Adventure Cycling Association: Bikepacking Gear: What to Take & How to Pack It

Tips for packing for a bikepacking trip.

Adventure Cycling Association: Bikepacking Gear: What to Take & How to Pack It

Last updated:
January 13, 2025
|  5 min read
A man on a bike looking over the landscape.

Adventure Cycling Association: Bikepacking Gear: What to Take & How to Pack It

Adventure Cycling Association: Bikepacking Gear: What to Take & How to Pack It

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Tips for packing for a bikepacking trip.

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Adventure Cycling Association: Bikepacking Gear: What to Take & How to Pack It

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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.

Adventure Cycling Association: Bikepacking Gear: What to Take & How to Pack It

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.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Writer
Alissa Bell
Alissa loves wide open spaces, human-powered adventure, and getting in just a bit over her head (in a good way).
Media Mentions

Adventure Cycling Association: Bikepacking Gear: What to Take & How to Pack It

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.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Writer
Alissa Bell
Alissa loves wide open spaces, human-powered adventure, and getting in just a bit over her head (in a good way).
Media Mentions
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