Finest First Assist Kits of 2024

Cuts, twisted ankles, and … a lot worse occurs. A part of being an outdoor individual is being ready for the worst, and with the ability to sort out minor issues earlier than they flip into massive ones. On high of figuring out your route and packing sufficient meals, water, and layers, having one of the best first assist package in your journey is a essential a part of getting outdoors.

When (not if) your subsequent medical concern comes up — whether or not that’s a small lower or a significant evacuation — you’ll want to be ready with the best emergency provides to both end out your journey or stabilize and get somebody to care safely. 

As a former outside educator with a NOLS Wilderness First Responder certification, I evaluated the under emergency kits for various eventualities, and interviewed medical professionals within the trade for his or her first assist suggestions. 

How I Selected the Finest First Assist Kits

For this text, I examined 13 medical kits by first grouping them into three classes: entry to house/automotive, day journey, and a number of nights. These classes take note of weight and the way lengthy it could take a affected person to get to skilled care. When you have entry to your private home or automotive, the MyFAK and First Assist Plus had essentially the most in depth vary of provides, and have been additionally packable. 

For the day journey and in a single day classes, I ran by a collection of NOLS eventualities, and evaluated how effectively I might deal with the affected person based mostly on the provides in entrance of me. For extra particular kits, just like the World Journey and Pet Medic, I in contrast them to related kits available on the market and thought of their packability, provides, and distinctive options. 

Whilst you’re just about assured to spend a good quantity on a high quality package, there have been some kits I examined whose value didn’t match their high quality or quantity or vary of supplies. If I might discover a related product for considerably cheaper, it was instantly ineligible for an award.

Finest First Assist Kits: Evaluations & Suggestions

Finest Total: My Medic MyFAK

Key Options

• Weight: 2 kilos, 6 ounces (Commonplace) or 3 kilos, 5 ounces (Professional)
• Provides for bleeds, burns, sprains, fractures, and hydration, together with survival instruments and over-the-counter medicines
• Folding design with 10 mesh pockets
• On-line M.A.R.C.H (Huge bleeding, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, Hypothermia) coaching course included with buy 

Execs

• Complete first assist package with primary first assist, survival, and intensive wilderness medication provides  
• The Professional contains intensive backcountry first assist supplies like a tourniquet, chest seals, bleed kits, and nasopharyngeal airway gadgets (NPAs)
• Equipment is organized by medical class 
• Ample provide of single-use provides like medicines, bandages, and wipes

Cons

• At $170 for a Commonplace and $330 for a Professional, it’s a steep value if you happen to don’t know how one can use (or see your self needing) all of the provides 
• SAM Break up ought to be included for this value
• No option to shrink or pack down for backpacking-appropriate dimension

The MyMedic MyFAK is essentially the most complete and sturdy first assist package on this listing. It tackles near any medical concern you’ll encounter as an outdoorsperson, from burns to fractures. This package is heavy, however it’s nonetheless nice to have on-hand if you happen to aren’t strolling in too far to hunt, fish, or climb, for instance. The load is price having prepared if one thing have been to go fallacious. 

What separates the MyMedic MyFAK above the remaining is their thoughtfulness and dedication to offer all provides for these “what if” conditions you hopefully solely encounter in a classroom. It’s laborious to wrap your head round paying $330 for the Professional, however you’re not paying for individually-wrapped ibuprofen. You’re paying for 2 chest seals, two nasopharyngeal air gadgets, and hemostatic dressing — individually wrapped and, hopefully, by no means restocked. These are the sorts of kits that you just can not make at house. 

As an avid backpacker, I constantly store from this primary assist package earlier than hitting the path as a result of the MyMedic MyFAK has basically each provide I’d wish to convey into the backcountry … simply not in a backcountry-friendly package deal. There may be house within the package for MyMedic to incorporate a smaller journey bag, however backpackers are at all times complaining about additional weight, to allow them to do what works for them.

Finest Light-weight: Journey Medical Kits Ultralight / Watertight Medical Equipment .7

Key Options

• Weight: 6.8 ounces
• Waterproof 
• Fundamental first assist provides for 1-2 individuals for 1-4 days
• Contents embrace wound and blister care, in addition to primary medicines

Execs 

• Light-weight and sturdy
• Minimal quantity of high quality contents with ample bandages and dressings
• Waterproof case

Cons

• Low portions of medicines
• Isn’t ample for a bigger group or main emergency

Weighing solely 6.8 ounces, this primary assist package goes additional than any package on this listing, due, partly, to how good Journey Medical Kits has packed it. Whereas its pared-down contents received’t lower it in a significant backcountry emergency, it’s able to go together with all the fundamentals. This package offers you what you’ll want for a brief journey with just a few individuals, however you additionally could not discover it essential to convey sheers or a CPR protect. 

A serious plus of this primary assist package is its sturdy waterproof bag. You’ll be able to confidently throw this package subsequent to your toes in a kayak, or use the facet loops to clip it onto your harness whereas climbing. 

Finest for Mountain climbing: NOLS Med Equipment 4.0 

Key Options

• Weight: 1 pound, 26 ounces
• Intensive wound care supplies
• Supplies in accordance with NOLS wilderness medication curriculum
• Many med kits don’t embrace a CPR masks, duct tape, irrigation syringe, and triangle bandages for sling and swath
• Contains SOAP notes for speaking a affected person’s situation to look and rescue

Execs

• You be taught to make use of all this gear in NOLS programs
• Intensive wound care supplies
• Light-weight, but there’s room to customise your package

Cons

• No SAM Splint such as you’re taught to make use of of their programs
• Subpar tweezers

That is the med package I’ve been taking backpacking for years, and out of the 11 kits I examined for this roundup, I nonetheless received’t backpack with the rest. I’ve a NOLS Wilderness First Responder certification, and I’ve discovered this package has a excessive emphasis on treating extra extreme wounds than minor abrasions. If the aim of a wilderness medical certification is to stabilize a affected person till emergency medical companies can attain them, then this package helps that intention. 

Clearly this package doesn’t have every little thing, so I’ve added a SAM Splint for fractures (though it provides weight), in addition to a “cheat sheet” I made for assessing an injured or sick affected person within the area and a light-weight SOTO Amicus backpacking range. The 4.0’s roomy pockets are additionally a great place for the group to maintain their private medicines in the event that they so select. 

I additionally evaluated the Journey Medical Equipment Mountain Collection Backpacker in my check, however finally really feel extra ready with the 4.0 in treating important wounds. In truth, I gave this package to a pal (an EMT) who needed to deal with somebody within the area with a deep wound that needed to be totally packed and was instantly transported. That’s all the extra assurance I wanted.

Learn Subsequent: Finest First Assist Kits for Mountain climbing

Finest Fundamental: Journey Medical Journey First Assist 1.0

Key Options

• Weight: 8 ounces
• Two giant plastic pockets
• Accommodates bandages, over-the-counter medicines, moleskin, and wound care 
• Mini whistle and compass

Execs

• Covers many of the probably on a regular basis, minor first assist points it’s possible you’ll run into
• The 2 pockets have room so that you can add your personal supplies (I add a bottle of hand sanitizer and a mini sunscreen)

Cons

• Solely covers very primary wants and shouldn’t be relied on within the backcountry
• Tweezers are subpar 

This easy first assist package has sufficient primary provides for one individual for one to 2 days — or, as I exploit it, for each day, low-consequence, just-in-case use. Suppose splinter or minor aches and pains on the path or round city: “Oh, I’ve one thing for that.” I maintain this primary assist package in my day pack for a chill hike and in my carryon once I’m touring — and even in my bag on an everyday day. It’s nothing particular with regards to the spectacular scope of first assist kits on this listing, however for a primary package, it has every little thing you’ll want, and nothing that’s “an excessive amount of” for minor, each day wants. 

Finest for Journey: Journey Medical Kits World Journey

Key Options

• Weight: 1 pound, 10 ounces
• Contains oral rehydration salts on high of ordinary over-the counter treatment
• A piece for private toiletries and extra first assist provides
• Visible communication instrument card with primary wants in Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Arabic
• Features a marine medication information and a wilderness medication information

Execs

• Extremely organized
• Helpful visible communication instrument with 4 languages and pictures

Cons

• Want to see an elastic bandage included

It is a fairly complete first assist package that features options particular to touring. Whilst you’d hope you possibly can talk the fundamentals in a rustic you’re visiting, the visible communication instrument is tremendous intelligent, and the 2 pocket guides might show very helpful in a pinch. Most notably, the oral rehydration salts are essential for touring, and I’d like to see them extra in backpacking first assist kits, as effectively. As somebody who likes to zip-tie their first assist package till I want to make use of it, I’m skeptical concerning the giant part for private toiletries, because it means I’d be opening the World Journey a number of instances a day, so I’d slightly decide to fill that part with any further emergency supplies I count on to want on my subsequent journey. 

Finest for Automotive Tenting: Uncharted Provide Co. First Assist Plus

Key Options

• Weight: 2 kilos, 15 ounces
• Sturdy, one hundred pc waterproof case
• Weight (totally packed): 2.15 kilos
• Absolutely-comprehensive automotive first assist package together with gear restore and survival instruments like a multi-tool, flashlight, stormproof matches, and chem lights

Execs

• Extremely organized 
• Features a pocket first assist information
• Intensive wound administration provides and survival instruments

Cons

• Doesn’t embrace over-the-counter treatment

On high of a roadside emergency package, that is the one first assist package I maintain in my automotive for tenting journeys. Residing in Colorado, I typically drive lengthy distances with stretches out of cell sign. Not solely do I really feel protected having this emergency package in my automotive, however I additionally like figuring out I’ve a robust backup of provides once I’m tenting. After including over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen to the package, the First Assist Plus has every little thing I would like. I’m uniquely impressed by the package’s inclusion of a CPR package, saline wound/eye irrigation system, and triangular bandages (usually used for head wounds or as a sling/swath). 

The package opens like a e-book, and the best half is stuffed with helpful emergency provides I’d hate to ever want, however will show helpful in case of an emergency. I’ve by no means seen a primary assist package include a multi instrument (not the greatest multi instrument, however nonetheless good), a flashlight, or chem lights, and after including a lighter and an emergency snack, I can’t consider another fundamentals I would want. Whereas dropping over $100 on a primary assist package is critical, I’d need to say this package is well one of the best worth on the market, and there are kits effectively into the $150+ vary that don’t get near what Uncharted Provide Co. presents right here. 

Finest for Hunters and Anglers: Journey Medical Kits Sportsman Collection

Key Options

• Weight (Sportsman 300): 1 pound, 8 ounces
• Is available in 4 sizes for variety of individuals and days
• Emphasis on trauma provides and wound care
• Comes with a wilderness and journey medication handbook

Execs

• Complete trauma package 
• Features a triangle bandage for a sling and swath and WoundStop trauma dressing

Cons

• Disorganized 
• Ought to embrace fish hook removing
• Subpar tweezers

The Sportsman Collection is clearly geared towards looking and fishing accidents, and I’d really feel assured dressing a significant wound ready for evacuation or strolling somebody out of the sector. This package has extra bandages and gauze than most backpacking kits, and contains extra intensive trauma care, like non-adhering dressing, WoundStop trauma dressing, and two pairs of gloves.

OL Employees Author Tyler Freel additionally carries an additional bag of ibuprofen, further bandaids, tremendous glue, Leukotape, and a bottle of hydrocodone in his looking first assist package.

Finest for Canine: My Medic Pet Medic Med Pack

Key Options

• Weight: 4.1 ounces
• A resealable bag filled with high quality provides 
• Digital obtain of a pet first assist information
• Tweezers and quite a lot of sterile pads, gauze, and wraps 
• Antibiotic ointment, antimicrobial wipes, anti-allergy treatment 
• Slip leash

Execs

• Plenty of first assist kits don’t present high quality tweezers, however these simply received a splinter out of my pal’s canine’s paw
• Straightforward to deconstruct and add to dog-walking fanny pack or a jacket pocket
• QR code to an incredible 29-page canine first assist guide

Cons

• My Medic doesn’t provide a primary assist package for pets, only a tightly-packed plastic bag of provides
• Slip leash is pretty quick

You don’t assume you want a primary assist package for canine, however as my buddies’ canine walker once they work the evening shift, I’ve added a few of these provides to Stevie and Remy’s deal with and plastic bag fanny pack. Among the commonest mountaineering/looking accidents for canine embrace bites, cuts, splinters, ticks, and issues of their eyes. Even a small abrasion can worsen all through a day within the area, so it’s a lot better to remain on high of it. 

Even for walks across the neighborhood, I like maintaining the tweezers, wipes, and hand sanitizer on me, and after we go on lengthy hikes, I respect having abrasion supplies and an antihistamine. I favor this technique of taking what I want from the Pet Medic, slightly than hauling round a full package. 

I’ve My Medic’s canine first assist package downloaded on my telephone, and it’s a useful useful resource for subjects like emergencies, poisonings, tick detachable, canine park etiquette, and extra. 

Issues to Think about Earlier than Shopping for the Finest First Assist Equipment

What You’re Doing and The place You’re Going 

Even if you happen to by no means need to open it, you need to at all times have a fully-packed first assist package in your backpack to organize for the worst-case situation. A day hike could solely require a number of bandaids and a few ibuprofen, however a multi-day backcountry journey goes to require much more provides if you need to await search and rescue. Earlier than you choose your greatest first assist package, I recommend making an inventory of the highest few points you’d count on to come across, in addition to what number of doses of over-the-counter treatment you will want. For instance, if you happen to’re mountaineering for a number of miles inside cell sign on a busy path, it’s possible you’ll not want an area blanket or a number of packets of anti-bacterial gel — two requirements on an extended trek. 

Your Medical Certifications 

Bear in mind, you possibly can solely apply first assist as excessive as your coaching, so if you end up in conditions the place potential dangers are larger than your medical coaching, think about enrolling in a wilderness medication course, like NOLS Wilderness First Responder. 

Value

Some first assist kits are within the lots of of {dollars}, so before you purchase, look critically at what you’ll truly use. It’s up for debate whether or not shopping for a pre-made package is cheaper than shopping for all of the supplies in bulk and constructing one your self, however if you happen to don’t have your first-aid wants dialed, you need to in all probability purchase a package to start out off. After you’ve got your fundamentals down, you possibly can refill what merchandise you want, take out what you don’t, or add belongings you discover your package is missing, like a splint or further bandages. 

First Assist Equipment Add-Ons

Even one of the best first assist kits don’t have all of it. I at all times advocate maintaining a duplicate of everybody in your teams’ insurance coverage playing cards in your package, and embrace a number of medical masks if you happen to encounter a affected person outdoors of your group who wants assist. On a distant backpacking journey, I’ll add a SAM Splint for fractures and a few blister bandaids, a light-weight backup range, sunscreen, additional water purification, and additional hand sanitizer that’s separate from my cooking set. That being stated, from my expertise as a information, I’d slightly be over ready than pack extremely mild. 

FAQs

Remaining Ideas on the Finest First Assist Kits

For my part, it’s higher to be over ready than to want you had one thing in an emergency. No less than certainly one of these greatest first assist kits will, at a minimal, offer you an instance of what first assist provides to convey based mostly in your journey or life-style. And whereas I hope you’ll by no means have to make use of it, an additional pound or two in your pack is at all times price it in case you do.