---
title: "What shouldn't be missing from an ultralight first aid kit"
description: "Basic advice and tips on what shouldn't be missing from an ultralight first aid kit for travel, short trips and long treks - from medications to dressings."
canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/ultralight-first-aid-kit"
last_updated: "2023-11-21"
---

# What shouldn't be missing from an ultralight first aid kit

Authors: Petra Kovalčíková

Date: 2023-11-21

Basic advice and tips on what shouldn't be missing from an ultralight first aid kit for travel, short trips and long treks - from medications to dressings.

It doesn't matter whether you're heading out for a short weekend trip in familiar surroundings or a month-long trek abroad – without a first aid kit stocked with at least the basics, even a small blister can turn into a painful ordeal.

On the other hand, if your gear gets weighed as carefully as a boxer before a fight, you need to think through the contents of your first aid kit. Still, even a first aid kit for a long trek can be relatively **minimalist**, since it's the kind of stuff you can **simply buy more of** in practically any town or village along the way once you run out. In this article, we'll look at what a basic first aid kit might look like for ultralight enthusiasts who don't like testing the seams of their backpack and the load capacity of their hips, but also don't want to fall into the stupid light category.

The most important thing is **knowing what everything in your first aid kit is for and how to use it**. Knowledge travels with us everywhere and, luckily, weighs nothing at all, so whether you go the self-study route or take a proper wilderness first aid course, **at least a basic grasp of first aid should be part of every hiker's kit**. Now that we've got the essential intro out of the way, let's dive into that promised ultralight first aid kit!

### 1. Disinfectant

Which one should you pick? A small, handy bottle of **Betadine** is a great travel option – it's an iodine solution, a disinfectant suitable for both skin and mucous membranes. Just watch out for possible allergic reactions.

Another option is a **3% or lower hydrogen peroxide solution**. This disinfectant is also usable on both skin and mucous membranes. Its advantage is that it fizzes on contact with dirt, and the foam nicely carries unwanted debris away with it. The downside is possible stinging. The oxidation reaction also brings some heat to the wound – but don't worry, that's a normal reaction.

### 2. Sterile Gauze and Bandages

While nature is cleansing for the soul, its environment isn't great for open wounds. To cover any open wound, you need to carry **sterile, individually wrapped dressing material** in your kit.

### 3. Steri-Strips

If you haven't heard of steri-strips yet, they're an excellent aid for minor injuries – they weigh practically nothing but can help a lot. **Steri-strips** are thin, sterile adhesive strips used to close small tears or cuts. They minimize not only healing time but also scarring.

*First aid kit checklist for mountain trips*

### 4. Elastic Bandage and Triangular Bandage

Every mountain hiker should carry at least **one roll of elastic bandage**, for immobilizing a sprained joint or applying compression in case of bleeding. The same goes for a **triangular bandage**, in case you need to splint or sling an injured arm.

### 5. Duct Tape

This light, compact tape for securing bandages costs you only a few grams, and you'll find uses for it beyond patching yourself up – it's handy for your gear too. Most thru-hikers wrap some around their trekking poles, for example, so it's always within reach.

### 6. Blister Plasters / Leukotape

The first line of defense against blisters is good footwear and quality socks. But even seasoned hikers can't avoid them entirely from time to time. What do you do once a blister has shown up, or you suspect one's coming because you didn't quite break in those new boots? **Gel plasters that mimic the properties of skin** can be a lifesaver in this case! Well... a footsaver, really.

Another option for preventing or dealing with blisters that have already formed is **leukotape**, which is popular among hikers. You can also use it to secure various bandages and dressings in case of injury.

*First aid kit checklist for mountain trips*

### 7. SPF

It's not just dermatologists who should worry about sunburn from the scorching sun – hikers should too. Immediate redness and that nighttime burning feeling aren't the only reasons to apply sunscreen properly during the day. Everyone's heard about the long-term effects of sun exposure on the skin by now – using **SPF (Sun Protection Factor) cream** is basic prevention against everything from premature skin aging to skin cancer. Mineral-filter SPF (with zinc, for example) is safe for both you and the planet.

### 8. Insect Repellent

We don't know exactly how mosquitoes pick their victims, but some people come back from nature spotted with bites like a ladybug. So why not avoid that? And it's not just annoying mosquitoes – other disease-carrying insects are a concern too. Lyme disease carried by ticks, for instance, can end your adventure very quickly and affect your quality of life long-term. If you're traveling to more exotic countries, it's a good idea to **buy repellent once you get there**, since the kind you bring from home won't always work effectively on all the local bloodthirsty critters.

### 9. Emergency Foil Blanket

If you can fully rely on your warm layers, which you could sacrifice in an emergency, an emergency foil blanket isn't strictly necessary.

### 10. Gloves

For contact with blood, or really anything dangerous to touch, it's worth having **a pair of gloves** (ideally at least 2 pairs, in case one tears) in your backpack.

*First aid kit checklist for mountain trips*

*Travel first aid kit – what to pack banner*

### 11. Scissors

A tiny pair of **manicure scissors** is all you need – they'll come in handy not just for cutting bandages but also for manicures on the road. In most cases, scissors can also be replaced with a small, practical knife.

### 12. Medication

The medication part of your first aid kit is very individual. Before long trips abroad or to exotic destinations, it's always a good idea to **talk to your doctor**, who can prescribe medication if needed (for example, antibiotics or altitude sickness prevention drugs). Still, a few over-the-counter medications for basic problems shouldn't be missing from any travel first aid kit:

- **Pain and fever medication** – such as ibuprofen or paracetamol
- **Anti-diarrheal medication** – such as activated charcoal
- **Cold and flu medication** – such as a combined cold and flu remedy
- **Allergy medication (antihistamines)** – such as cetirizine
- **Supplements against cramps and exhaustion** – magnesium (in an easily absorbable form) as tablets or effervescent tabs against cramps, glucose as a quick source of energy
- **Any medication you take regularly**

For most trips, you don't need to carry a whole box or full package of medication – usually one blister strip or a few tablets are enough, and you can buy more in the next town if you run out. If you keep the tablets in their original blister strip, we recommend reinforcing it with regular tape before your trip so individual pills don't accidentally fall out. Most medications can also be stored in small resealable ziplock bags. In that case, don't forget to label them with a permanent marker, so you don't accidentally take a fever reducer for an upset stomach or an allergy pill for a toothache.

*First aid kit checklist for mountain trips*

### What should you pack it all in?

If you're putting together your own first aid kit, you'll need some kind of practical carrying pouch for it. If it's at least partly waterproof, that's a big advantage. A great option, for example, is the [Sea To Summit Lightweight Dry Bag First Aid 1L](/p/sea-to-summit-lightweight-dry-bag-first-aid) or the [Sea To Summit Hydraulic Packing Cube](/p/sea-to-summit-hydraulic-packing-cube).

This list should serve mainly as **inspiration** – it's definitely not a one-size-fits-all guide for every trip or expedition you're planning. Everyone should tailor the contents of their first aid kit to their own needs and the specifics of their trip. That said, the basic ultralight rule **does not** apply here – “If I didn't use it once, I'm not bringing it again” is not the rule for a first aid kit.

Article author: Michaela Bártová

- [Sea To Summit Hydraulic Packing Cube](/p/sea-to-summit-hydraulic-packing-cube.md)
- [Sea To Summit Lightweight Dry Bag First Aid](/p/sea-to-summit-lightweight-dry-bag-first-aid.md)
- [Yate Emergency Blanket Silver](/p/yate-emergency-blanket-silver.md)
- [Victorinox Classic SD](/p/victorinox-classic-sd.md)
- [Sea To Summit Lightweight View Dry Bag](/p/sea-to-summit-lightweight-view-dry-bag.md)
- [Gramino SagiFlow](/p/gramino-sagiflow-ultralight-bidet.md)
- [Kula Cloth](/p/kula-cloth-pee-cloth.md)
- [Liteway Wash Bag](/p/liteway-wash-bag.md)
- [Sea To Summit Wilderness Wash 100 ml](/p/sea-to-summit-wilderness-wash-100-ml.md)
- [Sea To Summit Trek and Travel Liquid Body Wash 100 ml](/p/sea-to-summit-trek-and-travel-liquid-body-wash-100-ml.md)

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