Too often, safety is taken for granted. Last week I shared an on-trail experience where carrying a first aid kit came in handy. Check it out here. Not many people are prepared for the worse and that’s totally understandable. I will admit, I carry way more than the average person. I promise I’m not a hoarder. For a few years, my life was spent on the road, in the mountains, and even, by choice, homeless. While living like a wanderer I learn to let go of unnecessary items. I also learned to hold on to the important stuff.
I’ve got a thing for Osprey and if you own one of their packs, I’m sure you understand my love for well designed and durable packs. I own the Porter 46, check it out here. I also own the Daylite Plus. I love that these packs are compatible with each other. I can buckle the Daylite Plus to the Porter 46 to increase my carrying capacity. This comes in handy, especially when I’m backpacking. Both have been highly abused and still have a lot of life in them.
At 20 liters, the main pouch has plenty of room for day to day use. I keep my first aid kit, a small pack of supplies and my medical supplies here. There’s still plenty of room for a change of clothes or extra layers.
Since safety is the subject on hand let’s take a look at my first aid kit.
First aid blanket/space blanket
Waterproof bandaids
Tegaderm Films
Triangular bandages
Q-tips
Examination gloves
Shower care bandaids
Moth to mouth mask
Stretchy dressings
Gauze pads
Alcohol-free cleansing wipe
Alcohol prep pad
Plastic bags
Pain Killer-Tylenol
Gauze rolls
Dressing tape
Allergy meds
Safety pins
I also keep a few Cliff bars in my first aid kit. You’d be surprised by the amount of people who don’t properly fuel their body. I learned this the hard way when I started road biking. When you’re putting out a lot of effort you should be refueling every 30-60 minutes. You don’t have to eat much but you need to eat something.
You never know when you’ll need a first aid kit. We don’t plan accidents. My kit weighs less than 400 grams so it’s a no brainer for me to carry daily. For me, safety isn’t only gauze pads and medical gloves. I’m a wheelchair user so getting a flat tire in the wrong place can be dangerous. Having the right gear on hand can be life saving. I also carry a few items that align with my life that help me stay safe.
C02 inflator system
Allen wrench set
Tire levers
Flashlight
Sunscreen
Eyeglass cleaner & rag
Tire sealer
Lighter
Eye drops
My spinal cord injury has affected the way I use the bathroom. To pee, I use intermittent catheters. I drain my bladder 6-8 times a day. This means I need to carry these supplies with me. Luckily, they aren’t very heavy and also fit in the pack’s main pouch.
The last few items I carry in the main pouch are tools to help me hike. These straps are used with an able-bodied hiker companion to either pull me while ascending or use as a parachute to slow me during a descend. One end of the strap is tied to the frame of my wheelchair and the other can hook to a body harness or wrapped around the persons waist. This is an essential tool for hiking off the ADA wheelchair accessible paved paths. I like to get dirty just like everyone else but must adapt to make it happen. My Handup gloves are perfect for long hikes, rad bikes or keeping my hands warm when wrapped around a cold beer.
Let’s take a look at the gear in the smaller pouch. Whats stored here are the things I use multiple times a day or what I may need to pull out with ease.
Inhaler
Meds
Chapstick
Hand sanitizer
Pocket Knife
USB plug
Rechargeable battery
Phone charger
Watch charger
As you can see, I carry a lot of gear. It’s really not that heavy of a pack. When I’m tired or lazy I can strap the pack to the back of my wheelchairs backrest. When it’s there, it’s weightless. I also want to mention, I don’t carry this with me 100% of the time. Sometimes when traveling, going to a fancy show or dinner the pack stays home or in my truck. I know from being part of the wheelchair community some of my peers absolutely hate carrying so much gear. I understand this but for my lifestyle, I've learned its better to be prepared.
What’s in your pack? Am I missing anything? Let me know in the comments below.