Pill Box

Black_Fly · Sep 2, 2025

I’ve never really found a good pill case. I used a small waterproof tackle box; it is heavy and overkill on capacity, but it does stay closed and I’ve not had a leak. I only need about 5 or 6 compartments. Anyone out there take pills with them on trips? What do you use?

scoutergriz · Sep 2, 2025

I have a fair bit of meds that keep me going, I've cut down several of those 7 day "morning/evening" pill containers into 3, 4 or 5 day dispensers (usually after one of the compartment lids breaks), and I use a single cut down 4 day one for OTC stuff like Benadryl, Gravol, etc. it allows me to carry a half dozen or more of 8 different OTC meds, They all get elastic bands across the lids (in case one breaks) and stored in heavyweight baggies which in turn goes in my meds bag which also has rolaids, a "that stuff for pain" spray pen, and other assorted "almost meds" stuff like decongestant, witch hazel, H2O2, etc.
I've used the same system for about 35-40 years and it hasn't let me down yet- the bag goes in the flap pocket with my 1st aid kit and shaving kit since they're generally used in conjunction with the other stuff

Tryin' · Sep 2, 2025

This looks like a nice option:

Waterproof Pill Canister – Matador

The Waterproof Pill Canister is designed to keep your pills and supplements dry and organized during travel.

www.matadorequipment.com

I just use tiny ziplocs in my first aid kit or ditty bag. They are like $5 per hundred from various retailers.

Simuliumvenustum · Sep 2, 2025

Black_Fly said:
I’ve never really found a good pill case. I used a small waterproof tackle box; it is heavy and overkill on capacity, but it does stay closed and I’ve not had a leak. I only need about 5 or 6 compartments. Anyone out there take pills with them on trips? What do you use?View attachment 148804

That is a clever idea, Black_Fly. I think it would be a super way to carry meds and supplements on extended trips. I recently started using the Cadence pill containers available from REI. They are heavy and expensive, but they are large enough to hold several large pills, waterproof, durable, and labelled by day. Each container has a magnet, allowing them to be stacked & organized compactly. They work great, but I am not convinced that the extra weight of the magnets is worth it.

https://www.rei.com/product/238740/cadence-pillcase

jdeerfoot · Wednesday at 12:46 PM

Crossing the CA/US border returning to the states at Pigeon Rv last month we were asked by the US CBP agent if any of us had prescription meds with us and how they were packed. Two of us had our meds in daily pill box organizers and I had mine in small labelled ziploc bags. He cautioned us that border agents were told they should check for properly identified meds (prescription meds in the containers they came from the pharmacy with your name on the container). He told us we would not like being detained for hours while they tested our meds for narcotics, etc. Wonderful, now my daypack just got bulkier.

Keeled Over · Wednesday at 2:16 PM

I used to do the pill box thing - pain in the arse.

I started bringing 2 identical sets in just a screw top bottle but with an antidesicant (sp) in there. Works great - one in my dry box and one in my barrel. For the border I peel labels off my pills, slap them on a 8 x 11 and have one sheet copied with all labels on it. I keep it with my dog license stuff and in my dry box. To date, no questions abut it, but I'm ready.

Penns Woods · Wednesday at 2:55 PM

Good information jdeerfoot

Gamma1214 · Wednesday at 10:25 PM

Wonderful, now my daypack just got bulkier.

Good to know & I'll leave mine in their properly labeled packaging from the pharmacy until I cross the border. After that, there's really no reason why I can't take what I need, chuck 'em in whatever I feel works & leave the rest in the car.

TrailBlaser · Thursday at 12:01 AM

I take meds and supplements with me in the SHD Outdoor EDC Pill Container. It doesn't have compartments but is solidly made and compact.

Rusty Ole' Bucket · Thursday at 11:48 AM

I take (4) prescriptions and (1) OTC, I just drop the bottles in my first aid kit that's always with us on trips. You can (and will) get hassled down here if pulled over and they find anything out of the bottle.

Odyssey · Thursday at 12:29 PM

For (non-paddling) international travel I carry my meds in whatever prescrip labelled bottles they came in. Hassle free.
Speaking of hassle, for any travel within my borders, especially the paddling kind, I load up my screw top pill bottles to save me the frustration of wrestling with the childproof kind.

Black_Fly · Sunday at 5:38 PM

jdeerfoot said:
Crossing the CA/US border returning to the states at Pigeon Rv last month we were asked by the US CBP agent if any of us had prescription meds with us and how they were packed. Two of us had our meds in daily pill box organizers and I had mine in small labelled ziploc bags. He cautioned us that border agents were told they should check for properly identified meds (prescription meds in the containers they came from the pharmacy with your name on the container). He told us we would not like being detained for hours while they tested our meds for narcotics, etc. Wonderful, now my daypack just got bulkier.

I’m wondering if the online pharmacy or medical portals, which identify a patient’s medications, would suffice for border cops, also, just searching the numbers on a pill will identify it,

Erica · Sunday at 8:47 PM

jdeerfoot said:
Crossing the CA/US border returning to the states at Pigeon Rv last month we were asked by the US CBP agent if any of us had prescription meds with us and how they were packed. Two of us had our meds in daily pill box organizers and I had mine in small labelled ziploc bags. He cautioned us that border agents were told they should check for properly identified meds (prescription meds in the containers they came from the pharmacy with your name on the container). He told us we would not like being detained for hours while they tested our meds for narcotics, etc. Wonderful, now my daypack just got bulkier.

I got similar information. I waited until after I crossed the border to fill my little tiny ziplock bags. This is the first time I used them instead of pill boxes, and they worked great. I always double and triple bag my meds.

I also get my doctor to give me copies of all my prescriptions so that I can also show the scripts. In fact, for Switzerland I was told I had to have the doctor prescriptions.

snapper · 2025-09-08T08:59:45-0400

Like others who have already commented, I take my pills in their original containers and then swop them out into a small pill box when I get to where I'm going. This saves any confusion (at least I think it should) as to what I'm carrying and what it's for. I've been doing this for a couple of years now and have taken a couple of trips overseas with no problems whatsoever getting through all the official rigmarole.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

Pill Box

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