First aid component question

Moleskin – if it works for you, great. Preventing blisters and fixing feet is very individual. Before getting rid of it, maybe try using some on your next trip. I don’t use it anymore, but I get far fewer blisters now than when I started using Moleskin decades ago.

Don’t know about the real-world shelf life of loperamide. But please don’t flush it down the toilet, whether you are on sewer or septic. We have way too many prescription drugs showing up in groundwater, streams, and coastal oceans, affecting plants, animals, and (likely) people. See if your community has a prescription drug takeback program. My mom-and-pop pharmacy has a convenient box just inside the front door. Throwing the pills in the trash is the next best option in most communities.

Managing a growing collection of no-longer-used backpacking stuff and now (for me) prescription drugs – “let’s try this one, maybe the side effects won’t be so bad” – takes a little effort. But the sooner you get rid of that stuff, the easier your life gets. Like backpacking.

— Rex

Karen- I have the same dilemma each year with an assortment of medications (acetaminophen,  benadryl, Naproxen,  diarrhea pills). I resolved by swapping out each year with generics from the Wal-Mart. $20 of insurance  and not worrying about it. Might be a total waste but losing sleep over $20 is just not worth it.

Russ

I have abandoned moleskin altogether.

I found that duct tape did a better job of footcare and had multi-use versatility. Then, on the advice of these forums, I tried leukotape on my feet – for me, leukotape is the absolute hands down winner.

YMMV, of course.

Rod