Our ultimate bikepacking kit list
Whilst this list of equipment is not exhaustive and our personal choices of kit and individual items can be subjective, it’s what we’ve selected for our hire kit, and what we’d expect riders to have as a minimum to carry everything and be comfortable overnighting in the outdoors.
Bike Bags
Seat Pack:
11-14 litre dependant on brand; will take sleeping bag, bivi bag, dry / spare clothes.
Handlebar Roll:
9-12 litres fit well between most drop handlebar gravel bikes: Camp mat, extra personal items, waterproof jacket.
Frame Bag or Anything Cage with Large Fork Bag mounted on downtube bottle cage mount:
Carry heavy items low and stable in frame triangle, pots, stove, gas canisters, food pouches, bike spares.
Drink Bottle & Cage: A decent size bottle at least 600- 800ml in second cage space in frame.
Sleeping Bag & Liner:
As small and light as possible, but warm enough for summer use rated to at least +5 deg C.
1kg is the magic number, anything lighter is a bonus, silk / polycotton liners help keep it clean. We use sub 1kg down bags from Thermarest
Bivi Bag:
We use the great Alpkit ‘Hunka’ lightweight, breathable perfect for summer use under the stars or combined with a tarp, good enough for most weathers.
Camp mattress:
We use Thermarest ¾ prolite’s. They are the original self-inflating mat, even with a puncture you get a layer of foam between you and the floor. Air mattresses don’t offer that; just our view……
Tarp Shelter:
DD ultralight tarps at 350g provide a superb simple shelter for one and two in some layouts. With extra cordage and pegs, various options are available.
Cook System:
Whilst there are lighter solid fuel / meths burners out there, we prefer the cleanliness and reliability of micro canister stoves. We use MSR pocket rocket deluxe’s combined with their superlight titanium kettle. We also use some of their other expedition type stoves, watch for out stoves special on the journal and the whys and when’s of stoves. Pot double as a mug, lightweight cutlery.
Food:
We use the great dehydrated expedition food from Firepot. With lots of options for all tastes, these will keep us loaded with the important kJ of energy.
Extras:
We provide a couple of extra drybags to keep clothes / sleeping bags dry whatever weather we come across. A decent micro headtorch for the night in camp.
Spare Clothes and personal kit:
Pack light , spare kit you can sleep and ride in is best. A lightweight thermal gilet / jacket great for the evening.
We love merino its warm when wet , synthetic baselayers , riding jerseys too , leave the cotton t-shirts and flannel at home , it wont keep you warm when / if it gets wet……
All I can say is pack light.