7 Emergency Items to Pack in Your Backpacking Emergency Kit Right Now
You feel the pain radiating from your head down to your spine. You slowly open your eyes and realize you’re looking up to the sky under a tree canopy. How did you get here? How long has it been?
You roll over and a new pain makes itself known. Your ankle is swollen. You're lying among some rock and brush, and nothing looks familiar.
You have nothing except the clothes you’re wearing. And the stuff in your pockets. What are your next steps? How do you get yourself to safety?
As backpackers, we know that one wrong step can take you from an enjoyable backpacking trip to an emergency situation. Are you ready for it? Is your backpacking emergency kit packed and up-to-date?
Whether you’re injured or lost, time is critical. That’s why packing the right emergency gear is essential to staying safe and improving your situation when things take a turn for the worse.
Key Insights:
You should keep a backpacking emergency kit with you at all times when you're in the backcountry.
The key items to include in your kit help you survive and get help in a worst-case scenario.
These items help you stay hydrated, stay warm, build shelter, and get help.
You should customize your kit to your personal backpacking needs.
What Is an Emergency Backpacking Kit?
Backpacking lets you venture deep into nature’s beauty, giving you a front-row seat to its peaceful, awe-inspiring landscapes. But let’s be real… While that solitude is magical, it can also bring unexpected challenges. That’s why we always carry an emergency backpacking kit when we’re in the backcountry.
So, what’s an emergency backpacking kit? It’s a lightweight, compact bag filled with the essentials you need if things don’t go according to plan.
Unlike your main pack, which holds all of your camping gear, this kit is easy to grab as you wander around your campsite or explore nearby trails. It’s always by your side – just in case.
And not just for your sake.
Hiking has exploded in popularity across the U.S., with nearly 59 million people hitting the trails in 2021 – a whopping 80.4% increase since 2010. That means more new hikers and, unfortunately, more injuries. But you know there’s no need to worry because you’re prepared with an emergency kit for when something does go wrong.
To help you stay safe and sound, we’ve handpicked 7 must-have items we never hit the trail without. As a special bonus, we’ve put together our Ultimate Backpacking Checklist – drawing on 1,000+ adventure experiences – to make sure you're always prepped for anything the backcountry throws your way. So let’s get to it!
1. A Signaling Device to Call for Help
Ever wonder why some first aid kits come with a mirror? Sure, it’s great for making sure you look great, but it has another trick up its sleeve. It can reflect light to help you signal for help if you’re lost. A signal mirror grabs the attention of aerial search teams.
Another reliable way to get the attention of searchers in your vicinity is a whistle. Whistles on lanyards are easy to access during hiking and close by in case of an emergency. The downside is these two solutions only work within a short distance.
Short of burning SOS on a hillside, a Satellite communicator, Garmin inReach Mini or SPOT, is your best option for getting a message for help out. Most send a distress signal that searchers can pinpoint your location. While others periodically wake up, plot your position, and send and receive short messages.
These are a reliable resource for backpacking in remote regions that don’t have a reliable cell signal. They’re basically a high-tech “Help-I’ve-fallen-and-I-can’t-get-up” button for backcountry adventurers everywhere.
2. Cordage to Hold It Together
Cords are like the Swiss Army knife of backpacking – endlessly useful! From replacing a broken shoelace to securing gear, cordage saves the day. But not all ropes are the same.
For steep climbs, you’ll need a climbing rope that can handle the rugged terrain. Most backpacking trips, however, only need something lightweight, durable, and versatile. Paracord is a slim but strong cord that's a backpacker’s best friend.
Whether you’re fixing gear or making an emergency shelter, paracord gets the job done without taking up much space.
3. Ultralight First Aid Kit
First aid kits can be bulky, but there are plenty of options designed for backpackers that are lightweight, portable, and even waterproof! These kits have essentials like bandages, gauze, and antiseptic wipes – all protected from the elements.
Unlike standard first aid kits though, ultralight first aid kits only have single doses of medicine and limited duplicate supplies. So it's up to you to restocked after you use consumables.
You should also tailor your kit to you and the kind of trip you're on. If you're allergic to Tylenol, then you want to replace that with a different type of acetaminophen.
4. Emergency Blanket for Warmth and Shelter
Originally designed for astronauts, the emergency blanket is now a backpacker’s go-to for staying warm when things get rough. This super-light, foil-like blanket reflects your body heat back to you, helping you fend off cold weather, rain, and even shock.
They’re small enough to stash in any pack, but keep in mind that they wear out quickly. Only use them in real emergencies and replace any that show wear and tear.
5. Dry Fire Starter
Fire is your best friend in the wild. It keeps you warm, wards off animals, and can even signal for help. But starting a fire, especially when injured, isn’t always easy. That’s why a dry fire starter is a must.
You can buy manufactured fire starters that ignite quickly or make your own. Cotton balls soaked in paraffin wax are a backpacker’s hack. They’re light, super flammable, and you can subdivide them to use for multiple fires. Just be sure to check the rules and follow fire safety tips in the area you’re hiking to avoid accidentally sparking a wildfire.
6. Fire Ignition Tools
Bringing plenty of matches is always a must in a backpacker's kit, but what if they get wet?
Ferrocerium rods (also known as ferro rods or fire sticks) are a reliable tool for starting fires to bring to the wilderness. These handy tools produce super-hot sparks when struck, making them perfect for igniting tinder in any weather. They’re durable, reusable, and easily packable.
But they do take some skill to use effectively, so make sure you practice starting a fire with a ferro rod before you need to rely on it. Also, be aware that you can't with a ferro rod, so plan to buy it once you get to your destination.
Always carry a backup fire-starting tool to ensure you can stay warm and signal for help when needed.
7. Back Up Water Purification System
Unless you're backpacking through a dessert with no sources of water, you already have a water purifier on your list. Most wilderness water isn’t safe to drink, so it’s crucial to filter it.
As water is life on the trail, this is the one place where redundancy is okay in backpacking. A water purification system, like iodine tablets or a trusty water filter like a LifeStraw, are lightweight and small. And they ensure that if your primary purification method fails, you can still have safe, clean drinking water from natural sources.
Conclusion: The Bonus Gear for Your Emergency Backpacking Kit that Weighs and Costs Nothing
Remember that scenario we started with?
I didn't make that up. It's what actually happened to a wilderness guide, when he went to scout the trailhead of the next leg of his journey.
After sustaining a concussion, thinking he was returning to his group, he got lost. He had nothing except what was in his pockets at the time of his accident. But he made it out alive and under his own power.
How?
Over the years he prepared himself with knowledge of the area and outdoor skills like:
Orienteering
Celestial Navigation
Edible plants
Trapping
This knowledge costs nothing but time, weighs nothing, and is always with you. So take some time to learn about the area you'll be backpacking through. Learn about the terrain, landmarks, bodies of water, and edible plants in the area.
It might just save your life.
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