Plain and simple: Bikepacking is for everyone. No matter how intimidating it may seem to strap all your camping gear to your bike and ride from point A to point B and beyond, all it takes is a pinch of prep, a bit of boldness and a healthy dose of dedication. If you have an interest in camping and the know-how for riding a bike, you might want to give bikepacking a try.
I knew nothing about bikepacking before taking my first trip. Heck, I barely even knew how to change a flat tire (thanks, YouTube). Yet with a bit of research and piecing together car camping and backpacking equipment I already had on my camping checklist, I rolled out, ready to experience the adventure ahead. Flash forward a year and I’ve now completed my longest ride ever: 75 miles traveling to state parks on “the Sunrise Side” of northeast Michigan.
Curious about bikepacking but don’t know where to get started? We talk with experts on what you need to know — and the gear you need — to head out on a bikepacking adventure.
What is bikepacking and how to get started
What is the difference between bikepacking and bike touring?
“Bikepacking is a pretty simple concept,” says Jeff Kerkove, a bikepacking and cycling athlete with Team Topeak-Ergon, who averages 8,000 miles per year on his bike.“It’s simply camping with your bike. You are self-contained with all the gear you need to traverse a given route, from clothing and a tent to your sleeping bag.”
Bikepacking at its core is traveling on two wheels over long (and even short) distances with all the gear you need. Some say bikepacking requires ample time to plan, test and train for long rides. Others say it just takes some gumption to get on your bike and go for it if you’re up for the challenge.
When it comes to the difference between backpacking and bike touring, two similar but particularly different adventure sports, longtime bikepacker and bike tourer John Junke says some nuances play a factor. For starters, he says the biggest differentiator between bikepacking and bike touring is the time you spend riding on pavement versus off pavement.
“When bike touring, you’re usually riding on roads and you might not be as concerned with how your bike handles compared to bikepacking when you go off-road, be it on gravel or singletrack dirt,” says Junke, a self-proclaimed adventure dad, longtime bikepacker, and program specialist at REI Co-op. “When bikepacking, you’re riding on varied surfaces that take you off paved roads. That could be hard-packed gravel, gravel roads or singletrack dirt trails.”
Because of these nuances, different bikes, like gravel bikes or mountain bikes with thicker, burlier tires will come in handy compared to touring bikes, which tend to have skinnier road tires and are essentially heavier, more robust road bikes. The equipment you use when bikepacking and bike touring can differ too. Bikepackers riding uphill on mountain bike-grade trails with large rocks or backcountry gravel roads with slick terrain may prefer lighter gear that doesn’t weigh down their bike. Bike touring over long distances may require larger panniers and extra racks to carry gear if you’re traveling between towns with limited access to resources like water and grocery stores.
“At the end of the day, there are nuances between the two [bikepacking and bike touring],” says Junke. “But if you’re biking and camp or spend the night somewhere while you travel, it doesn’t really matter what you call it — as long as you’re having a good time out there.”
Plan your route
The beauty of bikepacking is that routes can be of any length, in any location, and on any surface. Simply put: Your bikepacking adventure is yours to chart.
Jess Daddio, a Virgina-based freelance writer and filmmaker, avid bikepacker and contributor to bikepacking.com and the “Bikepacking Journal” has completed the entire 3,000-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, as well as numerous other tours all over North America, from Maine to Oaxaca, Mexico. Despite her long-distance and international trips, she also says there’s no better place to start than in your very own backyard, especially as a bikepacking newbie. Similarly, while Kerkove’s bikepacking and bike touring adventures have taken him on some pretty amazing and exotic long-distance rides, like the Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan, the 540-mile Colorado Trail Race and the Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco, he says it comes down to throwing your gear on your bike and getting out your front door — no matter how far you plan to go.
“Many people think bikepacking has to be these big epic trips — that is not at all true,” says Kerkove. “Some of my best bikepacking trips have been pedaling 10 miles from home, camping out, and then pedaling back home the next morning.”
Apps like AllTrails, the Mountain Bike Project, Gaia GPS and Strava are all great digital tools for finding bike routes across the country. Komoot is another great app for route planning. Kerkove also recommends spending time exploring resources, articles and information for all levels of bikepackers on bikepacking.com, a go-to website for all things bikepacking. “There you’ll find routes, learn about gear, and generally get stoked on everything bikepacking.”
Find hidden-gem adventures in your own backyard with this trail discovery app built for mountain bikers, road cyclers and hikers alike.
Looking for technical routes on your mountain bike? This app’s for you. The Mountain Bike Project is a large database of detailed and recommended maps, routes and trails shared by fellow bikers.
Discover hiking and biking trails, backcountry routes, campsites and National Geographic-curated trail guides — all of which you can also access offline. You can plan or record your own routes in real-time too.
A community-centered app that connects millions of cyclists (and runners, hikers and walkers) through the sports they love with map tracking, route planning and trail discovery.
Join a local bikepacking community
If you’re intimidated about heading out alone, Daddio recommends finding a like-minded and welcoming group of people to learn from and join on the trail. Bikepacking and cycling communities and groups are a great way to learn about the sport and also get to know about (or borrow) the gear you need for your first ride.
“If you identify as femme, transgender, women or non-binary, theRadical Adventure Riders is an awesome nonprofit that has chapters all over the country and regularly organizes group overnighters,” says Daddio.
Find your own group around the country to plug into, from city-based organizations like Out Our Front Door in Chicago, which leads group rides from downtown to campgrounds outside of the city, to national organizations like the Adventure Cycling Association, a nonprofit committed to helping people get outdoors and explore on their bikes. Or if you’re riding over long distances but still want a community to lean on, check out Warm Showers, a global community of touring cyclists and hosts who offer up their homes to bikepackers and bike tourers on the road.
Gear up for your bikepacking adventure
Kerkove says it’s essential to take time to figure out how to pack your bike and test your setup on shorter rides close to home before you head out on a multiday tour.
“Don’t pack the kitchen sink,” he encourages, as many backpackers carry way too much stuff. “Bikepacking is life simplified. Many items you pack should serve a dual purpose and 99% of the time, everything you need you already own — such as your camping equipment and other outdoor gear.”
Beyond gear to carry items like food, clothes and your sleep system, bring along at least one, ideally two, spare inner tubes for your bike. Always carry a basic tire repair kit and tire levers too, as both are necessary tools for changing and fixing a flat. Lastly, you should also invest in a small cycling multitool, which usually comes with a mix of hex sizes, spoke wrenches, a chain breaker and chain hook, and Phillips and flathead screwdrivers.
Even with our long list of expert-recommended gear below, you don’t have to invest in name-brand bikepacking gear and especially not all at once. Don’t have bike panniers? No problem. Use a milk crate instead. Haven’t invested in bike straps? That’s okay. Attach gear like sleeping bags, your tent and dry bags to your bike using bungee cords or rope.
However, when you’re ready to roll out, we’ve got you covered with these expert-approved and beginner bikepacking gear recommendations:
Choose and outfit your bike
What to consider when investing in a bike
The truth is, every bike is a bikepacking bike. That’s not something only I firmly believe but our experts do too. Last summer, my partner and I completed our first multiday bikepacking trip in West Michigan. We certainly didn’t have fancy bikes. In fact, we used what had in our basement: a vintage Trek triathlon bike and a 12-year-old Specialized mountain bike. Quite literally, these two bikes are on opposite ends of the spectrum for biking and are totally not true bikepacking bikes. While they certainly were not the most ideal bikes to bring on a bikepacking trip, we were still able to complete the ride and, more importantly, we had fun on the journey.
That said, having a bike with the right size tires, frame and features for bikepacking can make a big difference on the trail, especially for multiday and long-distance adventures. If you’re ready to purchase a new bike specifically for bikepacking, there are a few things to consider.
“Think about the type of terrain you’ll most often ride on,” says Junke. “This will help determine the appropriate tire. Every tire width will have pros and cons depending on the terrain. Ask yourself: Will you be on pavement or on unpaved trails?”
If you’re planning to spend most of your time on the road and pavement, Junke says you’ll likely want a narrower tire with fewer nobs. The advantage you get will be efficiency in pedaling if you’re going longer distances or uphill. If you’re planning to ride on unpaved surfaces, he says you’ll likely want to go on a more rugged, wider tire that will perform better on an offroad experience.”
REI has a helpful blog about How to Choose Bike Tires, which is a great starting place for basic tire knowledge. Frame weight and type as well as handlebar configuration are important too. If you’re riding pavement long distance you might lean toward a touring bike with a heavier frame. If you’re riding on rocky dirt trails you might consider a burly gravel bike or even a mountain bike.
Built to withstand the wear and tear of gravel and dirt trails, this aluminum gravel bike is great for newer bikepackers. It features 650b, 47-millimeter tires and 16 gears to support you on all kinds of terrain.
An all-gender bike that’s built for adventures on both road and gravel trails. The ADV 2.1 comes kitted with nobby 35-millimeter tires, a lightweight aluminum frame (23.5 pounds), carbon fork and disc brakes for agile control.
Turn your bikepack adventures up a notch with the ADV 3.1, a burlier gravel bike that’s built to handle tough terrain with more gears (22), bigger tires (55 millimeters) and an extremely durable steel frame.
Upgrade to this gravel and road bike hybrid that’s designed to hold up on flat roads and more technical terrain over longer distances, thanks to its 20 gears, 37-millimeter tires and lightweight alloy frame.
Bike bags and panniers
French for baskets, panniers play an important role in carrying the gear you need on your bike as you ride. Panniers carry essentials like clothes, food and extra water. They can even store your tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad too. Bike bags come in all shapes and sizes. They also attach on almost all parts of the main frame of the bike, from forks and stem to seat posts. Need a refresher on bike anatomy? Check out this helpful illustration.
Some folks like saddlebags, which attach to your seat post and sit above your back tire, while others prefer handlebar bags for quick and easy access to gear, snacks and accessories on the go. Most bikepackers and touring riders have a mix of various types of bags to hold all their gear. Pro tip: Waterproof panniers and bike bags come in handy for making sure you won’t have soggy gear if you ride through an unexpected rainstorm.
Bad weather’s got nothing on Ortlieb’s fully waterproof panniers. Made from highly durable and waterproof PVC-coated polyester, these 40-liter panniers are big enough to fit bulky items like sleeping bags, pads and more.
Ditch digging in your pannier and opt for this 6-liter handlebar bag that’s easy to access — even while you’re riding. This bag was designed with water-resistant ripstop nylon to shed light rain and stand up to abrasion.
Hide your panniers on short trips or roll them down for longer rides with this quick-connect Topeak trunk bag. The large, divided main compartment is great for carrying bike repair tools, snacks and items you need quick access to.
Bikepackers can’t say enough about this 14-liter seat pack. It’s fully waterproof, quick to attach and remove for easy access and packing and doesn’t droop while you ride.
This go-to top tube bag for its size and durability is ideal for grabbing a quick snack or energy chew while you ride or storing your phone safely from any unexpected weather that rolls in.
Store a spare water bottle, your phone or snacks within reach. Swift Industries, a female-owned company adored by the bikepacking and bike touring community, made this versatile pouch with all kinds of bike adventures in mind.
Bike racks
Attaching your bike bags to your bike works easier with a rear or front bike rack. You can also buy racks that attach to the front forks or seat stays of your bike too. Brands like Topeak have nifty racks that come with a quick-release slider to attach various kinds of bike bags and panniers to your bike rack. Universal racks allow you to strap, clip and hang bags and panniers (of all varieties and brands) in whatever configuration you’d like.
Opt for a car bike rack if you’re planning to start your ride in a faraway city or state. I’ve had bad experiences trying to shove my bike into the trunk of my car, only to pop my tire in the process. Let me say: It’s not a fun way to start a bikepacking trip to open your trunk to a popped bike tire.
Car bike racks are also great for training purposes too — allowing you to easily carry your bike in your car to trailheads near and far. Bike racks and carriers that attach to the back hitch of your car are my personal favorite. Or you can opt for roof racks that mount on top of your car so you can easily access your trunk as needed.
Clip and go with this easy-to-use rack that utilizes a quick-release lock compatible with a variety of Topeak bags, panniers and accessories.
Designed for Salsa bikes and other non-alternator, drop-out-equipped bikes, this simple rack fits most panniers, bike bags and gear you need for your bikepacking adventure.
One car rack to rule them all — Kuat designed the Piston Pro to transport your bike with ease and efficiency. Its one-tap lever system makes it possible to load your bike, lock it down and go in under a minute.
Keep any type of bike — from e-bike to mountain to road bike — safe and secure on this two-bike rack. Yakima designed the StageTwo with tiered trays to reduce the risk of damage to bikes while traveling to and from the trail. Equipped with Yakima’s StrongArm hooks, your bikes will stay secure at the wheel — so, thankfully, no chance of scuffs on paint or dings on carbon frames.
Bikepacking tents
Most traditional camping tents are either heavy and bulky or have long tent poles that make it hard to carry on your bike. Our experts recommend beginner bikepackers borrow or rent a backpacking tent to try bikepacking with for your first few trips. Once you’re ready to invest in a bikepacking-specific tent, there are plenty of brands that have designed lightweight options with shorter poles for that very purpose. Here are our favorites.
A bikepacking version of Big Agnes’ top-selling Fly Creek tent features shorter poles, weatherproof ripstop nylon and integrated daisy-chain webbing compression sack to easily attach to the handlebars.
Designed with shortened pole segments meant to fit on the front of your handlebars, this bikepacking tent weighs only 3 pounds and 10 ounces.
A 3-pound, two-person tent built for bikepacking adventures near and far. Nemo designed the Dragonfly Osmo with a lighter-weight frame, better water-repellent performance and less stretch when wet.
Bike repair tools
Don’t hit the road without the proper tools to fix your bike and bike tires. The last thing you want is to be stranded in the middle of nowhere, with no service and no way to fix your bike. Make sure to invest in a small multitool, tire patch kit and tire patches at a minimum.
For Junke, bike maintenance knowledge and having the right repair tools in your bikepacking gear checklist is beyond important. “Having the proper tools and know-how to fix your bike and the components on it is always a priority when I talk about bike maintenance with beginner backpackers.”
Park Tool has an incredibly helpful YouTube video on how to fix a flat. This video came in handy for my very first bikepacking trip when I drove up to Wisconsin and realized I had a flat before I even hit the trail. REI also has a super-robust content library on Intro to Bike Maintenance Basics, which covers foundational bike knowledge you need to know.
Tire levers are fundamental for fixing a flat tire. Pedro’s are a fan favorite, thanks to their lightweight, durable and compact design.
A variety pack of tire repair essentials, including six different size patches, adhesive, sandpaper and instructions all packaged in a lightweight, plastic container.
Nine essential tools in one compact design that fits in the palm of your hand. Topeak designed the Mini 9 multitool for day rides and long-distance adventures by bike.
An all-in-one tool kit for any basic bike repair need, including a mini pump, an 11-function mini multitool and two tire levers.
Bikepacking accessories
From dry bags and straps to compact camp stoves and GPS-enabled watches, the list goes on and on for all the things you need to effectively and comfortably bikepack. Our experts recommend you start with the basics and even look to friends and local bikepacking communities to rent or borrow gear before investing in the luxuries.
“I have some friends that spent way too much money getting geared up only to go on their first bikepacking trip and discover that they actually didn’t like pedaling their loaded bikes up and over mountains,” says Daddio, who highly suggests the “try before you buy” approach to bikepacking. “There are more gear libraries than ever before, so do a little homework ahead of time to find out if you can borrow or rent gear first.”
Beyond bikepacking buddies, national outdoor retailers like REI Co-op rent gear too, including big-ticket items like bikes, lightweight camping tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads. That said, having accessories that can make your trip a more comfortable experience is worth it when you are ready to build out your full bikepacking gear closet.
Prevent soaking-wet clothes and gear with this dry bag multipack that comes with 3-, 5- and 8-liter sizes. Roll tops and DWR-treated nylon secures contents and seals out water, dust and dirt while riding.
Fill up water, even in the most remote settings, without concern over water quality with Katadyn’s popular lightweight, portable and collapsible water filter bottle.
Durable and adjustable gear straps meant for rigging up essentials like sleeping pads, sleeping bags, dry bags and your tent to your bike and racks.
Upload your bikepacking route on this solar-powered and GPS-enabled smartwatch with real-time navigation, health monitoring and a life span of up to 22 days.
Attach your smartphone to the frame or handlebar for easy navigation and access with a simple twist and click. Be sure to buy the mount’s compatible Quad Lock phone case too.