A set of modular, composible first aid kits, designed to scale from solo EDC to long group trips with technical objectives.
Goals
- easy “grab and go” for any type of trip I’ll take
- scale down as small as a EDC kit I’m happy carrying in my running vest for side- or easy backcountry trail runs
- scale up to group trips, or more hazardous trips (skiing, packrafting, canyoneering, etc)
- composable: some duplicates are fine, but I can’t duplicate expensive gear (i.e. InReach), so those parts have to nest into other parts
- realistic: only carry gear that addresses likely risks for that kind of trip, and only gear that I know how to use
Non-goals
- Repair kits are out of scope. Each activity also needs one of those, but TODO.
Components
Organize the system around a set of component kits. Each component kit has its own bag and packing list. The actual carried kits are compromised of multiples of these kits, assembled. Full packing lists linked and below.
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Blister Kit: keep my feet happy
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Daily Carry: smallest lightest first aid essentials, the core of each kit
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Overnight: gear to survive an unexpected night out
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Group supplement: extra items, and more of the common items, for group trips
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Group supplement: address the extra risk of more hazardous technical trips, e.g. packrafting, canyoneering, etc.
Modes
How it all comes together for different kinds of trips:
- low risk solo trips - normal long runs, side-country hikes, etc.
- blister + daily carry
- long solo adventure - committing single-day runs (e.g. running the Wonderland), difficult backcountry day trips (e.g. Mt Adams)
- blister + daily carry + overnight supplement
- solo backpacking or fastpacking
- blister + daily carry (overnight supplement not necessary since I’m carrying camping gear)
- packrafting, canyoneering, ski touring - these trips have higher objective hazard, and warrant a heavier first aid kit
- blister + daily carry + overnight supplement + technical supplement
- group adventure - any of the above kinds of trips, except with other people
- add the group supplement kit to the rest of the kit according to activity above
Packing Lists
Packing lists for each individual component follow.
Blister Kit
- 4’ Leukotape
- 4x blist-o-ban blister bandages
- 3-4 hypodermic needles, various gauges (for draining blisters)
- 4-6 tubes of benzion tincture
- 1 oz Trail Toes
- Scissors
Notes:
- Want to try bulk tincture decanted into a small drip bottle again. I tried this once before and it didn’t stick as well as I wanted, but I should try a different brand. I would much prefer a bulk bottle to the single-use tubes - more benzoin for the weight, and less trash.
- The scissors I have (these) suck - they’re dull and the folding mechanism is trash. Need to find better light scissors to carry.
- KT tape, in the daily carry kit, is better for a few kinds of blisters
Daily Carry
- ~10 Advil
- ~4 Immodium
- ~10 pepcid or Tums
- ~4 zyrtec
- 4’ KT tape
- 1 pack steri-strips
- silver gripper tweezers
- aquamira, decanted as described by skukra
- lighter or waterproof matches
- emergency whistle
- [scissors and LK tape from blister kit]
- inreach
Notes:
- scissors and LK tape are in the blister kit, for use here
- no band-aids: tape works better.
- I’ll often bring a befree on runs/fastpacks since I can fill and drink immediately, so in those cases the aquamira becomes a backup. I don’t otherwise carry a second method, though, my backup if I lose the aquamira is is “stay hydrated and deal with the consequences later”
Overnight
- emergency bivy
- a big puffy or other extra warm layers
- flashlight (nitecore tini2)
- small usb battery bank
- usb-c cable plus adapter tips (e.g.) for iphone, flashlight, inreach
- extra food
- usually peanut butter packets, sometimes a skurka rice and beans (sans cheese)
Group supplement
- duplicate of all consumables from the daily carry and blister lists
- 4" ace bandage
- 1 pair latex gloves
- ~4 nonstick 4x4s
- 1 roll 4" vetwrap
Notes:
- duplicate of consumables: so in practice, I’ll carry the group supplement plus the blister and daily carry kits as a combined kit, thus in the group kit I’ll have 2x the consumables from those smaller kits
- ace bandage over sports tape; recent NOLS research shows similar outcomes with more versatility for longer self-evacs
- if it’s a large group or a longer trip, I might bring a second ace bandage and a second roll of vetwrap
Technical supplement
- 2-4 chemical heat packs
- large SAM split
- 4" ace bandage