Ultimate Backpacking First Aid Kit – The Essential Guide to Building Your Own

When it comes to assembling your gear, we often focus on clothing, shoes, backpack, sleeping bag, and even the tiniest accessories. However, one crucial item that often gets overlooked is your backpacking first aid kit which should be a priority in your packing list.

​There are many reasons you kind of skip on that part – you buy a “ready made” kits which suppose to be especially designed for your outdoor adventures or you think “I’m just walking, what can possibly go wrong?”.

​While it’s true that major accidents are rare during hiking, you’re still susceptible to multiple minor “threats” and misadventures. This is where your hiking or backcountry first aid skills, along with your backpacking first aid kit, become invaluable.

​In today’s post, I’ll guide you on what to consider when creating your own DIY first aid kit. I’ll also provide an extensive first aid kit essentials list, including hiking first aid kit contents, to simplify your planning and preparation.

Backpacking First Aid Kit – Preparation Tips

When assembling the best first aid kit, there are numerous factors you need to consider.

One size does not fit all

Your first aid kit will differ from others. Like all hiking gear, it needs to be tailored to your personal needs, including any personal medications. You might have specific allergies or other physical requirements. Ensure that your kit caters to all your needs in these areas.

Stay safe – be prepared

​Before setting off, check all the environmental requirements of your trip. Be aware of potentially dangerous plants, snakes, insects, and animals. Check the weather forecasts and trail conditions. Equip yourself with water purification methods and remedies for insect bites. The best strategy is to avoid situations where you’ll need your backpacking first aid kit at all.

Group or solo hike?

When embarking on a hiking trip with a group, ensure that each individual has their own personalized hiking medical kit, complete with prescribed medication and more. Additionally, it’s wise to prepare a group kit, containing larger quantities of common items like bandages, gloves, etc. As you may not know your group as intimately as you know yourself, the best survival first aid kit for group backpacking should be slightly more comprehensive.

Inspect before you go

Before setting off on your adventure, inspect your first aid kit. Confirm that all medications are within their expiry dates, and no supplies are damaged or running low. Ensure your kit is up-to-date and complete. Also, your kit should be easily accessible and quick to grab when needed. Another crucial point to remember is to pack your supplies into a waterproof container, such as a Ziploc bag, dry sack or any other watertight container.

Weight doesn’t matter

If you’re looking into reducing overall load of your gear first aid kit is not a place to look for weight savings. Typically it won’t be a massive package so leave the thoughts of reducing it’s size. The most important thing is that you feel safe and comfortable with the kit you’re taking – it’s weight is irrelevant.

Know How

Regardless of how well-equipped your first aid kit is, it’s useless if you’re unsure of what to do in an emergency. You should have at least a basic understanding of wilderness first aid. There are numerous courses available to help you acquire this knowledge (https://www.nols.edu, http://www.wildmedcenter.com/ ) one can take but, let’s be honest, not everyone is in a position to do so. There are however a number of books you can study to be prepared. The best among them are:

• Mountaineering First Aid: A Guide to Accident Response and First Aid Care
• Wilderness Medicine: Beyond First Aid
• Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to First Aid and Medical Emergency

Always have it with you

​Backpacking first aid kit is an integral part of your ten essentials which means it should be in your pack at all times. You know how it is – when you have it you don’t really need it but once you leave it you’ll need it.

Backpacking First Aid Kit Checklist

As previously mentioned, your hiking medical kit should be highly personalized. However, determining what you might genuinely need can be a bit overwhelming. It’s important to focus on first aid kit essentials.

To assist you in designing your own diy backpacking first aid kit, I’ve created an extended checklist of the most frequently used supplies. Simply go through it and select the items you know are essential for your hiking medical kit or backpacking emergency kit.

Medication​

• Your preferred pain relief pills (also anti-inflammatory)
• Anti diarrhea pills (can really save your trip)
• Antihistamine (allergy medication against allergic reactions)
• Laxative
• Aspirin (heart attack prevention)
• Your prescribed medications

Wound care

• Bandages ( assorted sizes for small cuts, blisters, etc.)
• Sterile dressing pads ( to stop bleeding )
• Gauze roll ( holds dressing in place )
• Elastic roll bandage ( good for e.x. Knee stabilisation )
• Triangular bandage
• Non-stick sterile pads
• Medical adhesive tape (e.x. Leukotape P or Fixomul )
• Moleskin ( for blisters )
• Antiseptic wipes ( to clean the wounds )
• Triple Antibiotic Ointment (in single, squeeze tubes for difficult wounds )
• Skin closures ( on the go stitches )

Tools

• Small scissors ( to cut tape, bandages etc. )
• Your regular knife
• Tweezers ( removing splinters )
• Tick removal tools
• Safety pins ( to treat blisters, create arm sling )

Others

• Nitrile gloves
• CPR mask
• Space blanket/bag ( in case of hypothermia or emergency night stay )
• Duct tape ( all rounder )
• Plastic bags ( storing waste )
• Electrolytes ( during diarrhea, heat exhaustion, vomiting etc. )
• Hydrocortisone cream ( relieves skin irritations )
• Cotton-tip swabs ( applying antibiotic ointment, removing objects from the eyes )

Remember, whether you assemble your ultralight first aid kit yourself or enhance a commercial one, always ensure your personal needs are met. With each trip, you’ll gain a better understanding of your body and its requirements, leading to updates in your wilderness first aid kit.