Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker First Aid Kit Review

Bottom line

The Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker may be our favorite first aid kit for multi-day backpacking trips. It is well-stocked, portable, and lightweight for its size, and it even includes a first aid manual. Organized with labeled compartments and pockets for related supplies, it is compact for a kit intended to serve several people for up to four days.

It contains plenty of commonly used supplies, including bandages, gauze, and medication. When taking stock before a backpacking trip in Utah, we found that it had more than enough of everything. It lacked a few trauma and emergency items, such as a CPR mask and triangle bandages, but there was enough room to add them.

The kit is durable, but it’s not water-resistant, so we made sure to protect it from rain and snow in wet weather. Given how squarely it aligns at the intersection of weight, size, and included supplies, we can live with that. Check out our guide to the best first aid kits for more options.

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How We Tested

We took the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker first aid kit on hikes and snowshoeing excursions in Northern Utah’s mountains for testing. We evaluated its performance in snow, rain, and sun, spending hours examining the kit and its contents both on and off the trails.

Portability

The Adventure Medical Kits Backpacker is compact and easily packable compared to other kits designed for backpacking. We had no trouble fitting it into a backpack or large daypack for lengthy hikes.

If we overpacked, we could clip it to the outside of our bags using a carabiner or compression strap. However, due to the size of the attached handle, it bounced around during hiking.

Organization

Inside, supplies were well organized, though not as easy to locate as kits with more pockets or clear windows. Four zippered pockets are clearly labeled with their contents, but they are not see-through, so it took extra time to find frequently used items when we weren’t yet familiar with the kit.

Pockets were designed in such a way that it was difficult to locate items through small openings. It is more organized than the outside would suggest, though, because when the main pouch is opened, there are two attached wings that fold out to provide more surface area for pockets.

Quantity & Variety

This kit contains a useful quantity of the most commonly used supplies, including bandages, gauze, wraps, medication, blister care, and nitrile gloves. When taking inventory before a backpacking trip in Utah, we found it had more than enough of these supplies. 

There were safety pins, tweezers, shears, cotton swabs, an irrigation syringe, medical tape, alcohol wipes, BZK wipes, and a first aid manual.

It lacked some trauma and emergency supplies, such as a CPR mask and triangle bandages, but there was just enough room inside to add a few more small items and customize the kit. Other trauma items, like wound dressings, were limited in supply, indicating that this kit would be best suited for shorter trips rather than lengthy expeditions deep in the backcountry.

The kit states it’s suitable for two people for up to four days, and we agree. We would also be happy to pack it for a long day hike or an overnight trip with a few more people.

Quality & Durability

The kit itself is durable but not indestructible. There was minimal wear when we dropped it in a pack with loose microspikes, though the soft outer fabric will be more susceptible to snagging over time.

It isn’t waterproof, but we didn’t mind. After all, it’s small enough to fit easily in a stuff sack or zip-top bag if we expected inclement weather. Doing so would help ensure that items like bandages and gauze wouldn’t be ruined if water soaked through, which it did during testing.

Should You Buy the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker?

The Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker kit is an excellent option for backpackers who often plan 2-4 day trips into the backcountry. It contains a sufficient quantity and variety of supplies to keep two hikers happy and healthy during that time frame. It includes plenty of frequently used items like bandages and OTC medications, so you likely won’t have to restock for at least a few trips.

On the other hand, those who regularly hike with a large group or prefer trips that take them into the backcountry for five days or more will likely find it lacking; there aren’t enough of each item or sufficient supplies for serious injuries such as breaks or bloody wounds.

The expected absence of serious trauma supplies is understandable, as few kits include everything we would want for deep backcountry travel. However, there’s still some capacity to include other items you may consider essential, which is why we believe it still provides great value.

What Other First Aid Kits Should You Consider?

We’ve evaluated numerous first aid kits for hiking. Consider these alternative options if the Adventure Medical Kits Backpacker doesn’t meet your needs.

Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 Review: Smaller and lighter, yet containing almost as many first aid supplies, this kit is an excellent choice for most hiking adventures and short backpacking trips. Additionally, it is waterproof.

Adventure Medical Kits Hiker Review:  For a similarly sized kit that’s well-suited for short weekend trips or long day hikes, this one offers a comparably robust variety of individual supplies but is more suitable for two-day trips.

HART Outdoors Extended Review: This kit is larger and contains more first aid supplies, showcasing an impressive level of organization. It’s perfect for extended backpacking trips with a group.