Backside line
The Surviveware Small is a superb budget-friendly choice for individuals who need simply the necessities in an simply moveable package deal. It’s small, so it matches simply in a backpack however may also be connected to a belt or the outside of a bag. It’s stocked with crucial provides for emergencies, plus often-used gadgets like adhesive bandages and moleskin.
It’s a wonderful starter equipment for individuals who want to customise their kits, particularly given all of the room for extras inside. There are well-labeled organizational pockets that make gadgets straightforward to search out. The sturdy cloth exterior and zippers seem to be they’ll maintain as much as loads of abuse outside.
It’s lacking provides with expiration dates like medicines and ointments and solely has a restricted variety of single-use provides, so we anticipate restocking it typically.
If you wish to see extra choices, check out our information to the greatest first help kits.
And for more information, take a look at a few of our different standard gear guides:
How We Examined
Throughout testing, we took the Surviveware Small on brief day hikes in central Ohio and on all-day adventures within the mountains of Utah. We examined it in snow, rain, and solar, spending hours assessing the equipment and its contents each on and off the path.
Fast Specs

Surviveware Small
Most customizable equipment
CleverHiker Ranking:
4.0/5.0
Value:
$27
Weight:
6.2 oz.
Dimensions:
6 x 4 x 8 inches
Distinctive Gadgets:
13
Execs
- Compact
- Light-weight
- Simply moveable
- Extremely Organized & Labeled
- Contains emergency necessities
- Room for extras
Cons
- No medicine included
- Restricted variety of every merchandise
- Not water-proof
Portability
The Surviveware Small ranks excessive in portability. It’s compact, light-weight, and simply storable inside a backpack or hip pack. It additionally includes a snap strap on the again that enables it to be clipped to a belt, pack strap, or sling should you want to maintain your equipment extra accessible.
That stated, a part of the rationale it’s as mild as it’s lies in the truth that it’s comparatively sparse in first help provides, so when you inventory it with extra necessities, it should turn out to be heavier.
Group
In the case of group, this equipment stands out as a wonderful choice. We appreciated the 12 well-labeled organizational pockets that made it fast and simple to find every little thing, even after we weren’t those trying to find wanted provides. The pockets are mesh, permitting us to see what’s inside, and every is printed with daring letters that clearly point out the place gadgets belong.
Moreover, it’s a compact equipment, lowering the hassle wanted to search out precisely what’s required. An additional pocket or two for private medicines was additionally appreciated.
Amount & Selection
We had been happy to search out that regardless of its compact dimension, the Surviveware Small contained a number of vital emergency provides, together with nitrile gloves, a CPR masks, cotton wrap, and scissors. It additionally contains regularly used gadgets like adhesive bandages, medical tape, and gauze pads.
Nevertheless, most provides aside from bandages had been restricted in amount. There was just one gauze pad, one trauma pad, and some antiseptic wipes. We nervous we may deplete these provides on a single hike if somebody sustained greater than a small minimize or scrape. Notably, there was no blister remedy like moleskin.
It’s additionally lacking provides with an expiration date, together with OTC medicines, antibiotic ointment, and hydrocortisone cream. So, earlier than our first hike on a close-by path in Utah, we stuffed it with these further provides.
Nevertheless, because it does include vital trauma and emergency provides, we weren’t too upset about it. Being skilled outdoorists, we felt snug stocking the lacking gadgets ourselves. We discovered there was sufficient room so as to add these few additional provides in an additional pocket labeled “Private Gadgets.”
As for the most-used merchandise in a equipment–bandages–they had been plasticky and felt low cost however stayed caught for twenty-four hours with no loosening. They weren’t stretchy or breathable, although.
High quality & Sturdiness
Throughout testing, we uncovered the equipment to pouring rain and tossed it in a bag with free microspikes to see the way it stood as much as moist climate and tough dealing with. Due to its sturdy ripstop exterior, there have been no indicators of wear and tear. Nevertheless, it did choose up extra filth than different kits we examined, primarily based solely on the feel of the case.
The outside was minimally water resistant, however in extreme rain, water nonetheless soaked by, dampening contents like gauze packaging, which in flip dampened the gauze. Something not in waterproof packaging contained in the equipment bought moist, so if we anticipated rain, we stored it inside our packs or in a water-resistant stuff sack.
The equipment includes a sturdy two-way zipper that’s straightforward to seize, making it easy to entry. Moreover, the sturdy cloth exterior seems able to withstanding vital put on in out of doors situations.
Ought to You Purchase the Surviveware Small?
The Surviveware Small provides respectable worth due to its sturdy case, compact dimension, wonderful group, and inclusion of a number of important emergency provides. It’s a equipment you’ll possible maintain with you for years, offering sufficient area for personalisation so you may tailor your first help equipment to your particular journey wants.
Whereas it isn’t giant, it’s higher fitted to day hikes than for prolonged, multi-day backcountry journey resulting from its restricted capability for stocking a number of days’ price of provides. Nevertheless, it’s greater than ample for lengthy day hikes the place chances are you’ll enterprise removed from a trailhead. With gadgets like gloves and a CPR masks, you’ll be well-prepared for something.
Because it lacks gadgets with expiration dates, equivalent to OTC medicine, and doesn’t embrace a primary help handbook, it’s extra appropriate for individuals who are skilled with first help and know what ought to be in a equipment and when. Those that are new to mountain climbing and first help or who need a equipment that is able to use as-is could wish to look elsewhere.
What Different First Support Kits Ought to You Think about?
There are numerous first help kits for mountain climbing choices, so if the Surviveware Small isn’t the suitable match, considered one of these different choices could also be extra appropriate.
Journey Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 Evaluate: Nonetheless small and lightweight, however extra waterproof and full of important provides, this equipment is a superb selection for many adventures.
Cascade Traverse Evaluate: This primary help equipment is waterproof, well-stocked, sturdy, and moveable, that includes twice the provides in a equally sized package deal.
Normal Medi Mini Evaluate: This equipment packs a lot extra first help provides right into a compact package deal. It doesn’t have gadgets with an expiration date and contains much more damage and trauma provides.