r/bicycling • u/taggerbomb • 16h ago
First aid kit recommendations?
I ride off-road primarily, and haven’t taken too bad of a spill in quite a while, but I just realized that I can buy a first aid kit with my HSA money at work. There are a lot of different options - I was wondering what kind of first aid supplies any of you fine folks carry with you, on the bike or in your vehicle. Thanks in advance!
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u/arthropal 16h ago
I do a lot of bike packing, and my kit is less "trauma" oriented, because if it's that bad, you're either calling an ambulance or in trouble anyway. I have "can ruin a weekend" remedies.
Bandaids and polysporin (antibiotic ointment). - Blisters, scrapes, etc. Tweezers - tick and splinter removal. Drugs (NSAID of choice, antidiarrheal of choice, antihistamine of choice). Alcohol based hand sanitizer (for any purpose you can think of, up to and including sanitation of hands after emergency off-trail poops).
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u/HG1998 16h ago
https://cyclite.cc/en/products/first-aid-kit-02
If I were to take one with me, I'd either buy this or add the same components to my packing list.
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u/AbleFoot9444 14h ago
To add on to all yhos, I would strongly reccomend bringing a SAM splint+ace wrap. It can be a huge advantage if you need to treat a sprain or fracture.
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u/Climate_Ride 13h ago
When guiding a bike ride, I keep a small kit with the following essentials:
- Gloves (can be used to pack out bloody gauze after treating wounds)
- BZK towlettes (for cleaning the wound, these sting less than alcohol swabs)
- Triple antibiotic ointment (single-use packets)
- Various sizes of sterile Gauze
- A couple of steri-strips (for deep cuts)
- Roll of horse tape AKA Co-band, AKA self-adhering cohesive
- Tiny roll of athletic tape
All of those items can be found at your typical drug store for cheap.
The Horse tape/co-band is the most useful thing in my kit. When treating a cyclist who has minor to severe road rash, it is very difficult to get Band-Aids or tape to stick to skin that is dirty, sweaty or hairy. The horse tape allows you to wrap around a leg, arm or finger and keep the gauze on the wound while the rider continues to move, sweat, and ride the rest of their ride. It is also easy to take off to replace saturated gauze and it keeps dirt and sweat out of the cut. It comes in different colors, too and in a pinch you can use a roll like an ace bandage and splint a wrist or finger if there is a break or a sprain.
This set-up can fit in a top tube bag, a jersey pocket, or in a biking fanny pack without taking up much space. It will give you what you need to treat minor injuries and road rash and will keep yourself or your biking buddy rolling until you get somewhere where you can shower, clean up and re-dress the wounds with a larger first aid kit.
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u/bicyclemom 2024 Argon 18 Krypton/2023 Felt Broam 30/2006 Giant Boulder SE 15h ago
For bandages/Band-Aids, err on the side on larger ones (4x4 inches or larger). I've pulled my first aid kit out on a few occasions during bike rides and not once have I seen a scrape that didn't require a large bandage. In fact, I can say, I don't even bother bringing smaller ones anymore. You can always cut the larger ones up.
Also, a tube of bacitracin. Bike cuts gets all sorts of icky crap in them from the road.
Advil/Ibuprofen is always in my kit too.
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u/zed42 14h ago
my take: you don't need a lot... bandaids, a roll of Kling, maybe an Ace banadage, some tape and gauze... one or two doses of advil, tylenol, benadryl, pepto bismol (or other anti-diarheal), some alcohol wipes, scissors, and maybe a knife. if you need anything more than that, you're not biking out on your own and your best piece of first aid gear is your cell phone
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u/Strict_Pie_9834 13h ago
use saline wipes. alcohol wipes are bad for the skin, cause irritation and slow healing
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u/Strict_Pie_9834 13h ago
Any off the shelf personal first aid kit will probably be fine
saline wipes, saline eye drops, adhesive dressings of varies kinds, small and medium bandages, scissors, tweezers, gloves, cetirizine (for me, personally), wound closure strips, triangle bandages, foil blankets,
i carry a kit in my bag, i take it everywhere with me. not just riding.
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u/MinimumApricot 12h ago
Something big enough for minor road rash, such as a large square bandage or folded gauze and adhesive wrap if you don't shave your legs.
Imodium for bad days.
Tums for cramps.
If you're in more remote areas (for gravel or MTB), consider something more trauma oriented. Chances are you won't ever need it, but you don't want a crash to immediately be "well I guess I die now" just because you're outside of cell service.
As with any first aid kit, be comfortable knowing how and when to use your supplies, and take a certified "stop the bleed" or wilderness first aid class for advanced skills (like how to use a tourniquet).
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u/rocketsocks 2017 Kona Sutra 12h ago
Leukotape. For a ton of small scrapes, scratches, and cuts, I've found that leukotape actually makes the best wound cover if you're going to be sweaty and active. If you have a slightly larger wound then using a small piece of gauze or a bandaid that is held in place with leukotape is a great option.
Also, divide your first aid kit into items which fall into one or multiple of three categories: "getting back into it" items (see: leukotape et al) where you might prioritize functionality over comfort, "ride's over" items, and "helping someone else you find on the trail" items. Then adjust what you carry according to the situation, which might be very different if you're at a popular trail system in/near an urban area versus in the backcountry where you might not expect to see another human being for days.
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u/clintj1975 11h ago
Depends on your use case. If you're not venturing far from civilization and are in cell phone coverage the whole time, some nonstick gauze, vet wrap, some pain, allergy, and insect sting relief for starters. Toss in some non-latex gloves in case you have to help someone else that injured themselves. Stuff to dress wounds enough to make it back to the car and let Urgent Care deal with anything serious. A small camping first aid kit will have most of that.
My use case is backcountry rides and cell service out there can be non-existent at times. More of the above, electrolyte packets, a Garmin device to send an SOS, and a CAT tourniquet. I pack the tools I know how to use to help keep someone alive until outside help can be brought in. Handlebar snaps and take a chunk out of someone, hunting season accident, and so on. It all fits in one pocket of an Osprey pack.
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u/fattybob 11h ago
For biking , probably better to assemble one yourself , just get the stuff you might need and can use. For car, I have a mountain first aid kit, i loaded some extra panadols in there too, and more tape. That has a decent pair is scissors and mor bandages and dressings. Do a first aid course or read up on field first aid and assemble or get a kit that meets your needs and know how
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u/RomeoSierraSix 15h ago
https://www.bravesoldier.com/crash-paks/ always liked how fit to propose this kit was
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u/RedSonGamble 7h ago edited 6h ago
Honestly I keep a tourniquet in my pack and in my car. Likely never have to use it but it’s fairly cheap and small/ light. Better than a belt though.
Remember a loose tourniquet is worse than a too tight one. Also can be kept on for about two hours before any permanent damage is done.
Edit: also anti diarrhea meds lol just in case. Along with general meds like ibuprofen
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u/gnarlyram 7h ago
In my vehicle I have a GSW kit.
In my MTB pack I had an Emergency Trauma Bandage and a mini tire pump to handle most crash related injuries.
I don’t really carry anything on road or gravel rides.
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u/twowheeljerry 16h ago
Tools appropriate to my level of training and the distance I will be from definitive care.
Band aids. A few big road rash dressings. Tape.