The Ultimate Guide to Bikepacking
mountaingroupThe Definitive Guide to Bike-Packing
How to start your next adventure on two wheels
Setting off from the start, with a bike laden with gear and a smile on your face as you head into the unknown is an incredible feeling.
Arriving at camp and realizing you left your gas canister at home is a less incredible feeling. Those ramen noodles might need an hour to soak before you can chew them, and you're already hungry.
Through bikepacking you are free to explore more, for longer. A day of riding can turn into a weekend, a week, or even months of riding away from asphalt and traffic.
The idea of bikepacking is simple. Carry only what you need, but perhaps with a few carefully selected luxuries. Choose a destination, carry a map, and follow your nose, camping wherever you choose.
Bikepacking is not about getting to the destination in the fastest time or chewing up as many miles as your legs will allow. Sure, there are elements of that in races or events, but it's about immersing yourself in nature, being curious about your surroundings, and enjoying traveling on two wheels.
Departure Notes
Regarding all the information in this guide, get out there, have fun, and enjoy your bike adventures with no expectations, but with good planning. Take it easy to start, give your confidence time to grow. As with any outdoor activity, bikepacking can present unexpected ups and downs and challenges.
We just hope our bikepacking guide provides you with everything you need to put on your helmet and embark on your first bikepacking adventure.
Enjoy the road ahead.
What is the difference between bikepacking and bike touring?
Bikepacking and bike touring are similar. Both involve carrying your gear for several days, however, they have subtle differences that set them apart.
Bikepacking, like bike touring, is a self-sufficient style of bike travel. However, bikepackers generally don't carry panniers and instead use bike bags, such as frame bags, handlebar rolls, backpacks, and seat bags. Cyclists often use wider tires and tend to travel lighter and spend more time off-road than on.
Of course, bike tourists can access off-road terrain, but with a heavier load and the extra weight of panniers and a rack, it will only be harder.
Bikepacking is a lightweight adventure driven by an off-road bike.
Planning a route for cyclists
We are fortunate to live in an age with a wealth of online tools at our disposal to search for routes.
There are endless sources of information and inspiration for routes. Blogs, apps, guides, YouTube videos, and magazines all share ideas on where to go.
If this is your first time riding a bike, it makes sense to choose a local route and explore the countryside around the corner. You may be surprised by what you find as you pedal away from urban sprawl into the suburbs and beyond. You'll be amazed at what you'll discover locally when you travel by bike.
Regardless of your route, there are some simple tips to help make your first trip a success:
1. Time and distance
Carefully consider how much time you have to complete a route. Perhaps you have a weekend, or a week or two. Consider how far you can comfortably bike each day, the extra weight of your gear, and the possibility of biking for several days in a row.
This information should help you choose a route that fits your schedule.
2. Public transport
Circular routes should allow you to park your car or take public transport to the start and finish where you began. Linear routes often require more planning, such as using public transport or parking a car at each end of the routes.
Knowing these things beforehand will help your trip go smoothly and avoid stress when returning home.
3. Time of year
Mountainous regions in mid-winter may not be an ideal place for biking with more wind and snow. You may also find that camping among mosquitoes in late summer in Scotland is an experience worth avoiding. Choosing the right time of year is essential for the enjoyment and success of your trip.
Types of bicycle setups
Before getting into the types of bikes suitable for bikepacking, it's worth noting that the best bike is the one you already own.
Whether you have a 30-year-old Reynolds steel frame bike or an entry-level mountain bike. With the right tires (thick and able to withstand the bumps and jolts of the road), most bikes are suitable.
Because bikepacking involves carrying less gear than bike touring, you don't need to worry as much about overloading the weight capacity of the wheels or the strength of the frame. Unlike panniers, bike bags attach to the seatpost, frame, or handlebars, meaning they can be attached to bikes without pannier racks. So, with a quick tire change and a little oil, most bikes are ready to go. If you're buying a new bike, here are some suggestions.
1. Hardtail bikes
Hardtail mountain bikes are ideal for bikepacking and excel on muddy, wet, and uneven terrain. If you don't have a bike, hardtails are inexpensive, especially alloy models. You also benefit from wider tires, which provide better grip, and front suspension which gives you a comfortable ride.
2. Gravel bikes
To the untrained eye, gravel bikes look like road bikes, but with more robust tires. However, it's the little things that help gravel bikes perform well off-road.
Lower gears, wider tires, and off-road frame geometry help create a capable hybrid machine. Gravel bikes are perfect for riding a selection of off-road trails, but can struggle with ascents or descents where the terrain becomes particularly tricky.
Then again, there's no shame in carrying your bike when the road ends.
3. Specialized touring bikes
For longer bike tours and overseas travel, a specialized touring bike may be the best option. These bikes are often built with steel or titanium frames, making repairs away from home possible, and are often designed to use higher volume tires than previous bikes. When riding in snow or sandy environments, wider tires are useful, as they add comfort and suspension without the additional moving parts that can break, such as air shocks or a fork.
Five tips for your first bikepacking trip
A helpful little boost into your new loaded bike setup with 5 tips.
Lower your mileage expectations
If you're comfortable with 50-mile days, plan 30-40 miles per day when mapping out your route. Why? You need to factor in a few things, such as stopping to enjoy the view or setting up camp, the added weight of your rig, and the fatigue that comes from riding day after day.
Preparation is essential
Spending time designing your gear and choosing exactly what you need, while ruthlessly eliminating anything you don't, will pay off later. Exploring ways to properly pack your gear and distribute weight on your bike really helps create a stable ride, but it also pays off when you pack up camp every morning, as you know exactly what goes where.
Plan for food
If you're bikepacking in the UK or Europe, you can plan to resupply at local shops, even in rural locations. Having an idea of where they are and when they're open is essential to ensure you don't run out of nutrition.
Bring camp shoes
Pack some minimalist or lightweight shoes to wear around camp and in town in the evenings. Your feet will thank you after being in your cycling shoes all day!
Invest in a saddle
Having a comfortable saddle can make the difference between a pleasant ride and days of discomfort and misery. It's worth spending some time in the shop trying out a few saddles.
Bikepacking Gear
Despite the frequent use of the word "lightweight" in this article, don't be under the illusion that you need to spend a fortune on ultralight gear to start bikepacking.
However, there are still some essentials you need to make your time on the trail comfortable and, of course, safe.
We strongly recommend not rushing to buy too much at first, as it's better to figure out what you need, what you already have that can be used, and what needs upgrading. Short weekends and local rides are a great way to learn what works and what doesn't.
As with most outdoor activities, one of the greatest pleasures is sleeping out in nature. The gear you already use for camping will probably be perfectly suited for bikepacking, but there are a few exceptions.
The limited space available on your bike, compared to what you might have in a large backpack, will force you to think about what you really need for your trip. Do you really need to bring 3 novels and a pair of travel speakers with you?
Clothing
All mountain activities are made more comfortable with the right clothing and layers. As you'll be exploring remote and elevated terrain, it's important to be prepared for wet and cold weather.
You can use any of your regular outdoor clothing to stay warm and dry, but it's advisable to purchase essentials like windproof gloves and a cycling bib to stay comfortable in the saddle.
And don't forget your helmet!
As of spring 2023, Rab is introducing a range of clothing for those exploring off-road by bike.
Bike Bags
Bike bags over rack-mounted panniers are part of what defines bikepacking over cycle touring. As bikepacking's popularity has soared in recent years, so has the availability of bike bags, and at a variety of price points.
Larger luggage brands, like Ortlieb, sell a range of tough bikepacks, with clever mechanisms to secure them to your bike and keep the ride stable even when loaded. Other dedicated brands, like Restrap, have entered the market with beautifully crafted bags, with a range of carefully considered features and stylish finishes.
Investing in a set of quality bike bags is the foundation of bikepacking. Your luggage needs to be able to keep your gear dry, but also withstand the scrapes and knocks of the road, while remaining stable and securely attached to your bike.
Rab Alpine 400 (-5ºC, 840gr) -20%
The original price was: 350.00 €.280.00 €The current price is: 280.00 €.
Rab Alpine 400 W´S (-5ºC, 810gr)
The original price was: 350.00 €.280.00 €The current price is: 280.00 €.Rab Alpine 400 W´S (-5ºC, 810gr) -20%
The original price was: €350.00.280.00 €The current price is: €280.00.Shelters
Many bikepackers opt for a bivy-style setup, which is affordable, lightweight, and can be pitched using their bike and bike wheels as support to hold up the tarp.
Tents are also another option, giving you the flexibility to camp comfortably anywhere, regardless of conditions. Tents tend to be the heaviest shelter option, but they are self-contained in a bag, which can be strapped to the handlebars.
Hammock camping is also becoming increasingly popular among cyclists due to the minimal gear required and the maximum comfort it offers. Trees are an essential requirement for hammock camping, so you’ll need to make sure your campsite is somewhere with tree cover.
A good quality sleeping bag keeps the top and sides warm, but what about the bottom of the bag which is compressed between you and the surface you’re lying on? If your camping pad is not suitable for use, the cold will go straight through it, through the compressed down and leave you feeling cold all night.
Therefore, a suitable camping mat is an essential piece of equipment for your bike trip.
Rab Mythic 600 -Up to (-12ºC, 925gr) -30%
The original price was: 750.00 €.450.00 €The current price is: 450.00 €.
Rab Mythic 200 – Up to 1ºC -30%
The original price was: 550.00 €.385.00 €The current price is: 385.00 €.
Rab Mythic Ultra 360 (-8ºC, 645 gr) -20%
The original price was: 770.00 €.616.00 €The current price is: 616.00 €.
Rab Mythic Ultra 360 -8ºC -30%
The original price was: 770.00 €.539.00 €The current price is: 539.00 €.
Rab Mythic Ultra 180 -0ºC -30%
The original price was: €620.00.434.00 €The current price is: €434.00.
Rab Mythic Ultra 120 Modular (0ºC, 330gr) -20%
The original price was: €440.00.352.00 €The current price is: €352.00.
Rab Neutrino Pro 700 – Up to -14ºC -15%
The original price was: €630.00.504.00 €The current price is: €504.00.
Rab Ascent Pro 800 W’S – Up to -15ºC -15%
Original price was: 440.00 €.352.00 €Current price is: 352.00 €.
Super Insulated Sleeping Pad Rab Ionosphere 5.5 (690g) -20%
Original price was: 230.00 €.184.00 €Current price is: 184.00 €.
Rab Ionosphere 5 (550g) Ultralight Ultra-Insulating Sleeping Pad -30%
The original price was: €210.00.147.00 €The current price is: €147.00.
Exosphere 3.5 Lightweight Self-Inflating Foam Insulated Sleeping Pad (665 g) -30%
The original price was: 140.00 €.112.00 €The current price is: 112.00 €.Sleeping bag
Having a sleeping bag that's the right temperature for the time of year you're traveling is essential. Duck and goose down bags are usually lighter and warmer than synthetic ones and therefore take up less luggage space.
Camping mattress
A quality camping mattress insulates you from the cold ground and provides a stable and comfortable sleeping platform. Camping mats can come in many shapes and sizes, and it's worth lying on a few at a specialist camping retailer to see what feels right.
Orion Blue - ORB
Rab Infinity Jacket – 800 FP Down and Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper -30%
The original price was: 550.00 €.385.00 €The current price is: 385.00 €.
Footprint
Orion Blue - ORB
Rab Infinity Alpine Jacket – 800 FP Down and Gore-Tex Infinium -30%
The original price was: 450.00 €.360.00 €The current price is: 360.00 €.
Black/Anthracite • BLA
Deep Ink/Ink • DII
Marmalade - MAM
Orion Blue - ORB
Rab Infinity Alpine Jacket – 800 FP Down and Gore-Tex Infinium
The original price was: €450.00.360.00 €The current price is: €360.00.Bike repair kit
Since you will be traveling by bike, you will need to be prepared for the possibility of flat tires, misaligned gears, and broken chains. You cannot carry a complete bike mechanical kit, but you can carry a cycling-specific multi-tool and some spare parts to keep you moving.
Bikepacking events and communities
If planning your own route and going it alone feels like too much to start with, then you might consider a bike event or a group tour.
There are some fantastic companies that organize a variety of events and tours, from week-long challenges in remote landscapes to unhurried adventures with a group of other like-minded bikepackers.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Pannier.cc
Pannier.cc is a long-time friend of Rab and a retailer that organizes small group bike tours. Their ‘Pannier Escapes’ are held across the UK and occasionally abroad in areas such as Scotland, the Peaks, and even Kyrgyzstan.
Their ‘Highland Drover Tour’ sounded good to us, with a mix of road, gravel, and Munroe mountains crowned with whisky distillery tours.
Be quick as their tours fill up fast!
Wildcycles
Wildcycles specializes in bike tours, complete with comfortable glamping-style accommodation and bike rental (if needed) on established cycling routes, such as the Ridgeway and South Down’s Way.
Dirt Dash
Dirt Dash is a self-supported bikepacking event that takes place on the Cowal Peninsula, near Glasgow. The race takes place over two days and includes an overnight camp. It is a fantastic way to experience cycling in Scotland and to meet other members of the cycling community.
