Definitely make your own. Sportsmans guide has a nice orange
MTM dry box case you can make one out of.
The OTC First Aid Kits are generally just a handful of bandaids. If you want an effective First Kit, then do what gsganzer recommends. Make your own.
One day I sat down and tried to remember the first aid events that I have actually encountered while backpacking for 6 decades. This is a list of items needed to deal with those events.
MSXL spread sheets generally don't copy too well. But I'll give it a try.
PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT CONTENTS
QUANTITY UNIT DESCRIPTION APPLICATION
6 ea Bandaids 5/8" x 3" fabric Minor Cuts
6 ea Bandaids 1" x 3" fabric Minor Cuts
6 ea Bandaid 1 3/4" x 4" fabric Abrasions and Cuts
1 pad Moleskin 3" x 4" Blisters
4 ea Moleskin Donuts Blisters
1 sm tube Neosporin Ointment Triple Actibacterial Ointment
1 roll Gauze, sterile Wound Treatment
2 ea Gauze Pad Wound Treatment
2 paks Quick Clot Stop Bleeding
1 ea Battle Dressing Major Wound
2 ea 2nd Skin, moist burn pads Burn Treatment
1 sm tube Aquaphor Ointment Burn Treatment
1 roll Ace Bandage Sprains
1 roll Vet Wrap Sprains
1 ea Needle Splinters & Ticks
1 ea Tweezers Splinters & Ticks
1 tube Chap Stick Chapped Lips
2 pills Antacid Tablets, chewable Indigestion
You can get all this stuff at Walgreens except the battle dressing and maybe the Quick Clot. That you will have to get from Amazon.
I don't use a hard box. Too heavy. I use a small red stuff sack.
