Bikepacking Gear Essentials 2022

Nov 24, 2023

Be it the familiar roads around town or those that wind across the country, bikepacking is my favorite way to explore the outdoors. With everything you need for one or more nights packed securely on your bike, you can reach off-the-beaten-path destinations that would be impossible to find by car or take too long to visit on foot.

Explore anywhere on your bike with the right gear.

Packing for any bikepacking adventure requires you to carefully plan what gear to bring, how to pack it and where everything will go on your bike. While every trip is different, there are some basic items you’ll surely need on almost every outing such as a camping tent, sleep system, stove, repair kit and appropriate apparel for the weather.

As a frequent and long distance bikepacker, I always look for ways to trim weight and save space, whether that means investing in lighter and more compact gear, leaving the luxury items at home or getting creative on how I distribute gear on my bike.

Before you head out on a big adventure, you might want to test out your full rig on an overnight trip or during a big day ride to make sure you have everything dialed, and to familiarize yourself with a fully loaded bike.

While not a comprehensive checklist, these are some of my favorite pieces of gear that join me on every bikepacking outing, from a simple overnighter to weeks on the trail.

REI

Based in Alaska, Revelate Designs makes a variety of bikepacking bags to suit any adventure or type of bike. While there exists an infinite number of ways to kit out your bike, you’re guaranteed to take a seat bag on anything from an overnighter to a month on the trail. The Spinelock 16L Seat Bag provides 16 liters of waterproof gear storage under your saddle—I can easily stuff my down camping blanket, sleeping pad, camp pillow, camp clothes, toiletries and other small gear inside.

An integrated air purge valve helps create a compact, efficiently loaded package. A bungee and webbing system on the outside of the seat bag enables you to store more gear like camp shoes or an extra layer. The roll-top closure seat bag connects to a clamp installed underneath your saddle via a simple pin and strap system. And large hook-and-loop Velcro strap further secures the bag around your seat post to help prevent any side-to-side sway when riding.

REI

Big Agnes was one of the first tent manufacturers to recognize the unique needs of bikepackers and created a series of tents that were not only lightweight, but designed for loading on a bike. The Copper Spur HV UL2 Bikepack weighs just under three pounds and is constructed from poles that pack down into shorter, smaller segments so that they easily fit between your handlebars or into a pannier. The 29-square-foot floor area offers enough room for two to sleep comfortably side-by-side, with a 40-inch head height that enables you to sit up to change clothes.

This three-season tent features two side doors to make entry and exit easier for two people, as well as an oversized internal gear shelf for stowing helmets and other goods. The two roomy vestibules can be cinched down during inclement weather or staked out as awnings when the sun is shining. Webbing loops on the outside of the rainfly come in handy for drying wet clothes.

The tent packs inside a water-resistant compression stuff sack with a daisy-chain webbing system to enable multiple bike attachment configurations.

EMS

The less weight on your bike, the happier you’ll be. After all, every ounce counts. An ultralight alternative to a sleeping bag, the Clarity Quilt from Eastern Mountain Sports ditches the useless layer of down insulation that would normally be crushed beneath you in order to save weight. Instead, protection from the heat-sapping ground comes courtesy of your insulated sleeping pad.

Rated to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the down quilt offers the same warmth-to-weight ratio as a similarly-rated mummy bag and is much more comfortable for sleeping. A 3D footbox ensures your feet always stay warm no matter how low the mercury dips and straps hold the quilt in place over your sleeping pad on colder nights. A drawcord and snap closure system at the neck ensures no heat escapes from your head.

Amazon

Weighing in at well under a pound, the NeoAir XLite sleeping pad from Therm-a-Rest offers 2.5 inches of inflatable cushioning to protect you from the hard and lumpy ground with a baffled internal structure for added support. This insulated sleeping pad pairs perfectly with a down quilt thanks to the space blanket-like lining that traps radiant heat to keep you warm throughout the night.

The sleeping pad rolls up to the size of a water bottle and comes with a pump sack for aid with inflation, as well as a stuff sack and repair kit. A one-way inflation valve prevents air from escaping during inflation, where a simple twist opens the valve for rapid deflation in the morning.

Amazon

Jetboil's lightest stove system to date (40% lighter than any other Jetboil stove system), the Stash weighs less than half a pound, or 7.1 ounces (the weight of a pair of socks). The stove system includes a stand-alone canister stove with a titanium burner, fold-away pot supports and a 0.8-liter cook pot.

Jetboil's FluxRing technology at the base of the pot blocks wind and optimizes fuel burning efficiency so you can boil half a liter of water in just 2.5 minutes, making it a morning coffee and dehydrated meal powerhouse. To save on weight and price, there's no regulator for simmering control and no piezo ignitor, so don't forget the lighter when you head off on your bike.

The cook pot comes with internal measurement lines, a pour spout lid and integrated handle for safe operation when cooking. Store a 100-gram fuel canister, the burner and even the fuel canister stabilizer neatly inside the cook pot for compact storage on your bike.

Amazon

The QuickDraw Microfilter System from Platypus includes a filter component and 1-liter reservoir that weighs just 101 grams or 3.6 ounces. The filter rolls up into the reservoir for quick, compact storage in your bike bag or backpack pocket.

The filter cartridge features a dirty water end which threads securely into the dirty water reservoir with a clean water end at the other side. The clean water end features a pour spout you can use to drink straight out of or fill various water vessels. Platypus designed the clean water end such that it securely threads into a variety of compatible reservoirs and even a Smart Water bottle (a popular ultralight choice these days). A cap on each end ensures dirt does not get inside and prevents dirty water from contaminating the clean water end.

The 0.2-micron hollow fiber cartridge inside the filter removes over 99 percent of bacteria and protozoa from your water source. To filter water, simply fill the dirty water reservoir with water from the source, attach the filter component and squeeze. Clean water will flow at a rate of 3 liters per minute into your cooking pot, water bottle or straight into your mouth. If the filter should get full of sediment, simply shake it with a small amount of water in the reservoir to clean.

Amazon

With a fully loaded bike, it's likely you’ll want to bring along a hydration pack for carrying water, easy-to-access essentials, snacks and any oddly shaped or overflowing gear. The Osprey Escapist 25 offers plenty of storage thanks to a large main compartment with separate sections for wet or dirty gear, a front compartment with an internal organizer for your bike tools and spares and an external hydration sleeve for easy refilling of your reservoir. Twin zippered hipbelt pockets, large stretch front and side pockets and a scratch-free pocket for your phone and sunglasses provide even more storage capacity.

A built-in high visibility rain cover keeps everything inside your pack dry should the weather turn for the worst and a helmet attachment point secures your lid to your pack when not on the bike. The airy mesh backpanel and lightweight harness system protect you from fatigue and overheating when wearing the pack all day on the trail.

Amazon

When bikepacking, I always use my phone to navigate with routes planned in apps like Ride With GPS or Komoot. The Quad Lock bike mount offers a secure and easy-to-use way to fix your phone to your bike handlebars or stem so you can view the route ahead. The bike mount system includes two parts—an impact-resistant case for your phone and either a stem or handlebar mount for your bike.

The simple twist-and-lock attachment system enables you to quickly remove your phone with one hand when taking photos, and it secures back on your handlebars just as easily for navigation. An optional slip-on cover provides extra protection for your phone from rain and mud while still enabling you to use the touchscreen.

Amazon

I never head out on a bikepacking trip without at least a few Voile Straps in tow. Originally invented as a way to hold skis together, these UV-resistant plastic stretch straps can be used for everything from securing gear to your bike to stowing a layer to repairing your gear should something go horribly wrong. Unlike zip ties, these simple-to-buckle straps are easily to remove and secure over and over and once in place, they won't come undone. The straps come in a variety of colors and lengths so you can dial in your gear setup.

Amazon

When bikepacking, you need a shoe that's stiff enough for efficient pedaling, but also capable when you step off the bike. The Trailcross Clip-in from Five Ten is built like a sneaker for all day comfort with a recessed cleat on the dotted Stealth rubber outsole that allows you to easily clip into your pedals for improved efficiency and power transfer. Larger lugs on the heel and toe area add extra grip when walking on loose or wet terrain.

A hook-and-loop ankle strap not only stops your laces from wriggling loose into the drivetrain, but also secures your foot in place to prevent any heel lift when walking. Breathable and quick drying, the shoe won't cause your feet to sweat on hotter days and will dry quickly should it rain. Find it in both men's and women's sizes.