Bikepacking Kit

NEW TO THE CONCEPT OF BIKEPACKING AND WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO START? YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE

LOADING YOUR BIKE

LOADING YOUR BIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME MIGHT FEEL DAUNTING, UNNATURAL AND MAYBE A BIT CONFUSING. HOW DO YOU FIT EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A TWO WEEK TRIP ON A BICYCLE? IT IS MUCH EASIER THAN IT SEEMS ONCE YOU KNOW HOW YOU LIKE YOUR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION, THE KIND OF RIDING YOU ARE DOING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, LEARN WHAT YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED AND WHAT NEEDS TO STAY AT HOME.

THE BIG THREE

THE MOST VERSATILE AND WELL ROUNDED SELECTION OF BAGS FOR A TRIP IS A VARIATION OF WHAT WE CALL ‘THE BIG THREE’: SADDLE BAG, FRAME BAG AND BAR BAG. THIS CHOICE IS THE MOST COMPATIBLE SET OF BAGS TO FIT MOST BIKES, ON OR OFF-ROAD AND CONTAINS ENOUGH SPACE TO HOLD EQUIPMENT FOR ROUGHLY TWO WEEKS OR MORE DEPENDING ON YOUR LOAD-OUT.

THE BIKEPACKING BUNDLE

TO HELP GET YOU STARTED, WE’RE OFFERING A BUNDLE DISCOUNT ON ‘THE BIG THREE’.
PICK UP ANY BAR BAG, SADDLE BAG AND FRAME BAG AND WE’LL GIVE YOU 10% OFF.

CLICK HERE TO CHOOSE YOUR BAGS

USE CODE THEBIGTHREE AT CHECKOUT TO APPLY THE DISCOUNT

HOW DO YOU PACK?

DURATION OF TRIP, ROAD OR OFF-ROAD, CLIMATE, SELF-SUFFICIENT OR EATING AT SUPPLY POINTS, TENT OR BIVVY? THESE WILL ALL POINT YOU TO THE ANSWERS OF WHAT EQUIPMENT YOU WILL NEED TO BRING WITH YOU WHICH WILL THEN LEAD TO HOW THEY CAN BEST BE CARRIED ON YOUR BIKE.

IT’S ALWAYS BEST TO START WITH THE BIGGEST AND MOST CUMBERSOME OF EQUIPMENT YOU NEED TO TAKE: YOUR SLEEPING SYSTEM. IF IT IS STRIPPED BACK AND MINIMAL LIKE A TARP SHELTER OR BIVVY SET-UP THEN THIS CAN BE TAKEN IN ANY OF THE BIG THREE. IF YOU ARE CARRYING A BIGGER 2-3 PERSON TENT THEN YOU MAY BE LIMITED TO THE SADDLE-BAG DEPENDING ON IF YOU ARE RUNNING DROP-BARS OR FLAT-BARS. TRY YOUR BEST TO PACK AS MUCH OF THE WEIGHT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG AS YOU CAN. THIS WILL PREVENT THE DREADED SADDLE BAG SWAY WHILE RIDING.

ONCE YOU HAVE THIS PACKED, YOUR SLEEPING BAG AND MAT SHOULD SQUISH INTO THE DRY-BAG COMFORTABLY, YOU CAN OFTEN FIT IN A DOWN-JACKET OR RAINCOAT TOO BEFORE CLOSING THE DRY-BAG. DOWN PACKS DOWN REALLY WELL, SO YOU CAN OFTEN FILL ANY GAPS BY TAKING THE SLEEPING BAG OR DOWN-JACKETS OUT OF THEIR STUFF SACKS AND PRESSING IT INTO ANY SPACE LEFT IN THE SADDLE BAG.

THE FRAME BAG IS A GREAT PIECE OF KIT OFTEN LEFT ON THE BIKE ALL YEAR ROUND, PERFECT FOR ALL THE ESSENTIAL TOOLS AND SPARES, A POWER-BANK, A PACKABLE MUSETTE, SNACKS, CAMERA, YOU NAME IT. THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO STORE ANYTHING THAT YOU REQUIRE EASY ACCESS TO WHILE ON THE BIKE.

FINALLY, THE BAR BAG IS A GREAT PLACE TO HOLD THE REST OF THE GEAR THAT YOU DON’T PLAN ON TOUCHING WHILE RIDING. ANY SPARE CLOTHING, COOKING SUPPLIES, EXTRA CHARGING EQUIPMENT, WASH-KIT, CAMP-FOOD. THE DOUBLE-ENDED DRY-BAG THAT COMES WITH THE BAR BAG MEANS THAT YOU CAN STASH EXTRA LAYERS ON EITHER SIDE TO MAKE THEM EASY TO GRAB ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAIL.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

ONCE EVERYTHING IS IN ITS PLACE, THE BEST WAY TO TEST IT IS TO RIDE IT. YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF TOO BACK OR FRONT HEAVY, YOU MAY USE SOMETHING MORE OFTEN THAN YOU EXPECTED AND CHANGE ITS LOCATION TO A MORE CONVENIENT PLACE. EVEN AFTER COUNTLESS BIKE-TOURS, WE ARE ALWAYS ADJUSTING OUR SET-UPS EVERY TIME WE PACK. THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO DO IT. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU HEAD OUT ON A PRACTICE TRIP TO GET A FEEL FOR HOW YOU’LL USE AND PACK YOUR KIT. A WEEKEND OVERNIGHTER SOMEWHERE CLOSE AND LOCAL IS A GREAT WAY TO DO IT.