Bikepacking Gear: What to Take & How to Pack It
If bike touring with panniers is like traveling with a big roller suitcase, bikepacking is like traveling with only a carry-on backpack. The goal is to have everything you need and also to need everything you have.
Here are some tips for packing lighter:
Bring less stuff! Ask yourself “What would happen if I didn’t bring this?” If the answer is unremarkable, then leave it at home.
Repackage consumables like toiletries, food, and chain lube into smaller containers and remove extra packaging.
Don’t sweat personal hygiene. Though it’s smart to keep saddle-related areas clean to avoid chafing or infection, it’s normal to let other standards slip a bit.
Use gear for multiple purposes: eat directly out of your pot, sleep with your head on a stuff sack full of clothes, use a spare sock as a camp towel, and dig your bathroom cathole with a tent stake.
Look to the lightweight (or even ultralight) backpacking community for more ideas.
Continue reading to learn more about bikepacking gear, written by Laura Irwin.
January 21, 2025
Alissa Bell
Alissa loves wide open spaces, human-powered adventure, and getting in just a bit over her head (in a good way). She first discovered bicycle travel through the stories of others, fell in love, and has since pedaled thousands of miles in all kinds of cool places. Now she writes to encourage others the way others encouraged her. When not pedaling she scratches a similar itch through endurance trail running and long-distance hiking. Learn more or get in touch on her websites: ExploringWild.com and BikeSleepBike.
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This repellent, made from 20% Picaridin, provides up to 14 hours of protection against mosquitoes and ticks, and up to 8 hours against biting flies, gnats, chiggers and sand flies.
De la part de l'équipe
Des conversations autour d'un feu de camp avec notre communauté, des membres de l'équipe et des ambassadeurs aux partenaires de la marque et à l'équipe Sawyer.
