Hiking Essentials & Hiking First Aid Kit Check List

More than 44.9 million Americans took a hike in 2017, and the number of US hikers has risen steadily over the past 12 years. Getting ready for a hike doesn’t seem to require much thought or effort – you’re just going for a longer-than-usual walk, right? Not so fast! Being unprepared for a hike is risky. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the chance of dying while mountain hiking is 1 in 15,700 annually. Compare this to skydiving, where the chance of dying is 1 in 101,083. That’s right - you’re 6.4x more likely to die while hiking than you are while skydiving!

OK, that’s a bit extreme, especially if you’re just heading out for a leisurely hike in familiar, flat terrain. But hiking can be challenging, depending on where you’re walking.

The American Hiking Society recommends following its Essentials of Hiking Checklist to ensure a safe, successful hiking experience:
 

1. Wear appropriate footwear. Trail shoes or hiking boots work well, depending on terrain.
2. Bring extra water, and a way to purify water. Purification tablets, liquid drops, or a small personal water filter are the most portable options.
3. Pack extra food, such as snacks and a mid-day meal (or more for longer trips). Bring more food than you think you’ll need, just in case. Nuts, granola bars, and other high-protein, nonperishable snacks are good choices. Bring a zip top bag as well, so you can pack out any food or paper waste.
4. Pack rain gear and a hat. Rain ponchos are easy to roll up and carry in your pack and will be much appreciated if the weather turns while you’re on the trail. A hat can protect you from rain and sun. Dressing in layers gives you options when you get too hot or cold.
5. Bring a flashlight, matches, and a whistle. Again, these are all very portable and can be lifesavers in an emergency.
6. Remember a knife or a multi-tool for quick repairs.
7. Sunscreen and sunglasses are must haves for both sunny and snowy conditions. Apply sunscreen before you head out, and throughout the day as conditions merit.
8. Bring a Hiking First Aid Kit. Make your own hiking first aid kit to ensure you’ll have everything you need for your adventure.

Here’s a comprehensive list of items to include in every outdoor first aid kit from Backpacker.com to prepare you for the most common issues that occur during a hike. You can tailor the list to your specific needs. The American Hiking Society recommends that at least one person in your hiking party be familiar with wilderness first aid, or at least aware of common hiking issues and injuries and how to treat them.
 

• The Basics
• Tweezers, small pair of scissors
• Safety pins
• Antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic towelettes
• Wound closure strips
• Blister bandages or moleskin
• Adhesive bandages and sports tape
• ACE™ Brand bandage
• Ibuprofen
• Antihistamine
• Powdered electrolyte replacement drink

A small backpack with a rain cover will keep your hiking supplies dry and organized, making it easy to bring everything you need to stay safe and comfortable on your hike without weighing you down.

SOURCES

Sports Tape  |  Instant Cold Pack  |  Statista I Whimsical Hikers I Backpacker.com I American Hiking Society.