(Part 2) Best camping first aid kits according to redditors
We found 83 Reddit comments discussing the best camping first aid kits. We ranked the 43 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
Heyyyy fellow Austrian (well I am not Austrian but I live here!).
Of course most of these things I buy over the course of the year. As for treats I personally use sausages or cheese cut up, or this tube of tuna which you can buy at any normal grocery store.
Happy to answer any other questions!!
Good post.
If you have any type of storage on your person, it should have a tourniquet and some dressings.
This goes hand in hand with ammunition. It is that important.
Also, if you have the $, a basic field kit never hurts to have ready, for many many many possible situations.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MY9ABL9/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01MY9ABL9&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=f52e26da-1287-4616-824b-efc564ff75a4&pf_rd_r=Y64EA6YF218V9G9T4JXT&pd_rd_wg=9Y5kx&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_w=Ac7xk&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_r=ed27a78b-cd65-11e8-8a4a-61489532c619
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$70, in a MOLLE pouch, with quickclot bandages and basic trauma tools.
I have a IFAK which I've supplemented with a tourniquet and extra Israeli bandage, which I used to carry in my range bag, but have since just been leaving in my car, due to it's relative bulk.
Then, last month at the local comp, I sliced my thumb open on something or other, and … found that the kit was sorely lacking in a/ good adhesive bandages and more importantly b/ waterproof tape to make a shitty adhesive bandage work better for the rest of the match.
I know that ITS Tactical has some first-aid and trauma-focused EDC kits, but I might piece together an altoids-tin-sized one on my own.
This is probably what it was supposed to be:
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Outdoor-Survival-Emergency-Preparedness/dp/B00E0T8FJ0
> I very rarely go hiking due to living in an area without a lot of hills/hiking stuff(Northern Illinois).
My favorite source for new hiking trails is the Falcon Guides.
> any brand recommendations?
I've had good luck with the REI house brand for basic items.
> what is some basic gear I will need
Check out the Ten Essentials for day hiking. You can start with an inexpensive but good quality pocket survival kit like this to get the basic safety items, then add water bottles, extra clothing, a small day pack etc. This one has a first aid kit and a headlamp.
Move up to this list when you're ready for overnight or longer. As he suggests, try the running shoes in your closet right now before you run out and buy fancy hiking boots. Try a homemade alcohol stove before you buy a JetBoil. You can get a good name brand pack under $100 at REI. Frequently simpler and cheaper is also lighter. If you want to throw money at something, upgrade your sleeping bag from the cheap 5 lb Walmart synthetic fill bag you were going to buy, to good quality down ($150+).
That's a tough call OP. I think personally, if it was me, I'd find a used Honda or Toyota SUV for around 1,200, and then spend 800 dollars on gear for living out of that vehicle, including gear to live in case that vehicle breaks down within the next year.
800 dollars on gear is actually plenty of money...I'll give you a rough list just as example:
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I mean all of that is less than $550.00 in gear that you can use while being a trainhopper/hitchhiker, or living in a van or SUV. In fact, you'd probably be twice as prepared as most other tramps and vagabonds you meet on the road, in gear alone. Plus if you can still afford 1,450 for a used van or SUV in good condition?
Also, keep in mind those prices are retail prices. Shop around at thrift stores, pawn shops, military surplus stores, ebay, and you'll easily cut those prices nearly in half. For example, that leatherman knife can be found at pretty much any pawn shop in America for around 30-35, bucks, easy.
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Carlebben EMT Pouch MOLLE Ifak Pouch Tactical MOLLE Medical First Aid Kit Utility Pouch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXITJX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GA2tDbNTPBFGH
I've purchased from ITS Tactical several times, and actually considered that very same med pouch. Their stuff is legit, but often times you can find the same thing (or similar) for cheaper elsewhere. Ended up getting this one from Amazon for $35 to keep in my EDC bag. Truthfully, unless you plan on attaching that thing to a MOLLE harness, the ITS version is a bit of overkill IMHO.
This or This
The advice I follow is “three fire starters, in three locations in your pack.” You have a Bic lighter as the main fire starter, a backup like a firesteel, and a second backup like matches. Keep them all in different parts of your gear so if you crush/wet/otherwise destroy one, you don’t also hit the other two.
For tinder, pay for Tinder Quik (or a knockoff), or save a little money making your own cotton balls with Vaseline/petroleum jelly sealed in duct tape.
A lot of people say the Fire B.O.S.S. kit has a pretty complete list of firemaking supplies, and I agree.
As a Medic with 2 tours to the Middle East and an EMT, I can assure you that building your own is always better than buying a pre-made always overpriced pack/bag.
I got to keep my Aid Bag after I finished serving. All soldiers are trained as Combat Life Savers and each platoon (depending on unit) would have 1 or more of these: https://www.amazon.com/Explorer-Medical-First-Duffle-Olive/dp/B00JYXZ4VO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1466110584&sr=8-2&keywords=Combat+Medic+aid+bag
Bigger bag: https://www.amazon.com/Military-Combat-First-Aid-Supplies/dp/B0058J27VI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1466110584&sr=8-6&keywords=Combat+Medic+aid+bag
My Aid Bag is much bigger and my loadout weighed at least 30lbs. Items: Bandaids, guaze (various sizes), triple antibiotic ointment, iodine, foldable splints, IV fluids (3 kinds), IV kits, BP cuff, stethescope, suture kits, bag of various medicines/painkillers, tourniquets, Israeli bandages, Quickclot, etc.
Unfortunately, I don't have half of what I'd like in my bag. It can get quite expensive to fill up one. However, a prepper should (most of the time) only carry items that he/she knows how to use effectively and under pressure. Having drugs and items you can't use effectively takes up space and adds weight.
Those cheap plastic box First Aid kits? Worthless above anything other than a cut, scrape, bug bite or small burn. You can EASILY make your own. You need a good quality bag (nothing huge like what I have) and plenty of places to get medical supplies cheaper than large chain grocery/health stores unlike Publix or Rite Aid.
It has a sitcky side and a soft material side. Cut it out like a doughnut around blisters ect.
Maybe try a Maxepedition Fatty or even a simple cheap IFak pack they will add a bit more style to your kit.
Maxpedition Fatty Pocket Organizer (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005257ZDS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ydv2DbQF2HXJC
Barbarians Tactical MOLLE Pouch, Rip-Away EMT Medical First Aid Utility IFAK Pouch Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZ1NF8M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Dev2Db1CZTZ1A
Most of the suggestions I’m about to make are really more so food for thought. If you add all of them, you add weight. But you can do it with pretty minimal weight add if you get the right stuff. My bag is exactly 30lbs and I have WAY more than what I’m about to suggest. Also, I’m in an urban environment, so my bag is focused on that.
Get rid of the seatbelt cutter. You already have a knife.
What are the carabiners for? No rope, no paracord... speaking of which, get some paracord. Load bearing, lots of uses (utility, first aid, shelter prep...), light...
Get a crowbar. Medium size one ideal, but a small one would be fine too. Serves as a weapon and a tool.
A small firearm at minimum would be ideal, but if that’s not your thing, whatever.
At least one bottle of water. People bash that for weight, but if you’re buggin out, you’re moving. You’ll want/need it. Personally, I bought a sturdy bottle with a carbon filter on it, loaded with clean water, but can use the filter for whatever other sources I find.
On that note, I live in a dense city and have a silcock key to access water from other buildings. If you’re in a suburb or rural area, this won’t matter to you (but honestly it’s such a negligible weight add that it is worth it).
I also have reasonable amount of backup cash, an encrypted USB drive of all my most important documents (birth certificate, insurance, deeds, identification, account statements, etc). all in a faraday bag inside a dry bag (with some other electronics). This makes your BOB double as an “oh shit, my house is on fire starting with the place where I store that stuff at home” bag.
Speaking of electronics. I have (2) 30 mile range hand radios.
Speaking of documents, I have a few of my expired IDs because something is better hand nothing (and you’ll probably have your regular ID on you anyway).
Also, don’t forget creature comforts. In an emergency, or once you’ve made it to safety, this is extremely important for personal morale. So I have a travel toothbrush and toothpaste (the small collapsible type), a packet of “wet ones” sanitary wipes (or something similar).
Personally, I opted for a trauma kit that had a bit more than your first aid (stuff that handles gunshot and puncture wounds), and added some over the counter meds. This is the one I went with. I also loaded my back with Amoxicillin, which is a pretty basic antibiotic. Be sure you know what to use it for. It’s one of the few you can get without prescription because sometimes fish get sick and you don’t have time to go to the doctor, and in an apocalyptic event, ya gotta take care of Nemo (I shit you not, this is the exact same stuff they give humans... the pills are printed with the identifier that you can check for yourself). EDIT: somthat last one is a broken link. Guess amazon yanked it. But it is called “AmoxFin” and it is amoxicillin for fish. You can probably find it from other places.
I also got this, which serves several great purposes in one and reduces weight, but to save you the click, it’s a handcrank powered flashlight with USB charging port (cable to you device not included), waterproof, window breaker, and that seat cutter I told you to get rid of because you already have a knife...
A multi tool wouldn’t hurt. I also have a lockpick kit, but you’ll have to teach yourself to use it.
Hope that all helps. I could probably go on.
EDIT: broken links.
There were others that really did look like a butt plug. Well, more of a prostate massager from hell, but still a good weapon. Hell, you could say that it's going up the ass too, and see how fast a guy can run with his hands covering the brown eye.
It's always good to carry something, but remember that anything can help in a pinch.
Also, you have no idea how hard it was, as a guy, to say grab a guy by his nuts and twist until he's singing like a choir boy, but in a fight there's no such thing as fighting dirty.
It also helped me a bit. I had a phone interview today, and it helped to distract me to go over the various things.
As I said, I hope you never have need of these things ever again, and you did the right thing by running away. Getting physical is always the last resort. That little comforting weight of the butt plug esqe keyring would be a welcome feeling though. Just never discount your keys, and share it with all of your friends, both male and female.
https://www.amazon.com/Brass-Waterproof-Pill-Case-Container/dp/B01IVI3DUG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495568062&sr=8-1&keywords=brass+pill+key+ring
6 bucks on amazon and they also have different sizes.
I tend to go a bit overboard but o like this one.
DeftGet First Aid Kit - 163 Piece Waterproof Portable Essential Injuries & Red Cross Medical Emergency Equipment Kits : for Car Kitchen Camping Travel Office Sports and Home https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E7KBHSM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G.HvDbW6X1ACZ
Mylar blankets are thin and break easy. The value of them is heat from radiation so they may help keep the heat but I imagine losing it overnight quite easily. It's meant to keep your body heat in you essentially and it's so flimsy you would be better off with a garbage bag.
If you insist on blankets like that, search for casualty blankets from army supply essentially they are thicker.
http://www.amazon.com/Grabber-Outdoors-Emergency-Tactical-Survival-Olive-Drab/dp/B0044S817I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371198057&sr=8-2&keywords=casualty+blanket
Not sure how much you can do if renting. If you have access to a attic lay down some fiberglass insulation. It's pretty easy/cheap I wouldn't want the house to freeze and mess up the pipes.
A personal electric heater in a closed room can do wonders even the cheap ones.
Alright here we go...now what I got, I tried to price compare and review compare. Some stuff may be better elsewhere but it's what I went with regardless.
There are some products that I already have from camping so I didn't feel the need to double up. I also plan on supplementing the packs with more food and obviously water as well as medicine, change of clothes and a few other things. I also plan on adding a few things to the medkit, more aspirin, some more realistic materials as well. So all in all I felt this was a pretty solid starter survival kit for most situations. Just something to grab for a few days if shit hits the fan. It's going in my truck where some other camping gear already is (Axe, shovel, wd-40, lighters, mace, knives)
Only product I would buy differently would be the backpack. I didn't realize it ships from China, I'd only buy somewhere else due to the 1 month shipping time. (I didn't catch that initially) there's some decent similarly priced backpacks available elsewhere that will be at your door within a few days.
$13 - S.O.S. Rations Emergency 3600 Calorie Food Bar - 2 Pack - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AFOF2DG/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$3 SE 6-in-1 Survival Whistle http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001C31AGC/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$6 ER Emergency Ready Thermal Mylar Blankets, Pack of 4 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008DEYGJQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$40 Ambient Weather Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Digital Radio, Flashlight, Cell Phone Charger http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B9HRJI4/ref=oh_details_o00_s02_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$8 Potable Aqua Water Treatment Tablets http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001949TKS/ref=oh_details_o00_s02_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$9 8' X 10' Blue Multi-Purpose 6-mil Waterproof Poly Tarp Cover 8x10 Tent Shelter Camping Tarpaulin by Grizzly Tarps http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0053QUAAG/ref=oh_details_o00_s02_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$6 Survivor HK-106320 Outdoor Fixed Blade Knife 7 Overall WITH FIRE STARTER http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00178CS4K/ref=oh_details_o00_s02_i03?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$9 5038-3 PK Fix-It DUCTape 1.87-Inches x 60-Yards, 7-Mil, 3-Pack http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KQ6682/ref=oh_details_o00_s02_i04?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$40 Outt(TM) Sport Outdoor Military Rucksacks Compact Assault Pack Camping Hiking Trekking Bag http://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Military-Rucksacks-Compact-Trekking/dp/B00HWR37KE/ref=sr_1_4?m=A15PKGU8PFZ6QO&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1396882222&sr=1-4&keywords=Sport+Outdoor+Military+Rucksacks+Compact+Assault+Pack+Camping+Hiking+Trekking+Bag
$32 Fully Stocked MOLLE Tactical Trauma Kit First Aid Pouch http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TL2NX4/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$5 550lbs. Military Paracord Type III Rope 100' Foliage Green http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001B6LFWE/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Total price for everything: $171 Probably spend another 30 or less on food/water/extras
Out of everything on my lists I think probably this medical bag is the most qualified. I have two kits I use, one big EMT kit that stays in my work truck and one just like this that goes with my on the work ATV and also goes in my personal vehicle when I travel (since it is smaller).
I have been in law enforcement for over a decade now and I am certified as a first responder and in wilderness first aid. Over the years I have been the first on the scene, both on and off duty, for dozens medical emergencies. The majority are traffic collisions. These collisions vary in severity from horrible, fatal collisions to minor bumps and bruises.
Having even a basic medical kit with supplies that can stop bleeding and begin CPR is very important. Luckily I can get these supplies free from work... the bag, however, is a different story.
Work supplies me the big EMT kit but the little bag was my own purchase a long time ago. Now it is falling apart from repeated use and abuse and I am looking to get another one (and actually the one on my list is better quality and so it should last me at least until I retire.)
So... that's it. A little first aid bag to compliment my EMT bag and be with me even off duty so I can provide aid to people if they need it. :-)