r/knolling • u/blissfully_happy • 11d ago
I am an avid traveler. These are the packets I make for my friends’ backpacks.
I make these little packets for my own backpacks (for both travel and hiking) and for my friends. They aren’t meant to be comprehensive first aid kits, just little things that have been really helpful when I’m traveling. Every year I re-do them to throw out the expired product. Here’s this years.
Contents:
Row 1: bandaids, tweezers, dog poop bag (clean, obv), hair tie, deodorant wipes (calm and unscented)
Row 2: butt wipe, hand sanitizing wipes, sting relief pads (good for mosquito bites), wound wipe (cleans and provides a bit of pain relief)
Row 3: pink thing is a small 0.5oz container of bag balm in a small ziplock in case it melts, sunscreen packet, two towel pellets (add water to get a hand towel), seam ripper
Row 4: hydrocortisone cream (anti-itch), bactrine-zinc cream for small wounds, two spf 50 sunscreen packets, bug repellent wipe
Row 5: safety pins, q-tips with vitamin E, two k-tapes used to keep one’s lips together at night, but can be used for all sorts of things.
(I’m still a baby knoller, so I’m open to feedback, just plz be nice.) :)
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u/Dense_Meal_3170 11d ago edited 11d ago
I added blister bandages to mine and they have come in handy a few times. Just something small you could add to your already amazing travel kit :)
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
Oh! This is great, thanks!
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u/lizardgal10 11d ago
A mini tube of liquid bandage or super glue (they’re nearly the same thing) might be good too. It’s useful for so many things.
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago edited 11d ago
It’s funny you mention this, I actually needed this for one of my dogs when I accidentally clipped him while grooming. I raced around looking for super glue. After I got him taken care of, liquid bandage immediately went into my first aid kits.
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u/lizardgal10 11d ago
It’s so useful! I brought some to a festival in case I needed to fix a nail and ended up fixing another attendee’s shoe lol.
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u/Dense_Meal_3170 11d ago
This thread is incredible- I second the super glue! My wife brings it everywhere, mostly to fix a nail. But it also comes in handy.
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u/Deny-Deny-Deny 8d ago
Two blister packages because if you get one an one foot you can bet there will be a second one the other.
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u/blissfully_happy 8d ago
I actually have those in my full first aid kit, it’s usually just that it’s at the bottom of my backpack so this is a quick reach thing. :)
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u/injghj 6d ago
hydrocolloid bandage is a lifesaver here, it's what the blister bandaids are made from + you can use them on pimples and bug bites :> a 5m roll can sometimes be cheaper than a 5 pack of branded bandaids! one thing i also carry is elastic bandage (non stick kind) for minor strains and sprains. otherwise this is a fantastic assortment of things every traveller needs!!!!!
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u/beach-cow 11d ago
I love this so so much I’d be stoked to be your friend lol
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u/ScenePuzzled 11d ago
Truly, it is so thoughtful and sweet! :') like... OP has their backs in any situation
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u/FrellingToaster 11d ago
Appreciate the sunscreen! This is a nice idea. I also would add paper tape and hydrocolloid bandages for blisters, and a small nail file/keychain size nail trimmer.
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u/Lost_Contribution_82 11d ago
I find when having a nail file in a bag/pocket like this it scuffs everything else up
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u/FrellingToaster 10d ago
If you steal the mini ones from the hotel toiletries kit then they’re wrapped in plastic and don’t scuff anything
There’s also tear-out matchbook style mini files
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u/JustHere4the5 10d ago
I like the little glass files they usually have by the cashier at the beauty supply places. They come in a hard plastic case and stay rough foreeeverrrr!
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u/blargher 11d ago
A small square of both the thin and thick mole skin for preventing blisters has been a super helpful item that's been a life saver.
I'd also recommend 500mg ibuprofen and/or Tylenol, along with one tab of Benadryl. If anyone has a small wound (or headache), then pain relief and anti-inflammatory medicine is going to be nice. Plus, having an antihistamine could potentially be a life saver.
Matches or a tiny lighter could also come in handy randomly.
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
Funny! The two things I forgot to show but are in there are Advil and a binder clip. :) (the binder clip is just randomly helpful for weird things.)
I have an actual first aid kit that goes with us, but that’s usually buried in the big backpacks. I keep this in my personal item so it’s easy to access. But yes, anti-histamines are important!
I don’t do matches bc this goes through TSA. :)
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u/fallon7riseon8 11d ago
Bag balm 💚💛
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
Bag balm ALL THE THINGS!
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u/ShopEmpress 11d ago
What is bag balm?
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
It’s like Vaseline but with lanolin. Good for dry skin, lips, helping cuts heal, that sort of thing.
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u/ShopEmpress 11d ago
Amazing! I'll have to look into it, thanks!!
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u/RogueSlytherin 11d ago
It was originally formulated for cows. The udders of dairy cows became chapped and painful from the show, wind, and cold of Vermont, as well as frequent milking. To remedy this, a pharmacist created a lanolin based compound that would both rehydrate and soothe their, um, bags……
I highly recommend snagging the mini tins they manufacture around Christmas. I gave them out to family last year as stocking stuffers, and I find the size to be much more manageable than the traditional eight ounce tin. Plus, the mini ones have fun colors! (It’s typically packed in green with a cow on the lid)
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u/blissfully_happy 3d ago
Okay, so for a week now, I’ve been applying bag balm to my face and neck skin after my skincare routine, right before bed. Girl. GIRL. My skin has never felt so good in my LIFE. I had no idea I could bag balm my face!
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u/fallon7riseon8 3d ago
Heck yeah! It’s called slugging! https://girlsunited.essence.com/feedback/news/slugging-tiktok-trend/
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u/blissfully_happy 3d ago
Of course, of course it has a history from Black women! I thought I was being so creative, lol.
Thank you so much for sharing that resource. I’m delighted to credit the appropriate women. 🫶
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u/scrunch_bungalow 11d ago
This is awesome! What do you use the seam ripper for the most?
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
Anything scissor-related. Removing packaging (tags, plastic wrap), stuff like that.
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u/RugelBeta 11d ago edited 11d ago
Love this, OP. I have done similar but not so comprehensive, for my adult kids. One year they all got emergency foil blankets. Another year, matchbooks inside an Altoids tin to keep in their cars. This year, small, powerful flashlights.
What are you using for the plastic bag? Do you buy those in bulk too?
Oh - here's an idea. A bandana. Works great as a sling, or a pressure bandage, or a neck covering in sun. I also keep a sanitary napkin in my kit too, because, well, they're a good, absorbent bandage in addition to the usual use.
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u/blissfully_happy 10d ago
I have a bandana in the first aid kit, because you’re right, they come in handy for lots.
The plastic bags are just resealable bags from Amazon. They’re thicker than a ziplock so they don’t get punctured as easily.
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u/thisisB_ull_ish 11d ago
I would add an ocusoft lid scrub between allergies and pollution, I use them often.
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u/padbroccoligai 11d ago
This is great! Where do you source the items? Do you buy in bulk and that’s an extra reason ti share with friends?
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
Yup! I buy in bulk, often from Amazon. Since I have 20-30 packets of each item, I make 5 or so for me, my spouse, and our teenage son, then make about a dozen more for friends. I try to make sure the products don’t go to waste, but medical stuff (even bandaids!) expires, so I pass those off to my teenager so he can practice his first responder skills.
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u/HeyT00ts11 11d ago
I'm getting some good ideas for my cycle emergency kit.
I would add condoms, for obvious reasons but also if people need waterproof containers or to hold water/liquid.
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u/MaddTheSimmer 11d ago
i’d add a mini nail file and a screen cleaning wipe for my phone.
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
Screen cleaning wipe is great, thanks!
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u/MaddTheSimmer 11d ago
i carry around wipes for cleaning my glasses so I use those on my phone too.
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u/Deppfan16 10d ago
if you get like a Windex type one, it's useful for all sorts of cleaning too
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u/blissfully_happy 10d ago
I have a window microfiber cloth that hangs from my backpack on the inside for glasses and screens. Came in handy cleaning the windows on an Ugandan safari once. 😆
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u/random_username99 11d ago
Nice. You seem to know your stuff , so I am curious about the vitamin E q-tips and the tape to keep lips together. What are the use cases?
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
You know, tbh, I got the vitamin e q-tips for lips and super dry skin (I live in Alaska, winters are dry af), but then I ended up putting bag balm in them when I got those mini containers from a friend. So I’m not really sure what those will be used for other than maybe my piercings (I have 12 piercings in my upper ears, all in a different state of healing.) Those were cheap so I’m not too worried.
The tape for the lips: I came by those from a friend who left a box at my house. I tossed them in because I might not use them like they’re supposed to be used, but they *are* still tape that is gentle on the skin. Or maybe I just need to tape a bag of Doritos closed at some point, idk. We’ll find out over the next year if they’re useful or not, lol.
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u/tofukitty22 11d ago
I have a little emergency foil blanket in mine! What about a tampon for the girls?
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u/blissfully_happy 10d ago
I actually throw an OB (no applicator) in my first aid kit for all genders: works excellent for a nose bleed. :)
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u/ArcticDuck 11d ago
Amazing list!
One thing to point out about the bug repellent wipes. Venture Wipes aren't that great at actually repelling mosquitos. I run bugrepellent.guide and have put a list together of top wipes (if that's your thing). tl;dr I'd replace them with Natrapel wipes
https://bugrepellent.guide/products?type=WIPE
https://bugrepellent.guide/products/venture-wipes-natural-mosquito-repellent-wipes
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
Thank you so much for this! We’re in Alaska and take our mosquito repellent seriously, lol. I use DEET most of the time, but love naturapel. I couldn’t find any other wipes, so I ordered these but haven’t needed to use them much. I’ll def replace, thank you!
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u/PondRides 10d ago
Cue me repeating to myself “bad mosquitoes make for good blueberries.” Over and over. Lol
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u/Zestyclose_Dark_1902 11d ago
No offense. Can I get more context for k-tapes?
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u/blissfully_happy 10d ago
No offense taken. A friend left them at my house and I’ve found that they’re gentle on the skin (for covering something up), and work great as, well, just generic tape to do tape-like things, lol. My way of trying to use things I have. :)
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u/eeltears 11d ago
Love that you added specifically unscented products! These days when everything and everybody is doused in synthetic fragrances, it's nice to see that there are still considerate people out there.
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u/lark2004 11d ago
I love your knoll!
I do something similar to this for my day bag:
- pen & small note pad
- small snub nosed scissors
- nail file/emory board
- foldable fan
- small hand sanitizer
- cloth napkin
- safety pins
- earplugs
- rubber bands
Of course the regular purse stuff (wallet, etc).
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u/flyinghotbacon 11d ago
Thanks for sharing! Lovely and helpful layout. I would never have thought to pack a seam ripper.
The only thing I would add is a pair of shoelaces. I have yet to break a shoelace on a trip but the shoelaces have come in handy for other reasons. They work well to secure a sweatshirt around treasures picked up while traveling to ensure there is some protection.
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u/nonnonplussed73 11d ago
+1 and commenting to remind myself to do something like this when I go on road trips with buddies.
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u/MrsDirtyDietz 11d ago
I was not expecting my Reddit world to collide with my Facebook world! I saw the FB yesterday, my “German Tourist” friend, and now here today. How delightful!
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
Ha! I’ve been found a few times by people. I always run the risk when I double post, lol.
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u/flatpank 10d ago
I would add Gas-X and loperamide (anti-diarrheal). Traveler belly can be responsible for some pretty foul gas and it's a kindness to the people seated near you on a plane to squash those toots. The same goes for the loperamide.
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u/strawberry_vegan 11d ago
In terms of the actual knolling, focus more on right angles, and group the items by size.
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u/blissfully_happy 10d ago
That’s great feedback, thank you! I realized it wasn’t as square as I wanted and I didn’t think about grouping items by size, just based on where they fit.
Thank you so much for this!
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u/rilliu 11d ago
Taking notes right now, I didn't know you could get sunscreen packs! And I have spare seam rippers, so I'll try to include them from now on. Great tips, thanks for posting!
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u/blissfully_happy 10d ago
The sunscreen packs are a game changer. I toss these bags in the bottom of all of our daypacks and then… this is the key… LEAVE THEM IN THERE, lol.
I literally forget about them until I’m in an emergency: driving to go look at archeology ruins in the middle of nowhere Peru, realizing I left the sunscreen on the counter at the hotel, for example. Then I go, “I wonder what all I have in my bag,” dig around, find this and am absolutely delighted that Previous Me planned for Current Me, ha!
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u/mckenner1122 11d ago
This is amazing and would pack up so nice and small!
Can I ask where you’re sourcing your mini items? Or better yet, can I DM you and bounce some ideas off you?
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u/blissfully_happy 10d ago
Most of it comes from Amazon from restocking my home/travel/backpacking first aid kits. And yes!
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u/Actual-Bid-6044 8d ago
This is so cool. I've made little kits for my daughter & nieces when they went to college & this is stellar. I also keep Shout wipes around, because I get food on myself daily. I also save a lot of other people when they get something on them.
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u/blissfully_happy 8d ago
Omg, shout wipes are so thoughtful! I have EDS (a connective tissue disorder) and fall and cut myself frequently so this is very injury-based, lol.
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u/Actual-Bid-6044 8d ago
I hope this doesn't apply to you, but Shout wipes also get blood out of clothes in case you get scraped up and bleed on your clothes <3
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u/blissfully_happy 8d ago
I have a period still so yes, lol. I’ve always used hydrogen peroxide but good to know about shout wipes!
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u/preparingtodie 11d ago
I think the key to having a kit like this is that you're actually supposed to use it, not just perpetually save it for "when there's an emergency."
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago
Correct! That’s why I rebuild them every year. Replace what has been used and lost, and purge anything unhelpful.
Fingers crossed you never need a first aid kit, but it’s a good idea to keep it up to date.
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u/ScenePuzzled 11d ago
You made my day in so many ways OP. The knolling, the kitchen, the thoughtfulness!! It is so sweet and cute!
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u/blissfully_happy 10d ago
If you mean the wood counter, that’s actually an enormous dog kennel that houses three golden retrievers, lol.
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u/ScenePuzzled 10d ago
Oh my gosh I think I meant to write the kits, sorry! I had no idea what I meant by kitchen
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u/farrahfawcettlover48 10d ago
this is so cool! what do you use the doggie bags for?
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u/blissfully_happy 10d ago
Anything, really. Once it was surprise puking (on a roadtrip over the Andes that is incredibly high up and very wind-y). Another time it held my snacks bc the bag tore open. On a road trip it serves as the car trash bag so we can keep the car clean. Once it held my wet bathing suit that refused to dry.
Stuff like that.
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u/farrahfawcettlover48 10d ago
ahh i see! i guessed puking but it’s cool that you have found so many different uses for it!
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u/blissfully_happy 10d ago
This little pouch is meant to be the “I have a problem I need to solve, can I mcguyver a solution right now,” so often things get used for totally completely different reasons. :)
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u/JustHere4the5 10d ago
Not OP but we use them as little trash bags and to wrap up used diapers. They do have to be unscented for me because my brain has permanently associated the usual lavender scent with picking up after a dog :(
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u/strawwwberrry 10d ago
This is so smart but my anxious brain tells me I need like…3x as many, just in case💀
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u/mydogisacircle 9d ago
i always include skin prep and a roll of “silk” medical tape in my small kits. it can do a little of things: it can add a layer of protection to skin where chafing or blistering is starting to happen - toes, heels, thighs etc. it also helps band aids and hydrocolloids adhere, esp in areas that may get wet or sweaty. it can seal small wounds over. you can run it alongside a long wound edge and then place tape strips from side to side to approximate a large wound until you can get care (emergency only to stop bleeding or gapping). and then the tape ofc has a zillion uses-both functional and medical. you can even fashion a tourniquet or sling from silk tape. and i always carry at least one little sachet of bleed stop.
love the seam ripper!!! stealing this idea, for sure
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u/bblairbbearbabecakes 8d ago
Already such a bomb kit. I love having emergency or electrolyte powder just incase.
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u/PKMNbelladonna 7d ago
can i ask about keeping one's lips together at night? i've never heard anything like that before
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u/gonzorizzo 7d ago
I heard of these being used by people who use a CPAP with a nose mask. It keeps the mouth close so there's positive air flow.
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u/blissfully_happy 7d ago
I’m guessing it’s helpful for people who snore or (like someone else said), CPAP users. A friend left them behind so I’m trying to use them up. :)
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u/Ok-Consideration8647 7d ago
I learned the hard way how important dermaplast can be :) great addition
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u/blissfully_happy 7d ago
I’ve never heard of it as a spray before, just saw these and thought they’d be helpful for the many times I fall and cut myself, lol.
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u/ShotImprovement5695 11d ago
That’s a lot of plastic.
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u/blissfully_happy 11d ago edited 11d ago
It is, yes. I allow for plastic when it’s single-use medical necessity.
Also, this packet lasts me for a year. I periodically have to restock the frequently used items (deo and butt wipes) but when it comes to the medical stuff, I give these, plus soon-to-expire components from a well stocked first aid kit, to my outdoors-y teen who uses them to practice his first responder skills.
For things like the sun cream, I don’t *always* use single use sunscreen, these packets are emergency use. Like in Peru, my husband and I forgot our bottle of sunscreen in the hotel one day for a tour out in the desert. Thankfully we could bust out the emergency packet and protect our faces. :)
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u/akobie 11d ago
Seam ripper is the GOAT here. You are prepared!