Best First Aid Kit for 2018

Reviews & Buyers’ Guide

They happen when you least expect it.  

Injuries and emergencies can happen at any time and any place. Whether you’re hiking in the great outdoors and or want to be prepared at home for any mishaps, a well-packed first aid kit is essential. Our reviews of the best first aid kits will guide you to pick the best one for you.

What you need in a first aid kit can vary depending upon your needs. The most basic kit will work if you’re using it for your family at home, but you will need something more comprehensive if you’re trekking along on a three day hiking trip.

Our list give you the best first aid kit and will guide you along the right trail! Remember, you can customize and add items depending on your needs. Please see our buyer’s guide at the end for suggestions.

 

Below is a comparison table of our top five top of the line first aid kits:

 

Name	Size	Weight	Items Included	Price
All Purpose First Aid Essentials	Small	0.9 lbs	131	Check Price
2-in-1 First Aid Kit	Small	1.1 lbs	120	Check Price
First Aid Outdoor Kit	Small	0.8 lbs	48	Check Price
Get Prepared First Aid Kit	Medium	1.9 lbs	250	Check Price
Protect Life First Aid Kit	Medium	1.0 lbs	150	Check Price

 

Details on the Best First Aid Kits for 2018

 

First Aid Only All Purpose First Aid Essentials by First Aid Only – Best Starter Kit

 

This kit has one mission – to pack in as many supplies as possible for the lowest price.

This bag packs a punch with a variety of products. It’s a great “first time” first aid kit because of the price and the selection. Additionally, it contains an easy-to-understand first aid guide. It’s perfect for minor injuries and since it’s compact and easy to carry, you may want to buy multiple kits and keep them everywhere: your home, your boat, your backpack, or car.

It includes medications, treatments and many bandages and dressings, for a total of 131 items. The number of included tools are impressive but some of the tools – like the tweezers – are not well-made.

For the price, the abundance of supplies can’t be beat. With such a low investment, you can buy a few for yourself and your friends and family!

Check Price on Amazon

 

2-in-1 First Aid Kit (Plus Mini First Aid Kit) by Swiss Safe – Best for Survival, Hiking and Camping

 

Although Swiss Safe does not manufacture a ton of products, survivalists and outdoor enthusiasts have come to trust this brand. This is our pick for the best first aid kit for camping, as well as hiking, backpacking and the whole spectrum of outdoor activities.

Composed of water-resistant materials, this kit is durable and meant to last. Approved by the FDA, its internal contents not only include basic first aid components but also trauma scissors, an emergency blanket and survival items like a compass and glow stick. You don’t see those often with such an inexpensive kit, making it perfect for sports and outdoor adventures.

The only thing this kit is missing is medications and ointments, such as Advil, Benadryl and Neosporin. However, the case is big enough that you can easily add your own stash.

We think this is the perfect kit to take along on your next camping, hunting or hiking trip and the best first aid kit for your survival needs!

Check Price on Amazon

 

First Aid Outdoor Kit by RISEN – Best Value

At such an inexpensive price, RISEN gives us a great deal with this hands-free first aid kit. For the price, it’s stock full of everything you need for minor injuries. They even threw in some extra goodies, like an emergency flashlight and blanket.

The case is “camo fashion,” and comes with a durable Velcro strap on the back to wear on the waist so you can keep your hands free for other activities. The case is sturdy and because it’s hands-free, it can be used it a million different ways. There are a ton of possibilities; even hooking it onto a horse’s saddle if you’re a trail rider.

The kit is missing some essentials like pain relievers, but at such a low price, you can afford to stock it with the meds of your choice. This RISEN kit is definitely one of best values out there.

Check Price on Amazon

 

Be Smart – Get Prepared First Aid Kit by TRI – Best for Long-Term Trips

 

If you’re interested in first aid kits, you’re interested in preparation. You never know when you’ll find yourself in an emergency and you want all your bases covered if you set out on that week-long trip you’ve been planning.

Introducing the Be Smart – Get Prepared First Aid Kit by TRIP. It meets the OSHA and ANSI guidelines for 50 people and you’ll feel at ease if you’re planning a trip that may have you come face-to-face with multiple emergency situations.

This kit’s best feature is the amount of emergency supplies that come inside. There are 250 pieces: more than 80 bandages, gauze pads, finger splints, tape, ointments and pain relievers. When you’re in the great outdoors for an extended amount of time, you’ll need this extensive stash so you feel like you’re prepared for anything that comes your way.

Although the clasps on the case aren’t of the highest quality, the selection and quantity of supplies overshadow this slight annoyance. Perhaps there’s so many goodies inside, the clasps can’t handle the load.

With Be Smart – Get Prepared, you’ll be in control and ready for anything that comes your way!

Check Price on Amazon

 

First Aid Kit (150 Piece) by Protect Life – Best for the Home

Protect Life’s first aid kit is compact and neatly organized, which makes it the perfect kit to keep for those small emergencies at home (or fishing at the lake) where you need to grab some bandages fast.

This no frills kit is inexpensive, so you can buy one for multiple places spaces: guest bathroom, kids bathroom, sports bags, glove compartment, etc. The wide assortment give you everything you need and then some; it includes a CPR mask and emergency rain poncho.

Again, as with many kits, we were disappointed to see there were no basic antibiotics, pain relievers or even a thermometer. For most kits, you will have to customize it based on your needs. You just need to be aware of what each kit is lacking.

The wide assortment of supplies in here were of very high quality, making it the best kit to keep at home and treat the people you love the most.

Check Price on Amazon

 

Buyer’s Guide First Aid Kits

A great starting place for a first aid kit is to buy a pre-made kit. This will save you time and money. It’s difficult to find the “perfect” kit because everyone is different. Your needs may be different from someone else’s needs.  An avid hunter will need different supplies than a mom looking for a kit to bring to her child’s sport games or a mountain climber. The best first aid kits will differ from person to person.

Why should you buy a pre-made kit instead of just buying a plastic box and creating one yourself? If you customize your own kit from scratch, it can be costly. Take a look at a typical first aid kit you can buy online and all the supplies it has; buying the bandages, individual pain relievers, a thermometer, etc. individually is expensive and cost prohibitive. That’s the great thing about buying a pre-made first aid kit; you can get the basics and add individual products you think the kit is lacking. For example, some you can buy do not come with antibiotic creams. If you purchase a pre-made first aid kit, you save money on all the other products and can buy these individual creams separately.

 

Here are some suggestions to help you determine your needs:

Size of Group: Is it just you, a few friends or a large group? Most kits estimate the size of the group that its supplies will serve.

Length of trip: For longer excursions, you will need more supplies.

Activity: Consider the activity; white water rafting will need different supplies or have different parameters than mountain climbing.

Risks: Is the activity in an area with many insects? You’ll probably need an insect bite cream. Look at the risks of each activity carefully and brainstorm things you may need.

Special Needs: Consider any special needs of group members or yourself. Relevant medications should be included; for example, an EpiPen.

Note: If you’re going with a group, consider buying a full size or an extra mini kit for yourself!