What counts as an ultralight first aid?

The lightest quarter of first aid items in our database weighs 60 g or less — a good practical threshold for "ultralight" in this category.

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How much does a first aid weigh?

Q: How much does a first aid weigh?

Based on 16 verified weights in the HikeLoad gear database, the median first aid weighs 102 g. The average is 140 g, with items ranging from 20 g to 450 g.

Real numbers from 16 verified first aid weights in our database — not manufacturer claims.

The median first aid weighs 102 g (0.10 kg), based on 16 items. The average is 140 g — pulled up by a few heavy outliers, which is why the median is the better benchmark for your own pack.

20 g

Lightest

60 g

Ultralight threshold (P25)

102 g

Median

450 g

Heaviest

A quarter of all first aid items weigh 60 g or less — if yours is under that, it counts as genuinely ultralight. The middle half of the market sits between 60 g and 198 g. Anything above 198 g is heavier than three-quarters of what is available today.

Lightest first aids

Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets — 20 g

Coghlan's Moleskin Plus Strips — 30 g

Potable Aqua Iodine Tablets — 35 g

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Full ranking of the lightest first aid →

Heaviest in the database

Surviveware Complete First Aid Kit — 450 g

Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight .7 — 200 g

Sawyer Permethrin Spray — 200 g

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Average weight in other categories

Backpack Clothing - Base Layer Clothing - Mid Layer Clothing - Outer Layer Cooking Electronics Footwear Hygiene Lighting Navigation Repair Kit Safety Shelter Sleep System Tools Trekking Poles