Hiking First Aid Kit

What kind of hiking first aid kit do you have? Or do you carry one at all?

Just like when you are building a camping or RV first aid kit, what goes into a hiking first aid kit will depend on where you will be hiking as well as how long you will be hiking. The ultralight folks will take the bare minimum as to where a mom with a small child may think she needs to take an entire medicine cabinet.

But, what do you really need in a hiking first aid kit? It really is personal preference and really unnecessary to bring your entire medicine cabinet and pharmacy. But again, the choice is always yours, and typically help is just a phone call away depending on where you are going.

Before deciding on what to bring, it is extremely important to research the area. Is there cell service? How long will it take for help to reach you? How experienced a hiker are you? Have you been on this trail before? What kind of wildlife are in the area? What about poisonous plants?

Types of Hiking First Aid Kits

In reality, unless you are hiking on remote trails where help may not get to you for hours or even days, you can probably get by with just one of the following kits:

The Bare Minimum Hiking First Aid Kit

This is what I would carry on my daily hikes here near the house that I have been to multiple times. I know cell coverage is good, they are high-traffic trails, I know the trails like the back of my hand, and help can get to me within a matter of about 10-15 minutes.

Bandaids (in multiple sizes)
Antibiotic Ointment (not the whole tube, instead buy the individual packets)
OTC Pain Relief
Mole Skin
Antiseptic Wipes
Tweezers

The Just in Case Hiking First Aid Kit

For trails that I may not have been on before or are not too familiar with that are day hikes, but I still have cell coverage and I know that help can get to me fairly quickly (within an hour) this is what I carry. These are also trails that I know will be moderately traveled.

Wound Seal
Mole Skin
Gauze Pads
Medical Tape
Antiseptic Wipes
Ace Bandage
Tweezers
Antibiotic Ointment
Bandaids (Various Sizes)
OTC Painkillers – Such as Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, etc…
Antihistamine
Safety Pin (for even more uses and better durability, use a diaper pin instead)

The I Could Die Out There Hiking First Aid Kit

If you plan to hike in very remote areas where it can take hours or even days for help to arrive, I would suggest the following hiking first aid kit (of course you will need to carry other essential items as well).

For trails that I have never been on, that are remote and low traffic trails where I know it could take a very long time for help to arrive this is what I would carry:

Quick Clot
Wound Seal
Medical Gloves
Gauze Roll
Mole Skin
Gauze Pads
Medical Tape
Alcohol Prep Pads
Antiseptic Wipes
Ace Bandage
Tweezers
Antibiotic Ointment
Bandaids (Various Sizes)
OTC Painkillers – Such as Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, etc…
Prescription Medication (any daily meds I take, i.e. for my stupid thyroid)
Antihistamine
Burn Cream
Pepto Tablets
Safety Pin (for even more uses and better durability, use a diaper pin instead)
Emergency Blanket
2 Rubberbands
Garmin InReach or SPOT device (although not really a first aid kit item, it kind of falls into this category as well).

So what is in your hiking first aid kit? Comment below and let me know!

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