A Real-World Hiking First Aid Kit

A first aid kid is one of the 10 Essentials every hiker should carry when they’re out on the trail. This page is a breakdown of what I take with me when I’m out in the backcountry.

There are plenty of off-the-shelf kits you can pick up at REI or Amazon, but I’ve found they often include a lot of things I don’t need and are missing some things I do. I built my own kit nearly 15 years ago and have been refining it over the years as my needs have changed.

I’ve built my kit to fit into a small Eagle Creek packing cube. They don’t make the Specter series anymore, but the Isolate line is similar and there are dozens of comparable options from other brands. These pouches are lightweight, but durable. The 3/4 length zipper makes it easy to get at the contents quickly and the bright color helps me quickly find it in my pack or on the ground.

All in, the pouch measures 9” × 5” × 2.5” and weighs around 14 ounces. Inside is a quart-sized Ziploc bag that holds most of the contents, an emergency bivvy, and a compass with signal mirror. Digging into the ziplock, we start to get to the fundamental components of the kit.

Clockwise from the top center:

• AAA Batteries - These will work in both headlamps I carry as well as a small Streamlight flashlight that’s part of my backpacking kit. I’m a big fan of the Storacell cases for keeping spare batteries.
• Bandaids and meds - For small cuts and scrapes (full breakdown below)
• Zip Ties - Both 3” and 6” lengths. Rarely used but incredibly handy when you need them.
• Large Bandaids - Big enough to cover a scraped knee or elbow
• Gauze pads - For covering a larger burn, packing a wound, etc. Can be cut down to smaller sizes if needed.
• Vet wrap - This self-adhering wrap can be used to splint an joint or hold gauze over a wound.
• Electrolyte mix - Brand doesn’t matter, just something to help with dehydration. Bonus points if it has some salt.
• Tools and misc - Tweezer, fingernail clipper, and some other odds and ends (full breakdown below)
• Bic Lighter - Useful for starting a fire, melting the end of cut 550 cord, starting an uncooperative Jetboil stove, etc.
• SPF Chapstick - I’m prone to forgetting chapstick, and when you need it, you need it

Splitting out the contents of the two small ziplocks, the right hand ziplock contains (clockwise from center-left):

• Ibuprofen - For pain relief and reducing inflammation. These loose meds get cycled out every 6 months or so to keep them fresh.
• Bandaids - A half dozen in assorted sizes. We’ve doubled or triped these up to cover a scrape before
• Bacitracin - Single-use packets. I don’t use this on every cut, but it helps keep dirt out of wounds until we can get back to running water and clean them thoroughly.
• Antiseptic wipes - For cleaning wounds before applying a bandage. Can be used to clean hands in a pinch.
• Allergy Meds - Either Benadryl or Zyrtec. Can be used for a seasonal allergy flare-up or a mild allergic reaction to a bug bite or sting.

The contents of the other pouch:

• Nail Clipper - Can be used to cut a hangnail, help remove a splinter, or cut moleskin.
• Tweezers - For removing splinters, ticks, or other small foreign objects
• Medical Tape - To hold gauze in place or secure a finger splite
• Moleskin - For blisters or hot spots on your feet
• Super Glue - Can be used to close small cuts or fix torn gear
• Fire Starter - Pair with the bic lighter to help start a fire. If frayed with a knife, flammable enough to be started with a spark from a ferro rod.

It’s rare that I need to use anything from this kit, but I have used everything in here at one time or another. Most often, it’s a bandaid and some bacitracin for a small cut or scrape one of my kids picked up while hiking. The contents shown above vary depending on what kind of activity I’m doing and who I’m with, but this is the most typical loadout. If you’re building your own kit, Rescue Essentials has a great selection of individually packaged meds and topicals. And be sure to check out Andrew Skurka’s writeup on first aid kits for more ideas based on his extensive experience leading backpacking trips.