Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 Medical Kit Review
Brand: Adventure Medical Kits · Category: accessory · Price: $30 - $40
Buyers: ultralight day hikers and solo or duo backpackers who want a ready-to-go, waterproof first-aid pack that covers blisters, cuts, and common aches without adding much weight. Skip: trip leaders, larger groups, or multi-day backpackers who need trauma gear like a tourniquet or higher item counts. This kit is 8 oz (light enough to barely notice on a day hike) and uses 2-stage waterproofing — a watertight zipper plus an internal waterproof liner — so your meds and dressings stay dry in rain or wet launches.
Specs
| Weight | 8 oz |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 20 unique items |
| Features | 2-stage waterproofing, nitrile gloves, moleskin, tweezers, OTC meds (ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen), bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, medical tape |
| Materials | Robic waterproof nylon |
| Dimensions | 8.5 x 6.5 x 2 in |
Strengths
- Lightweight at 8 oz, ideal for day hikes and short backpacking trips
- Comprehensive coverage of common injuries like blisters, cuts, sprains with bandages, moleskin, and pain meds
- 2-stage waterproofing keeps contents dry in rain, snow, or water
- Hospital-quality supplies in a compact, durable bag with room for personal additions
- Includes essential OTC medications for pain, fever, allergies, and inflammation
- Well-organized with zippered pouch and instructions for quick access
- High reviewer consensus for reliability on trails from CleverHiker and SectionHiker
Complaints
- Limited quantities of each item, better for 1-2 people on short trips than extended backpacking
- No tourniquet or advanced trauma gear like larger kits
- Bright orange color may not appeal to stealth campers
- Requires personal additions like leukotape, extra gloves, or prescription meds for customization
- Some users report needing more antiseptic wipes or antibiotic ointment
- Tape can be hard to dispense in cold/wet conditions without additions
Value & Competitors
Priced around $30–$40, the .7 sits between bargain DIY kits and heavier trauma-oriented kits; it’s cheaper than the AMK .9 (about 12 oz, more for groups) and usually undercuts Peak First Aid’s larger kits. Compared with the Gossamer Gear Ultralight Medical Kit .5 (3.6 oz), the .7 is heavier but gives you more items (20 vs. ~15) and gloves — pick the .5 if absolute minimal weight is your priority. Peak’s kit (~6–8 oz) trades off some wound-care variety for a tourniquet and broader pharmaceuticals, so if you want blister care and watertight packaging the AMK .7 is the better fit. In short: good bang for the buck for solo/duo hikers who want a waterproof, ready-to-use kit, but not the best option if you need group-level trauma supplies.
Weight & Packability
The Ultralight/Watertight .7 weighs 8 oz and measures 8.5 x 6.5 x 2 in, so it fits easily into a hipbelt pocket or top of a daypack. Eight ounces is light for a pre-packed kit — you’ll hardly notice it on a single-day outing, but every ounce adds up on multi-day treks. The flat rectangular shape packs neatly against a pack frame or in a cuben dry bag if you want extra protection. AMK chose this size to balance item variety (20 unique items) and portability; it’s heavier than the Gossamer Gear .5 (3.6 oz) but brings more supplies for blisters and wound care.
Waterproofing & Materials
This kit uses Robic waterproof nylon and a two-stage waterproofing system: a watertight zipper plus an internal waterproof liner. Robic nylon is a durable, water-resistant fabric that stands up to repeated pack abuse better than flimsy pouches. Two-stage waterproofing means the bag will survive heavy rain, snow, or brief splashes better than kits that only rely on a zipper or only a liner. Note the bag is bright orange — useful for visibility in an emergency but not stealthy for campers who want low-visibility gear.
Contents & Medical Coverage
AMK lists 20 unique items curated for common trail problems: bandages, moleskin for blisters, hospital-quality gauze, non-adherent dressings, tweezers, nitrile gloves, and over-the-counter (OTC) meds like ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen — OTC means you don’t need a prescription. The inclusion of duct tape and benzoin for field adhesion is a practical touch you don’t always see in ultralight kits, helping with bandage adhesion in wet conditions. The kit excels at blister and basic wound care but deliberately omits heavy trauma tools: there’s no tourniquet or large trauma pads, so it’s not meant for major bleeding control on larger groups. Quantities are limited by design — the supplies are sized for one to two people on short trips, not for resupplying a big group.
Customization & Missing Items
There’s deliberate space for personal additions — the 8.5 x 6.5 x 2 in pouch can accept a small roll of leukotape, extra antiseptic wipes, or prescription meds. Reviews commonly recommend adding leukotape (better than moleskin in some humid conditions), more antibiotic ointment, and extra wipes if you expect multi-day use or to care for more than two people. If you need advanced trauma capability (a tourniquet, Israeli bandage, or larger hemostatic dressings), you’ll have to carry those separately because AMK trimmed heavier gear to hit the 8 oz target. The printed instructions inside are useful for novices, but customized additions are strongly advised for allergy or prescription needs.
Durability & Real World Issues
Reviewers consistently note the bag itself is durable and holds up to rain and pack wear; the zippered pouch with printed instructions helps quick access under stress. Practical problems reported include tape becoming hard to dispense in cold or wet conditions and tweezers that can struggle with deep splinters — small failure modes to plan around. Nitrile gloves are included (safer than latex for allergies), but users say they can tear if repeatedly reused; carry extras if you expect multiple messy injuries. The kit’s internal layout keeps things tidy, but items can shift without internal organizers, so consider adding small zip bags if you want strict order.