Three night backpacking tour - What bags

I'm doing the same around Calderdale in August. So far I've got a rucksac and a bar-bag - bought largely on a whim. I'll be overnighting in B&Bs, so I reckon I'm just going to cram everything in those.

Are you camping/bothying or B&Bing?

If like me you do maybe 2 or 3 trips a year the planet X pod sacs are cheap and robust. Bar, frame and seat pack should be sufficient for all kit although gravel bars being narrow can make the bar bag a phaff to get right

I’m doing the same around Calderdale in August. So far I’ve got a rucksac and a bar-bag – bought largely on a whim. I’ll be overnighting in B&Bs, so I reckon I’m just going to cram everything in those.

I did 2 nights in the (very wet!) Lakes 2 weekends ago and coped fine with a 25L Alpkit Presta rucksack (food, spares, tools as well as wash stuff and clothes to change into on an evening). I could have possibly fit a bit more into the bag as well...

Whatever you can borrow for beer tokens if it is a first trip.

It all depends whether you feel it is something you'd like to do again or not.

Maybe either borrow gear for first time out, or get the cheap Planet X Podsac bags for first go, if you enjoy it, then invest in better gear.

You have the larger companies like Restrap, Apidura, Revelate, Alpkit etc

Or more niche companies like Wizard Works, Straight Cut etc

I would make sure it is something you want to do more of before spending a fortune.

Whereabouts in the country are you, i have a ton of gear here you're welcome to borrow... but i am in Norfolk!

I've used the Podsac bags from Planet X for weekend bike packing trips and had no problems with them.  They are great value for money.

I’m b&b ing. I was thinking of a small frame bag a 10l saddle bag and a 4l bar bag.  Would that be a good balanced bike?

What are you planning to take?

EDIT: So no sleeping bag/tent/cooking gear etc? You'll probably get away with a smallish seatpost bag and a bar bag with maybe a top-tube bag for snacks etc if you pack light. You're only taking clothes/food/waterproofs/tools and a few toiletries.

Slightly irritating voice, but a good idea what to take and where to put it:

I’m b&b ing. I was thinking of a small frame bag a 10l saddle bag and a 4l bar bag. Would that be a good balanced bike?

Although if you're B&Bing you need bugger all, change of clothes and a toothbrush..

For that I take:
Restrap bar bag, barely half full with spare cycling clothing (eg gilet, waterproof, arm warmers), wallet, phone charger, sun cream, etc.

Alpkit 7l saddle pack with shoes, change of clothes for evening, toothbrush and toothpaste.

I also have a frame bag, which lives on the bike, with tools / tubes etc, so I can still use both water bottle cages.

Wash cycling kit in sink on arrival at B&B and hang up to dry for the next day.

I'm doing similar in two weeks time - two nights in nice pubs/B&B with three mates. Taking my normal camelbak rucksack I use, plus a PX podsac bar bag. The bar bag will carry my civvy clothes and a pair of lightweight trainers (shorts, couple of t-shirts, undies, tooth brush etc). Camelbak for the usual stuff, so not loading that anymore than I would do - mainly for the 3l water capacity as we are in the middle of nowhere for 6 hours a day.

Quite impressed with the podsac bag TBH.

plus a PX podsac bar bag.

That's what I bought, I figured I'll spread civvies and wash kit between that and a rucksac, and go as light as possible, I'm not going to be in the middle of nowhere so food and water should be pretty easy to find.

Alpkit 7l saddle pack with shoes, change of clothes for evening, toothbrush and toothpaste.

I've found shoes to be the biggest PITA in terms of space. The best option for me is if I can get away with wearing my riding shoes through the evening, which means using more casual looking riding shoes, or if its warm enough to wear flip flops or similar. Once I've got shoes sorted the next bulkiest thing for me is the food I'll be carrying if I'm in the middle of nowhere.

Don’t fancy a rucksack.  I use a camelback for mtb but I thought the whole point of gravel was to have it all on the bike.

I don't mind a lightweight rucksack if using a MTB, with its more upright riding position but I don't find it as comfortable when riding drop bars.

If you're doing a Cairngorms trip then you could hire stuff from backcountry.scot in Aviemore to see what you like/dislike before spending on your own bags?

I’ve found shoes to be the biggest PITA in terms of space.

They are, but I've come to terms with them and always take a pair of pump like things which pack down smallish (for shoes).

After a long day in bike gear, my feet appreciate being able to wander out about town in something different.

I've got lightweight running shoes to wear in the evenings - don't fancy damp SPD's all day. Did think about my sliders, but 1/ they aren't any lighter than the shoes and 2/ Don't fancy dropping a pool ball or dart on my toes (both pubs have pool tables - essential) !

I used an old pair of tri bars and bungeed a dry bag to them, an old top tube small bag with my tools in, plus a borrowed saddle bag. That did me a 3 day B&B tour.

For shoes (if you want something lightweight and can be squashed down) take a look at some of the 'hut slippers' from the likes of RAB and TNF.

I packed some TNF ones with a bit of a sole  for my 3-day trip in the west of Scotland at the start of June.  Worked well, and meant I could get out of the bike shoes and stick some different socks on etc. Good to try to air the feet and not get foot rot, especially if the bike shoes get wet.

For shoes (if you want something lightweight and can be squashed down) take a look at some of the ‘hut slippers’ from the likes of RAB and TNF.

They look quite special. I can't imagine wearing them out for a curry, or to the pub, any more than I would wear my normal SPD shoes. I'd imagine they are far more useful for bikepacking than for B&Bing by bike.