My Medic Recon & MyFAK First Aid Kits – Ready-made kits for real emergencies

REVIEW – A serious first aid kit is one of those things you buy hoping it stays mostly untouched. Still, when something goes wrong, the right supplies and a little training can keep a problem from turning into something much worse. I spent a short time as a first responder, and that experience made me picky about emergency gear. My Medic’s Recon and MyFAK First Aid Kits are not bargain kits. The Recon Standard sells for $249.95 and the MyFAK Standard sells for $119.95, with the original price note for this post listing the MyFAK Standard at $119.96. What you get for that money is a pair of tough, well organized packs loaded with better supplies than I usually see in off the shelf first aid kits.

Prepared kits for different needs

The Recon and MyFAK both arrive as self contained first aid kits. I tested the Standard version of each kit. The Recon is the larger option, sized for 4 to 6 people, while the MyFAK is the more compact kit intended for 1 to 2 people.

Both kits are packed with a broad mix of supplies for bleeding, burns, airway help, sprains, fractures, topical treatment, medication, survival needs, and specialty tools. My Medic also sells Pro versions that cost more and add items such as sutures and scalpels for people with more advanced medical training.

Recon Standard contents

• Recon Pack
• Bleeding Aid
  • 5 Liquid Skin 5 g
  • 5 Gauze Pad 2 in. x 2 in.
  • 5 Gauze Pad 4 in. x 4 in.
  • 2 Secure Strips 0.25 in. x 3 in. x 3 per pack
  • 1 Dyna Stopper Bandage 9 in. x 5.5 in.
  • 1 Gauze Roll Conforming Stretch 3 in. x 12.3 ft.
  • 5 Curad Performance Series Antibacterial Bandage 2 in. x 4 in.
  • 5 Curad Performance Series Antibacterial Knuckle Bandage 1.5 in. x 3 in.
  • 5 Curad Performance Series Antibacterial Fingertip Bandage 1.75 in. x 2 in.
  • 5 Curad Performance Series Antibacterial Knee Elbow Bandage 3 in. x 3 in.
  • 10 Curad Performance Series Antibacterial Bandage 1 in. x 3.25 in.
• Burning Aid
  • 5 BurnShield 3.5 ml
• Airway Aid
  • 2 CPR Shield
• Sprain & Fracture Aid
  • 2 Elastic Bandage 3 in.
  • 1 Sensi-Wrap 2 in. x 5 ft.
  • 1 Triangular Bandage Woven
  • 1 ActiSplint Roll 4 in. x 36 in.
  • 2 ActiSplint Finger 1.75 in. x 3.75 in.
• Topical Aid
  • 2 Vaseline
  • 2 Lube
  • 5 Sunscreen
  • 5 Lip Guard Chapstick
  • 5 BZK Wipes Antiseptic
  • 5 Medicaine Sting + Bite Relief
  • 5 Alcohol Prep Pads Medium
  • 5 Oral Pain Relief Generic Orajel
  • 5 P.A.W.S. Hand Sanitizing Wipes
  • 5 Triple Antibiotic Generic Neosporin
  • 5 Hydrocortisone Cream Skin Irritations + Allergies
• Medication
  • 3 Benadryl Allergies 25 mg x2
  • 5 Pepto-Bismol Upset Stomach Antacid
  • 5 Advil Pain + Fever + Inflammation 200 mg x2
  • 5 Tylenol Extra Strength Headache + Fever + Pain 500 mg x2
• Adventure & Survival Aid
  • 1 Rescue Whistle
  • 3 Survival Rescue Blanket
  • 3 Moleskin Blister Protection
• Specialty Items
  • 1 Pen Light
  • 2 Oval Eye Pad
  • 1 EMT Shears 7.25 in.
  • 1 Thermometer Digital
  • 1 Cold Pack 5 in. x 9 in.
  • 3 Nitrile Gloves Large
  • 1 Tweezers Stainless + Non-Magnetic
  • 1 Clear Surgical Tape 1 in. x 30 ft.
  • 1 Eye Wash 4 oz. Medi-First

MyFAK Standard contents

• MyFAK Pack
• Bleeding Aid
  • 2 Liquid Skin 5 g
  • 1 Dyna Stopper Bandage 9 in. x 5.5 in.
  • 1 Gauze Roll 3 in. x 12.3 ft.
  • 4 Gauze Pad 2 in. x 2 in.
  • 4 Gauze Pad 4 in. x 4 in.
  • 3 Secure Strips 0.25 in. x 3 in.
  • 2 Curad Performance Series Antibacterial Bandage 2 in.x 4 in.
  • 2 Curad Performance Series Antibacterial Knuckle Bandage 1.5 in. x 3 in.
  • 2 Curad Performance Series Antibacterial Fingertip Bandage 1.75 in. x 2 in.
  • 2 Curad Performance Series Antibacterial Knee/Elbow Bandage 3 in. x 3 in.
  • 4 Curad Performance Series Antibacterial Bandage 1 in. x 3.25 in.
• Burning Aid
  • 2 BurnShield 3.5 ml
• Airway Aid
  • 1 CPR Shield
• Sprain & Fracture Aid
  • 1 Acti-Splint Finger
  • 1 Triangular Bandage Woven
  • 1 Elastic Bandage Velcro 2 in. x 5 ft.
• Topical Aid
  • 1 Vaseline
  • 2 Sunscreen
  • 2 Lip Guard-Chapstick
  • 2 BZK Wipes Antiseptic
  • 2 Alcohol Prep Pads-Large
  • 2 Medicaine Sting + Bite Relief
  • 2 Oral Pain Relief-Generic Orajel
  • 2 P.A.W.S. Hand Sanitizing Wipes
  • 2 Triple Antibiotic Generic Neosporin
  • 2 Hydrocortisone Cream Skin Irritations + Allergies
  • 2 SALJET Bullet 30 ml Sterile Saline Topical Solution
• Medication
  • 2 Tylenol Extra Strength Headache + Fever + Pain 500 mg x2
  • 1 Benadryl Allergies 25 mg x2
  • 2 Pepto-Bismol Upset Stomach Antacid
  • 3 Advil Pain + Fever + Inflammation 200 mg x2
• Adventure & Survival Aid
  • 1 Survival Rescue Blanket
  • 1 Rescue Whistle
• Specialty Items
  • 1 Pen Light
  • 1 Thermometer Digital
  • 1 EMT Shears 7.25 in.
  • 2 Moleskin Blister Protection
  • 2 Nitrile Gloves Large
  • 1 Tweezers-Stainless + Non-Magnetic
  • 1 Waterproof Tape 1 in. x 2.5 yds

Size and coverage

Recon

• Pack Material: Nylon Cordura
• Height: 12.5 in.
• Width: 8.5 in.
• Depth: 7.25 in.
• Weight: 4.6-6.3 lbs
• People Covered: 4-6

MyFAK

• Pack Material: Nylon Cordura
• Height: 7.5 in.
• Width: 6.5 in.
• Depth: 5 in.
• Weight: 2.1-2.8 lbs
• People Covered: 1-2

Pack layout and build quality

My Medic clearly thought about stressful use when designing these kits. The supplies are not buried in a random pouch, and the packs give your hands obvious places to go. The Recon is a shoulder bag with enough room for group use and extra preparedness gear. The MyFAK is a smaller trifold kit that fits better in a vehicle, closet, work area, or travel setup.

Recon pack

The Recon pack is the standout piece in this pair. It is made from heavy duty nylon Cordura, comes in four colors, and has MOLLE webbing, compartments, and hardware all over the outside.

MOLLE is the webbing system used on modern military style gear, and it lets you attach compatible pouches securely to the outside of the bag.

The zippers are large and easy to grab, which matters when you are moving fast or wearing gloves. In total, the Recon has seven compartments.

Three removable pouches ride on the MOLLE straps on each side of the pack, giving you more ways to configure the kit.

Those side pouches are ideal for extras you want to add for your own home, vehicle, hike, or emergency plan. That flexibility is part of why the Recon feels like a premium kit instead of a basic bag of bandages.

The top of the Recon adds a Velcro patch area, an adjustable daisy chained elastic cord, and heavyweight polymer D-rings for hanging the pack from carabiners or similar hardware.

A larger D-ring on the back secures the compartment that stores the padded shoulder strap.

The shoulder strap makes the Recon much easier to carry over distance, and the pack remains usable while it is hanging from your shoulder.

If you do not need the strap, that rear area can double as another place to stash supplies.

The main compartment is surprisingly roomy. Even after the included gear is packed inside, there is still space for personal additions.

Quick access compartments on the top and bottom are useful for the items you expect to grab first.

Turn the pack around and you get more MOLLE webbing plus drain and air holes.

The padded rear panel improves comfort while carrying the kit and could even work as a temporary headrest if the situation called for it.

I like morale patches, so I appreciated the included My Medic patch and the extra space for adding your own.

The pack is only half of the story. My Medic also fills it with supplies that feel chosen with real use in mind.

Many cheap first aid kits save money by including flimsy tools and generic supplies that do not inspire much confidence. That is not the case here.

The Recon includes name brand items and useful tools like EMT shears. The My Medic branded items also feel better than what I usually find in low cost kits.

The range of supplies is just as important as the quality. Finger splints, cold packs, sting relief, smelling salts, and other less obvious items are included, and those are the kinds of things many people forget when building a kit from scratch.

No first aid kit stays ready forever. If you buy one of these, plan to check expiration dates and restock used or aging supplies every few months.

MyFAK pack

MyFAK stands for My First Aid Kit, and it feels like the Recon’s smaller sibling. Its trifold design is better suited to one or two people and to places where the larger Recon would be overkill.

The build quality matches the Recon. The MyFAK has tough fabric, attachment points, Velcro panels, and MOLLE straps. It comes in six colors, and I chose red because it is easy to recognize as first aid gear.

The broad Velcro front is useful for morale patches or other small add ons.

On the rear, two large MOLLE straps sit on a panel that can peel away from the pack thanks to a large Velcro pad.

That means you can mount the panel to a car headrest or other compatible spot, then unlatch and pull the whole kit away quickly when you need it.

A top handle makes the MyFAK easy to grab in a hurry.

Like the Recon, the MyFAK uses oversized zippers with extra large pulls.

The doubled stitching around the seams and zipper is a small detail, but it is the kind of detail I want on a kit that may get yanked open under stress.

Open the MyFAK and the trifold layout gives you a clear view of the supplies.

Elastic bands throughout the inside keep the contents secure and organized.

The mesh compartment at the end can pop off and serve as a smaller grab and go kit.

That removable pouch is another smart design choice, and it helps explain why the MyFAK costs more than a basic first aid pouch.

I emptied and repacked the MyFAK, just as I did with the Recon. Repacking the kit yourself is a useful way to learn where everything is and to make sure nothing is loose.

The MyFAK has less spare room than the Recon, but it still offers enough pockets and loops to make the layout your own.

The My Medic patch on the front is not just decoration. It also helps hold the buckle and strap in place.

Inside, the MyFAK mirrors the Recon’s supply mix, but in smaller quantities.

You still get useful gear such as EMT shears, a thermometer, and a penlight along with the medical supplies.

For a small kit, the MyFAK holds a lot. The Recon leaves more empty space for expansion, but the MyFAK uses nearly every inch well.

Using the kits

A first aid kit is something you want close by but hope not to need. I did not have to use either kit in a real emergency, thankfully, but I did run through practice scenarios. Once I repacked the kits in a way that made sense to me, I could find the likely first response items quickly. You could also leave the kits in their original layout and practice with them until the locations become familiar.

What works well

• Well thought out design
• Quality name brand contents
• Ability to customize

What could be better

• Expensive
• Should include a contents card and a basic First Aid Manual
• Kits are a bit bulky

Final verdict

You can build your own first aid kit for less money, but the question is whether you would think of everything My Medic includes and whether you would choose supplies this good. The Recon Standard at $249.95 and the MyFAK Standard at $119.95 are premium buys, but in an emergency, the better organized kit with the better contents is the one I would want nearby. Gear still does not replace knowledge, so get trained if you can. Online first aid resources help, and the Red Cross is a good place to start.

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Price: Recon Standard: $249.95 MyFAK Standard: $119.95

Product Link: My Medic.

Source: The sample of this product was provided by My Medic.