FAK Q: Tape

In place of the ace bandage you can cut a shirt or other material into 4-6 inch wide strips, making them as long as you need them to be. For an ankle problem, this may not lend much support as the material stretches and as your instructor suggest,  athletic  tape would will work better. What you can do to help is use the luko tape you have to make a “stirrup” on the ankle which can be done with less tape, then wrap it with the self made ace “shirt bandage” and then get the shoe back on for added support.

NT

Good points, Terry.

I looked at ACE’s website. They recommend their bandages for recovery (the C in RICE). That just doesn’t seem like a major concern while hiking. I’m feeling pretty good about leaving it at home.

Yeah, an ace wrap really does nothing but provide mild to moderate compression of something – it will NOT brace an unstable joint (that’s why athletes use tape on ankles, NOT ace wraps).  Leukotape will provide the same structure as athletic tape, it’s just more expensive and slightly more caustic to the skin, but if you can tolerate it the leukotape is far superior.

In my FAK i only bring leukotape.  That stuff is magical…..

Yeah I’m good with Luekotape. I’ve worn it for a week on my feet as a test.

I guess it depends on what you have the FAK for.  I’m an Outdoor Education Instructor and when/if one of the kids injures an ankle I apply the RICER treatment if appropriate, and then I think of getting the patient evacuated off the programme if necessary.  So I always have at least one compression bandage in my kit.  (they are also needed for snake bites). But when I walk by myself I don’t carry my full kit.