Packing for a Bikepacking Trip: What should I take?

The number one question I get asked in response to bikepacking posts on social media is ‘what do I pack for a bikepacking trip?’. When I think about packing for a bikepacking trip, the answer is not just as simple as ‘take your usual bike riding kit + camping kit’, how you pack it is equally important too.

Normally when I pack for any adventure it’s a just a big last minute scramble of kit, thrown into a pile then stuffed into bags before racing out the door! I’ve had a mental note to actually write down my kitlist, make the time to take some photos & create a kit-list blog post – and here is my guide to packing for a bikepacking trip!

First things first, every trip is different – therefore the kit setup is different. When packing for a bikepacking trip the things which influence my kit are the weather forecast, riding/camping terrain & duration.

Ordinarily I do bikepacking trips on my gravel bike. It’s a rigid frame, so no suspension or dropper seat post, meaning I can fit frame bags and saddle bags & generally more kit on the bike. Whereas I tend to use the enduro bike for quick overnighters; summit camps & morning descents, when kit can be completed stripped back.

This set up was for a 3 day ride on the Lakeland 200, where I used the enduro bike simply due to the steep & technical terrain. A hardtail would’ve been perfect – I don’t own a hardtail, so the enduro bike was my only option. Riding wise, it’s the perfect bike for this route, but fitting bikepacking kit is less than ideal really.

So, what do I pack for bikepacking trip?

• Clothing

I take riding kit that is both comfortable & functional, as well as a warm layer & a waterproof layer. I always pack a set of evening clothes allowing me to get out of my riding kit at the end of each day – it’s well worth carrying, as is a spare pair of socks for hygiene and comfort reasons!

This is the bit that will very much differ rider to rider. What keeps me comfy might not work for you. I also take a lightweight down jacket – for evening wear, emergency wear & also doubles up as a pillow.

• Sleep System

Probably the most debatable aspect of any kit list when packing for a bikepacking trip. Tent or tarp or bivvy? My general rule is tent on longer trips where comfort & living space is prioritised over weight, bivvy on 1-2 night trips, where you want move a little quicker. I use an Outdoor Research Helium bivvy, its hooped & also has bug-proof mesh net option. My Hilleberg Allak 2 speaks for itself.

Normally I don’t set out on a short trip unless the forecast is good, so the bivvy is usually enough protection & can also be laid out just about anywhere – however I do sometimes use the bivvy in conjunction with a tarp, to provide a little more shelter for cooking/changing/packing in wet weather.

Carrying both a bivvy and a tarp then prompts the question, ‘why not just carry a small tent?’. Tarps aren’t freestanding, unlike a bivvy, so a bit of thought needs to go into how/where to pitch – same applies to some tents too.

As for sleeping bags, I use a 3 season Rab Ascent 700. Not the smallest or lightest, but a perfect all year round bag for UK use. I would like a much smaller and lighter summer bag however. As for sleeping pad, my Exped SynMat HL is the real deal, small, light, warm, easy to inflate, not crinkly, comfy & its tapered to fit inside a bivvy.

• Cook system

Again, packing for a bikepacking trip, this is very much dependant on location & duration. For shorter trips, I will use my Primus Lite+. It’s great for boiling water for coffee & fits a dehydrated meal in too. For longer trips, where more cooking options are required, I’ll use my MSR Whisperlite multifuel stove in conjunction with a pan set. Always worth taking two means of ignition – I carry both a flint and a lighter. As for water, it’s something I haven’t completed cracked yet – I often end up carrying a 10l pack with a 2l hydration reservoir as well as an MSR trailshot water filter.

I would like to switch to a hydration reservoir which fits inside a frame pack.

• Maintenance

Keeping yourself moving on a bikepacking trip is essential. Obviously you can’t carry an entire toolbox or fix everything – but there’s a lot of basics you should be familiar with to get yourself to the nearest repair station (Alpkit have a decent blog on this and the ACTH by Harriet & Neil Pike is an invaluable resource for establishing what maintenance kit you should take).

Typical repairs may include; fixing a puncture, bodging wheel spokes, replacing brake pads, broken derailleur requiring derailleur to be removed & reducing chainsize to ride singlespeed.

It’s also worth noting drivetrains collect a lot of dirt & after a few days, build-up of shit can lead to grating and damaging parts. Keeping things clean & lubricated is essential and one those tasks that you absolutely have to keep on top of.

Generally I carry tubes x2, lube, multitool, chain splitter, pump, shock pump, spare brake pads, chain links & a driver for every nut/bolt/nipple on your bike. Remember, if you don’t know how to use it or repair it, it’s not worth taking.

As well as keeping the bike moving, keeping yourself moving is equally important. Especially when riding off road – accidents happen, so a first aid kit should be essential. A spot tracker is also worth looking into if signal is going to be patchy, or you’re venturing far afield.

• Electronics

When packing for a bikepacking trip, I try to keep this simple & minimal – what can I live without, rather than what do I need. The idea of bikepacking is to escape the digital world! Typically I will carry a GPS (Wahoo Elemnt Roam), lights/head torch, phone, camera & battery pack.

As for charging things, it differs between which bike I use. My gravel bike has a dynamo front hub, coupled with a USB output device so I can charge things whilst riding. My mountain bike doesn’t, but a decent powerbank is enough to keep me powered through a weekend, charging things each evening/morning.

Don’t forget the right cables for each device… I’m speaking from experience here!

• Other

This comes down to how much extra weight you want to carry vs how comfortable you want to be. For me it’s a toothbrush, microfiber towel, wet wipes & a metal spoon – flimsy cutlery is not okay & everything can be consumed with a spoon.

A general rule should be ‘if it doesn’t keep you warm, fed, or moving forward, you don’t need it + one luxury item.’

How do I pack it…

This is very much individual & depends on the bike you’re using, as well as where you’re planning to ride. Ultimately, you want things to be comfortable, accessible & efficient. Faffing is part of bikepacking, but you need to ride at some point!

Panniers vs bikepacking bags will always be a debate. Panniers are easier to use in my opinion, having a bigger & more accessible volume of space, but they’re more susceptible to breakage due to rattling off road. Panniers also require racks to be fitted, so your bike will need the appropriate rack mounts. Whereas bikepacking bags are much smaller in volume, a little fiddlier to attach, but handle a lot better off road & being modular, work a lot better with different bikes.

Handlebar bag – sleeping system. I don’t own a super lightweight & small summer bag, so my trusty 3/4 season down bag fills the handlebar bag. You want to pack lightweight, bulky items here to so the bike handling isn’t affected too much.

Accessory pack – Firepot dehydrated meals & snacks. Lots of snacks. Coffee (an essential). Water filter too.

5l dry bag strapped to the frame – sleep system; bivvy bag & sleeping pad. All heavy items ought to be packed into the centre of the bike, it won’t affect handling too much & the frame bag has plenty of support. Things like tent poles & cook systems can be packed here too.

1l saddle bag – not ideal to use this, but it kept my inner tubes & repair stuff separate. It just limits how much I can drop my seatpost.

Backpack – everything else!

On the gravel bike, I would use both a frame pack & saddle pack, allowing everything that was in the backpack to be split between these two packs. The saddle pack tends to sway a little, so it’s best to keep this for lightweight items i.e. clothing & spares. Also, mug dangling IS cool.

Any questions or anything you feel i’ve missed out here, please drop a comment or send me a message – hopefully i’ll be able to help!