A disaster or an emergency situation 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-word scenario like a zombie apocalypse, you will be well equipped and ready to face them.
Our Top Pick for the Best Survival Kit
Our top pick for the best survival kit is the Survival Prep Warehouse 4 Person Survival Kit Deluxe. Whatever type of emergency or disaster befalls you or your family, the Survival Prep Warehouse contains everything you need to survive until a professional emergency team arrives on the scene. From food bars and water pouches to flashlights, sleeping bags, and heaps of other handy tools, you will be ready to face any sort of doomsday scenario.
How to Choose the Best Survival Kit
According to the disaster relief professionals like the CDC and the American Red Cross, your home should always be well stocked with a three-day supply of food, water, and emergency medical supplies like 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. But 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 situation. 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 two things:
1. 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?
2. Will the kit be used for one or two people or for a family of four?
Emergency survival kits can be designed for two people like the Ready America 2-person Emergency Survival Kit, or a large kit for a family of four like the Survival Prep Warehouse 4 Person Survival Kit Deluxe. The survival kit may be tailor-made for outdoor wilderness survival like the CHANGKU Multi Professional Tools Emergency Outdoor Gear Survival Kit.
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 like food bars and pouches or boxes of water. There should be a lighting source like a rechargeable flashlight and batteries, a lighter and matches, or a firestarter. You will need extra tools like a bottle and/or a can opener, cutting implements like a knife or saw, and a host of other essential safety supplies that are necessary to help you survive for at least three days after a disaster.
For more extreme survival stations, like 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 cell phone
- Emergency tinder
- Duct tape
- Compass
- Pliers
- Wire cutters
- Saw blade
- Screwdriver
- Safety goggles and gloves
- Candles
- Dust Mask
- Pocket Tissues
- Water purification tablets
- Emergency ponchos
- Survival blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Dynamo AM-FM Radio
- Siren
- Whistle
- Cell Phone Charger
- Fishing hooks and lines
- Extra batteries
- Personal hygiene kits
- Bio Hazard Waste Bags
- Deck of cards
- Storage bucket that doubles as portable toilet
Important Safety tips
1. 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.
2. Every home should have a well-stocked first aid kit.
3. 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.
Click here for more safety tips.
Click here for a comprehensive wilderness survival guide.
Bets Survival Kit Reviews
1. Survival Prep Warehouse 4 Person Survival Kit Deluxe
This is a monster of a survival kit and whatever type of emergency situations that may arise like an earthquake, hurricane, fire, flood or zombie apocalypse, you and your family will be prepped and ready with the Survival Prep Warehouse Survival Kit Deluxe.
The 4 Person kit from Survival Prep Warehouse contains all the essential tools, basic supplies, first aid & nutrition and hydration that is needed to get your family through the initial 72 hours after any natural or man-made disaster.
It contains necessities like water and food which are of primary importance. There are 48 pouches of Datrex water, which is twice the amount of water as leading suppliers and each pouch has a 5-year shelf-life. If you are caught in a disaster that lasts longer than 72 hours, there are 40 water purification tablets and each tablet purifies 1 liter of water and there is a 2.5-gallon water bag to store water in.
To feed hungry home-based castaways, there are 48 200 calorie food bars which have a 5-year shelf life, and a can opener.
If the electricity goes out, you can still stay in touch with the latest news reports with the hand crank AM/FM band radio that does not need any batteries, and the 2 hand squeeze rechargeable flashlight will illuminate the darkness.
To keep clean, the 4 personal hygiene kits include basic items like soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, 9 handy wipes, 4 masks, 8 tissue packs, and a large First Aid Kit that contains the essentials needed for any type of first aid emergency.
The On Duty/Gas Shut Off wrench has especially been designed by a firefighter, and will not spark if struck against metal, and can be used to shut off gas and water and also pry open doors and windows.
As well as being the ideal kit for home use, it can be used for outdoor survival needs when you are camping or boating on the high seas. There is a 5-in-1 survival whistle, compass, signal mirror, a flint starter, a waterproof container, and a shrill whistle with a lanyard.
To keep yourself warm, there is a box of 50 waterproof matches and the firestarter provides sufficient shavings to start hundreds of fires.
You will be able to stay warm with the 4 Mylar sleeping bags which are recommended over common “space blankets” and 4 body warmers that will last for 16 to 20 hours. If the rain is pelting down you will stay dry with the 4 emergency ponchos that have a hood, and the two 2-person tube tents come complete with a rope. The kit also contains biohazard bags, one 16 function knife. a pair of leather palm gloves to protect your hands, a 50-foot rope, four 12-hour light sticks and a package of survival candles. To keep the kids amused, there is even a deck of cards.
You do not have to worry about misplacing any of these essential survival items as they come packed securely by Survival Prep Warehouse in a deluxe duffel bag.
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
- 40 water purification tablets
- Deluxe duffel bag
- 4 Mylar sleeping bags
- 4 body warmers that will last for 16 to 20 hours
- Hand-crank radio
- Two rechargeable flashlights and batteries
Cons
- Expensive
2. Ready America 70280, 2-Person, 3-Day Backpack Emergency Survival Kit
Ready America is the premier provider of disaster preparedness supplies and outdoor survival kits, so whatever type of emergency situation comes your way, there is no need to panic, as the Ready America Emergency Survival Kit has sufficient supplies to sustain two people for three days.
If you are stuck at home without power or water due to a tropical storm or earthquake, the kit contains the three basic essentials for human survival as recommended by the American Red Cross: food, water, and emergency blankets for shelter and warmth, and the approved food rations and emergency drinking water have a five-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 want to add your own extra emergency supplies.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- 2-person supplies including food and water
- Food bars and water has a shelf life of 5 years
- 33 Piece first aid kit
- Two safety 12 hour light sticks
- Emergency ponchos
- Emergency blankets
- 2 dust masks
- Nitrile gloves
- Emergency whistle
- Bright red backpack for easy storage and portability
Cons
- Very basic starter survival kit
3. Mayday Industries 4 Person Deluxe Home Honey Bucket Survival Emergency Kit
If there is a gas leak in your house or your camping holiday takes a turn for the worst, the Mayday Industries Earthquake 4 Person Deluxe Survival 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 the Mayday Deluxe Emergency Honey Bucket survival kit. This is one of the most intensive kits on the market and it contains everything you need for indoor and outdoor emergencies. It contains 2400 calorie food bars, 24 pouches of water. 4 solar blankets, a 12 hour light stick, T-5 Chemical Toilet Disinfectant, Dynamo flashlight, a 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 massive 54 piece First Aid Kit, a 15-inch pry bar, a pair of leather palm gloves, a utility knife, a 5-in-1 whistle, a box of 50 water purification tablets, and a box of 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 specific types of emergency situations, like the Road Warrior kit, a Backpack kit, and the Classroom Lock-down kit.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- 3-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
- AM/FM 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 with lid
- Storage bucket doubles as a toilet seat
Cons
- Does not provide any items for shelter
- Food and water is not very high quality
4. CHANGKU Emergency 11-in-1 Survival Kit
If your choice of outdoor adventures involves camping, hiking or mountaineering, the CHANGKU 11-in-1 Professional Emergency Survival Kit is an excellent tool and outdoor gear kit to have stored in your camping gear. Whatever type of emergency you may have to face while enjoying your latest adventure, the CHANGKU multi-purpose survival tactical kit contains everything you need to survive until an official rescue team arrives. The CHANGKU would also make the perfect gift for family members or friends who are extreme adventure enthusiasts.
This basic survival kit contains tactical tools like a whistle, a credit card sized Swiss Sabre card, which will fit in your wallet or pocket. The Sabre card has 11 different functions: it can be used as a can opener, bottle cap opener, a 4-position wrench, 2-position wrench, butterfly screw wrench, a direction ancillary wrench, a screwdriver, a knife edge, saw blade, ruler, and keychain hole.
If you are stuck out in the freezing temperatures, there is a Flintstones firestarter that is made of magnesium and iron and can be stuck up to 5000-12000 times to flint a fire. The firestarter is lightweight and easy to carry and will not take up any space in your backpack and it also has three functions as a flint, bottle opener, and a scraper. For a fast getaway from your vehicle, if it is on fire, the emergency survival pen which is made from tough tungsten steel will help you break a window to escape.
To illuminate the darkness, the heavy-duty, tactical torch flashlight has an ultralight 240 lumens LED light that can run for hours on a single AA battery (not included). The flashlight has a compact handheld design, 3 light modes, high, low and strobe and a zoomable function so you can use it as a spotlight or zoom out for wider illumination. For extra lighting around the campfire or along the trail, there is a portable mini light.
If you need shelter, shade, ground cover, or insulation to stay warm and dry, to avoid hypothermia or shock, the emergency multi-functional waterproof and windproof thermal blanket is made from non-toxic reusable material and can retain 90% of your body heat.
To help you negotiate your way through the wilderness, there is a multi-function luminous survival compass that has a 360-degree rotating bezel for easy navigation and orienteering. It is also waterproof and shake-proof. Please note: before you use it, please put it under the sun or under a light.
To cut wood for a fire or to use for personal protection, there is a heavy duty spring assist folding tactical military knife that has a black sharp blade and 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 sturdy, shockproof carrying case.
Pros
- Professional multi-purpose emergency survival kit
- Ideal for hiking, biking, mountaineering, hunting, and camping
- Good value for money
- Great price
- Very good range of survival tools
- Compact and portable
- Credit card sized 11-function Swiss Sabre card
- Flintstones firestarter has 3 functions: Flint, bottle opener, and a scraper
- Emergency waterproof and windproof thermal blanket
- Heavy-duty tactical 240 lumens flashlight
- Emergency survival pen
- Luminous survival compass
- Heavy-duty tactical spring-assist folding military knife
- Sturdy, shockproof carrying case
- Perfect gift ideal for family and friends who love outdoor adventures
Cons
- No first aid kit
- No food or water included
5. Gerber Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit
If you want to protect yourself in a world that is on the brink of a zombie apocalypse or you just want some survival tools for your next wilderness expedition, arm yourself with the Gerber Zombie Apocalypse Survival kit.
While this kit does not contain a first aid kit or food or water rations like other deluxe survival kits, it contains seven survival cutting tools that you need to survive in the wilds of the jungle or wherever your latest adventure will take you.
For jungle adventures that may have gone slightly awry, you can hack through dense vegetation with the Parang as it has an angled blade and is modeled after a traditional jungle machete. The Gator's blade has both fine and serrated edges, and the Gator Pro has an aggressive, multi-purpose blade that can be used as an ax, a machete, or a knife. These military style knives can be used for a lot of multi-purpose cutting applications, hunting for food or for personal protection, and all their blades are made out of high-carbon stainless steel.
There are three multi-functional knives-the Epic, the DMF Folder, and the LMF II Infantry and an all-purpose ax, which you can use to cut firewood, build a shelter, hunt for food or protect yourself in a disaster zone against mutant zombies.
The versatile Epic knife sports a low profile, titanium nitrate-coated blade, and an integrated bottle opener, while the DMF Folder knife has a folding tanto blade and a compact design which is suited for everyday carry. Engineered by a former military man, the LMF II 10-inch Infantry knife has lashing holes that enable it to be used as a spear tip for catching game animals for food.
The Single-Hand Camp II Axe has a strong forged steel head and an elongated, glass-filled nylon handle and it comes with a molded plastic sheath.
The roll-up canvas carrying case with reinforced stitching and stud buttons keep all the tools together for easy transport.
The kit is covered by a lifetime warranty, which makes it great value for money.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Quality survival tools
- Kit contains 3 machetes, 3 military-style knifes, and 1 all-purpose hand ax
- Machetes are made of high-carbon stainless steel
- High-performance ax has a forged steel head and an elongated, glass-filled nylon handle
- Ax comes with a molded plastic sheath
- Epic sports knife has an integrated bottle opener
- LMF II Infantry knife can be used as a spear tip
- DMF Folder knife has a folding tanto blade and a compact design
- Sturdy compact canvas carrying case with studs
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
- Ideal gift for extreme outdoors adventurers
Cons
- Machetes and knives only survival kit
- Canvas case is not very durable
Our Top Pick for the Best Survival Kit
Our top pick for the best survival kit is the Survival Prep Warehouse 4 Person Survival Kit Deluxe. Whatever type of emergency or disaster befalls you or your family, the Survival Prep Warehouse contains everything you need to survive until a professional emergency team arrives on the scene. From food bars and water pouches to flashlights, sleeping bags, and heaps of other handy tools, you will be ready to face any sort of doomsday scenario.
