Best Survival Kits of 2023
Best For Car
VSSL Camp
This kit is compact, rugged, and durable. There are a variety of kits available, or you can design exactly you want or need.
Best for Hiking
Best Glide Be Prepared Pocket Survival Kit
This kit is lightweight and covers all the crucial components of staying safe, including features to help with water, food, fire, navigation, medical, and more.
Best Emergency
Sustain Supply Comfort2
While there is room in the backpack to add additional items, there aren’t many that you’ll likely need, beyond perhaps a few comfort items.
A survival kit isn’t a one-size fits all solution to an emergency, but the best ones offer a variety of tools and supplies that can help you through a rough patch. Having the right one can help you and your family make it through a tough situation. Whether you are in the backcountry when your vehicle breaks down or stuck in the city when a natural disaster occurs, you’ll be glad you had the right assortment of goods to make it through.
There is a dizzying array of survival kits in stores and online, including offerings from name brands like Uncharted Supply and SOL. It can be difficult to decide which kits will be best. Fortunately, we did some of the work for you.
Best for the Car: VSSL Camp
Best for Hiking: Best Glide Be Prepared Pocket Survival Kit
Best Emergency: Sustain Supply Comfort2
Best for Snowmobile: SOL Scout Kit
Best First Aid Kit: MOLLE Bag Trauma Kit 1.0
How We Picked The Best Survival Kits
I have been working as a disaster preparedness instructor and author for over 10 years and have been involved with the survival field for a couple of decades prior to that. In that time, I’ve had the opportunity to not only review countless survival kits, but also assist companies in the development of them.
Over my time working with survival kits, I’ve typically used three basic considerations to evaluate them.
Quality of Components: If your gear fails under pressure, it might put you in serious danger. Therefore, the first thing I look at is the quality of each component in the kit. Is it well-made? Is it designed for real world use, or it is just for decoration? Each and every item needs to be durable, well-designed, and at the very least, work as intended.
Usefulness: Many kits sold today have items that serve no real purpose. Or, the item might be of limited use. While some of the contents might have a very specific use, such as a water filter, that use should be tied to a basic, universal need that must be satisfied in virtually any emergency.
Cost: This is always a balancing act. Generally speaking, the cheaper the kit, the lower the quality. This isn’t always true, but as the saying goes, you usually get what you pay for. However, spending a ton of money on an item you might never actually need it a difficult concept for many to grasp. In my evaluations, I want to see true value for the price paid.
I’m personally familiar with each kit on my list. I’ve tested them, I’ve used them, and I’ve found them to exceed all expectations.
Best Survival Kits: Reviews & Recommendations
Best for the Car: VSSL Camp
Specs
Dimensions: 9.4 inches x 2 inches
Weight: 1.32 pounds (with included contents)
Aircraft-grade aluminum construction
Pros
Rugged and durable
Easy to store
Customizable
Cons
Size limits gear choices
The design of the VSSL kit was originally inspired by the classic Maglite flashlight one of the best flashlights on the market. The cylindrical shape lent itself to easy carry in a pack pocket. Over time, the contents evolved and eventually VSSL began offering fully customized kits, with the contents chosen by the end user.
There are a variety of VSSL kits available, or you design the exact kit you want or need. Start with the container size–small, medium, or large. There are seven colors available, including black, silver, and orange. The top cap can be a carabiner, compass, or both. The bottom can be plain or a 4 LED flashlight.
The Camp Supplies version has plenty of useful implements for those that just want to buy an off-the-shelf ready kit. This version contains the following:
Canadian beeswax candle
Miniature first aid kit with 6 bandages, 10 Steri-Strips, two wipes, and two safety pins
Expandable bamboo cloth
One-liter Whirl-Pack water bag
Firestarter kit containing five Tinder Quik fire starters and 10 weatherproof matches
Fishing Kit with spoons, spinners, J-hooks, split shot, and 35 feet of line
Wire saw
Miscellaneous gear kit with a whistle, two gear ties, mini sewing kit, and P38 can opener
Multi-purpose tape
There are also various-sized empty tins that you can add, allowing you to fully customize the kit to your exact specifications. These can be filled with anything you’d like, such as an emergency supply of prescription medications. Of all the kits on our list, this one is the best survival kit for the car.
Best for Hiking: Best Glide Be Prepared Pocket Survival Kit
Specs
Dimensions: 4.5 inches x 3.0 inches
Weight: 6.0 ounces
Water-resistant sealed container
Pros
Lightweight
Small size, easy to keep in a cargo pocket or pack
Covers most basic survival needs
Cons
Lacks depth in most areas
Officially endorsed by the Boy Scouts of America, this pocket-sized kit is easy to carry and has everything you need, sealed in a durable tin. When you’re carrying everything on your back, every ounce counts. It is crucial to make sure that every single item you add to the pack has merit and satisfies a true need. This is the best survival kit for hiking trips because it won’t weigh you down, yet it could very well save your life.
It packs quite a bit of gear, spanning a large range of survival necessities, into the tin.
Water
Purification tablets
Water bag
Food
Fishing kit
Snare wire
Fire
Flint fire starter
Tinder
Fresnel lens
Beeswax candles
Shelter and Protection
Emergency blanket
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Navigation
Button compass
Medical
Adhesive/butterfly bandages
Signaling
Mirror
Whistle
Tools
Derma Safe razor knife
Sewing kit
Utility cord
Wire saw
The container is sealed until you need the contents, so there’s little danger of the gear getting fouled by water as you travel. While it lacks any sort of actual food, you could easily toss a granola bar or trail mix in your pocket next to the kit.
Best Emergency Survival Kit: Sustain Supply Comfort2
Specs
Fully stocked backpack
Will provide for two people for 72 hours
High quality components
Pros
Has everything needed for temporary disasters
Low maintenance; can be stored for long periods of time
Includes food and water
Cons
Heavy and bulky
Most state and federal agencies recommend that families assemble the best emergency survival kits that will meet their basic needs for at least 72 hours in case of a disaster. It may take relief organizations that long to get to you and provide aid, so you should be prepared for at least that long. This kit has everything ready to go, including food and water. While there is room in the backpack to add additional items, there aren’t many that you’ll likely need, beyond perhaps a few comfort items.
Food
Twelve servings of freeze-dried food
Portable stove and cookware
Bowls and utensils
Water
Two liters of purified water
Filter straws
Medical
Fully stocked first aid kit
Illumination
Cyalume light sticks
LED lantern
Warmth
Ferrocerium rod with striker
InstaFire tinder
Emergency blankets
Signaling
Emergency whistles
Hygiene
Bath wipes
Tools
Knife
This survival kit is absolutely packed with supplies and they’re all contained in durable backpack. This is the perfect kit to keep stashed in a closet so it is on hand and easily found when an emergency strikes.
Best for Snowmobile: SOL Scout Kit
Specs
Dimensions: 6 inches x 3.75 inches
Weight: 5.4 ounces
Waterproof dry bag
Pros
Very small and will fit just about anywhere
Offers some room for expansion
Fire striker will last for 5,000 strikes
Cons
Very limited in gear and supplies
If you’re heading out on a snow machine, possibly far from civilization, it is critical that you have at least basic survival skills. This includes being able to navigate by compass and build a fire in challenging conditions. You should also pack along a few keys tools to help should the unexpected strike.
Snowmobiles aren’t known for their storage space. Anything you choose to carry will need to be small, slim, and compact. This limits you when it comes to picking the best survival kit for snowmobiles, with room only for bare bones necessities.
This kit has the bare essentials for those tasks and related survival needs.
Warmth
Survival blanket
Fire Lite striker
Tinder Quik tabs
Signaling
Survival whistle
Signal mirror
Navigation
Button compass
Food Acquisition
Fishing kit
Tools
Duct tape
Sewing kit
The emergency blanket has survival instruction printed directly on it for help and guidance. Under ideal conditions, the whistle can be heard up to a mile away and the signal mirror’s flash can be seen for up to 10 miles. The dry bag has a roll-down closure and will keep the contents safe and secure no matter where your sled takes you.
Best First Aid Kit: MOLLE Bag Trauma Kit 1.0
Specs
Dimensions: 7.87 inches x 5.51 inches x 3.54 inches
Weight: 0.9 pound
Contains over 60 items
Pros
Small, easy to carry size
Contains common medications as well as bandages
Features QuikClot© hemostatic gauze
Cons
Limited supply of personal protective equipment
When seconds count, you need the best first aid supplies on the market. This kit has everything you’ll need to stop the bleed and keep the patient alive. It will handle everything from traumatic wounds to routine sprains, as well as any number of common illnesses that can crop up when you’re out and about.
Medications included in the kit are:
Pain reliever/fever reducer: aspirin, 325 mg; ibuprofen, 200 mg; acetaminophen, 500 mg
Antihistamine: diphenhydramine, 25 mg
To handle heavily bleeding wounds, there’s a length of QuikClot© hemostatic gauze. Add to that trauma pads and other wound dressings and you’ll be in good shape until you can seek proper medical assistance.
For minor wounds, there are a number of adhesive bandages as well as antiseptic wipes and triple antibiotic ointment. They’ve also included EMT shears and even After Bite® wipes for insect bites.
While you’ll want to add additional personal protective equipment, particularly nitrile gloves, overall, this kit has everything you need to handle routine problems.
What to Consider When Choosing a Survival Kit
Choosing a survival kit is an important decision. It is far too easy to just plunk down your cash on something that looks cool, but isn’t even worth the container it comes in. Remember that you’re purchasing something that you might need to save your life or the lives of your family. This is a big responsibility and should not be taken lightly.
Here’s what you need to consider.
Practicality
It makes little sense to purchase a kit that isn’t going to add much usefulness to the situation. Some survival kits sold today are absolutely packed with gear, but very little of it is going to be helpful in a crisis. Sure, a folding grappling hook sounds cool and all. But unless you’re planning to scale the side of a building or dredge a creek for junk, it is just a nifty piece of kit that serves no practical use.
Range of Use
Some kits on the market are very specific with their intended use. While some of the contents are universal, much of it won’t be needed unless that specific type of disaster hits. Heirloom seeds are a great item to have if you’re concerned about long-term breakdowns in society. But if your biggest concern is a hurricane or earthquake, those seeds aren’t likely to be of much benefit to you.
Experience Level
Noted survival and bushcraft instructor Mors Kochanski once said, “The more you know, the less you need to carry.” In other words, the more skills you have, the less tools you’ll need to accomplish tasks.
But the opposite is also true. The lower your experience level, the more advantages you’ll need to make it through a crisis. So, make sure the best survival kit you choose will suit your experience level and give you the leg up you want and need in a disaster.
FAQs
Q: How long can you survive without water?
The generally accepted rule of thumb is that a person can survive without water for about three days. However, there are a lot of factors that will affect that time frame. If it is hot out, or you’re performing strenuous activity, you’re going to lose water through sweat much quicker than you would if you were to remain sedentary and stay cool.
Q: What items do Preppers forget?
Preppers often forget to practice and train with their gear. There can be tendency to just throw money at the problem. The drawback is when a crisis does occur, you need to know how to properly use all the items in your survival kit. Otherwise, they will be nearly useless to you and your family.
Q: What should be in a 72-hour kit?
The items in your 72-hour kit should include simple foods that require little to no preparation prior to eating, water that is safe to drink along with a filter or purifier for more water sourced elsewhere. It should also have a basic first aid kit that will handle common injuries and illnesses, a flashlight with extra batteries, a sturdy knife, ways to make fire and stay warm, and anything else that might be specific to your home or your individual situation.
Best Survival Kits: Final Thoughts
Best for the Car: VSSL Camp
Best for Hiking: Best Glide Be Prepared Pocket Survival Kit
Best Emergency: Sustain Supply Comfort2
Best for Snowmobile: SOL Scout Kit
Best First Aid Kit: MOLLE Bag Trauma Kit 1.0
It can be difficult to sort through the different survival kits on the market today. Many of them look very similar, despite the range in quality. The best approach is to select a kit that will meet most of your needs, then to customize it by adding your own personal touches. This will allow you to have the best survival kit that will be ready to handle whatever life throws your way.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
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