The woods are dark and full of terrors—or, at least, blisters, splinters, biting bugs, and ankle-twisting potholes. If you’re heading out on an adventure, pack a good hiking first aid kit.
We tested over a dozen wilderness first aid kits, and the best one for most outdoorsy people is the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker Kit. It has the best layout, contains high-quality supplies, fits easily in a backpack, and has room for extra supplies.
Our pick
This compact, well-stocked kit has the best layout for easily accessing supplies, but the kits we ordered were missing medications.
With a unique layout, clearly labeled pockets, and high-quality supplies, the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker Kit is the best first aid kit for weekend campers and hikers. Thanks to the kit’s innovative design, you can find what you want quickly and easily.
The kit is stocked with items to address common first aid needs, and it includes a handbook to wilderness first aid for reference purposes. The Backpacker Kit has enough supplies to cover the estimated requirements of two to four people who plan to be out for up to four days, and it easily fits into a backpack, which is why it’s the best option for people planning short adventures.
One important note: if you buy this, double-check the medications in the kit with its list of contents. Two kits that we ordered in 2024 were either missing medications entirely or had incorrect quantities.
Runner-up
This kit is compact and well organized but has fewer supplies than our top pick.
If our top pick is out of stock or not sold by a reputable seller, the Hart Outdoor Multiday First Aid Kit is a great secondary option. It’s as compact and almost as well organized as our top pick, and most of its supplies are of equal quality.
It lacks some important items, like a wound irrigation tool and anti-diarrhea medication, which you should add if you buy this kit. It also has smaller quantities of typical medications than our top pick. It does cost a little less than our top pick, though.
Budget pick
Although its components aren’t as high-quality as those of our top pick, this kit is chock-full of bandages and cleaning supplies suitable for minor incidents.
If you want a basic first aid kit for patching up minor cuts and scrapes, the First Aid Only 299 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Kit is a good choice. Its components are more cheaply made than those of our top pick, but that’s to be expected given the lower price.
Still, First Aid Only kit has tons of bandage choices and adequate cleaning materials for patching up minor injuries, it’s small enough to fit in a daypack, and you’ll find your supplies easily in the clear, open pockets.
