Sponge's Top 10 - Safety / First Aid Items
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Forget band-aids for blisters - this is the answer. This high grade tape is incredibly adhesive - providing a barrier against friction. It's also versatile - when Sponge had a shoulder injury on the Appalachian Trail, he used a layer of this to keep it in check. Worth every penny!
Sponge hopes you NEVER get a tick on ya, but if you do, you'll be thankful for this simple, lightweight tool. Push the button and tweezers open, let go and they grip - and for ticks really holding tight, you can twist the stem to remove them safely.
Like the tick remover, this is one tool you hope to never use - but are thankful for if it's needed. Critically important if you need other hikers to find you - or if you need to scare off agressive wildlife - this one weights a paltry 0.7 oz but gives out 120-130 decibels of sound.
Sponge is a BIG fan of these individually wrapped treatment towels - they can treat athlete's foot you may have developed on the trail - or can prevent it. Best of all? They feel surprisingly amazing.
The ORIGINAL safety tool for trails - it's amazing how often it can save a hiker who has lost sight of trail markers or has a dead cell phone. At less than $6, it's a must.
This worked wonders for Sponge on the Appalachian Trail - it's 20% Picaridin content definitely kept the bugs away and its spray goes on nice and light.
No matter HOW hard you try to avoid them, bug bites or unexpected brushes with poison ivy or oak will happen on trails. While this won't immediately heal the - it will relieve the itching and pain, so it doesn't drive you crazy during the daytime miles or nightly camping. Best of all, it's pretty light and concise - easy to work into your first aid bag.
Nothing can slow down a hiker on a mission faster than a bad blister. Well, except maybe several blisters. That's why Sponge uses a little of Body Glide each morning to keep those potential blisters at bay. The 0.87 oz tube also is light and easy to carry.
If you are planning on hiking in an area prone to bugs - like Sponge - when he braves the beaver ponds of the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota, you may want to consider a Thermacell. This very portable version won't work wonders in wind or as you move, but it will give you a potential 15 foot halo in which to set up camp or cool a meal.
Able to work in any temperature and even wet conditions, this fire starter could also be a life saver. Weighing just 2.46 oz - the lanyard keeps the rod and striker together - as losing either would be bad news.