Safety first, right? Yeah, something like that.
As I’ve matured and started a family, I have made a point to let my loved ones know where I’ll be hunting, and when I’ll be back. I’m also more conscious of the underlying safety of decisions made when afield. However, the first aid and emergency supplies that I’ve carried with me into the woods on every trip have been inadequate. My old kit consisted of a few Band-Aids, four or five aspirin, an extra shoelace, water purification tablets, an emergency blanket, and fire-starting equipment – all stored in a quart-size plastic bag. Good enough to fix some minor scratches and survive a night in the wilderness? Likely. Good enough to get me out of a sticky situation threatening life or limb? No way.
With my first child arriving this fall, a new first aid kit, and the know-how to use it effectively is a pre-season priority. My ideal kit is something lightweight and small enough to keep in my pack on every trip. It would include a variety of supplies suitable to treat injuries and illnesses ranging from mild to severe. Finally, it would provide quick and easy access to these supplies when needed in a hurry. The Small First Aid Kit from Surviveware checks all of these boxes, and it does so at a price-point that anyone should be able to justify. This review covers my first-impressions of Surviveware’s Small First Aid Kit; I’ll provide a follow-up review of the kit upon the close of the autumn seasons.
Surviveware Backpacking First Aid Kit
Accidents happen in a second. Wherever you go, make sure you carry a good quality first aid kit with you, just in case. The Surviveware Small First Aid Kit is ideal because it’s it only weighs one pound. It also has various carrying options so you can travel light and unhampered.
Price: $36.95
• 18.5 oz
• Hip vents for added ventilation
• 4-way stretch
• Kudos DWR for water repellency
Lightweight and Compact First Aid Kit
A compact and lightweight kit is a necessity for me. Ideally, you won’t use anything out of your kit through an entire season. So, it can be an enticing decision to leave the case at home to save weight and space. Of course, when you do this, you’ll need your kit. So, I wanted a first aid kit that I could throw in my pack and forget about until needed. Surviveware’s Small First Aid Kit is advertised at a weight of one pound, and my scale weighs the kit at one pound and one ounce. I can live with that. The medical kit is contained in a 5.5 x 7.5 x 3.5-inch 600D polyester pouch, which Surviveware boasts as the “strongest bag in its price class.” The bag is definitely sturdy and well-made. The main compartment zipper is also robust, and it seems that both the case and the zipper should be able to withstand a significant amount of abuse without failing.
Surviveware Small First Aid Kit Contents
While the bag for this kit is top-notch, what really distinguishes a first aid kit, and especially one utilized in the backcountry, is what’s inside. The Small First Aid Kit includes “100 essential basic life-saving items.” What attracted to me to this kit was the variety of items included. There is a wide variety of bandages, as well as plenty of gauze and medical tape. I was excited to find a variety of other necessary and thoughtful items, including splinter probes, an emergency blanket, eye pads, sting relief wipes, and a CPR mask with instructions.
Here is a complete list of the included items:
6” Shears(1), 600D Polyester Bag(1), Alcohol Wipes(3), Antiseptic Wipes(4), Adhesive Bandages: Butterfly Closures(5), Butterfly(5), H-shape(5), Large(2), Standard (20), Mini(5), Square Shape(5), Cotton Gauze Swab(3), Cotton Swabs(10), CPR Pouch with Instructions(1), CPR Breathing Mask(1), Crepe Bandage(1), Emergency Blanket(1), Eye Pads(2), Hypoallergenic Tape(1), Nitrile Gloves(1), Personal Medicine Laminate Bag(1), Personal Medicine Mini Bags(5), PBT Conforming Bandage(1), Safety Pins(4), Splinter Probes(2), Strip Wound Closures(3), Sting Relief Wipes(3), First Aid Guide(1), Triangular Bandage(1),Tweezer(1), Whistle(1)
While the Small First Aid Kit does include a host of supplies, you’ll notice that it does not include medications. Instead, the kit supplies several small baggies for you to add your own medications. I really like this idea. Everyone has specific drugs that they prefer or need. I’ll fill these baggies with my preferred pain killers and allergy and digestive meds.
My Changes to the Kit
The only included supplies I don’t anticipate keeping in the kit are shears and tweezers. My scalpel-blade knife will replace the shears, and there are other included options to deal with splinters and stingers. But, that’s what’s great about this kit. Surviveware intentionally left additional room in the bag to modify the kit. I’ll definitely be adding a lighter, waterproof matches, and cordage. I may also throw in a package of QuikClot in case things get western.
Backpacking First Aid Kit Organization
Perhaps what impresses me most about the Surviveware Small First Aid Kit is the way the “100 essential basic life-saving items” are organized. As I mentioned, I wanted a kit that provides quick and easy access to necessary supplies when needed in a hurry. The Surviveware pouch is not just a dump-pouch. It’s a well-thought-out system. The main compartment has 12 individual pockets and a tab for the safety pins to clip onto. Each pocket is labeled in white text describing the item or items that belong in that pocket. For certain items, gold text below the white label describes the uses for the item in the pocket. This feature really impressed me when I first unzipped the kit. I can see how useful this organizational system will be when I need to access my kit quickly. The pouch also includes a small zipper pocket on the face of the bag – perfect for medications and other small items. Molle compatible straps on the back of the pouch allow for quick and convenient access within or on a pack. After all, efficiency in an emergency can be the difference between life and death.
Surviveware Small First Aid Kit Negatives
While the Surviveware Small First Aid Kit checks all my required boxes, I would like to see a lighter weight option and a waterproof bag. The 600D Polyester bag, while robust, likely adds a little more weight than the competition. However, the sturdy pouch allows for excellent interior organization, which I suspect will trump weight concerns. Dumping the shears and the tweezers will also shed some ounces. Although the bag is water-resistant, and the supplies inside are protected by waterproof laminate bags, I would prefer a completely waterproof pouch. I suspect that use throughout the fall will determine if a waterproof pouch is actually necessary.
Surviveware Backpacking First Aid Kit Review Summary
Overall, my initial impressions of the Surviveware Small First Aid Kit could not be better. It checked my boxes for weight and size, a variety of supplies, and thoughtful organization. And, it did all this for under $40. Even better, a portion of Surviveware’s profits is donated to Hands Free, an organization that helps children and veterans with 3D printed prosthetic hands. I’ll update this review after a full hunting season, although hopefully, I won’t need to use all of the contents!
PROS:
CONS:
Ready to buy? You can buy the Surviveware Small Backpacking First Aid Kit on Amazon.
Thanks to Torin Miller for writing this unpaid review. and to Survivewarefor providing their product for evaluation. Hunting Gear Deals is funded by affiliate commissions. We may receive a small commission when you buy from our partners using the links provided. There is no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting us by using our links when making your purchases.
AUTHOR BIO
Growing up in the heart of Central Pennsylvania provided Torin Miller with every incentive necessary to pursue a life engorged in the natural world. With a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, and the current pursuit of an M.S. in the same field and a J.D. in Environmental Law, he has a deep appreciation for wildlife, wild places and the wild-at-heart people that love these things as much as he. Archery hunting for mountain whitetails is his absolute passion, but he also enjoys hunting turkeys and waterfowl. Surrounded by some of the best trout waters in the world, Torin enjoys fly-fishing his local streams and enjoys kayaking these streams throughout the summer, too.
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