The 6 Best Travel First Aid Kits of 2024

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Be prepared for any situation with a travel first aid kit that provides plenty of supplies stored in a case that won't squish in your luggage.

Alesandra Dubin is an LA-based lifestyle writer and editor. As a veteran digital journalist, she's covered travel, food, parenting, and more for over 15 years. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, and countless other online and print outlets. An avid traveler, she often trots the globe with her husband and their twins. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @alicedubin. Alesandra holds a master's degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley.

In This Article

Travel + Leisure / Kristin Kempa

In my early travel years, I took more physical risks: I hiked Yosemite’s Half Dome and the Grand Canyon rim to river to rim. (I’d lost both big toenails by the end of it.) Once, I dislocated my thumb whitewater rafting in Bali in the rain — it was all in great fun.

Now that I’m a parent of twins (and, let’s be honest — now that I’m older and just plain soft), I’m more likely to avail myself of the amenities at a five-star resort than I am to engage in risky physical activities. But small accidents can and do happen all the time. And that’s why — as the daughter of a doctor and a biologist, and a parent to school-aged kids who always get into something — I always travel with some form of first aid kit. For me, it's just a no-brainer.

For expert insight on what to look for in a travel first aid kit and how to pack and maintain them, I spoke with Dr. LouAnn Giangreco, chief medical officer at American Family Care. Based on my research and experience as well as the doctor’s expert advice, I compared various top-selling travel first aid kits, making sure to consider the overall size, number and variety of items, and specific features like waterproofing. These are my favorite travel first aid kits I'll be packing for my upcoming adventures.

This kit has a protective hard case and includes a solid range of brand-name products, so you know the quality you can expect.

The plastic case is bulky, making this a better kit for a car trip than a backpacking adventure.

This compact, comprehensive, and ruggedly packaged first aid kit checks all the boxes. I like that it includes brand-name products brands including Band-aid, Neosporin, and Benadryl, so you know what you’re getting (and can assure your bandage will actually stick to your skin). Plus, the streamlined and refillable hard-plastic case is durable so it stands up well to rattling around on road trips or shoved in amid camping gear. (The red packaging also makes it easy to spot in a hurry.) While I wouldn’t travel with this on a plane — I’m a carry-on only type — I’d bring it on road trips or camping trips.

The 160-piece kit includes all the essentials to tend to cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites — all the usual suspects. It has cleansing wipes, gauze pads, assorted bandages, rolled gauze, antibiotic cream, itch cream, acetaminophen, an instant cold pack, gloves, and more. There’s also a first aid guide included.

The Details: 9.5 x 7 x 3.25 inches | 1 pound | Plastic | 160 pieces

This kit is super light and watertight, so it’s ideal for performance in extreme conditions.

While this kit is watertight, it should not be fully submerged in water.

This lightweight kit is built for performance; it’s ideal for wet, rugged conditions with a zippered ripstop outer bag and two watertight pouches to protect the contents. This kit contains everything you need for basic wound care, a range of OTC meds (for pain, fever, swelling, and allergies), and a solid collection of additional equipment: gloves, splinter picker forceps, irrigation syringe, safety pins, and a roll of duct tape.

While I’m not a serious hiker or camper anymore, I have plenty of travel uses for a water-tight first aid kit even in the city — like rainy conditions, and even protecting my first aid supplies from from other product spills. ​​I also like that it’s bright yellow, so it’s easy to identify when you need it.

The Details: 9.5 x 7 x 2.5 inches | 10.4 ounces | Silnylon | Waterproof | 52 pieces

Although small, this case is mighty: it’s ultralight, but well stocked.

It’s not adequate for more serious hazards.

You can’t expect a full first aid inventory in an itty-bitty kit, but this one does a nice job of balancing a super-streamlined profile with the most key essentials for everyday travel mishaps like small cuts or scrapes. It includes latex-free bandages, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, and even safety pins.

The kit is housed in a tin case — picture the size of a tin of mints— which is sturdy and crush-resistant. I’d stash this kit not just in my purse, but in each backpack for the whole family. (Redundancy is the key to preparedness, in my experience as both a mom and as a frequent traveler.) It's also the perfect size to tuck into a bike bag for any potential road mishaps. And the small kit comes with a reasonably small price point, too.

The Details: 0.88 x 2.5 x 3.88 inches | 1 ounce | Tin | 27 pieces

This 73-piece kit has enough pieces to treat a family and all contents are latex-free, ideal for children who may have latex allergies.

Given its soft and lightweight construction, this soft case is not waterproof or rugged.

This 73-piece kit is robust enough for daily first aid, but compact and lightweight enough to travel with when space is at a minimum. It even fits in a bike bag, or in a backpack for day hikes, and slides right into the door compartment of a car.

All of the contents are latex free, so it’s fine to use for people with latex allergies. The soft-pack kit weighs just over 13 ounces and the longest side is just over 9 inches. It includes a range of bandages, ointments, hand sanitizer, aspirin, a CPR mask, a thermometer (for one-time use), gloves, scissors, and tweezers.

The Details: 7.5 x 9 x 2.5 inches | 13.1 ounces | Nylon | 73 pieces

It includes a plainspoken manual written by a wilderness medicine physician.

This kit has a substantial bulk to it.

This well-stocked kit has enough stuff for three people on a weekend trip. And it’s especially well organized, with clear, labeled pockets and elastic loops. Spacious pockets with hook-and-loop closures make it easy to get everything in and out, and to customize the kit for your use. I also like that the list of the kit’s contents is printed right on the back so you can see what you have (and replace anything you’ve used).

This kit includes medications, wound cleansers, and topical relief products packaged in single-dose packages, plus an array of bandages, gauze, tape, scissors, forceps, and an elastic bandage. And it also includes a plainspoken manual written by a wilderness medicine physician.

The Details: 6.5 x 5.5 x 2 inches | 9.5 ounces | Polyester | 48 pieces

This kit is thoroughly stocked in a durable and waterproof case, plus the clear labeling system makes it easy to identify what you need in a crunch-time situation.

The watertight zipper is snug and may require extra effort to open.

Road trips require less streamlined packing than air travels, so this larger 200-piece kit is plenty feasible for the car or RV and comes stocked with all the essentials. Labeled and organized inner compartments make it easy to find what you need at a glance. It includes high-quality versions of the basics of wound and burn care, plus shears, tweezers, splinter probes, and safety pins. It even includes a CPR mask and extra internal sleeves to customize your kit.

Plus, this kit is durable and fully waterproof, with watertight zippers to keep the contents dry; the waterproof feature makes this kit a good match for boaters and severe weather conditions, too).

The Details: 7.5 x 5.5 x 3.5 inches | 2.25 pound | TPU fabric | Waterproof | 200 pieces

The number one thing to include in a first aid kit is bleeding control supplies, according to Dr. Giangreco. Depending on the size of your kit, this would include bandages, compression dressings, tape, and ointment. She also recommends carrying hand sanitizer and gloves whenever you might be in a situation to care for others.

Obviously, smaller travel kits don’t accommodate a comprehensive inventory of supplies. But this is the full list of tools the American Red Cross suggests for a first aid kit for a family of four:

If you’ve used any items from your first aid kit, don’t forget to replace them before your next trip. You should also check expiration dates periodically and replace any expired items. Dr. Giangreco recommends noting the printed expiration dates on supplies such as medications and setting a calendar alert to replace them about a month before they expire. She also suggests opening your kit and checking your supplies before each trip in case any of the contents have been water damaged or affected by temperature variations.

You should customize your kit with any personal medicines for your group’s specific needs. For instance, if you are allergic to bees, include an EpiPen. If you’re diabetic, include a source of quick sugar. “Think about chronic conditions,” Giangreco says.

Further, she says, customize your kit to your particular activities and potential hazards. “If there’s a risk of extremity injury, think about things like Ace wraps or splints,” she says. “My daughter is a ski racer — and skis have sharp edges, so they carry tourniquets. Or if you're diving, you may want to think about things like hot packs to denature stings or forceps tweezers to be able to remove spines.”

The items in your kit are only valuable in an emergency if you know how to use them, so make sure you’re first aid trained, Giangreco says. "Take a Stop the Bleed course, learn CPR, learn how to use an AED, and then you'll be better prepared," she added.

Yes, TSA allows first aid kits and supplies. However, some specific rules apply. For instance, TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to the officers at the checkpoint to be inspected. Be sure to take a look at TSA's list of authorized medical supplies before heading to the airport.

You should carry a first aid kit just about everywhere you go, even if you’re just exploring around an urban environment with plenty of resources. “[Then] you’re not trying to chase down a gift shop or pharmacy,” Giangreco says — or overpay enormously for convenience.

You should always carry any necessary medications in your carry-on or personal item bag, in case your luggage is lost, damaged, or delayed. Keep medicines in their original containers labeled with your full name, health care provider's name, generic and brand name, and dosage, according to the CDC’s guidelines.

Go the extra mile to be prepared on your next adventure with some of our favorite travel safety essentials. All of these items can easily fit into a backpack, so you can stay connected, safe, and up-to-date no matter where you go.

Midland Crank Weather Radio: It boasts multiple power sources and a loud alert system for long-lasting and reliable performance, whether you find yourself in the wilderness or encountering a power outage at home.

She's Birdie Personal Safety Alarm: This small personal alarm is activated with the simple press of a button, which releases a piercing alarm and flashing strobe lights.

Charmast Portable Charger: With four built-in cables, everything from a Samsung or iPhone to a tablet or laptop can be refueled with this handy portable charger.

Alesandra Dubin used her experience as a travel and lifestyle writer and professional product reviewer, as well as research, to highlight the best first aid kits for travel. As a frequent traveler and mom to 9-year-old twins, she regularly encounters minor injuries and discomforts on the road, and always travels with first aid supplies to cover her family’s needs. She also spoke with Dr. LouAnn Giangreco, chief medical officer at American Family Care, to gather the best tips for keeping safe and healthy while traveling.

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