Here’s what I take on a Bikepacking trip! I’m constantly experimenting and learning (the hard way) about what to bring and what to leave at home. This is what I brought on my last trip and was pretty dang comfortable, but things are always changing. I’m sure I forgot a few things but this seemed like the most important stuff. What do you do differently? I’d love to hear your input!
Loaded up on Temple Mountain Road, Utah
BIKE/BAGS
-Surly Krampus 29+ (stock 1x11. Wish I had a true granny gear or a 2x setup.)
-Crank Brothers Stamp 2 flats (super big and grippy, I just use climbing approach shoes with these)
-Ergon GS2 grips (nice to change hand position around while riding)
-Topeak Ride Case phone mount (good for keeping your phone accessible for GPS)
-2x Salsa Anything Cages
-Revelate Designs Sweetroll handlebar bag
-Revelate Designs Gas Tank (great for quick stash stuff)
-Revelate Designs Feed Bag
-Revelate Designs Jerry Can
-Revelate Designs Viscacha seat bag
-Revelate Designs Ranger frame bag
-Osprey Raptor backpack with 3L camelback resevoir
Camped under a Pinon near the wild horse refuge in Cameo, CO. Pretty comfortable night! I’m using a closed cell foam pad here because my inflatable sprung a leak somewhere…
SLEEP SYSTEM
-Thermarest NeoAir XLite MAX SV (very light but delicate)
-REI 30 degree down/synthetic sleeping bag
-Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 + scrap piece of tarp for footprint
-Sea to Summit inflatable pillow (luxury item!)
-Big fuzzy wool sleep socks that live in my sleeping bag
COOK SYSTEM
(I’ve been trying stoveless options more and more lately, but sometimes a hot drink is nice. This system changes often depending on what I want to prepare.)
-Vargo Triad alcohol stove, windscreen, and fuel
-Stainless steel camp mug, nested around a metal nalgene bottle (can boil water in this).
-Metal spork
-Lighter
Simple cockpit before I got a fancy phone mount and wireless speaker. Headed down Schofield pass in Colorado. That foam dooohickey is a fold up seat, which I ended up using 0 times, but they come in hand during colder months to prevent freezing your butt off.
ESSENTIALS
-Black Diamond headlamp + extra batteries, in a watertight zip lock
-Leatherman mulit tool
-Morakniv bushcraft knife
-Matches, fire starters
-Stocked first aid kit
-Aquamira water treatment
-Sunscreen, lip balm
-Toothpaste/ brush
-Bronner’s soap
-camp towel
-Extra p-cord
-Compass, maps
-Garmin inReach mini locator
-Anker charger for phone and garmin
-
CLOTHING:
-Giro Montara helmet (Just got this, and love the way it fits!)
-Sunglasses
-Lightweight synthetic T-shirt
-Bike gloves
-Padded bike shorts (I like pearl izumi) or just syntethic boxers
-Bike shorts
-Merio wool socks
-Scarpa approach shoes (Don’t really like these, I’ve had Five ten freeride’s before that were great).
-Wind shirt (like Patagonia Houdini) great to throw on to conserve a little heat)
-Plastic poncho (my rain jacket doesn’t work and I’m too broke to get a new one now. This held up in a torrential downpour though!)
Sean and Autumn successfully completed a Bikepacking trip with no dedicated bags to speak of! Getting creative with straps can suffice just fine for overnighters.
-Hoodie mid-weight layer (like a Melanzana or Patagonia R1)
-Down or synthetic insulating puffy jacket (Arc’teryx Cerium)
-Rain shell
-Rain pants
-Long underwear bottoms
-Extra socks & under garments
-Handkerchief
HOW I PACK
-Two big water jugs on the front fork with the salsa anything cages for trips with limited water access.
-Tent, sleeping bag, and puffy in sweetroll
-Extra clothes and a few other things in the seat pack
-Most food and other equipment in the frame pack
-Bike repair kit in the jerry can
-Camera in the gas tank
-snacks in the feed bag
-Rain coat and some water in my backpack
-Everything else jammed in nooks and crannies