Emergency grab bags

January 2025

The Survival Co.

1 person survival kit

Price

$199

Score

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This report is free thanks to funding from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Toka Tū Ake EQC.

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A comprehensive kit of good quality with an excellent first aid kit, and good torch, radio and food rations. It's packed in the best bag we've seen (spacious, waterproof, bright, comfortable, robust), and the kit is very good value. It also includes some key toiletries. But it lacks a checklist of items you'll need to add to the kit, which we think is essential. We still think this kit deserves recommending.

Test results

78

Comprehensiveness
73

Quality overall
88

Quality essential items

Good points

Good quality kit.
Good value - it would cost around $30 more (plus shipping or petrol) to build this kit yourself.
Best backpack we've seen. Big enough to add clothing and more, fully waterproof, highly visible, easy to see what's inside.
Very good battery powered torch.
Good battery powered radio.
Comprehensive first aid kit of excellent quality.
Excellent food rations with a good shelf life.
Includes a good amount of toiletries plus tampons - a couple things to be added.
Extra foil blanket included.

Bad points

Doesn't have a checklist of items to be added.
The 10L collapsible water container supplied is not as portable or convenient as smaller water bottles.
The torch batteries are carbon zinc, which are not as good as alkaline or lithium and have a shorter shelf life.
The work gloves are nylon/nytrile with a rubberised palm - thick leather palm gloves would protect hands better.

Model

Bag volume

28L

Essential items scores

Bag

100
Torch

80
Radio

70
First aid

100
Food rations

90
Checklist of items to add

n/a

NEMA or Consumer NZ recommended

Torch included
Radio included
First aid kit included
Food rations included
Checklist of items to add included
Torch and radio's batteries included

Yes
Extra set of batteries

No
Rain poncho
Water container
Water purification
Foil blanket or bag
Whistle
Pen or marker
Notebook or paper
Masks
Hand sanitiser
Wet wipes
Tissues
Soap
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Thick plastic bags
Ear plugs
Work gloves
Pain killers

N/A
Kit list
Emergency planner

Other useful supplies

Multi-tool
Light sticks
Rope or cord
Tampons
Latex gloves
Hi visibility vest

More info

Notes

This kit also includes matches and playing cards. There's no candle to go with the matches, but we don't recommend flame-based products for safety reasons.
Availability

Available from thesurvivalco.nz/.

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