10 essentials, well 11, really.

Classic

Overview

You're going to hear and read a lot about the 10 essentials. Worse, the market is absolutely stuffed to the gills with "out of the box" essential gear kits, survival tools, and all manner of paraphernalia that is quite simply silly.

You can put together what you need very inexpensively and easily. Here are some guidelines

1. Navigation (map and compass)
2. Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter
11. Backpack

10 Medical Essentials

1. Moleskin (2-3 whole ‘cut-your-own’ sheets or precut templates of various sizes, depending on your preference)
2. Anti-inflammatory analgesic (your preferred OTC medication of choice, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen kept dry in a tiny ziplock bag with the name of the medication written on the bag; we recommend taking 2 different types: aspirin + non-aspirin; aspirin has anti-clotting properties & is not ideal for pain associated with bleeding; if you are hiking with your dog, use buffered or enteric-coated aspirin; ask your vet for the correct dose & write it down on the ziplock bag)
3. Anti-diarrhea medication (depending on how bad your trail diet is, you may also require antacids, antiemetics and laxatives kept dry in a tiny ziplock bag with the name of the medication written on the bag;Imodium (loperamide) is a safe to give dogs for diarrhea, although some Collie breeds are sensitive to it; ask your vet for the dose & write it down on the ziplock bag)
4. Eye drops (lubricating drops or artificial tears will help alleviate dry eyes when it is windy or dry; if a contact lens wearer, keep an extra small bottle filled with emergency saline solution aka ‘rewetting drops’ which also acts as a general purpose eye lubricant; bring your glasses in case your eyes swell up and you cannot wear your contact lenses; see also tips on backpacking with contact lenses)
5. Sterile Gauze (several 2″x 2″ sheets, good for lacerations that are too large for bandaids; put in a small ziplock bag if not individually packaged to keep sterile)
6. Adhesive waterproof tape (3-4′ long of 1″ wide tape rolled onto a popsicle stick or sewing thread bobbin)
7. Bandaids, assorted sizes (3 adhesive bandages of each size from a variety pack)
8. Butterfly bandages (6, used to to hold together the edges of a cut to expedite healing; larger cuts may require several butterflies)
9. Antiseptic wipes (4 – 6 alcohol or iodine wipes, unscented to prevent attracting wildlife; acts as an antiseptic for cuts & lacerations; alcohol wipes can also be used as emergency fire starter; alcohol is painful for open wounds on dogs; use iodine wipes on dogs)
10. Electrolyte tablet (1-2 tablets, such as Emergen-C to replace lost minerals caused by excessive sweating or illness)

10 Tool Essentials

1. Duct tape (roll about 3′ on the outside of your reusable water bottle or trekking poles; or wrap around popsicle stick/sewing thread bobbin and keep in kit)
2. Tweezers (ones that will actually work to remove ticks & splinters from yourself or your dog; test the plastic ones beforehand, most don’t work very well)
3. Safety pins (2 large pins; can be used for gear, to secure bandages, dig out a splinter, etc)
4. Needle with thread (keep in a match box; useful for gear repair & digging out a splinter)
5. Medical gloves (1 pair, nitrile surgical or non-latex barrier gloves; the sanitary option if you need to help someone that is bleeding, or you want them to help you!)
6. Water proof matches & fire starter (windproof & waterproof emergency matches to start a fire in bad weather; make your own fire-starter at home by collecting dryer lint, add to the inside of a paper egg carton, fill it with melted candle wax & cut away once dried)
7. Emergency blanket (aluminum style reflective blanket if you are hiking in cold or wet weather when hypothermia can be a concern; these can retain up to 80% of your radiated body heat & have other uses, including an emergency signaling device if stranded, a ground cover kept under tent, an insulator when placed under your sleeping bag and over your air mattress/pad)
8. Water purification tablets (your preferred back-up choice, such as iodine tablets, potable aqua, chlorine drops; always carry alternative water purification if your pump gets clogged, UV lamp breaks, or you run out of fuel to boil water)
9. Single-edge razor blade (even if you carry a multi-purpose knife, have a back-up blade)
10. Fingernail clippers (small; long toe nails can cause many problems during long downhill treks! Be sure to trim your dog’s nails before hiking, once you are hiking they will stay filed as your dog walks)

Optional Additions

These additions greatly depend on your circumstances, or maybe you’d rather be “extra” prepared and don’t mind the added mass.

• Prescription medication (medication that your life depends on i.e. insulin, heart, blood pressure; if you are hiking in extremely secluded wilderness areas, also consider asking your doctor to prescribe a limited prescription reliever, such as Hydrocodone to get you through any injuries such as broken bones until you can walk to the nearest medical facility.)
• Antihistamines (if you suffer from allergies or sleep problems; Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is a good all purpose medication that works quickly and is safe for dogs; obtain dose from your vet)
• Epi-pen (you suffer from severe allergic reactions)
• Hydrocortisone cream (look for a small travel size tube, reduces swelling and itching caused by insect bites and stings; this is optional since most people experience mildly annoying reactions rather than debilitating)
• Antibiotic ointment (use with discretion; soap & water or iodine/alcohol wipes are reliable for pre-treating wounds followed by a bandage to keep it clean and protected)
• Antihemorrhagic (agent to stop bleeding quickly, such as Quikclot or cornstarch, which is helpful for dogs and humans)
• Lip Balm with sunscreen (chapped lips can become painful if infected, see our natural methods of healing chapped lips)
• Insect Repellent (if traveling in heavily infested areas)
• Multivitamins (if health conscious, have a special diet or plan to eat badly and are concerned by the nutritional deficit)
• Snake Bite Kit (i.e. Sawyer extractor pump kit can be used on spider or snake bites; we highly recommend bringing this along if you are hiking in heavily secluded areas with known poisonous snakes, or you are hiking with a dog who likes to put his feet and nose under rocks!)
• Activated charcoal (for those hiking with dogs, can be used to absorb ingested poisons; check with poison control for proper dosage)
• Dog Boots (to protect a dog’s pads, which can get tender and sore when hiking extended miles, in rocky terrain, or on snow/ice)
• Baby Wipes (extra wipes to keep you and your dog clean when nothing else will work – i.e. your dog rolls around in something nasty)
• Anti-chafing / Anti-friction (skin protectant when you are in wet, hot and humid conditions)
• Superglue (when duct tape won’t do)