Everything You Need
For Your Bikepacking Adventure.
Deciding what to take on a bike trip can be difficult, especially considering you never know what you’ll need once you make it off the grid. We’ve talked a bit about bags in previous posts, but this time we want to talk about what we pack those bags with. We talked to some experienced tourers and did some reminiscing about our own trips to come up with a list of things we recommend considering when you head out for an overnight trip.
If you’re looking for good times, bikepacking has it in spades. It is a way to escape, to get in touch with nature, to get some time alone, or to spend some quality moments with friends. You can pack up your bike for a month-long tour with 40 pounds of gear or you can pack light for an overnight in the nearby woods. Bikepacking is all about intentionality.
Essentials
- A capable bicycle - with your packs and/or rack and panniers
- Riding kit – jersey, bibs/ shorts, socks, shoes, helmet, glasses, wind jacket or rain jacket
- Camp kit – Top, bottom, underwear, warm clothes if needed
- Water – Bottles and Filters/ purification
- Sleep system - Sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Shelter - Tent, tarp, bivy, or hammock
- Cooking/ food – Stove, fuel, lighter, pot, spork
- Flat repair items - Patch kit, Tubes, C02/Pump, Tire Levers, Multi-tool
- Navigation - Bring a map!
- Toiletries - TP is always going to come in handy
- First aid kit
- Bungee cords or voile straps
- Lock and Cables
- Second riding kit
- Extravagant meal choices – MRE's won't always cut it!
- Pillow
- Shower system
- Extra set of off-the-bike cloths
- Camera gear
- Frisbee
Luxuries
These are just some of the things you should consider bringing and we could make recommendations all day. However, when it comes down to it, just pack what you think you’ll need to get the most out of your trip. Don’t overthink it! Keeping things light and being creative out on the trail is key to having a good time. If you forget something, no sweat. If you have more than you need, think of it as a contingency plan. Something you can’t live without on a bike adventure? Feel free to drop your favorite items in the comments below.