A disaster or an emergency can strike at any time, so to protect yourself and your family, you need a survival kit. Whether it is a nature-driven disaster like a forest fire, flood, blizzard, or earthquake, being lost in the middle of the wilderness, man-made disasters like a train accident, a sporting accident, or doomsday end-of-the-world scenario like a zombie apocalypse, you will be well equipped and ready to face them.
The 5 Best Survival Kits
- Rescue Guard Emergency Survival Kit (Our Top Pick)
- Ready America Emergency Kit
- Mayday Industries Earthquake Kit
- KOSIN 18-in-1 Emergency Survival Kit
- STEALTH SQUADS Emergency Survival Gear and Medical First Aid Kit
Our Top Pick for the Best Survival Kit
Our top pick for the best survival kit is the Rescue Guard Emergency Survival Kit.
Whatever type of emergency or disaster befalls you or your family, the Rescue Guard Emergency Survival Kit contains everything you need to survive until a professional emergency team arrives on the scene. From food bars to water pouches to flashlights, a tent, a first aid kit, and heaps of other handy tools, you will be ready to face any sort of doomsday scenario.
Check the price on AmazonHow to Choose the Best Survival Kit
According to the disaster relief professionals such as the CDC and the American Red Cross, your home should always be well-stocked with a 3-day supply of food, water, and emergency medical supplies such as a first aid kit, which will keep you going until emergency services come to your rescue. It is also very important that you are familiar with the latest first aid techniques.
However, as well as having a survival kit at home, it is super smart to have one in your vehicle, at the office, and especially in your camping gear.
A quality survival kit should contain all the essential items that you need for any type of emergency. There is a survival kit to suit all lifestyles, emergencies, and end-of-the-world scenarios.
So how do you choose the right survival kit? It depends on 2 things:
- Is it for home use? To keep in your vehicle for school runs or driving to work or college? Will you be taking the kit on a hiking, camping, boating, snorkeling, or fishing trip? Are you planning a family road trip into previously uncharted territory?
- Will the kit be used for 1 or 2 people or for a family of 4?
Emergency survival kits can be designed for 2 people such as the Ready America 70280 Emergency Kit Backpack. A large kit for a family of 4 such as the KOSIN 18-in-1 Emergency Survival Kit is tailor-made for outdoor wilderness survivalists who need to pack light.
What Should a Quality Survival Kit Contain?
Survival kits range from basic short-term kits that you can keep at home to more complex long-term kits that are specially designed for outdoor enthusiasts who are planning on exploring the wilderness. The larger kits will contain items that you may not have even considered taking with you.
A typical emergency survival kit should include a first-aid kit with bandages, gauze, band-aids, surgical tape, iodine, alcohol prep pads, safety pins, aspirin, an emergency thermal blanket, basic food items such as food bars and pouches or boxes of water.
There should be a lighting source such as a rechargeable flashlight and batteries, a lighter and matches, or a firestarter. You will need extra tools such as a bottle and/or a can opener, cutting implements such as a knife or saw, and a host of other essential safety supplies that are necessary to help you survive for at least 3 days after a disaster.
For more extreme survival stations, such as being lost in the wilderness, jungle, desert, or at sea, a survival kit will need to have extra items for building a fire and a shelter and filtering water so that it is safe to drink.
A survival kit may also include:
- A plastic whistle
- Disposable cellphone
- Cellphone Charger
- Emergency tinder
- Duct tape
- Compass
- Pliers
- Wire cutters
- Saw blade
- Screwdriver
- Safety goggles and gloves
- Candles
- Dust Masks
- Pocket Tissues
- Water purification tablets
- Emergency ponchos
- Survival blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Dynamo AM-FM Radio
- Siren
- Fishing hooks and lines
- Extra batteries
- Personal hygiene kits
- Bio Hazard Waste Bags
- Deck of cards
- Storage bucket that doubles as a portable toilet
Important Safety Tips
- While a survival kit contains the essential items for personal safety in an emergency, it is only a short-term solution and is only designed to keep you alive until professional emergency services arrive.
- Every home should have a well-stocked first-aid kit.
- If you are planning on hiking or camping in a remote area, make sure that you notify family, friends, and the relevant authorities before you leave for your next outdoor adventure.
This guide will provide you with more safety tips. This will help if you need a comprehensive wilderness survival guide.
5 Best Survival Kits – Reviews
1. Rescue Guard Emergency Survival Kit
This is a monster of a survival kit and whatever type of emergencies that may arise such as an earthquake, hurricane, fire, flood, civil unrest, or zombie apocalypse, you and your family will be prepped and ready with the Rescue Guard Emergency Survival Kit.
The 361 piece survival pack from Rescue Guard contains all the essential tools, basic supplies, first aid, nutrition, and hydration that is needed to get a family of 4 through the initial 72 hours after any natural or man-made disaster.
It contains necessities such as water and food which are of primary importance. There are 24 pouches of emergency purified drinking water and each pouch has a 5-year shelf-life. To feed hungry home-based castaways, 4 food ration bars are US Coast Guard approved and have a 5-year shelf life.
If the electricity goes out, you can still stay in touch with the latest news reports with the emergency lantern radio, which doubles as a handy table lantern, a bonus flashlight, and a phone charger. The 2 squeeze power LED flashlights and the 4 light sticks will also help to illuminate the darkness. An emergency plan/contact organizer will give you extra peace of mind as you wait for emergency services to arrive.
To keep clean, personal hygiene and safety items include 4 tissue packs, 12 pre-moistened towelettes, 4 dust masks, 4 latex-free gloves, and 4 biohazard bags. The deluxe 212 piece First Aid Kit contains all the medical essentials needed for any type of first-aid emergency.
If you need to break glass, there is a survival knife and a survival ax that can be used to shut off gas and water and also pry open doors and windows if you need to escape from a car accident or a fire.
As well as being the ideal kit for home use, it can be used for outdoor survival needs or when you are camping or boating on the high seas. There is a multi-tool, a survival whistle, a compass, a flint starter, a wire saw, and a roll of duct tape.
To keep yourself warm, there is a fire starter flint and steel that provides sufficient shavings to start hundreds of fires.
You will be able to stay warm with the 4 bivy bags which are recommended over common “space blankets” and 4 emergency blankets in case of any injury or if you need extra protection throughout the night. If the rain is pelting down you will stay dry with the emergency ponchos. Emergency tents provide a secure place to sleep.
The kit also contains 1 multi-function knife, 2 pairs of leather palm gloves to protect your hands, and a deck of cards to keep the kids amused.
You do not have to worry about misplacing any of these essential survival items as they come packed in a bright red backpack.
Pros
- Quality 4 person survival kit
- Well organized
- Great value for money
- Equipped with loads of essential emergency items
- Includes basic food, water, safety, and first aid essentials
- Water and food bars have a 5-year shelf-life
- Water purification tablets
- Bright red backpack
- Four bivy sacks and 4 emergency blankets
- Two emergency tents
- Emergency lantern doubles as a radio, flashlight and a charger
- Deluxe 212 piece first aid kit
Cons
- Expensive
2. Ready America Emergency Kit
Ready America is the premier provider of disaster preparedness supplies and outdoor survival kits, so whatever type of emergency comes your way, there is no need to panic, as the Ready America Emergency Kit has sufficient supplies to sustain 2 people for 3 days.
If you are stuck at home without power or water due to a tropical storm or earthquake, the kit contains the 3 essentials for human survival as recommended by the American Red Cross: food, water, and emergency blankets for shelter and warmth. The approved food rations and emergency drinking water have a 5-year shelf life.
In case of any injuries, there is a 33-piece Red Cross approved First Aid kit, two 12-hour safety light sticks, dust masks, nitrile gloves, and an emergency whistle, emergency ponchos, and pocket tissues. All of these must-have survival items are stored in the Ready America bright red handy backpack, which can be kept at home, at school, at the office, or in the car.
This kit is only a basic starter kit so you may have to add your own extra emergency supplies.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- Two-person supplies including food and water
- Food bars and water have a shelf life of 5 years
- 33 Piece first aid kit
- Two safety 12 hour light sticks
- Emergency ponchos
- Emergency blankets
- Two dust masks
- Nitrile gloves
- Emergency whistle
- Bright red backpack for easy storage and portability
Cons
- Very basic starter survival kit
3. Mayday Industries Earthquake Kit
If there is a gas leak in your house or your camping holiday takes a turn for the worst, the Mayday Industries Earthquake Kit provides the necessary emergency supplies for 4 people for 3 days as recommended by the US Coast Guard guidelines. All of the items are guaranteed to last for a minimum of 5 years even in the most extreme conditions.
Do not wait until emergency strikes, start prepping your family now with this intensive survival kit which contains everything you need for indoor and outdoor emergencies.
It contains four 2400 calorie food bars, 24 pouches of water, 4 solar blankets, a 12 hour light stick, T-5 chemical toilet disinfectant, a Dynamo flashlight/radio, 4 dust masks, 4 ponchos, a 12 pack of liners, 6 wet naps, 10 yards of duct tape, a gas and water shut-off tool, a large 54 piece First Aid Kit, a 15-inch pry bar, a pair of leather palm gloves, a utility knife, a 5-in-1 whistle, 50 water purification tablets, and 50 waterproof matches.
To keep all of these essential safety items in a safe and secure place, the Mayday Industries survival kit comes in a 5-gallon durable plastic bucket that also doubles as a toilet, which is very handy if there are no toilet facilities available.
While this kit contains the essential items for a few days until emergency services arrive, the kit does not have any items for shelter. You can add a few of your own items unless you have access to a vehicle where you can take shelter.
Mayday Industries also offer a large range of survival kits that are tailor-made for different emergencies, such as an Automotive Emergency Kit, a Classroom Lockdown Kit, and Pet Preparedness Kits.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Three-day survival kit for 4 people
- US Coast Guard recommended supplies
- Intensive 54-piece first aid kit
- Kit will last 5 years under any climate conditions
- Includes food, water and needed emergency supplies
- Dynamo flashlight/radio
- T-5 chemical toilet disinfectant
- 50 waterproof matches
- 50 water purification tablets
- Gas and water shut off tool
- Sturdy and durable 5-gallon plastic bucket
- Storage bucket lid doubles as a toilet seat
Cons
- Does not provide any items for shelter
- Food and water are not very high quality
4. KOSIN 18-in-1 Emergency Survival Kit
If your choice of outdoor adventures involves camping, hiking, or mountaineering, the KOSIN 18-in-1 Emergency Survival Kit is an excellent tool collection to have stored in your camping gear.
Whatever type of emergency you may have to face while enjoying your latest adventure, the KOSIN multi-functional survival kit contains everything you need to survive until an official rescue team arrives. It would also make the perfect gift for family members or friends who are extreme adventure enthusiasts.
This 18-in-1 survival kit contains a 120 dB whistle, a wire saw, a screwdriver, a paracord bracelet that includes an emergency rope, a fire scraper, a mini compass, and a whistle. The credit card-sized Saber card contains 11 different tools: an opener, a bottle cap opener, a 4-position wrench, a 2-position wrench, a butterfly wrench, a direction ancillary wrench, a screwdriver, a knife-edge, a saw blade, a ruler, and a lanyard/keychain hole.
If you are stuck out in the freezing temperatures, the firestarter can be struck up to 12000 times to start a fire at a temperature of 5,500°F. The scraper can also be used as a bottle opener. If you want to stash the firestarter in your backpack, it is very lightweight.
For a fast getaway from your vehicle, if it is on fire, the tough tungsten steel tactical pen has a carbide tip that will help you break a window to escape.
To illuminate in the darkness, the heavy-duty tactical torch flashlight has an ultralight LED light that can run for hours on a single AA battery (not included). The flashlight has 3 light modes, high, low, and strobe, and a zoomable function. You can use the strobe light for an emergency beacon to alert rescue personnel. For extra lighting around the campfire, use the portable mini keychain light.
If you need shelter, shade, ground cover, or insulation to stay warm and dry, or to avoid hypothermia or shock, the emergency multi-functional thermal blanket can retain 90% of your body heat. First aid items include an absorbent gauze swab, an alcohol pad, a bandage, and a needle. A bottle clip can be used to attach a water bottle to your backpack.
The luminous survival compass has a 360° rotating bezel for easy navigation and orienteering through the wilderness. Please note: before you use the compass, please put it under the sun or light.
To cut wood for a warming fire or to use for personal protection, the folding Swiss-style military knife has a sharp black blade, a sturdy black aluminum handle, and a pocket clip for quick and easy access.
To keep all of these essential emergency tools safe and secure, they come packed in a durable waterproof ABS plastic carrying case.
Pros
- Multifunctional emergency survival kit
- Very good value for money
- Great price
- Ideal for hiking, biking, mountaineering, hunting, and camping
- Wide range of survival tools
- 11-function Saber card
- Firestarter has a scraper that can be used as a bottle opener
- Emergency waterproof and windproof thermal blanket
- Tactical ultra-bright flashlight has 3 light modes and a zoomable function
- Tactical survival pen
- Luminous survival compass
- Sturdy and sharp folding Swiss-style military knife
- Durable waterproof ABS plastic carrying case
- Compact and portable
- Perfect gift ideal for family and friends who love outdoor adventures
Cons
- No food or water included
- Can be hard to fit all the items back inside the case
5. STEALTH SQUADS Emergency Survival Gear and Medical First Aid Kit
Are you planning a hunting safari, fishing, or hiking expedition, or you just want some survival supplies for the next COVID lockdown? The STEALTH SQUADS Emergency Survival Gear and Medical First Aid Kit will help you to be totally prepared for any situation.
Although this kit does not contain food rations such as the other deluxe survival kits, it contains 42 different items such as a range of emergency supplies, EDC survival tools, and a first aid kit, which will help you to stay safe in the wilderness, the urban jungle, or wherever your latest adventure will take you.
No outdoor adventurer’s survival kit is complete without a multi-tool. This durable tactical pocket knife has a titanium-coated carbon steel blade that can be used to feather a stick for firewood. Essential emergency tools also include a seat belt cutter/glass breaker/striker in case of a car accident or a house fire and a bottle opener.
All of these tools can be easily accessed with just a press of a button. You can also attach the multi-tool to your belt with the integrated belt clip.
The compact tactical LED flashlight is made from sturdy water-resistant aluminum. Its super bright 350 lumens light can be zoomed in for an intense beam or a wider beam to illuminate a larger area, and it has 3 light modes: high, low, and strobe.
You will be able to stay warm with the durable, waterproof, and windproof emergency Mylar blanket that retains 90% of your body heat. It can also be used as a ground cover, a shade, or an SOS signal. If temperatures turn to freeze, the new upgraded fire starter Ferro rod and scraper produces 5000-12,000 strikes, so you can easily start a cozy fire.
When it rains, protect yourself with the disposable rain jacket poncho. The 5-in-1 multi-use paracord bracelet has a compass, a fire starter, and a whistle. Its main cordage stretches out to 8.5-feet and the combined inner strands up to 61-feet.
For controlling injuries such as cuts and burns, the 31-piece first aid contains 10 bandages, 10 alcohol pads, 5 cotton swap sheets, 1 tape, 1 rubber band tourniquet, and 4 prep pads.
Other survival tools include a 120 dB aluminum whistle, an upgraded black stainless steel multi-tool Saber card, a water bottle holder/carrier, and a 10 Tips Survival Skills eBook with illustrations.
You can keep all your emergency tools in the rugged military Molle pouch that attaches to a belt or a backpack. This survival kit comes with a lifetime warranty cover, and you can choose from green or black.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Quality survival tools
- 31-piece first aid kit
- Multi-tool knife is made from carbon steel with a titanium coating
- Compact super bright flashlight has 3 lighting modes
- Durable, waterproof, and windproof Mylar blanket
- Disposable rain jacket poncho
- Extra loud aluminum whistle
- Five-in-1 multi-use paracord bracelet has a compass, a fire starter, and a bonus whistle
- Newly upgraded firestarter flint
- Durable and portable Molle pouch
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
Cons
- Basic kit does not contain emergency food and water rations
- Knife is not overly sharp
Our Top Pick for the Best Survival Kit
Our top pick for the best survival kit is the Rescue Guard Emergency Survival Kit.
Whatever type of emergency or disaster befalls you or your family, the Rescue Guard Emergency Survival Kit contains everything you need to survive until a professional emergency team arrives on the scene. From food bars to water pouches to flashlights, a tent, a first aid kit, and heaps of other handy tools, you will be ready to face any sort of doomsday scenario.
Check the price on Amazon
