Surviveware Small First Aid Kit Review

Bottom line

The Surviveware Small is an excellent budget-friendly option for those who want just the essentials in an easily portable package. It’s small, so it fits easily in a backpack but can also be attached to a belt or the exterior of a bag. It is stocked with the most important supplies for emergencies, plus often-used items like adhesive bandages and moleskin.

It’s an excellent starter kit for those who prefer to customize their kits, especially given all the room for extras inside. There are well-labeled organizational pockets that make items easy to find. The durable fabric exterior and zippers seem like they’ll hold up to plenty of abuse outdoors.

It is missing supplies with expiration dates like medications and ointments and only has a limited number of single-use supplies, so we anticipate restocking it often.

If you want to see more options, take a look at our guide to the best first aid kits.

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How We Tested

During testing, we took the Surviveware Small on short day hikes in central Ohio and on all-day adventures in the mountains of Utah. We tested it in snow, rain, and sun, spending hours assessing the kit and its contents both on and off the trail.

Portability

The Surviveware Small ranks high in portability. It’s compact, lightweight, and easily storable inside a backpack or hip pack. It also features a snap strap on the back that allows it to be clipped to a belt, pack strap, or sling if you prefer to keep your kit more accessible.  

That said, part of the reason it’s as light as it is lies in the fact that it is comparatively sparse in first aid supplies, so once you stock it with more essentials, it will become heavier.

Organization

When it comes to organization, this kit stands out as an excellent option. We appreciated the 12 well-labeled organizational pockets that made it quick and easy to locate everything, even when we weren’t the ones searching for needed supplies. The pockets are mesh, allowing us to see what’s inside, and each is printed with bold letters that clearly indicate where items belong.

Additionally, it’s a compact kit, reducing the effort needed to find exactly what is required. An extra pocket or two for personal medications was also appreciated.

Quantity & Variety

We were pleased to find that despite its compact size, the Surviveware Small contained several important emergency supplies, including nitrile gloves, a CPR mask, cotton wrap, and scissors. It also includes frequently used items like adhesive bandages, medical tape, and gauze pads.

However, most supplies other than bandages were limited in quantity. There was only one gauze pad, one trauma pad, and a few antiseptic wipes. We worried we could deplete those supplies on a single hike if someone sustained more than a small cut or scrape. Notably, there was no blister treatment like moleskin.

It’s also missing supplies with an expiration date, including OTC medications, antibiotic ointment, and hydrocortisone cream. So, before our first hike on a nearby trail in Utah, we filled it with those additional supplies.

However, since it does come with important trauma and emergency supplies, we weren’t too upset about it. Being experienced outdoorists, we felt comfortable stocking the missing items ourselves. We found there was enough room to add those few extra supplies in an extra pocket labeled “Personal Items.”

As for the most-used item in a kit–bandages–they were plasticky and felt cheap but stayed stuck for 24 hours with no loosening. They weren’t stretchy or breathable, though.

Quality & Durability

During testing, we exposed the kit to pouring rain and tossed it in a bag with loose microspikes to see how it stood up to wet weather and rough handling. Thanks to its durable ripstop exterior, there were no signs of wear. However, it did pick up more dirt than other kits we tested, based solely on the texture of the case.

The exterior was minimally water-resistant, but in excessive rain, water still soaked through, dampening contents like gauze packaging, which in turn dampened the gauze. Anything not in waterproof packaging inside the kit got wet, so if we expected rain, we kept it inside our packs or in a waterproof stuff sack.

The kit features a robust two-way zipper that is easy to grab, making it simple to access. Additionally, the durable fabric exterior appears capable of withstanding significant wear in outdoor conditions.

Should You Buy the Surviveware Small?

The Surviveware Small offers decent value thanks to its durable case, compact size, excellent organization, and inclusion of several essential emergency supplies. It’s a kit you’ll likely keep with you for years, providing enough space for customization so you can tailor your first aid kit to your specific trip needs.

While it isn’t large, it’s better suited for day hikes than for extended, multi-day backcountry travel due to its limited capacity for stocking several days’ worth of supplies. However, it is more than sufficient for long day hikes where you may venture far from a trailhead. With items like gloves and a CPR mask, you’ll be well-prepared for anything.

Since it lacks items with expiration dates, such as OTC medication, and does not include a first aid manual, it is more suitable for those who are experienced with first aid and know what should be in a kit and when. Those who are new to hiking and first aid or who want a kit that is ready to use as-is may want to look elsewhere.

What Other First Aid Kits Should You Consider?

There are many first aid kits for hiking options, so if the Surviveware Small isn’t the right fit, one of these other options may be more suitable.

Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 Review: Still small and light, but more waterproof and filled with essential supplies, this kit is an excellent choice for most adventures.

Cascade Traverse Review: This first aid kit is waterproof, well-stocked, durable, and portable, featuring twice the supplies in a similarly sized package.

General Medi Mini Review: This kit packs plenty more first aid supplies into a compact package. It doesn’t have items with an expiration date and includes even more injury and trauma supplies.