What to Have in Your First Aid Kit for Backpacking

First Aid Kit for Backpacking

When preparing your first backpacking trip, you may be so overwhelmed with everything that you must pack that you breeze over first aid supplies. You might throw some bandages and painkillers in a bag and call it good. While most days this will be sufficient, there will be days where you’ll need far more in your first aid kit for backpacking.

Many people are guilty of under preparing their first aid supplies. My “first aid” bag for my first trip was pathetic. It consisted of bandaids (too few for what I ended up needing) and ibuprofen (an excessive amount for my trip length). Luckily, the only injuries that we sustained on that trip were some gnarly blisters on my feet. So I was covered.

These days, I am far more prepared. I’d like to make sure my fellow backpackers are, too!

After all, there are at least one hundred ways for someone to get injured on a backpacking trip. You quickly realize that first aid is no joke when you are miles away from help.

Figuring out what to put in a first aid kit for backpacking can be intimidating. You want to be thorough, but not excessive. After all, you have a limited amount of space in your pack. Below we’ll break down what you need to have in your first aid kit for backpacking and why you need these items. As an extra precaution, we highly recommend taking a wilderness first aid course. This one from the Red Cross can be completed online, but be aware it has prerequisites before you can enroll.

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Things to Bring in Your First Aid Kit for Backpacking

1. Bandages – Never forget bandages on a backpacking trip, and try to get a variety size pack if possible. If you happen to get cut or scraped, you are going to want to cover the wound to keep contaminants out of it. They are also a go-to when it comes to blister prevention and treatment.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide – If you get a cut on a backpacking trip, chances are the thing that cut you is pretty dirty. Avoid getting painful and dangerous infections by cleaning the wound thoroughly.
3. Cotton Pads or Swabs – These work great for helping you clean wounds more thoroughly.
4. Antibacterial Ointment – It is easy to get your wound dirty when you are backpacking. Avoid getting an infection from that by using some antibiotic ointment on any cuts or scrapes before covering with a bandage. Infections are no joke, take your wound care seriously.
5. Gauze Pads – Some wounds are too big to simply cover with a couple bandages. Use gauze pads and medical tape to create a larger, more absorbent bandage for major injuries.
6. Liquid Bandage – or small cuts, blisters, or hand wounds, you might want to use some liquid bandage instead of, or in addition to, a normal bandage.
7. Pain Relievers – Aspirin, Ibuprofen, or your OTC of choice are important to keep in your backpack for various aches and pains you encounter on the trail.
8. Tweezers – Don’t underestimate the value of a pair of tweezers! Bring along on every backpacking trip. Number one use of them is to safely remove ticks that have bitten you. They are also helpful for removing splinters, bug stingers, and plant spines as well as loosening tight knots.
9. Anti-Diarrheal – Backpacking food can be gnarly for your digestive system if your body isn’t used to it. If things go really south for your tummy, you’ll want something to keep diarrhea at bay. Having the runs on a backpacking trip won’t only make you use all your toilet paper stash, but it can put you at greater risk of becoming dehydrated.
10. Antacid – Some backpacking foods or snacks can trigger heartburn or indigestion in some people. Bring along some antacids to keep yourself feeling comfortable if your meal isn’t agreeing with you.
11. Antihistamine – There are things in the forests that you may or may not know you are allergic to. You don’t want to find out on the trail that you have an allergy, but if you do an antihistamine will help with the allergic reaction.
12. Emergency Blanket – The main purpose of an emergency blanket is to reduce bodily heat loss. However, if you’re creative you can find tens of other uses for one of these during an emergency. Here you can find the ones we carry with us.
13. Small Mirror – A small mirror or compact can come in handy if you get something in your eye that you need to work out.  You can also use a mirror to catch the sunlight to send signals in case of an emergency.
14. Electrolyte Tablets or Powder – In high heat or during times of extreme activity, extra electrolyte supplementation might be needed to reduce heat stress, cramping, and dehydration. We love LMNT’s Electrolyte Powder Packets, found here!
15. Safety Razor Blade – If you need to cut flesh or something that will come in close contact with a wound, you won’t want to be using your dirty pocket knife to do so.
16. Soap or Hand Sanitizer – Always clean your hands before handling a wound to avoid infections.

Things to Consider

• How many people are you backpacking with? If everyone is relying on one first aid kit for backpacking, be sure you have enough of the frequently used items. Pain meds and bandages are a couple of hot items that you should keep a plentiful supply for. My friends and I typically all pack these items in our own bag in addition to the group supply.
• Where are you going? Each destination has its own hazard. So does each season. Think about what you are likely to encounter and prepare for that. For example, bring allergy medication, eye drops and nasal spray if you’re hiking in the spring when pollen is high.
• Is your kit/bag waterproof? Things like bandages and gauze are best if kept dry. Same goes for tweezers, which may get rusty. Keep your first aid gear in a waterproof bag – a double-bagged ziplock works just fine.
• Do you have personal needs? Are there certain health concerns that you need to keep in check? Make sure you have prescription meds, menstrual products, and other medical needs in ample supply. Be sure your buddies know of your health needs as well so they are prepared to help if needed.
• Repack your first aid kit for every trip. Make sure you have everything you need before or after each trip even if you never took anything from it. It gives you the chance to replenish anything in low supply and check on the condition and expiration dates of everything.

Buying a First Aid Kit vs. Building Your Own

You have the option to buy your own first aid kit for backpacking online or at a drugstore. These are convenient, have a nice container, and may come with handy things you wouldn’t have thought to purchase yourself.

Packing your own first aid kit takes time and thought but could be a better option for some people. In the long run, it is typically cheaper to buy the things you need in your kit individually in larger quantities.  Then, you can keep the extras in your medicine cabinet for refills. It is also nice to be able to customize the kit to your preferences and needs. You might end up going out to buy certain things that the kit left out.

This first aid kit has just about everything you would need, but it is a bit heavy at 16 ounces. At around $20-$30, it’s a fair price as well.

Here is a more compact and lightweight kit, weighing 7.2 ounces for a 100 piece set. However, some important items are missing, so you’ll want to add to it if you purchase this one.

Conclusion

Whether you buy it or build it, having a first aid kit is important for backpacking trips. You never know what kind of accidents or injuries you’ll face during your trip, it is better to be prepared for them. Make sure it is on your backpacking checklist, or use ours!

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