Light-ish hardtail suggestions for bikepacking (2nd hand, not too spendy)

I've just got the vitus rapide vr hardtail. Paid £810 in a flash sale. 100mm sid sl, deore 11spd, light wtb wheels.

Been out a bit, ideal for long gentle amd comfy long distances. Also great at turn n burn stuff through the woods!

Downside only 1 bottle mount, prob max 2.4 tyre clearance. Not seen any used either

That looks like a bit of a steal and understated looks too.  How do you find the sizing (in terms of reach), I think I'd normally go for a medium but at 180cm I'm slap between medium (out of stock) and large.

Im 175cm on a medium. The reach is good (i started a thread about this bike titled 'vitus rapide hardtail' and got some really useful replies on sizing from people.

I wouldnt want any bigger so a large may well suit you.

I plan to add a rigid carbon fork with mounts and use those strap on bottle mounts you can get for more versatility and to use a full size frame bag but carry a bottle under downtube

even after swapping out the wheelset from another bike my hardtail was still nearly 15kg

What's your current bike?

My 'generic' alloy framed Marin with Yari and (admittedly light) OEM wheels and it's just over 12kg. I find changing tyres is a huge difference if you've a long distance to go.

My Scandal on Great Shunner Fell this morning. XL, built on a budget, weighs a lot less than 15kg...
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If you already have a bike you like, why not get a bigger/ tougher lock.

If you are on a long multi day ride and some one takes any bike you are riding it's going to be a disaster.

Hardtail is a 2021 Nukeproof Scout 290, I swapped out the complete wheel set from my singlespeed which saved 700g, OE wheels have Maxxis Disector/Assegei tyres and the SS tyres are Nobby Nics.  However lets disregard 'my' weight of the bike as my scales just broke (again) and I suddenly remembering using a 25kg bag of cement as the 25kg calibration weight, and the human analogue scales (which are probably not that accurate either) reckons said cement is nearer 24kg, so the Nukeproof is probably closer to the claimed 13.3kg.  It has a dropper upgrade which will offset most of the wheels weight saving.

My singlespeed could be used but its a pain in the arse converting it to gears as its a belt drive, and I've broken my chaindrive cranks so I'd have to buy parts anyway.  There is definitely justification to still have a geared mtb so I'd rather leave the singlespeed as it is and have either the Scout or something a bit lighter and faster for other duties.  Also the singlespeed is steel so wouldn't be particularly light once loaded with 10 more gears.

As suggested, any theft would be a disaster, but losing a bike and all my bikepacking gear is not as bad as losing my favourite bike and all my bike packing gear!

On one carbon whippet. Superb

In your shoes I don't think I would look for a specific model then - I would look out for something that's just going to be lighter. Alloy frame, SID's, good wheels etc.

On-one fatty and just accept the wheels are bigger than you need?

I use a Scandal and it looks just like the one in the picture above as I've the same rear guard 🙂

I also got a custom full-frame bag made (Alpkit - highly recommended) and have jubilee-clipped a bottle cage below the downtube which I use for my 'camping' water supply (basically a 750ml bottle which I just fill up when needed).  I use my enduro-hip-bag for fluids.

Run it with a Pike as that's what I had.

Not seen much locally for sale second hand, keep going back to the Vitus, especially as it's now in stock in my size!

Looking at new alternatives I'd have to spend a lot more to find a similar spec, I keep wondering how they've managed to make the Vitus so light!

My wife keeps nudging me to spend a bit more as last time I set myself a budget I didn't really get the bike I should have...

Vitus is definitely still in the running but I keep looking at the Trek Procaliber. 9.6 slightly heavier, 9.7 a bit lighter. 9.7 looks like it will be a fair bit more comfy with Reba's on the front, isospeed flexy bushing thing on the seat-tube, and I think it'll take slightly larger 2.4" tyres.  Carbon rims too so should be nippy.  It is a lot more £££ but I tend to keep my bikes forever.

But how will I feel riding a race orientated XC bike 100 miles a day offroad for two weeks solid? Will it break me after 3 days or will it munch up the miles?

But how will I feel riding a race orientated XC bike 100 miles a day offroad for two weeks solid? Will it break me after 3 days or will it munch up the miles?

I did the Badger Divide on my Scandal last year over 3 days, proper comfy and a far better place than my gravel bike TBH.

But how will I feel riding a race orientated XC bike 100 miles a day offroad for two weeks solid? Will it break me after 3 days or will it munch up the miles?

whilst it makes bike packing trickier, for that remit I'd be looking at short travel full sus - its surely just going to be an exersize in reducing impacts on the body

I did the Badger Divide on my Scandal last year over 3 days, proper comfy and a far better place than my gravel bike TBH

That's what I keep thinking, it's got to be comfier than a gravel bike, with the exception that the front might be a bit lower (my gravel bike has quite a high front end but I do spend time in the drops)

I’d be looking at short travel full sus

To be honest I've never really got on with full Sus, I've had a couple and they've never been the 'go to' bike. I can see the appeal for reducing fatigue but the two bikes I ride the most are rigid!

But how will I feel riding a race orientated XC bike 100 miles a day offroad for two weeks solid? Will it break me after 3 days or will it munch up the miles?

At that level of effort, it'll be more down to you than the bike.

If you're in a position to up your budget, why not look at the supercaliber?  That is likely to be more comfortable than the procaliber?

Mikey...don't you start, bad as my wife!  Tempting though!