Bikepacking essentials

So I am going to start some simple overnighters this summer.

I have:

A suitable short travel hardtail

A small cheap 1-2 person tent

Sleeping bag

Inflatable roll mat

Brukit style all in 1 stove

Bike bags are a bit hit and miss, small top tube, small partial frame bag, but plan to take large rucksack initially

What else do i need?

I’d get some cheap luggage rather than using a big rucksack which can really kill the fun. Check out Lomo stuff.

Inflatable pillow is a worthwhile luxury imo. After years of trying to fashion them out of whatever kit I had, when most of the soft stuff is already being used to keep you warm, I decided I could live with the 80g weight penalty.

And a spork.

Second hand Gumtree or facebook marketplace rack and pannier(s) and a dry bag. I used £5 tribars to strap a front bag to mine as well.

If you get into it, then buy nicer.

I take big light metal mug to boil water in and use dried ,eat from the bag stuff bikepacking, and coffee bags.

And i’m always surprised by the amount of water I get through if somewhere without a loch or stream i’m confident of drinking from, never have to worry on paddle trips but for bikepacking  i’m considering a filter.

Rack and dry bag is a good shout. Cheap front and rear bags can be had, but are more faff to get right. Put light but bulky stuff on bars and saddle if you go that route, bits and bobs in frame bag, snacks in top tube bag.

Stove a luxury for a simple overnighter, just take cold food/snacks if you want to save space.

Even on warm nights you’ll likely need extra layers. Depending what I’m riding in and forecast, I’d take a neck buff/snood, small mid layer, and merino base layer. Depends how warm your sleeping bag is, you may end up wearing some or all of it to sleep. Depending on the ride may also take a hat and fresh thick socks.

Few wet wipes in a freezer bag if you get really dirty and don’t want sheep poo in your sleeping bag. Possibly think of a sh1t kit if you’re likely to need a wild poo. Plastic trowel and paper, Google best way to do it.

But to be honest use the often heard mantra TLS – take less sh1t! So don’t worry about getting loads of stuff, keep it minimal as you really don’t need much.

Edit: never bother with toothbrushes for overnighters!

First aid kit

Headtorch? A Small folding sit mat is always nice to have and doesn’t weigh much, also a book/kindle is a good way to wind down before bed with staring at a phone screen.
The first few time you go out, make a list of everything you’re packing. When you get back, note down what you didn’t use and what you wish you’d had with you. Over time you’ll figure it out! Everyone is different, I’m an overpacker as I like to enjoy the camping as much as the riding, whereas some people want to go as light as possible.

A rucksack is ok as a proof of concept for a short flat shakedown trip, anything that involves more than that needs bags IME.

Yea water could be a problem. I have a 3l back pack bladder, but only 1 frame mount. Might get those widgets that fix to frames/forks to act as bottle mounts.

I also don’t have pannier mounts so will do some dummy fits of the bags I have and stuff ive got.

I have a pillow and a spork already. What easy packable, low water required food do you take?

Good advice – I’ll be starting a list. First trip coming up in September.

@ravingdave I need to fit a rack to a CX bike with no mounts what so ever, so going for an axel mount (Tubus) and the top mounting straps will be attached to an old seatpost light bracket.

A smartphone to plaster it all over social media 😉

Thanks all, making a list of stuff then crossing off is a great idea. Will look at rack options too. On a v tight budget now so want to keep spend to a mimium

Wet wipes and spare ziplock plastic bags!

What easy packable, low water required food do you take?

You shouldn’t really be having to ration water generally at your camp. As above, a small packable filter is a good idea – I use a Katadyn Befree because it doubles as an extra 600-800ml bottle towards the end of the day.

Firepot meals are relatively tasty, although you could just take a few packets of Ramen/instant mash and add your own extra ingredients to improve the flavour.

For water I have 3 mounts on my frame but I also take a 2 litre platypus. If I’m not going to be camping somewhere with water then I fill it up at the last opportunity and bungee it on to the top of my bag. Then gets used for cooking / filling up bike bottles in the morning.

I’m considering a filter too but have just used tablets up until now.

I’ve got a titanium cup and small stove but also take a plastic cup/bowl so I can make my porridge in one and have a coffee at the same time.

First aid kit

My first aid kit is pretty minimal these days, a foil blanket, tablets, tick tweezers and a field (Israeli?) bandage. I think I’ve also got a couple of large plasters in there as a bonus.

I’m quite new to the bike packing thing so also taking an interest in this thread.

Food-wise you could just take a pack of Batchelor’s Pasta N Sauce or similar. Needs about 250ml of water & about 5 mins to cook.

Maybe also consider taking one of those head bug-nets Depends where you are going & how prone you are to insect attention.

And some kind of cafe lock, perhaps depending on where you’ll be riding & if you’ll be stopping for any reason at pubs/cafes/shops.

Smidge.

Ditch the rucksack, been there done that, its horrendous. Load the bike up not your back

May have been mentioned elsewhere in the thread …  a Power Pack to charge up your phone and any other devices, lights, watch, etc. My “old” Samsung S8 won’t go a day without charging. A power pack can be a lot of extra weight for it’s size, but could be a godsend if you need your phone in an emergency or using it mapping/route finding. Putting your phone in flight mode (or even powered off if not needed) can save a lot of power for when it is needed.

The one I have is 26800mAh, cost was £32, is about the size of a large smartphone, but heavier. I have used it on multiday biking and fishing trips and been able to fully charge the phone 5+ times before the pack itself needs recharging.

Yeah, avoid a rucksack if at all possible. If you must carry one, make it a small one.

For short trips, I’d not use a pannier rack either, unless you’ve already got one. Or I guess if you’ve only got a big tent. Otherwise, you shouldn’t need to carry too much stuff – seat and bar bag should be plenty.

I use a rucksack, a light 30l one. It’s fine as long as you have small/light enough kit, but if you’re on a tight budget you might not.  If your kit is heavy and big it could well not fit in frame bags so you might have to go with the rack option.

Bog roll

Trowel

Poo bags

Bikepacking 101

Keep the TLS mantra in mind. If it’s just an overnighter, and you’re not doing mega mileage riding each side of the camp, then you really don’t need much. Water in the bladder and bottle on the frame should suffice. Cooking dehydrated food will eat [drink] into that water though. As mentioned above, you can save space and time and water by making food at home and just taking it in a suitable container. Even cold it’ll still taste nice outside! I take a small stove for a luxury of a coffee and/or porridge sometimes, but it’s pretty tiny. Most recent camp I felt I could have gone without. It’s important to pack for what you’re planning to do. There’s plenty of other opportunities to spend money on water filters and bags and all the other kit you might need, but for a test, keep it simple.

Noted re smidge – it’s in our ‘regular’ camping box of ‘shizzle’.   Anyone recommend some pans. Ideally one or two pots and a cup ? Are Sporks that good ?

Re Budget OP – I picked up a superlight airbed (500g) from someone on another forum that was getting rid as surplus to requirements. Only down side. it had a puncture, which I managed to find eventually (hence free). Also tent, again purchased second hand from someone who used to bike pack – well looked after and just 1.5kg. Cost me £30 for a £150 tent.

I’m re-using an old pannier rack, and I’ll be taking my commuter bike’s Ortlieb panniers. I picked up a few cheap dry bags from Planet X (to store sleeping bag in) and also a PX bar bag (purchased for last year’s bike packing/pub packing).

We’ve got a load of regular camping gear, so anything I can use I’ll take – e.g. head torch, tent light etc

Whisky and chocolate but mostly whisky.

If it’s just overnighter with a couple of hours either side then really you don’t need to take much at all. What you have is adequate.

If you’re going for a full day either side of the night then you might want to make yourself a bit more comfortable. But realistically the best option is to go out and try, what works for you is not the same as what works for others and the locations you’re riding in/through also change things.

Cup on the outside of saddle bag surely.

Also, don’t expect 8 hours of blissful sleep – series of short naps and anything better is a bonus (seems to be my experience anyway, always struggle to get a ‘proper’ kip)!

Cheap eye mask so you’re not awake from 4 AM. Everything on the bike, backpacks are horrible to ride with.

If it’s just a one nighters you’ll have looked at the weather forecast and probably decided against if likely to piss down. But for bike touring I take one of those plastic ponchos people wear at festivals. Useful if your cycling jacket is crap / soaked through in a deluge. Takes v little space and can be reused.

Are Sporks that good

No, just take a spoon. The food won’t object 🙃

As others have said, less is more. Travel as light as you possibly can as lugging stuff is just not much fun. I usually take a small gas stove as I like a hot drink and hot food but you might be OK with cold stuff and just take a small plastic bowl.

If it’s a summer jobbie in the UK, unless you’re on top of something high, you don’t need that much to keep warm and dry. Don’t go kitted up for negative centigrade on an 18°C night…

Ear plugs for a better chance at some sleep. Buff can also be used for eye mask and keeping the ear plugs from falling out while your hands are inside the sleeping bag.

mrhoppyFull Member
If it’s just overnighter with a couple of hours either side then really you don’t need to take much at all. What you have is adequate.

If you’re going for a full day either side of the night then you might want to make yourself a bit more comfortable. But realistically the best option is to go out and try, what works for you is not the same as what works for others and the locations you’re riding in/through also change things.

this

Go outdoors have buy one get one half price Firepot dehydrated food at the mo. Prob as nice as it gets dehydrated food.

A good scotch.

I’ve discovered ‘Spice Taylor’ – lots of Indian type meals, many of which need a tiny amount of water & have 2 minute heating times. They taste great, add your choice of flatbread. On offer for £2.50 in a Waitrose I pass.

I’ve stocked up and eat them on DofE training weekends as they are soooooo much cheaper and nicer than the dehydrated meals. Pack carefully though, you don’t want one of the sachets to burst on a bumpy downhill

I never bother with a stove for a one nighter. I always take a hip flask though.

I honetly think you have more or less what you need to get started. Sling it in a rucksack and don’t plan anything too ambitious the first time.

If you can easily find a rack and/or bag to take the weight off your back then that’s worth doing but riding with a rucksack is still better than sitting at home wishing you had better bags.

With the backpack thing- I think it depends on what you’re riding…

If I’m doing an overnighter where I want to really ride the trails (enduro packing?!) I prefer my 30l backpack. I can take my full sus trail bike, and hop and move the bike as it’s lighter. The trade-off is it’s more fatiguing on any sit down flat bits.

If you’re doing long stretches of sat down pedalling and aren’t bothered about ‘shredding the gnar’ get a pannier rack. You won’t be hopping over any water bars though.