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The Lifeline Trail Light Dayhiker first aid kit is a lightweight and compact kit that is sure to please the weight-conscious outdoor enthusiast. Our Best Buy winner comes with good quality and useful components for dealing with minor cuts and scrapes as well as common problems like blisters and headaches, and it's also the lightest model that we tested. If you're looking for a larger kit for multi-day trips with up to four people, check out our Editors' Choice winner, the REI Backpacker Extended. Otherwise, this is a great and inexpensive kit for day hikes or other minor first aid care.
REASONS TO BUY
Compact
Lightweight
Great value for the price
Waterproof components
Minimalist
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited versatility
Minimal tools and quantities
Heavy packaging
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Lifeline Trail Light Dayhiker weighs 3.7 oz (105g) and measures 6 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches. It includes:
Bandages — 17 various sized bandages, 4 sterile gauze pads (2" x 2" and 3" x 3"), 2 non-adherent dressings (3" x 4").
This kit contains enough supplies to deal with minor injuries on the trail.
Credit: Viren Perumal
Performance Comparison
Quality of Components
Most of the components in this kit were of comparable quality those found in the REI and Adventure Medical Kits models that we tested. The blister treatment moleskin had some innovative pre-cut designs that work on a variety of sizes of blisters, and the medications were individually packaged and from similar suppliers as some of the more expensive kits in this review. The exception to this basic standard of quality were the gloves, tweezers and tape. These lower quality products resulted in an overall score of 5/10 for this metric. There's only one pair of vinyl gloves, which have a poor fit and tear easily while doing simple first aid skills requiring gloves, such as bleeding control or wound cleaning. A more industry standard nitrile glove has a similar cost and weight, and is a better choice for ensuring body substance isolation. The tweezers are bulky and plastic, and not efficient at pulling out thorns, splinters, or debriding wounds. Lastly, we were disappointed with the roll of tape; it had minimal adhesive on it and did not stick to our skin. It's also a small roll which limits its use in most first aid applications.
The navy blue tweezers included in this kit (2nd from right) are not as functional as the metal versions found in the Adventure Medical Kits and REI models.
Credit: Viren Perumal
Usefulness of Components
We gave the Lifeline Trail Light Dayhiker a score of 5/10 for this metric as well. This kit is perfect for basic cuts, scrapes, and minor blisters, but its usefulness ends beyond that. We liked the variety of band aids sizes and the few basic over the counter medications, however many useful first aid supplies were missing. A quality roll of tape, splinting materials, a triangle bandage, and a lightweight CPR mask would improve the usefulness of this kit without too much more bulk or weight. Lastly, the one-page first aid guide contained much less information than some of the quick reference field books included in the REI Backpacker Extended and Adventure Medicals Kit Mountain Series Fundamentals.
Durability and Design of Bag
This bag has a simple and sleek design and looks sharp with its two-color scheme. The material is a heavier silicone impregnated nylon which sheds water initially but saturates through with prolonged soaking. The products in this kit are encased in individual zip lock bags, offering additional protection from the elements.
Versatility
This kit is not very versatile and did not score well in this metric. It has the fewest supplies of all the kits in this review and is only able to treat minor first aid situations. That said, it is a fine kit to have on a short hike where you may need to deal with minor problems but are close enough to help to deal with more significant first aid challenges.
This is the smallest kit we tested with the fewest supplies (bottom center). While its versatility is limited, it's better to have this in your pack than nothing at all.
Credit: Viren Perumal
Weight and Size
The smallest and lightest kit that we tested, the Lifeline Trail Light Day Hiker received an 8/10 in this category.
Credit: Viren Perumal
Best Applications
Day hikes and basic first aid for the weight conscious outdoor enthusiast.
This kit was light enough for Julie Perumal to bring in her day pack on a recent ascent of the almost 14,000 ft Mt. Humphries that towers above Bishop, CA.
Credit: Viren Perumal
Value
For $15, this kit has a good balance of quality components and usefulness for minor first aid situations.
Conclusion
The Lifeline Trail Light Dayhiker is a simple, lightweight and inexpensive kit for dealing with minor first aid situations. This Best Buy Award winner is a great tool for situations where weight is a factor and help is accessible for more serious emergencies. Due to its size, this kit has the limitations of serving only an individual or small group on a short trip. Given the price tag though — it's a great purchase and our Best Buy award winner.
