Packing List for Returning to College After ACL Surgery

Mobility essentials

When I came back to campus, the first week hit me with long hallways, wet dining-hall tiles, and door handles placed at the exact wrong height. Here’s what I never return without now.

Crucial gear

• Forearm crutches or underarm crutches sized correctly with rubber tips you replace every 2 to 3 weeks.
• Ice tips or traction add-ons if your campus gets damp, rainy, or icy.
• A lightweight folding knee scooter or cane for days when your energy is low.
• Crutch pads and breathable straps, because raw skin turns every trip into a small war.
• A small multi-tool or Allen key for on-the-go tightening.

What most students forget

• A cheap door-hook reacher for grabbing fallen items so you don’t play hero.
• A bright reflective band for night walks across campus.
• Crutch-friendly bag: crossbody, fanny pack, or mini backpack with slim straps that don’t slip.

Dorm and bathroom comfort

My dorm basically became a mini rehab bay, and honestly, that made everything easier.

Your “comfort triangle”

• Shower chair, compact mat, and suction hooks for toiletries so nothing dives off the shelf—paired with the tips in How to Shower in a College Dorm on Crutches.
• Bedside caddy for meds, chargers, and water you can snag without rolling around.
• Clamp-on reading lamp so you stop over-twisting.
• Two extra-long charging cables because dorm outlets are always too far away.
• Noise machine or white noise app for mid-day PT naps.

Small upgrades with big impact

• Lidded trash can next to your bed for wrappers, bandages, tissues.
• Spill-proof water bottle with a straw lid so you stay hands free when you move.
• Reacher grabber stick, especially useful when something rolls under your bed.

Need outfit ideas to pair with this gear? Our Fashion Tips for Crutches guide keeps your looks safe and intentional.

Academic and tech kit

Once classes start, mobility becomes only half the battle. Keeping your study setup efficient is the other half. I used to drag my laptop across campus like a medieval shield until I figured this out.

Study zone must-haves

• Tablet or lightweight laptop with digital textbooks so you reserve energy.
• Laptop riser so you can elevate your leg while reading.
• Noise-canceling earbuds for lecture recordings and pain-management downtime.
• Rolling backpack or crossbody bag that stays under eight pounds.
• A planner that lets you track PT sessions alongside due dates, because the two collide fast.

Don’t forget these

• Backup drive or cloud storage. If you fall or drop something, your laptop goes with you.
• Portable keyboard for bed-study days.
• Binder clips and syllabus folder so papers don’t explode across your dorm.

Recovery desk and first aid

Campus clinics are hit-or-miss. Having your own mini setup saves your sanity.

• Compression socks and reusable ice packs for morning and night.
• PT band set with a carabiner so you can hook it to your bed or desk.
• Pill organizer with AM-PM compartments you refill weekly.
• Slim heating pad for swelling or stiffness.
• Printed list of campus disability office contacts, shuttle services, and your PT’s number.

Nice extras

• Journal or habit tracker for pain, sleep, and mood patterns.
• Kinesiology tape, because campus store stock runs out faster than you'd expect.
• Spare walker, cane, or crutch tips.

Travel day extras and move-in logistics

Move-in day is chaos for everyone, but especially if you’re hopping around on one leg. I treated mine like a tactical mission and it paid off.

Before you leave home

• Print campus maps with elevator and ramp locations.
• Screenshots of shuttle times saved offline.
• Small travel-day kit: snacks, meds, ice pack, charging brick, hair tie, wipes.
• Collapsible stool you can use during long lines at housing or financial aid.

Once you arrive

• Roll of painter’s tape to label bins quickly.
• Compact toolkit with scissors, tape, zip ties, and Velcro.
• Fan or air purifier to keep your room breathable without getting up constantly.
• Bag of high-protein snacks for days when the dining hall feels too far.

Moving in with confidence

Check each category off before you leave home and keep the packing list near your passport or ID. When your accommodations are set up, the dorm shuttle stops, and the checklist is complete, you can focus on classes, therapy, and building new routines.

The first week back might feel messy, slow, or heavier than you expected. That’s normal. The trick is setting up your tools and routines so your body doesn’t have to fight the environment every day. Once the gear is in place, the semester becomes less about your injury and more about your new rhythm.

You’ll also find the companion College Dining Hall Survival on Crutches article handy for mealtime hacks once the packing list is complete.