I Heart Pacific Northwest

What’s in My First Aid Kit for Hiking

Accidents happen… be prepared to deal with them by taking a first aid kit with medical supplies for hikers.

Wilderness First Aid Kit

When I first started hiking, I bought a full-featured first-aid kit that weighed a pound. Over time, I discovered that I didn’t need everything in the kit so now I carry fewer items while still having everything I need to deal with emergencies on trail. Some of the items I carry came from that original kit, but most have been replaced with items from home.

Make Your Own First Aid Kit

This is my basic first aid kit for backpacking. The total weight of my kit is 4 ounces, including the zippered pouch I carry the supplies in.

On more than one occasion, I needed my first aid kit to deal with accidents on trail. Fortunately, none of them have required an evacuation.

I was happy to have what I needed when a friend fell and suffered a deep cut on her arm on day one of a five day backpacking trip. I cleaned it up using an irrigation syringe, then closed the wound with butterfly bandages. A regular band-aid would not have done the job since it was a deep puncture wound, and we would have needed to cut our trip short. I used a large clear bandage with a window so we could keep an eye on the wound, and we ended up being able to finish our backpacking trip.

Other times, I’ve needed moleskin to prevent blisters when friends had a hot spots. And I’ve used my first aid supplies on myself when I fell and hit my knee and head on rocks. This has happened to me multiple times. : (

The most-used items in my kit are various over-the-counter medications, including ibuprofen, antacids, and antihistamines, which can be especially useful for allergic reactions or insect stings. Tweezers are important for removing splinters or ticks, and the syringe is one of the best ways to thoroughly clean a wound.

Basic First Aid Kits

first aid kit for hikers

The size of your first aid kit will depend upon the length of your journey and the size of the group that it is meant to treat. Shown above is the first kit I bought, which ended up being overkill for the types of trips that I do. However, a basic kit is a good way to get started, then you can refill with items as needed. I now carry the larger first aid kit on camping trips, and take my much smaller DIY kit on hikes and backpacking trips.

These are all lightweight kits meant for hikers and outdoor adventurers. Ideally, each hiker will carry their own first aid kit with items specific to their needs.

Wilderness First Aid

Wilderness First Aid

While carrying first aid supplies is important when they are needed, it’s even more important to know what to do when something happens. I’ve taken the NOLS Wilderness First Aid certification course through REI twice and it helped me discover what I needed for first aid. I highly recommend that every hiker take one of these courses. The basic class is usually held for eight hours over two days, but this can vary based on where the class is held. In the class, they go over basic techniques and then break out for hands-on practice of various scenarios.

In addition to taking a class, it’s helpful to read up on first aid administered in the wilderness. Here are a couple of recommended resources:

Accidents can happen in the backcountry, and knowing how to respond can make a big difference. Carry the supplies that make sense for the type of trips you take, and learn how to use them before you need them. Stay safe out there!