Reddit reviews Dynarex 3528 Rolled ActiSplint Single Pack, 36

When backpacking with a small to moderately sized group (2-4 people), instead of having everyone cook individually at each meal, do some group meals where each person is responsible for cooking 1 meal for the entire group (this is good especially for dinners but works for breakfasts as well). You'd be surprised with some people can come up with when they are cooking for the whole group, and doing a larger meal makes it easier to incorporate certain food items that one wouldn't normally think of to bring backpacking. It's a little bit more work for the person in charge of cooking during each meal, but it also gives people a chance to relax and have "meals off" where they don't have to worry about preparing food for themselves. It's also a nice little social thing that can help a lot with group cohesiveness.

Cheese will last a surprisingly long time in the backcountry if you refrain from touching it. The bacteria that makes cheese go bad quickly can be found on your hands. Keep cheese in a ziplock bag, and hold it through the bag while you cut off only what you need for each meal. I've had cheese last up to 6 or 7 days in the backcountry ~85 degree day time temperatures without any problems this way. It gets a little sweaty, but it doesn't go bad as quickly.

This extension handle lets you pop jiffy pop over a campfire without burning your knuckles. IMO, it is one of the single greatest inventions for camping, ever.

Aluminum splints are cheap and a worthwhile addition to any first aid kit. One alone makes splinting far easier that it would be otherwise (anyone who has taken a wilderness first aid course can attest that it's not easy trying to make effective splints out of tent poles and spare clothing). With two aluminum splints and some duct tape, one can easily immobilize just about any broken limb or sprained joint on any extremity.

A few wet wipes (kept in a ziplock bag so that they don't dry out) can be really, really nice to have if and when needed. (These need to be carried out, however, as they won't decompose quickly like toilet paper does.)

High, wispy clouds (cirrus clouds) usually mean that it will rain within 24 hours. Scattered, low puffy clouds (cumulus clouds) usually mean that fair weather will persist for at least a few more hours (although watch out for any rapid vertical development into cumulonimbus clouds, which are indicative of thunderstorms).

Remember that lightning can strike as much as 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you may be vulnerable- even if you can't see the lightning itself.

Program local emergency contact numbers into your phone prior to your trip. 911 will always get you help, but when you are in the backcountry, it sometimes isn't the fastest way to get help. When leaving an itinerary with a trusted person who will summon help if you don't return on time, make sure that they have access to these numbers as well.

Bugs are always worse (swarming in greater quantities) on more humid days. On days with high pressure and low humidity, they aren't as bad.

Getting your pack weight down is certainly key to increasing your enjoyment of backpacking, but pack weight alone isn't always everything. Sometimes a pack that weighs 3 pounds will carry the same load far more comfortably than a pack that weighs 2 pounds will. Find a system that works for you. If a sub-10 pound base weight is your thing, more power to you. If carrying 40 pounds suits you and you can do it comfortably (and many people can!), then that's OK too. Most importantly, make sure that you aren't compromising your safety in the interest of lessening the weight on your back (make sure that you aren't compromising your safety by increasing the weight on your back, too!).

I think that about sums it all up. I'm drawing a blank on anything else useful (but will add other things if I think of them). I hope at least a few people are able to find something useful out of this (very long) list! :-)

Large gauze pads or bandages and cloth first aid tape. In my experience most injuries that are not a sprained or broken limb are going to be large scrapes or cuts.

If you are worried about more serous injury, some quick-clot and some larger bandages. I carry an "Israeli" bandage which is designed for gunshot wounds. Unlikely I will need it for that, but I am more likely to see an accident with a knife, axe, or saw.

As others have said, a couple Ace type bandages and a SAM splint.

For less serious stuff, some moleskin (for blisters), burn cream, cortizone cream, and some OTC meds:

• Ibuprofen
  
• Acetaminophen
  
• Anti-diarrhea
  
• Benadryl
  
• Anti-gas
  
• Phenylephrin (decongestant)
  
  I also have some prescription pain killers left over from a surgery (Tylenol with codeine) and some indomethacin ( anti-inflammation used to treat gout)
  
  On top of that I always have at least a couple days of prescription meds.