I'm looking to get some kit for a couple of short bikepacking trips next year. Seat packs like those from Alpkit look like they'd be quite unstable as soon as you ride anything off-road and would mean having to swap out my dropper post, so I'm thinking of getting a larger pack like the CamelBak Hawg LR which has the same capacity. I'm used to wearing a pack, so a sweaty back is not a problem.
Is there anything else I need to be considering to make this choice?
Welcome to the world of bikepacking!
If you’re packing enough kit for overnighting – sleeping bag, mat, tent or tarp, stove and food, spare clothes etc, then that’s going to be far too heavy for a backpack.
Trust me – I’ve tried! Having done quite a few mountain marathons and got my kit down to a very minimalist level I thought I had it sussed for bikepacking, but it wasn’t! Carrying that amount of kit on my back almost crippled me!!
Buying some decent luggage (a mix of Alpkit and Wildcat) was a revelation! I use a Wildcat Seat Pack Harness with an Alpkit Tapered Dry bag on the back and an Alpkit Harness and Drybag on the front and also have a small off the shelf frame bag from Wildcat. Stability has never been an issue
I would doubt the need to have to use your dropper post if your bikepacking as generally you won’t be riding the kind of terrain that would warrant it. Even if you were, you’d just manage it by riding more defensively.
Loads of good advice on the Bear Bones forum.
There are a few options for using a dropper and seat pack if you want both, but they depend on dropper/frame/wheel clearance.
I have a few bits from appkit that i use for general riding/bikepacking/commuting.
I tend to use a front rack more now. and use rock straps to fix a dry bag down. Rigid forks so gives a solid base for heavy items, also very easy on off for commuting.
I have the tapered dry bag from alpkit, i've used it by itself but found it a pain if you need to be in it mid ride.
Id say get a handlebar set-up, frame bag and use your backpack to get you started. Then add from there.
Seat pack, bar bag and frame bag. In that order. Give 35+ litres. I also have a (small) rucksack for water and keeping things 'to hand'.
Ortlieb, Revelate or Wild cat. Harnesses allow easy removal of the dry bags (but can be awkward to get packed right/not fall out.
Tape up your frame/bike though as the rubbing can play havoc with the paint finish... 😳
I found a big rucksack was okay for my first (short) expedition but would hate to go any distance so got the packs.
I'm used to wearing a pack, so a sweaty back is not a problem
The sweat might not be, but any decent length ride with that much weight on your back is going to take it's toll.
Rule 1 of camping/touring/bikepacking with a bikes is 'let the bike take the weight'
A backpack might seem like it will affect the handling of the bike less, but if affects the handling of you considerably! Short rides might not be much bother but being beaten up for hours on end by a bloody great bag thumping around on your back/shoulders/hips will fatigue you a lot quicker than you think.
The decent seat packs are actually pretty stable, especially if packed sensibly and fitted correctly, and as above you're unlikely to need your dropper as it won't be that kind of ride, and if it is then jsut do what we did before droppers and either MTFU or manually drop your post for those sections.
Like SS Shep though I'm partial to a front rack, either lowriders if on a road tour or terrain will allow it for clearance, or a platform rack at the front if not, once you're used to the slight handling impact I find it much better than having loads of weight out the back, where it can wag the back of the bike even if the pack is stable. The small weight penalty of a rack is worth it in my eyes.
But.... baggage and where to put it is a very personal thing so get experimenting as different people have different preferences and tolerances so it pays to work out what [b]you [/b]prefer by trying stuff out.
As above, more weight on your back is far more noticable than more weight on your bike. Have done a few tours with lightweight camping kit (or bothy kit, or even B&B stuff) in a rucksack and while it was OK, having the stuff on the bike instead is significantly more fun.
I've got a wildcat bar harness and a big seatpack from the Polish dude that sells that kind of stuff that I'm not using any more, if anyone is looking for one or both, gimme an email - in profile.
I got a custom frame bag for my Jones+. it is huge. that and a alpkit seat pack will see me for a week away with the boys.
What he said ^ If you have a hardtail, the amount of stuff you can get in a frame bag is ace, really good to get all the heavier stuff in there, as it's centralised.
I have the tapered dry bag from alpkit, i've used it by itself but found it a pain if you need to be in it mid ride.
forgot to say ... one of the advantages of having a separate harness is that you can pull the dry bag out to get at things and also you can take it away from the bike so you have your kit with you in your tent/under a tarp, in the bothy
Tape up your frame/bike
+1 absolutely deffo!
I have a Revelate Tangle framebag and wonder what I did without it - stays on the bike all the time. A really great piece of kit.
[img][url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5492/30787833891_b67cae6394_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5492/30787833891_b67cae6394_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NUBGog ]20161109_100607[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/82598458@N05/ ]jamesanderson2010[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Seatpack over a backpack Any day of the week, any type of distance riding you'll need more on the bike and less on you!
The only times I use a rucksack is when trying new kit out and need a backup in case things don't work out or in winter to carry light and bulky items like duvets.
I've got a full complement of bikepacking bags and harnesses but it's rare I'll use them all on a single trip. The only one that is always there is the Wildcat seat harness with either their tapered bag or Alpkit's if I need more space.
As above, you think you can go lightweight then you go bikepacking. 😳
Did a group bikepacking weekend in summer. One chap had everything in a 30l backpack and was nearly crippled by the end. Most of us had frame and seat post bags, with waterproofs / bladder in smaller back packs.
You really don't want to add unnecessary weight to your wrists, back and perineum, when the bike can carry it for you.
sgn23 - Member
I'm looking to get some kit for a couple of short bikepacking trips next year
Agree with a lot that has been said previously BUT... how long are the trips (how many nights) and will you be doing more?
If you're talking just a couple of one-nighters and nothing more after those trips then a backpack will be fine and probably more practical for other things.
If you want to get into the whole 'bikepacking' thing then a front harness and saddle pack/harness will be well worth the investment. ime if you don't want to pay for Revelate then Wildcat is best value for money and uk made.
Thanks guys, some really useful advice. I can see now that a backpack is not such a good idea. I'm only dipping my toe into it at this stage, just a night or two camping, so it seems like a frame bag would be a good idea with either a seatpack or a dry bag on the bars.
Wildcat looks like a good company hadn't come across them.
For longer rides, get as much weight on the bike as you can and maybe sleeping bag and light clothing in the backpack if needed. You don't need a harness to begin with - just a heavyweight drybag like Alpkit 20l double-ended strapped to the bars.
Revelate are not that much more expensive and, having had some Wildcat stuff, streets ahead in terms of quality.
Backcountry (uk distributor) has some Revelate on sale atm:
https://backcountry.scot/product-category/revelate-designs-bikepacking-gear/
OP: I recently jumped on the b/p bandwagon. I started a thread about it, and updated it with a proper outing. You might find it of interest....
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/joining-the-bandwagon-275-bike-packing
I've purchased a Portland Design Works Bindle rack to use with a tapered Alpkit dry bag. Very stable.
https://ridepdw.com/collections/mountain-and-fat-biking
One thing I tried was a small sack. Now most people use a Camelback and a frame bag. Seemed silly to me to have the weight on my back so that's where the down bag went and the water went where it belonged, in two bottle cages. Depends on your frame I suppose. A mate bought and expensive saddle bag but I was tight. I used a Rixen Kaul clickfast bag frame which was rated to 4 Kg and added a toe strap to the saddle when loaded. Easier to load and mine didn't move. A bit like the Portland one but a better fitting to the seat pin.
Oh beerless one, I have sent you an email.