Hiking First Aid Kit
A hiking first aid kit is the kind of thing that you hope you don’t ever need, but that you should absolutely have with you when you go hiking. Safety is important when you are hiking, and there are many things, from a rogue root in the trail, to wildlife, to weather, to malfunctioning gear that can cause injuries of all kinds. A hiking first aid kit, combined with the knowledge of how to use it, can prevent injuries from escalating in to serious problems.
Hiking First Aid Kit
The things to watch for when reviewing hiking first aid kits.
- The Basics - There are a few basics, like bandaids, moleskins, antiobiotic wipes and sterile wraps that just about any hiking first aid kit should have, and will have. Beyond the basics, it is up to you to decide what you need and do not need. What you choose to bring will depend a lot on whether or not you know how to use it.
- Knowledge - A hiking first aid kit is a tool, and if you do not know how to use the tool properly, then the tool isn’t much help. Many hiking first aid kits come with a few basic instructions on using the different items contained within, but it is highly recommended that a little knowledge go along with a hiking first aid kit.
Best Hiking First Aid Kit
A few of the better hiking first aid kits.
- Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight .5 – The Ultralight .5 is an ideal first aid kit to take care of all of the most basic medical concerns that might come up on a hike. It includes several different varieties of bandages, wipes to properly clean a wound, and a few medications like ibuprofen and aspirin. Also includes moleskin. It weighs 3.68 ounces, or 104 grams, and come in a .7 and .9 size as well.
- Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and and Watertight .3 – This is a lighter and smaller version of the Ultralight .5 above. It includes most of the same things as the kit above, just less of them. The bag is also much less durable than the bag of the .5, but if you want to save on weight, this version weighs just 3 ounces, or 85 grams.
- Adventure Medical Weekender – If you need a hiking first aid kit that is a little more comprehensive, the Medical Weekender is a good choice. It includes all of the basics, plus a few other items like CPR face shield, disposable thermometers, tweezers and a few instruction booklets that you might find yourself in need of. It weighs 1.6 pounds, or 737 grams.
Possible Additions to a Hiking First Aid Kit
There are a few things you might want to add to a hiking first aid kit that you probably wont find in too many of them. A suture / syringe kit, for instance, may come in handy in a variety of situations. A razor blade can also come in handy in a variety of situations, and is a lightweight addition to any first aid kit.
One thing that a lot of people also add to their first aid kits is superglue. Superglue, also known as crazy glue, can be used to close wounds, and can be extremely handy for larger cuts and wounds. Finally, a tick removal tool can be handy to have, and can be used for splinters too.