Are you searching for the best survival kit?
I believe in being prepared for all potential emergencies and have a fully stocked survival kit. In this article you will see my recommendations for the best ready made survival kits available today.
Check out the quick list below for links to customer reviews and prices for the best survival kit picks, or read on for the full review:
Table of Contents
How to Choose the Best Survival Kit
Putting together a survival kit piece by piece can take time and If you prefer selecting ready made emergency kit then you will need to consider a few features.
Whether you are planning for potential natural disasters or a grid down scenario, there are some universal supplies you will need to keep ready.
A survival kit is designed to get through the first days of an emergency. They are not generally designed for long term survival.
The first thing that you need to consider is how you will store your kit and what its primary function it will serve.
Some people want a smaller kit that will fit in the car, while others are more interested in a larger kit filled with more supplies for the home.
You need to also think about how many people your kit will provide for.
There are kits that are geared to families of all sizes, and choosing one that will meet the needs of all of your family members is imperative.
Finally, consider how many days of supplies you want to have in your kit. There are some that are only for a day or two, which is great for getting you out of your home in an emergency, but it won’t help with long-term problems.
Other kits are geared to helping people survive for longer periods of time.
Benefits of Having a Survival Kit
Having a survival kit that is ready for you to grab on a moment’s notice can mean the difference between getting to safety in an emergency and being stuck in your home while you try to piece together your kit.
I think that when you have a kit on hand, you will be much more comfortable and confident when faced with an emergency. I have put together my own bug out bag, but a high quality survival kit ready made can provide you with what you need when faced with an emergency.
Since disaster can strike at any time, one of these kits can quickly get you prepared to provide your family with their basic needs.
What to Look for in a Survival Kit
One of the most important things to consider when you select a survival kit is the shelf life of all food.
Some kits have very long shelf lives, which means that you won’t have to worry about replacing the food on a regular basis.
It’s up to you to decide how much work you are willing to put into maintaining your kit and how often you are willing to switch out old food. Longer shelf lives lower the time needed to monitor and maintain new food stocks.
You also need to make sure that the kit contains basic survival tools.
A few necessities are a knife, pliers, multi-tool, and wrench.
First aid kits are incredibly important and need to be in every survival kit.
Dealing with a medical emergency when you aren’t at home is scary, but being prepared will allow you to handle the most likely first aid needs.
Additionally, consider whether there is a flashlight, matches, or candles so that you can see in the dark.
You can also find kits that have small saws, compasses, and fishing line.
Getting the Most out of Your Survival Kit
Once you get your survival kit, you will want to open it up and make sure that you’re not missing any essential tools or supplies.
This is also a great time to supplement your kit, if desired.
If any of your family members have special dietary needs this is the time to supplement as needed.
You need to make sure that you have your kit in a location in your home where it is easily accessible.
Never put it in storage where you won’t be able to reach it quickly in an emergency, as this will defeat the purpose of having a kit ready to grab and go.
Considerations
Food can expire, and not all kits have water or other supplies that you may need when dealing with an emergency.
The best thing that you can do when you get a new survival kit is to go through it right away to check its quality, what’s included, and what’s missing.
While buying a kit is much faster and easier than making one yourself, you still have to be sure that you will have everything that you need.
Top Rated Survival Kits
Ready America 70385 Deluxe 4 Person Emergency Kit
Not only does this kit contain food and water as well as a high-quality first aid kit, it also has a 4 function emergency power station. This works as a flashlight, cell phone charger, siren, and radio without using any batteries. Because it is crank operated, it is easy to use no matter where you are, and it is simple to use to provide plenty of power in a hurry.
Pros
● Contains enough supplies for 3 people for 4 days
● Food has a 5-year shelf life
● Includes 107 piece first aid kit
● Contains emergency drinking water
● Backpack is durable and comfortable to wear
Cons
● Backpack isn’t waterproof and can easily get wet
Gearrific Tactical Sling Bag Survival Bundle 26 pc Survival Kit
Having a survival kit in your car so that you can grab it and go when you’re in a hurry is smart, and this small survival kit fits easily underneath a seat or in the glove box. Even though it is small, it’s packed with high-quality tools so that you won’t have to worry about your safety. The durable flashlight and tool card are especially useful in an emergency, and they don’t take up much room. This kit also comes equipped with a portable camping shovel, glow in the dark paracord, and a military shemagh scarf. You will need to select a separate survival food kit if you go with this option.
Pros
● Compact size is perfect for storage in the car
● Includes watertight utility case
● Emergency whistle is great for getting attention
● Bag is high-quality and durable
● Includes 28” pocket saw
Cons
● Doesn’t include food or water
● Bag isn’t large enough for a lot of additional items
Wise Food 5-Day Survival Backpack
Being able to add more items to your survival kit makes it possible to create a kit that will really work for you and your family, and this kit comes in a roomy backpack with plenty of space for additional supplies. The meals are tasty and designed for 4 people, which is great for a family, and they are very easy to cook, thanks to the portable stove, although you will need to bring more water.
Pros
● Contains 32 servings of food
● 24 fuel tablets included with the portable stove
● Camo nylon backpack is tough and will blend in
● Waterproof matches will work in all conditions
● Great for small families
Cons
● First aid kit is small
● Not enough water included
Safe T Proof 2 Person 3 Day Grab and Go Emergency Survival Kit
Sometimes all you need is a basic survival kit that will allow you and one other person to survive an emergency. This kit has everything that 2 people need to survive and also provides enough room to add more gear, snacks, or equipment. Thanks to the contour of the backpack, it is very easy to carry even when additional items are added.
Pros
● Perfect for 2 people to survive 3 days
● Emergency food is USCG certified
● Great base kit to add more items
● Large backpack is comfortable and easy to carry
● Great for keeping under the bed or in the car
Cons
● Water packs tend to leak
● Food bars don’t offer any variety
● First aid kit is not comprehensive
Everlit Survival Kit with First Aid Plus Emergency Tinder Wilderness Survival Card and User Guide
Perfect for backpackers or hikers who want to have a little additional security when they are in the woods, but who aren’t interested in a full survival kit backpack, this kit is packed with survival items, like a flint striker, wire rope saw, and safety blanket. It also contains a tactical LED flashlight and paracord bracelet that can easily be unwoven when you are in need of rope. Thanks to the small size and phone pocket, this kit can go anywhere and meet a lot of needs.
Pros
● Connects to Molle system in seconds
● Includes first aid kit
● Contains durable swiss card
● Small enough to not add a lot of weight
● Great for hiking or backpacking
Cons
● Molle pouch is water resistant, not waterproof
● Won’t work as a full survival kit
I think that having food and water, as well as a way to heat up meals and boil water for safety, is just as important as having a good first aid kit, and that’s why I think that the Wise Food 5-Day Survival Backpack is the best survival kit on this list. While it is a little larger than some of the other kits, it is great when you need to take care of your family or if you want to prepare for longer periods of survival. Thanks to the food, the mylar blanket, ponchos, and squeeze flashlight, you can use this backpack for most any emergency situation.
Fred is the Ready Zeal owner and editor. He has been passionately pursuing all things emergency preparation since working alongside his grandfather as a boy growing up in the Midwest. When not working on the family homestead he can be found brewing coffee and reading a good book or backpacking in the wilderness. Contact Fred at fred@readyzeal.com