Normal Medi Mini First Assist Equipment Evaluation

Backside line

If there’s a package that crams extra first support provides right into a smaller bundle than the Normal Medi Mini, we haven’t discovered it. It could be small, nevertheless it packs a punch. In truth, when investigating contents earlier than a protracted winter hike in Utah, we had been impressed to find simply how a lot was included.

Provides took time to find since there’s no group. There’s additionally nothing included that has an expiration date, like drugs or antibiotic ointment. However given the budget-friendly value and contemplating what number of whole provides are included, we didn’t thoughts the considered packing our personal. There’s not a lot room left within the stuffed-full zipper pouch, although. 

On the upside, the package contains objects many others don’t, like a easy tourniquet, eye-wash package, and emergency blanket. So we predict it affords a stable bang in your buck. It’s a great starter possibility for hikers who don’t have many first support provides but.

For extra choices, check out our detailed information to the finest first support kits.

And for more information, try a few of our different standard gear guides:

How We Examined

All through our testing, we used the Normal Medi Mini on each temporary day hikes and full-day excursions alongside Utah’s trails. We used it in snow, rain, and sunshine, dedicating hours to judge the package and its contents each on and off the path.

Portability

For the way a lot is packed into the Normal Medi Mini, it’s surprisingly transportable. It’s not the smallest or lightest package we examined, nevertheless it may comprise extra provides by dimension. That’s as a result of no area is wasted on pockets, sleeves or group: simply all the pieces packed in like sardines.

However that retains it to a conveyable dimension and slim form that’s straightforward to toss right into a backpack, daypack, or hip pack for many adventures. It even has a small clip on the outside of the bag so we may simply hook it to a pack exterior for straightforward entry or once we ran out of room inside our packs.

Group

One space the place this package falls quick is group. All provides are tightly packed right into a single plastic zip-top bag, which is then stuffed contained in the crimson package pouch. This lack of group and cramped packaging makes provides troublesome to find. We discovered that we needed to empty half the bag to seek out many objects, though bigger provides like bandages had been straightforward sufficient to seek out.

It wasn’t the package that took the longest to acquire provides, nevertheless it was the least organized.

Amount & Selection

Relating to amount and selection, the Normal Medi Mini is spectacular. It’s aggressive by way of the variety of objects, together with emergency provides and generally used merchandise. It contains provides equivalent to gloves, a tourniquet, eye wash resolution, CPR masks, triangle bandage, and emergency blanket, in addition to loads of adhesive bandages, moleskin, and tweezers.

The plastic bandages felt low cost however remained caught on our fingers after 24 hours. They weren’t stretchy or breathable, nonetheless. We had been happy to discover a enough variety of bandages and gauze as nicely.

What was lacking was something with an expiration date, together with OTC drugs and antibiotic ointment, so these objects have to be stocked individually. Whereas the absence of this stuff retains the kits reasonably priced, we didn’t thoughts the thought of including our personal drugs, particularly given the various different provides included. 

That mentioned, there’s not a lot room left within the stuffed zipper pouch, so you could have to pack extra provides individually.

High quality & Sturdiness

Whereas this package wasn’t probably the most sturdy or high-quality, for the worth we didn’t have a lot to complain about. The outer pouch felt burly sufficient to face up to some abuse and didn’t look worse for the wear and tear after getting tossed round in a bag with unfastened microspikes. It picked up extra dust than different kits as a result of textured, canvas-like exterior, although. 

In moist climate, the outside pouch soaked via instantly, however the internal plastic zip-top bag saved provides dry. Nonetheless, after testing, that plastic bag is displaying indicators of wear and tear and small punctures, so it might have to be changed often.

Ought to You Purchase the Normal Medi Mini?

The Normal Medi Mini affords wonderful worth for these looking for a easy, streamlined, no-fuss first support package. It’s not probably the most sturdy, however it’s compact, small, and well-stocked with generally used and emergency provides. This makes it an incredible starter first support package in our opinion.

It’s best suited to lengthy day hikes and simple backcountry journeys, as it might be extreme for brief hikes near house. Nonetheless, as a result of its light-weight and compact design, it’s well-suited for each. That is very true given the stocked provides meant for each minor frequent accidents and extra severe conditions.

That mentioned, it’s lacking objects with expiration dates, equivalent to OTC remedy, making it extra appropriate for these skilled with first support and educated about what must be in a package, in addition to for these keen so as to add their very own objects. These new to mountaineering and first support, or who desire a package that’s able to go as-is and features a first support information, might need to look elsewhere.

On the flip aspect, it’s a wonderful possibility for individuals who need to buy all an important emergency and trauma provides in a single place, then use them to assemble their very own package of their chosen packaging.

What Different First Assist Kits Ought to You Take into account?

We’ve examined many first support kits for mountaineering, so if the Normal Medi Mini doesn’t test all of the bins, there’s something that may in our record.

Journey Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 Evaluation: Nonetheless compact, light-weight, and waterproof but extra sturdy and outfitted with extra important provides, this package is a superb selection for many adventures.

Cascade Traverse Evaluation: This primary support package contains comparable provides, along with OTC remedy, and it’s extra waterproof, sturdy, and arranged.

HART Outdoor Weekend Evaluation: This package comprises much more first support provides in a barely bigger bundle, that includes higher group and drugs, making it an incredible possibility able to hit the path as-is.