First Aid Kits
These suckers are pretty important. If you're heading out into the wild for a camping adventure, you better bring along a first aid kit. Yeah, I know it might sound all fancy and delicate, but trust me, it's a survival essential for any self-respecting outdoorsman.
Picture this: You're out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nature's beauty. You're chopping wood, setting up tents, and wrestling bears (okay, maybe not the last one). But hey, accidents happen. You could trip over a tree root, slice your hand while being a badass with your trusty survival knife, or burn yourself while playing with fire like a caveman. And when those mishaps occur, you better be prepared.
That's where the first aid kit comes in. It's like having a medic on standby, ready to patch you up and keep you going. Inside that rugged kit, you'll find all sorts of manly supplies. Bandages? Check. Antiseptic wipes? Check. Tweezers for digging out splinters? Check. You'll even find some nifty tools like scissors and adhesive tape to fix you up like a pro.
A small cut might not seem like a big deal, but in the great outdoors, infections are sneaky sons of guns. That little scrape could turn into a raging, pus-filled mess if you don't clean it properly. And that's not what a real outdoorsman wants. You want to stay strong, be able to tackle the elements, and keep on exploring like the rugged adventurer you are.
Plus, you're not the only one out there. You might have your buddies or your family with you. If they get into a sticky situation, you'll be the hero with that first aid kit. It's like being Batman, but instead of a utility belt, you've got a portable lifesaver in a sturdy box. (Corny, right? So what!)
Don't think you're invincible just because you can wrestle a bear. Bring that first aid kit camping, my friend. It's your ticket to survival, the key to conquering the great outdoors, and a symbol of your masculinity. Be prepared, be smart, and most importantly, be safe out there.
First Aid Kit reviews
Surviveware Comprehensive Premium
This rugged first aid kit is designed to help care for minor wounds, cuts, scrapes and burns. It's a "boo-boo" kit so you'll want to add a few things. It comes in Small (100 pieces) or Large (200 pieces), waterproof or water-resistant casing. The contents are neatly organized in labeled compartments according to emergencies you might encounter and are individually sealed in resealable bags. If the kit does get wet, the contents stay dry.
The water-resistant first aid kits are made from high-quality rip resistant 600D Polyester and quality zippers. These kits are shipped in a resealable waterproof plastic bag. The waterproof first aid kits are made with 100% waterproof material and watertight zippers to keep contents inside dry (IPX7 Rating). It can be kept underwater for 30m (98 feet) up to a depth of 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches). Both cases are made with removable MOLLE compatible straps, snaps and D-rings so they can be attached to almost any surface.
This kit is durable. We've punished ours over some rough terrain and it's still water-resistant and sturdy. Our friends who have this in the back of their truck say it withstands hot weather really well.
Quick measurements for your backpack:
Small: 7.5 x 6 x 3.5 inches (19 x 15 x 9 cm), weighs 1 pound (454 grams)
Small waterproof: 8 x 6 x 3.5 inches (20 x 15 x 9 cm), weighs 1.25 pounds (567 grams)
Large: 12 x 8 x 6 inches (30 x 20 x 15 cm), weighs 3.25 pounds (1.47 kilograms)
Large waterproof: 9 x 7 x 4 inches (23 x 18 x 10 cm), weighs 2.25 pounds (1 kg)
Surviveware's Premium Comprehensive first aid kits include a comprehensive first aid guide/booklet, a pocket on the front for your own personal medications, and a blanket. The large kit includes a splint.
You want to swap out the bandaids and medical tape. They simply don't stick to your skin. Some people dislike the shears and tweezers. Decide before you need them on the trail.
What's missing is anything with an expiry date (antibiotic/antimicrobial ointment or spray, medicinal super glue, hydrocortisone, Ibuprofen, antihistamines), a tourniquet, a small little flashlight, and extra gloves. The small first aid kit needs a waste bag. Those with more advanced medical training usually add an Israeli bandage.
As "boo-boo" bags go, Surviveware's Premium Comprehensive first aid kits are rugged, durable, organized for finding what you need in an emergency, and attach anywhere so you'll always have it with you.
AMK Mountain Series Explorer
This lightweight, comprehensive first aid kit is great for families or small groups on week-long adventures. It's a "boo-boo" kit outfitted to remedy cuts, sprains, blisters, allergies, and dehydration, so you'll want to add a few things. It has 115 items inside a water-resistant case, neatly organized by injury in clearly-labeled, semi-transparent, fold-out pockets. Anyone in the group can provide fast and effective first aid.
The Mountain Series Explorer kit is a bag - nothing fancy. No extra straps or D-rings. It's not the most durable case and the zippers tend to go first. Measuring 8L x 4.25W x 6.5H inches (20L x 11W x 16.5H cm), the first aid kit weighs a slight 1 pound 4 ounces (470 grams).
The kit includes "A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness and Travel Medicine" by Eric A. Weiss, M.D., a detailed first aid guide that helps both beginners and experienced campers. With the supplies organized in injury-specific pockets, guesswork is eliminated.
A single-use thermometer, moleskins for blisters, and items with expiry dates (triple antibiotic ointment, After Bite®, aspirin, diarrhea aid, antihistamine) complete the kit. Be sure to replace perishable items before each trip!
You should swap out the bandaids and medical tape. These may not stick to your skin.
Add a tourniquet, medicinal super glue and a splint. There's not a lot of room inside the bag, but these are essentials. Extra gloves are nice if you can fit them.
Lightweight, compact and well-stocked for family or small group adventures, the AMK Mountain Series Explorer first aid kit is age-friendly, user-friendly and offers great value for a "boo-boo" bag.
My Medic - MyFAK Standard
This well-stocked, basic first aid kit features a folding-page-and-pocket design for enhanced organization, and Grab-and-Go color-coded, labelled packages per injury category. The Standard is a "boo-boo" kit of 140 items that reliably covers essentials. My Medic offers MyFAK in a variety of sizes and needs (like Mini and Pro, small and large). We used the Standard on our camping trip and will look at the Pro for our next.
The case is durable and water-resistant. It comes with a hypalon (a rubber resistant to chemicals, temperature extremes, and ultraviolet light) MOLLE panel and versatile straps for easy mounting and storage. The buttons on the back did not stay done up and we ended up attaching the case to a backpack with a carabiner.
The Standard first aid kit measures 10.5H x 7W x 5D inches (27H x18W x 13D cm). It's weight depends on what you add to it, but ends up in the 2.5 pounds (1.13 kg) range.
Beyond basic supplies, you get a thermometer, blanket, blister care, sunscreen, water purification tablets, energy drink packets, and a surprising number of items with expiry dates (Ibuprofen, aspirin, stomach upset aid, antihistamine, nausea, diarrhea aid, flu aid). Be sure to check dates before each trip!
Check the medical tape before each trip. Sometimes it sticks, sometimes it doesn't. The first aid guide is generic, not backwoods specific - but it isn't meant to be.
With extra space, MyFAK Standard can be adapted to fit your needs. Add a tourniquet, splint, and your personal medications for sure. There's no pencil or paper for jotting down medical notes. My Medic sells individual mods (color-coded packets) in case you want to add any of these, like quick clot mods.
When it comes time to restock, you gotta have patience and a list. Opening each mod (packet), checking the contents and remembering where you needed them when you get them without a list is a headache in itself. Unless you buy new individual mods. The headache here saves you in the future though and is totally worth the hassle.
Grab-and-Go, color-coded packets make this basic first aid kit easy to use, easy to organize and practical.
Visit Amazon.com for details on all sizes: Standard, Mini-Standard, Pro, Large-Pro and Mini-Pro
GOT FEEDBACK?
If you've used one of the first aid kits I reviewed and you have something to add that could help other campers, I'd love to hear it.
Same, if you have a first aid kit you love (or hate) that's not reviewed here, tell me about it and I'll pass it on.
Your fellow campers thank you!
