all sizes, Neosporin, medical tape, Tylenol, and Benadryl anti-itch cream. This is a great setup for families with children or anyone who might need a quick adhesive bandage to fix 'em up quickly. It can also serve as a solid main stock to pull from when you need to refill smaller travel kits.
One of our main issues is that the case and packaging are pretty flimsy. The carrying case feels cheap, and the two plastic latches seem like they are likely to fail faster than we'd prefer. Additionally, the plastic insert holding many supplies is utterly disposable. We also noted that the band-aids are a paler shade and that the kit does not include any OurTone bandages. Issues with the case aside, the quality of the actual first-aid items is top-notch, and we plan to keep this kit on hand for at-home use.
The Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose has a nice assortment of brand-name supplies for the most common first aid needs.
The Adventure Medical Kits Smart Travel stands out as an ideal offering for world travelers. This kit could be brought along on a hiking trip, but we found it to be best suited for someone going on a vacation or a trip abroad. The included materials and medications are more applicable, such as an easy-to-use visual guide to support people with a language barrier at foreign clinics. The well-stocked Smart Travel Kit has everything you need for basic care abroad, including a number of common over-the-counter travel medications. This kit is designed to be used on the go and can be hung from the back of a door. It's made of durable material that should resist wear and tear.
This kit's main drawback is its layout and organizational structure, which was underwhelming compared to other products. We still feel like this first aid kit has a lot to offer to those who are traveling, especially in foreign countries, and it's small enough that people living out of their luggage should be able to bring it along without going over the weight limit.
The Adventure Medical Kits Smart Travel kit includes many useful items for your travels abroad.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
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The value of a first aid kit is directly related to its purpose. The many different kits available vary in size based on assortment of supplies. It is important to consider what types of items you need based on your trip plans.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
Why You Should Trust Us
Testing these kits is a combination of real-world use, expert observations, and simulated medical environments (like Wilderness First Responder [WFR] courses). During WFR training, we handed these kits off to novices and re-certifying professionals. We took everything apart and evaluated the quality of the contents. We weighed the kits on a digital scale and compared our measurements against the manufacturer's specifications. We tested the practicality of these standard kits during trauma simulations included in WFR training. The diversity of injuries encountered in this simulated environment was an effective approach to gaining hands-on data related to kit versatility and utility.
Our first aid kit testing is divided into five rating metrics:
Quality (25% of overall score weight)
Assortment (25%)
Versatility (25%)
Durability (15%)
Weight (10%)
For review author and mountain guide Ryan Huetter, first aid isn't something to be taken lightly. As a mountain professional, injury prevention is his primary risk management tool. But he always carries a quality, well-stocked first aid kit for personal and professional trips. Ryan holds a bachelor's degree in Outdoor Adventure Management from Western Washington University, and he is a fully-certified IFMGA guide and works around the world guiding rock, ski, and alpine climbing trips.
Jackie is a ski patroller and EMT who has worked at Kirkwood Mountain in California and currently works at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado. She spends her winters treating everything from minor cuts and scrapes to life-threatening injuries in remote environments. In her spare time, she ski tours, enjoys long runs in the remote San Juan Mountains, and has completed expedition-style ski trips around North America.
Ben started as a guide and wilderness first responder in the outdoor industry while leading backpacking, cycling, and canoeing trips throughout northern New England. He has since completed several of America's most iconic long trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail.
A cold compress usually is just extra weight in the backcountry but it does have a place in a home kit.
Lots of items fit into the small case of the crowd-favorite Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker, and the back has a handy inventory checklist.
Though it's not completely waterproof, the nylon case on the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker is more than up to the task of a trailside deployment.
Analysis and Test Results
Our testing process begins with extensive market research to narrow down a selection of the most popular first aid kits on the market. We purchase all the products – just like you – to ensure that our reviews are comprehensive and independent. Once we have these kits in hand, we first assess all of the items (as well as the case itself) for quality. We then put the first aid kits through their paces in simulated medical emergencies and real-world, everyday use. We identified several metrics based on the most important performance aspects users will likely demand from a high-quality first aid kit. We compare these kits side-by-side and rank them relative to one another to help you find the best options for home use, international travel, backcountry adventure, and road trips.
Value
You can purchase a small watertight bag and make your custom kit. However, this is a time-consuming process, and the costs add up quickly. You'd likely end up with plenty of supplies to restock your kit, but you'd have to spend much more than the price of a pre-built model. Retail first aid kits offer excellent value for those wanting to forego this slow and expensive venture.
The quality of the scissors in small first aid kits tends to vary wildly. We strongly prefer kits with hospital grade trauma shears, as displayed here. Scissors are used frequently and are important tools in first aid, so if they don't cut it, it's hard to overlook.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
Tradeoffs in this gear category are typically the quality and quantity of the contents. A kit full of items of dubious utility doesn't provide the same value as a kit built out with selective, higher-quality components. The Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose is an affordable kit that offers a variety of high-quality bandages for everyday bumps and scrapes. The compact Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker doesn't have the same assortment as larger kits, but the selective utility of its contents is practical for the backcountry. Both first aid kits provide great value for their given uses.
The Homestock+ Professional has a quality soft case that will keep supplies protected and intact, and is purposefully built for keeping in your car.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Quality
Quality is a crucial factor when considering a first aid kit. To test the quality of each particular kit, we carefully examined the tools, medical supplies, medications, and storage case or pouch. We put manufacturer quality control to the test by making sure that the list of contents matched the included supplies and double-checking that any medication was at least one year before its expiration date from when we purchased the kits.
There is a significant variation in the quality of the components of the different kits we tested. For example, some come with solid trauma shears, similar to those a paramedic uses in an ambulance. In contrast, other kits have small scissors made from cheap plastic that bent the first time we attempted to cut something with them. Unreliable tools in your kit exponentially decrease utility, especially in time-sensitive situations. And for backcountry use in particular, it is important to have a container and supplies that can stand up to the elements.
The double layer of protection on the Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 keeps the contents safe.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Other items that exhibited a wide range of quality were the rolls of medical tape, triangle bandages, tweezers, and CPR masks. Overall, the Adventure Medical Kits models, including the UltraLight / Watertight .7, Mountain Series Hiker, Mountain Series Backpacker, and Mountain Series Explorer impressed us with their high-quality components. The Surviveware Small and MyMedic MyFAK also include high-quality components ready for the rigors of the backcountry. Although the Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose is definitely not backcountry-ready, it is a high-quality kit that includes J&J brand-name products like BandAid, Neosporin, Bengay, and Tylenol, and it is a great option for at-home or office use.
There can be a wide variety in implement quality. Pictured here (from left to right) are our favorite compact fine point foreceps, scaling up to large, clunky plastic tweezers.
Credit: Ross Robinson
Another factor related to quality is a kit's internal organization. When responding to medical incidents, having your first aid contents clearly labeled and easy to find is reassuring. The Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Explorer and the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker are a few of our favorites for their intentionally designed and intuitive organizational features. We also love the Homestock+ Professional; not only are the items clearly labeled, but the kit also indicates their intended use. We also appreciate fold-out organizer pockets and removable mini kits, like the to-go pocket kit included with the MyMedic MyFAK. Less organized kits forced us to dig excessively or remove everything to find our desired item. After several uses, they became hopelessly cluttered, negatively impacting the entire kit's overall useability.
We test the adhesive properties of bandages by wearing them throughout the day and assessing how well they stay put.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Assortment
Given the potential scenarios we might encounter on a trail or at home, we want to be confident that the medical supplies on hand are right for the situation. We score kits based on both the variety and context-relevant quantity of supplies. For example, the Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose is quite Band-Aid heavy, but its assortment is appropriate given its at-home or in-office use. Similarly, you don't need to carry a duffel-sized first aid kit into the backcountry to have the right assortment of supplies for wilderness first response. The Surviveware Small is full of practical items – like hospital-grade trauma shears and fine point tweezers for splinters and ticks – and not many items that serve little purpose on the trail.
It is heavy, but relative to other options of its size, the MyMedic MyFAK kit is perhaps the best equipped to handle large wounds in the backcountry. Kits that are heavy on bulky dressings and wound closure strips but lack over-the-counter medications or blister kits do not rate as highly as those with a more balanced range of supplies. The Homestock+ Professional has a nice variety of supplies – from basic adhesive bandages and gauze to an Ace wrap and a CPR mask – and is well balanced in terms of quantities.
Irrigation syringes are useful for cleaning wounds in the field. Viren Perumal cleans a large avulsion on Julie's hand during trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon.
Credit: Chris Ginzton
The Adventure Medical Kits Smart Travel model is incredibly useful for its designated application. As the name implies, it is designed to be tucked in a carry-on during domestic or international trips. This kit includes items like antidiarrheals, rehydration salts, and a visual aid for communication across languages, and it receives a high score in this metric based on its utility for travel in particular. However, it lacks some essentials for effective wilderness use.
This handy two-sided card included in the Adventure Medical Kits Smart Travel allows you to point to reference injuries or illnesses , bypassing potential language barriers.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
A few markedly heavy items are included in some backcountry kits that seem less than useful. Notably, we tested kits – like the Swiss Safe 120-Piece – where premium space was occupied by cold compresses that did not fully activate. Similarly, some bulkier backcountry kits – like the Protect Life First Aid Kit 250pc – include glow sticks, which could be useful for a roadside emergency, but are likely not as useful in a backcountry context.
It may be more useful to have a better equipped kit for activities like ski mountaineering, where a fall or accident can be more consequential and evacuation to even a nearby trailhead is often more complicated.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
The key consideration is how many people you plan to serve with your kit. A small, lightweight kit like the Adventure Medical Kits UltraLight / Watertight .7 is incredibly useful for a day trip for a one or two-person group. But it pales compared to the usefulness of a deeper kit like the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Explorer, designed to serve a group of three or four over many days. It is important to consider the quantity and assortment of supplies based on your group size, travel time, and intended activities. Supplementing these kits with frequently used items like extra gloves, bandages, tape, and medications is not uncommon.
Versatility
This metric considers how well a kit can serve different group sizes and a kit's usefulness over a range of activities in both the front- and backcountry. The most versatile models are those that can sufficiently fulfill first-aid needs in multiple contexts, from remote adventures to car camping to home and office use.
The Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Explorer and MyMedic MyFAK are our favorites for use on longer trips with bigger groups. Both kits offer superior storage for a wider range of supplies, making them the most versatile on extended trips. The MyFAK is particularly suited for base camp setups and is also our favorite for dealing with more significant trauma. The Homestock+ Professional is a standout that proved itself on the trail, on a multi-day road trip, and as our everyday, keep-in-your-car kit. The Protect Life First Aid Kit 250pc is similarly useful for road trips but not nearly as versatile for backcountry use.
Several kits like the Homestock+ Professional have manuals with instructions for basic first aid.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The Swiss Safe 120-Piece kit comes with a small pocket knife, but we found it to be practically useless by itself and would prefer to use one of our favorite pocket knives instead. The I Go Ultralight and Uncharted Supply Co. Core first aid kits displayed little versatility among the small kits. We continually swapped out tape, tools, and medications from more quality kits such as the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker or Surviveware Small to feel more confident in our abilities to provide effective treatment. Although we appreciated the usefulness of the Adventure Medical Kits Smart Travel kit for traveling, it was far from being an all-around champ.
Some kits thrive in the front country more than on trail. You might consider keeping one in your car for emergencies.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
If You Can't Buy It, Build It
If your kit isn't as versatile out of the box as you'd like it to be, don't let that stop you from replacing consumable items with the supplies you actually need. After reviewing each kit, we began mixing the contents to build the ultimate kits for short and long trips.
For example, by combining the Surviveware Small and the Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7, we were able to build a robust kit perfect for a large group on an extended trip. We were able to compensate for each kit's deficiencies while also gaining a customized, pocket-sized kit perfect for day hikes.
The bigger your group, the bigger your kit should be. A first aid kit should be considered group gear, and should be able to handle the needs of the group: from common injuries to the worst-of-the-worst.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
You might consider carrying multiple kits if your backcountry group size is large enough. Groups split up, itineraries change, and the injured or ill may require evacuation while other group members stay in the field. So having the option to split up resources is a good idea. Even for short hikes away from camp, taking a small kit with you while the large base kit stays in camp can be a nice option.
Pockets labeled by injury make the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker a well-organized, highly versatile option.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
Durability
Two components that will likely stay with you for the kit's lifetime are the bag itself and the included tools, so it is particularly important to consider the durability of these items. Inevitably you will need to replace individual components – such as medications – but that doesn't mean you should have to preemptively, like if their sterile packaging breaks down. Generally speaking, first aid incidents don't happen on every outing, so kits may bide their time unused at the bottom of a backpack for extended periods. Periodic inspections are recommended for the sake of safety and reliability, but we also expect the quality of our emergency equipment to last between these checks.
The Surviveware Small has a super durable carrying case with the most substantial watertight zippers we have ever seen. Many of these kits include an inventory list that is helpful for restocking. But the Surviveware Small and the entire Adventure Medical Kit line also offers a reordering service to help you easily restock depleted medical supplies with similar quality ones.
The Surviveware Small has the most durable watertight zipper of any model we tested.
We also like the double-layer protection of the Adventure Medical Kits UltraLight / Watertight .7. The resealable bag is made of durable, weather-resistant nylon with a reversed watertight zipper and taped seams to protect the kit's components. Other products like the Be Smart Get Prepared 326 Piece kit use a hard-plastic case that can be wall-mounted for easy access in a workplace setting.
While not recommended as the only line of defense against water, the Adventure Medical Kits UltraLight / Watertight .7 kept its contents dry after full dips in a Keene Valley stream.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
While you can certainly take extra precautions to protect the contents of your kit, all the included items need to be durable, reliable, and capable of withstanding some abuse. The majority of the kits we tested lacked waterproof or even water-resistant cases. While individual resealable packages can help, you may have to purchase an additional dry bag to ensure your supplies won't spoil.
The durable Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker case makes it a great choice for climbing and hiking.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Weight
We measured the weight of all the kits in our review and ranked them accordingly. We recognize that not all kits are created equally, so we also considered what supplies they included. Nearly all the kits designed for backcountry use are reasonable to carry along in a daypack.
Some kits like the I Go First Ultralight and the Uncharted Supply Co. Core are quite light but are filled with unnecessary or bulky supplies that undermine their utility. Although it sits in the middle of the pack at 13.6 ounces, the Surviveware Small kit scores well in this metric because of its very reasonable utility-to-weight ratio – that is, it's incredibly useful for a reasonably sized first aid kit. We love the lightweight and practical Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker for activities like alpine climbing and ultralight backpacking when every ounce and cubic inch matter. Even though it is a couple of ounces heavier than the Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7, its assortment makes it our top choice for most day trips. The HART Health Weekend, also weighing in at only 10 ounces, earns an honorable mention here for its lightweight packability.
The lightest of the bunch is the Uncharted Supply Co. Core. But beware, some light kits may need extra additions in order to be sufficiently stocked. This is the unfortunate case with this model.
Credit: Ross Robinson
Weight is only a consideration if you plan on carrying one of these in a backpack. If you're looking for a home- or office-specific first aid kit, options worth noting are the Be Smart Get Prepared kits, both the larger 326-Piece kit as well as the smaller 110-piece kit. Though less likely to come with us on a hiking trip due to its weight, our favorite kit to stash at any base camp is the MyMedic MyFAK. Car and home-based kits can afford greater quantities of common supplies and heavier and bulkier components like Ace wrap bandages and cold compresses since space and weight are not an issue. The Red Cross has a great list of items that should be considered for a home kit.
Adventure Medical Kits include a useful instruction book to help correctly address medical issues common in the backcountry. We like this inclusion, while also acknowledging that it does not replace medical training.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
The Adventure Medical Kits Smart Travel model also lands on the heavier side of the spectrum, yet it's appropriate for its intended usage. Several extra ounces in a suitcase is less of a concern than it is in a backpack. Furthermore, if you are skilled and confident enough to embark without needing the first aid manual in the Smart Travel model, you can save weight and space by leaving it at home.
Two different ends of the weight spectrum, these award-winning kits are both incredibly useful but appropriate for much different applications.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Most of the overnight models we looked at were of similar size because you can only go so small without compromising on the contents you bring with you. The day-tripping models that garnered such high scores in this metric were indeed featherweight – there is no comparing the Surviveware to the slim Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 – though be careful how light you go before you lose the usefulness you desire.
The Be Smart Get Prepared 100 is relatively lightweight and has a carrying handle if you need a kit on the go for work travel.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Two of the heaviest models we would consider carrying for river trips or car camping are the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Explorer and the MyMedic MyFAK. With their extensive tool sets, both of these kits are much better suited for big groups, long trips, or the potential for heavy trauma. Each fills a slightly different role: the Explorer manages to keep weight and bulk relatively low while still offering the ability to care for multiple people over multiple days; we recognize the MyFAK's value as a burly, high-quality first aid kit that is best used at base camp.
Having a good first aid kit on hand just makes sense.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Conclusion
Everyone needs a quality first aid kit. Whether you never leave the house or you go out for multi-day treks deep into the mountains, you should be prepared for everything from typical cuts and scrapes to unforeseen medical emergencies. Choosing the best first aid kit allows front-country and backcountry users alike to better care for themselves and their friends. We hope you never need to use them, but if you can't prevent an accident, it's better to be prepared for one. Thanks for reading this review, and stay safe out there doing all of the things that you love to do!
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
