Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker Review

While we often times focus on the worst possible outcome we can imagine, we sometimes forget to plan for the most likely to occur events. Things that are so common or mundane that we neglect them. We plan to survive the end of the world, but forget to plan for a loss of employment. We plan to care for a gunshot wound, but forget that one of the most common injuries in America is a sliced palm caused by cutting bagels in half.

Most households have an assortment of things to treat our common injuries or illnesses while we are at home, like bandaids, Pepto Bismol, and Tylenol. A boo-boo kit is something we can carry to treat the same things while we are away from home. A 'boo-boo kit' is a first aid kit for all our normal, day to day bumps, bruises, and ailments. This is separate from your IFAK or trauma kit that is for gun shot wounds or arterial bleeding.

After a recent day trip for some hiking with my family incurred a slight scrape and a poke from a thorn in my young daughter's hand, I decided I needed to find a dedicated boo-boo kit for the family expedition vehicle. I was at a loss when I first started looking I was debating buying a pre- made kit or building something from scratch. My requirements were first and foremost organization with labeled sections. I wanted something that anyone who picked the kit up could quickly find exactly what they needed. After that I looked at what the kit contained, a first aid kit advertised as "100 piece first aid kit" doesn't do anyone much good when 99 of the items are cheap bandaids. Finally I was interested in the overall size of the kit, and I wanted something that wasn't going to break the bank.

Enter Adventure Medical Kits. Adventure Medical Kits offers a full line of pre-made first aid kits and supplies. They even offer first aid kits for dogs! I was particularly attracted to their mountain and sportsman's series for the labeled sleeves and variety of included pieces. I ended up choosing a Mountain Series: Backpacker.

Adventure Medical: Mountain Series, Backpacker

Here's what Adventure Medical lists for specifications and contents:

• Cuts & Scrapes

• 5 – Easy Access Bandages®, 1" x 3" Fabric

• 5 – Easy Access Bandages®, Knuckle Fabric

• 4 – Butterfly Closure Fabric Adhesive Bandage

• 6 – Antiseptic Wipe

• 2 – Triple Antibiotic Ointment

• 4 – Alcohol Swab

• 1 – Tincture of Benzoin

• Instruction / Instrument

• 1 – Wilderness First Aid Manual

• 1 – EMT Shears, 4"

• 1 – Splinter Picker/Tick Remover Forceps

• 3 – Safety Pin

• 1 – Register Your Kit Card

• Medication

• 3 – After Bite® Sting & Bite Relief Wipe

• 2 – Diamode (Loperamide HCI 2 mg.), 2 Pkg./1

• 6 – Aspirin (325 mg.), 3 Pkg./2

• 3 – Antihistamine (Diphenhydramine 25 mg.), 3 Pkg./1

• 8 – Ibuprofen (200 mg.), 4 Pkg./2

• 8 – Acetaminophen (500 mg.), 4 Pkg./2

• Stop Bleeding Fast

• 1 – Trauma Pad, 5" x 9"

• 2 – Nitrile Glove

• Wound Care / Blister / Burn

• 1 – Wound Irrigation Tool, 10cc. with 18 Gauge Tip

• 4 – Sterile Gauze Dressing, 4" x 4"

• 4 – Sterile Gauze Dressing, 2" x 2"

• 2 – Sterile Non-Adherent Dressing, 2" x 3"

• 1 – Elastic Bandage with Hook & Loop Closure, 2"

• 1 – Conforming Gauze Bandage, 2"

• 1 – Tape, 1" x 10 yd.

• 14 – Moleskin, Pre-Cut & Shaped Pieces

• 2 – Cotton Tip Applicator

Back of the Case - Lists contents and locations

I really love the organization of the bag. There are five individually labeled pockets.

Inside of the first aid kit once unzipped and opened

Pocket # 1: Medication

This pocket contains a few different types of medications you might need while away from home.

Medication Pocket Contents

The kit shipped with sting relief wipes, ibuprofen packets, acetaminophen packets, diphendramine (antihistamine), and diamode (anti-diarrhea) packets.

Pocket #2: Cuts and Scrapes

In this pocket you'll find band-aids, butterfly bandages, neosporin like packets, and antiseptic/alcohol wipes.

Cuts and Scrapes Pocket Contents

I did find it interesting that this pocket also includes a "skin tac" wipe which promotes adhesion of bandages. This could help keep a bandage on sweaty, wet, or hairy skin when out and active.

Pocket #3: Wound Care, Burns, and Blisters

This pocket has some larger gauze pads sized 4x4 and 2x3 as well as 2x3 non-adherent pads for larger scrapes or wounds. There is also an elastic bandage and roll of gauze for wrapping and keeping the pads in place. The moleskin is pre-cut for protecting/preventing blisters.

Wound Care/Burn/Blister Pocket Contents

This pocket also includes athletic tape, and irritation syringe, and two cotton applicators. I guess you could use the applicators to apply the antibiotic ointment, but outside of that I don't seem much use for them. You should let me know if you use them in your first aid kits.

Pocket #4: "Stop Bleeding Fast"

Eehh...this one is kind of a stretch. This pocket holds a 5x9 inch abdominal pad and a pair of gloves. I guess this could be used with compression to stop minor bleeding. Once again, this kit isn't a replacement for a trauma kit, so it seems like it might be appropriate.

Stop Bleeding Pocket Contents

The space might be better served with a Quik-Clot product.

Pocket #5: Instruments

This pocket holds a few safety pins and a combination tick remover/tweezers.

Instrument Pocket Contents

Behind the instruments pocket is a longer pocket that holds trauma shears, a few tissues, and a wilderness medicine field guide. I'm not a huge fan of the included tweezers; I'll probably upgrade those.

Tick Remover / Tweezers combination

The compact size of the kit makes it fit almost perfectly in the pocket of our SUV.

Backpacker Kit in SUV Pocket

All in all, it's a pretty solid kit for less than $40.

Find it on Amazon here: