Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This guide is for hikers and backpackers who are assembling or checking a kit before a trip. It is general product information, not medical advice. It does not replace first aid training or care from a clinician.
Short answer: the National Park Service says to start from a pre-made kit and modify it to fit your trip and your medical needs, to check the expiration date on every item and replace what has expired, and to include the personal medications you regularly take (Ten Essentials, page last updated May 28, 2026). The American Red Cross adds that a kit should be tailored to the climate, the number of people, the terrain, the remoteness and the length of the trip (Red Cross, published June 24, 2024).
Purpose and setting: a portable kit, not a fixed-site cabinet
A hiking first aid kit travels in a pack, so it has to be organised around the trip rather than around a building. That is the difference from a wall-mounted cabinet (see first aid kit wall mounts) or a camp supply list (see the summer camp first aid supply checklist). For the general contents of an everyday kit, see items inside a first aid kit.
The National Park Service lists first-aid supplies as one of the Ten Essentials: “Prepare for emergencies by packing first-aid supplies.” Its advice is to “start with a pre-made kit and modify it to fit your trip and your medical needs,” and to “consider including an emergency guide in case you are faced with an unfamiliar medical emergency.”
Hiking first aid kit list: checklist by category
The tables below follow the American Red Cross “Hiking & Backpacking First Aid Kit: Contents & Checklist”, which names items without quantities. Items are named here for identification only; this page gives no dosing and no instructions for using them.
Basics
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Adhesive bandages | Listed by the American Red Cross |
| Gauze pads; medical tape; closure strips | Listed by the American Red Cross. |
| Antiseptic wipes; antibacterial ointment | Listed by the American Red Cross. |
| Blister treatment | Listed by the American Red Cross. |
| Gloves | Listed by the American Red Cross, with the note to avoid latex |
| CPR mask | Listed by the American Red Cross |
| Tweezers; safety pins | Listed by the American Red Cross |
| Antihistamine; pain relief medication (adults and children); insect sting and anti-itch treatment | Listed by the American Red Cross, by name only |
| First aid manual | Listed by the American Red Cross. NPS similarly suggests an emergency guide. |
Splints and wound cleaning
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Elastic wrap; rolled bandages; rolled gauze; triangular cravat bandage | Listed by the American Red Cross |
| Finger splints; SAM splints | Listed by the American Red Cross. See what a SAM splint is. |
| First aid cleansing pads with topical anesthetic; hydrogel-based pads; liquid bandage | Listed by the American Red Cross |
Additional medications and treatments
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Antacid tablets; aspirin; diarrhea medication; throat lozenges; lubricating eye drops; sunburn relief gel or spray | Listed by the American Red Cross, by name only |
| Glucose or other sugar tablets; oral rehydration salts | Listed by the American Red Cross |
| EpiPen | Listed by the American Red Cross |
| Prescription medications (like antibiotics) | Listed by the American Red Cross. NPS: “Include any personal medications you regularly take.” |
Personal tools and supplies
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Emergency heat-reflecting blanket | Listed by the American Red Cross. See what a mylar blanket is. |
| Waterproof container for supplies and medications | Listed by the American Red Cross |
| Knife or multi-tool; paramedic shears; safety razor blade | Listed by the American Red Cross |
| Irrigation syringe with 18-gauge catheter; cotton tipped swabs | Listed by the American Red Cross |
| Standard oral thermometer; hand sanitizer; biodegradable soap; medical waste bag | Listed by the American Red Cross |
| Small notepad with waterproof pencil or pen | Listed by the American Red Cross |
Backpacking and wilderness first aid kits: what varies by trip
A backpacking first aid kit or wilderness first aid kit raises the same question as a day-hike kit: what changes when the trip gets longer or help is farther away. The Red Cross says “your first aid kit should be as unique as your hiking excursion” and should be tailored to five factors.
- Climate
- Number of people
- Terrain
- Remoteness
- Length of the trip
Beyond these factors, the Red Cross publishes no per-factor item rules; for medications, ask your clinician.
Starting from a pre-made kit: what to verify before you accept it
Because NPS says to start from a pre-made kit, the practical step is to audit it against the lists above. These checks come straight from the two sources:
- Contents: compare the kit against the four Red Cross categories and note what is missing for your trip.
- Gloves: the Red Cross says to avoid latex.
- Expiration dates: NPS says to “check the expiration date on all items and replace them as needed.”
- Container: the Red Cross lists a waterproof container for supplies and medications.
- Personal medications: NPS says to include any you regularly take.
For broader purchasing questions across a programme or facility, see the bulk medical supplies buying guide.
Storage, expiry and restocking
The Red Cross states that “first aid kit contents do expire and lose effectiveness over time.” NPS says to check the expiration date on all items and replace them as needed. Neither publishes a fixed replacement schedule. Keep the supplies in a waterproof container, as the Red Cross lists.
Standards and rules that apply
No regulation sets the contents of a hiking first aid kit. Two guidance publications cover it: the National Park Service Ten Essentials (page last updated May 28, 2026; checked November 1, 2026) and the American Red Cross Hiking & Backpacking First Aid Kit: Contents & Checklist (published June 24, 2024; checked November 1, 2026).
FAQ
What should be in a hiking first aid kit?
The Red Cross groups contents into basics, splints and wound cleaning, additional medications and treatments, and personal tools and supplies, listed in the tables above. NPS advises starting with a pre-made kit and modifying it for your trip and medical needs.
How is a backpacking first aid kit different?
The Red Cross publishes one hiking and backpacking checklist, not a separate backpacking list. It treats trip length, remoteness, terrain, climate and group size as the factors that shape one kit.
What is a wilderness first aid kit?
The Red Cross checklist covers hiking and backpacking kits and names remoteness as one of its tailoring factors; it does not define a separate wilderness kit.
How often should I check the kit?
The Red Cross says contents expire and lose effectiveness over time; NPS says to check the expiration date on all items and replace them as needed. Neither gives a fixed interval.
Do I need to add my own medications?
NPS says to include any personal medications you regularly take. Discuss anything else with your clinician.
Sources
- National Park Service, “Ten Essentials”, first-aid supplies section, nps.gov, page last updated May 28, 2026; checked November 1, 2026.
- American Red Cross, “Hiking & Backpacking First Aid Kit: Contents & Checklist”, redcross.org, published June 24, 2024; checked November 1, 2026.
