Always be prepared. When you go venturing into the great outdoors, there’s no telling what might happen. If you’re on a camping trip say, and have gone on a long hike in unfamiliar territory, you could find yourself lost or stranded. And having the best possible survival kit can make all the difference in how that turns out for you.
We’re going to level with you – choosing a really good survival kit can be tricky and there’s a lot to think about and consider. But we’re here to make this decision easier for you. Coming up shortly we’ve got some reviews on our handpicked Top 5 survival kits, and after that there’s a handy buying guide where we’ve tried to include all the most important factors to consider.
Best Survival Kit – Reviews
- Gifts for Men: For those who love the outdoors, this is sure to be a unique gift for fathers, husbands, boyfriends, scouts, cool gadgets, and Christmas stocking stuffers for birthdays, Valentine's...
- 19-in-1 Survival Kit: This all-in-one survival kit contains everything any survivalist or outdoor enthusiast needs. 19-in-1 includes a 5-in-1 parachute cord bracelet, built-in compass, whistle,...
- Easy-Carry & Lightweight: The box measures 8.2 x 5.1 x 2.7 inches, weighs only 1.8 pounds, and has a foam interior that is both waterproof and shockproof. Easy to carry and fits in any car, hiking...
- Safe & Practical: This camping accessory is the perfect companion to be prepared for any emergency. It also helps you stay safe and secure while hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, backpacking, or...
- Friendly Service: This survival kit will better reflect your love for your father/husband/boyfriend. If it doesn't meet your expectations or you have any questions, please contact us, and we will...
- [250 in 1 Survival Kit]: Having an emergency kit is an important step to prepare and protect your and household for some unforeseen events. This emergency survival kit is specifically designed and...
- [Basic First Aid Kit]: Designed to stow conspicuously, the included first aid supplies are packed in a extra bright red bag. It includes essential items such as tweezers, scissors and pins, would pad,...
- [Portable Molle System Compatible Bag]: The 2022 upgraded emt bag was made of military grade water-resistant 1000D nylon with a size of 8” x 6.5” x 6''. You can attach it to other molle compatible...
- [2022 Upgraded Version]: Nobody can count on friendly weather during an emergency. This kit can help you to deal with the worst. It is the most multifultional survival kit in the market, contains...
- [Must Have Survival Gear]: All of the items have been tested to ensure they can withstand even the toughest emergencies and conditions, such as outdoor adventure, hunting, camping, hiking, travel,...
- 【Christmas gift ideas】 High-quality comprehensive emergency survival first aid equipment, best gifts for men, father, family, friends. You can enjoy a more relaxed and safe adventure with our...
- 【A Must Have Survival First Aid Kit】LUXMOM survival kit is unique in that it was specifically designed by survival experts. The comprehensive survival kit not only includes 21pcs multipurpose...
- 【Wide application range】This survival kit is great for firefighters, first aid personnel, hikers, campers, outdoor sports enthusiasts, etc. It is idea for car, ship, bicycles, motorcycles,...
- 【Practical Survival Gears & First Aid Kit】LUXMOM emergency kit contains the most popular survival accessories: Hatchet, 3-mode flashlight, Multifunctional Card, Survival Bracelet, Dual-tube...
- 【Compact Lightweight & Durable】All items are neatly arranged in a 600D nylon bag measuring 9 inches x 6 inches x 5 inches. Easy to carry, small and lightweight, can hold all the 142pcs emergency...
- 【𝟭𝟰𝟵 𝗶𝗻 𝟭 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗞𝗶𝘁𝘀】This is a comprehensive, advanced, high-quality survival first aid kit designed to help you protect yourself and your...
- 【𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗱 𝗞𝗶𝘁】Our top-quality camping first aid kit is designed to provide essential medical supplies and treatment options in...
- 【𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗲𝗮𝗿 & 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀】This is a professional emergency kit, it contains various practical...
- 【𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 & 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲】The Essential Survival Kit also includes tactical gear for personal protection and self-defense. All items are neatly organized in...
- 【𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲】If the survival gear doesn't meet your expectations or you have any questions, please contact us. We provide 24-hour easy-to-reach...
- 【A Must-have for Bug Out Bag】ABPIR emergency survival first aid kit contains 170pcs professional practical tactical survival tools and essential first aid supplies, that can meet your different...
- 【Multiple Survival Gear and Equipment】170pcs survival kits contain: many multi purpose tactical gears, like survival bracelet, folding shovel and pick, 14 in 1 hatchet, wire saw, multifunctional...
- 【Essential Emergency Medical Supplies】The tactical trauma kit contains 120pcs essential first aid supplies, like bandages, PBT bandage, tourniquet, cotton swabs, safety pins, non-woven medical...
- 【Compatible and Portable】 The military grade MOLLE medical pouch is made of 1000D nylon, which is lightweight and waterproof. Inside the bag, there are three large compartments and several straps,...
- 【Thoughtful Gift Ideas】The 170pcs survival first aid kit is suitable for any outdoor activities, and is suitable for men women kids. With its wide range of applications and practicality, the...
- 【Disaster Emergency Preparedness Kit】No one can predict when a disaster or accident will be, A comprehensive and professional survival kit is a must have for every family. Our 171pcs survival...
- 【Survival Gear and Supplies Kit】This survival kit includes a multifunctional axe with hammer and a detachable shovel with pick, both made of sturdy steel. Combined with wire saw, emergency tent...
- 【Essential Mini First Aid Kit】: The emergency survival kit contains 120pcs essential first aid supplies, like tweezers, scissors and pins, non-woven pad, triangular bandage, tournquet, cotton...
- 【Compatible and Portable】 The military grade MOLLE medical pouch is made of 1000D nylon, which is lightweight and waterproof. Inside the bag, there are three large compartments and several straps,...
- 【Thoughtful Gift Ideas】The 171pcs survival first aid kit is suitable for any outdoor activities, and is suitable for men women kids. With its wide range of applications and practicality, the...
- 【Great Christmas Gifts Idea for Men】Christmas Stocking Stuffers The survival kit is cool gadgets for men dad husband boyfriend. It’s perfect Christmas Thanksgiving day and birthday gifts for men...
- 【27 in 1 Must Have Camping Accessories】The survival kit contains 27 practical and professional survival tool and tactical gear: 14 in 1 hatchet, snowflake multi tool, compass, flashlight, bottle...
- 【Portable Waterproof Box】All camping gear are neatly arranged in a black waterproof box measuring 8.9 x 4.9 x 2.2 inches. It is a multi-tool-kit, lightweight and portable, easy to carry, perfect...
- 【High Quality Survival Kit】This is a high quality survival tool set. All the survival gear are made of high-quality, long lasting materials, providing excellent safety and durability, meeting...
- 【Cool Gadgets Widely Used 】This survival kit is great for tactical doctors, first aid personnel, police, campers, hikers, outdoor sports enthusiasts, etc. It is ideal for car, bicycles, ship. Also...
- [Preparedness for the Unknown]: While no one can predict when or how severe a disaster or accident will be, our 262pcs survival kit ensures your family’s safety during the critical first 72 hours....
- [Comprehensive First Aid Kit]: The included first aid supplies are stored in a bright red pouch, containing tweezers, scissors and pins, non-woven pad, triangular bandage, tournquet, cotton swabs,...
- [Safety Companion for Journey]: Our emergency kit includes many survival gear and supplies to ensure access to food, water, warmth, and light in a crisis. The fishing kit and multi-usage spoon help...
- [Essential Survival Gear]: Additionally, this survival kit includes a detachable multifunctional axe with hammer and a 2-in-1 shovel with pick, made of sturdy cabon steel. Combined with wire saw,...
- [Convenient Packaging]: The survival gear and supplies are packed in a crossbody bag, making it easy to carry and access in emergencies. The bag features multiple compartments and molle compatible...
- 【13 in 1Survival Kits】The 13 in 1survival kits contains 13 essential and practical tactical gears and survival tools to meet your different needs in outdoor activities like camping hiking...
- 【Cool Gifts for Men Who Have Everything】The military grade survival kits are cool gifts for men who have everything, great birthday Christmas Valentine’s Day Anniversary Day gift ideas for dad...
- 【High Quality Survival Kits】This is a high quality survival tool set. The tool box is made of military grade ABS material. And all the survival gears in it are made of high-quality, long lasting...
- 【Easy to Carry】All camping accessories are packed in a black waterproof box measuring 7.3*4.3*2 inches. It's compact, lightweight and easy to carry. This extremely useful survival kit can be...
- 【Cool Gadgets Widely Used】This survival kit is suitable for car travel, camping, hiking, cycling, backpacking, fishing. Best gifts for tactical doctors, first aid personnel, police, campers,...
Best Survival Kit – Buyers Guide
Your starting point in deciding what kit to get should be based on what you can anticipate needing. You will need to determine what sort of uses you might have for it and take your decision from there, as this will inform what items you’ll need in the kit, and ultimately then which kit best suits your needs.
When you’re lost or in danger there are some things that become more important than others. You need food, water, shelter from the elements, ways of identifying where you are, and ways of alerting people to your whereabouts. Or if you’re hurt you will be in need of some first aid. If it’s dark, you’ll need a flashlight.
And on that note, let’s move onto our next section.
Items you may want to see included
One of the more central decisions to make is whether you want food and drink included in your survival kit.
When it comes to water, which is hands down an essential, a bottle of water, or several bottles, can at times be heavy to carry around, especially if you have a lot of other gear to carry. To that end you may wish your kit to include a water filtration system or purification tablets.
You may want to get a campfire going, whether to cook food or simply keep warm. Or you could perhaps have an emergency blanket to keep warm.
Or to protect yourself from the weather, you may make good use from an emergency tent, a fold-up emergency blanket, or ponchos.
In terms of first aid items, you might want to consider sterile gauze wound dressings, something to keep the dressings or bandages in place and antiseptic wipes to clean up any wounds.
With regards to alerting others to your presence and whereabouts for a rescue mission, your options include a good old fashioned whistle, or to be more visible, a flashlight would work well, or even a glow stick.
Many outdoor survival kits can also feature a compass, which can be super handy for hiking trips where there’s no GPS gadgets at hand.
Size and Weight
Ultimately the size of your survival depends on what types of emergencies you intend to prepare for.
If your survival kit is intended primarily for outdoor use, then you may also be concerned about the kit’s size and weight. You might want to fit into a backpack and/or carry it long distances on foot. Fortunately many survival kits are put together with this in mind, including several in our Top 5 picks.
If your emergency involves waiting out some sort of danger, while you shelter in an enclosed space, then again the size of your kit can also become a factor to consider, say if you were laying low in a camping tent not knowing if there are potentially dangerous animals in the surrounding area.
It goes without saying, the more people you have with you, the more items you may need in terms of food, water and shelter. But on the other hand, you also have more carrying power for any items you want to take or include. You could have one person carry the food and water and another carrying a first aid kit and an emergency tent.
Cost
Survival kits can vary quite considerably in their price point, but it’s important to note that cheaper doesn’t always mean better. Instead what you should focus on is ensuring that you have every item that you may need. In fact once you’ve found your ideal survival kit, you may also see fit to pay for one or two more things besides. Which brings us onto our next section.
Additional Items you may need that aren’t typically found in a survival kit
Certain modern items can come in very handy when you find yourself stranded outdoors, and you definitely won’t get them all in a standard survival kit.
To alert others to your emergency, a cell phone with a good signal can be a godsend. Similarly, to ascertain exactly where you are, a really good item would be one that features GPS tracking. It doesn’t need to be anything bulky, you can get some great watches that feature GPS tracking, often with other handy features for hikers. You may also be interested in a water filtration bottle.
When it comes to using modern gadgets outdoors, you may also want to think about whether they need a portable power supply, such as batteries. Or solar powered gadgets could be another alternative.
For hikers, we would also recommend taking a fold-up map of the area if possible, particularly if there are no GPS gadgets at hand.
