Bikepacking is on your bucket list for this year, but you don't know what you need on the way? No problem, here comes our tried and tested bikepacking packing list! Of course, you want to have the most important equipment with you. On the other hand, space and load capacity are limited. Here we provide you with an overview of the equipment that should definitely not be missing from the bikepacking packing list.
What you actually pack in the end is a very individual matter. Your very personal requirements for sleeping comfort, but also the weather, your budget, or your taste in clothing... there are a lot of things that are recommended for a bikepacking packing list.
The most important principle is: Less is more! Because every kilo of luggage makes your journey more difficult!
The 3 Basics of the Bikepacking Packing List
Maybe you have traveled from Germany to the warm south in winter before - and found that you packed completely unsuitable clothing and sweated for days. Not so bad if you have a suitcase or a whole car for your luggage and are also near some shops. With a total of 20 liters of bag content and far from civilization when bikepacking, the situation is completely different!
Three points have a major impact on your packing list:
- the season
- the location
- individual conditions
- That's why you should consider in advance: When are you going bikepacking? And where are you going? How warm is it there and how much rain is to be expected? Temperature and weather are one side, they significantly influence your packing list!
- The other side is: Where are you traveling and how lonely will it be along your route? The more you are on your own, the better you must prepare!
- In addition, there are always personal conditions that influence the packing list. One person needs special medication, while another gets cold quickly and should therefore pack an extra layer of clothing...
The number one on the bikepacking packing list is ...
... of course the bicycle. Going into more detail about bicycles and their advantages would go too far. You can find out everything about this topic in another article.
⬊ Bikepacking Bikes & Information ⬋
Blog: Which Bicycle for Bikepacking? | Gravel Bikes | Hardtails | Trekking Bikes
Accessory Point Number Two: The right bags. Also a topic of its own! And now it gets exciting! What must go into the bags to ensure you are well-equipped while bikepacking?
To give you a good overview, we have divided our packing list into the following sections:
- Sleeping Comfort
- Food
- Clothing
- Personal Care, Medical Supplies
- Technology, Documents, Money, Bike Maintenance
The Major Parts of the Bikepacking Packing List – Sleeping with Comfort
No bikepacking without camping gear! Here is the equipment you should definitely have with you if you want to embark on an adventure under the open starry sky with your bike.
This equipment belongs on your packing list for more sleeping comfort
…because if you cycle a lot, you also need to rest!
Tent or Tarp
As soon as you plan an overnight stay (without a hotel, of course) on your bikepacking tour, you need a small tent. Various manufacturers offer special bikepacking tents that are particularly small in pack size yet provide sufficient space and comfort for one to two people. Most trekking tents have backpack-friendly short tent poles, but it doesn't hurt to check if the poles really fit into your bike bags! If the weather stays dry, a tarp, a sheet you can stretch over yourself, might suffice.
Sleeping Pad
Hardcore bikepackers might sleep on the ground if necessary. However, today there are ultralight sleeping pads with a tiny pack size, so you can really afford this luxury. The sleeping pad is an insulating layer between you and the ground, keeping you not only warm but also dry when dew rises in the early morning hours!
Sleeping Bag
No question, a good sleeping bag belongs in every bikepacking packing list! However, make sure to choose a light model with a small pack size and that the thermal insulation suits your personal warmth needs and the weather conditions.
Pillow
If you like having a pillow while bikepacking, you should browse the internet a bit! There are compressible or inflatable pillows that weigh little, take up hardly any space in the bag, and are still very comfortable.
When choosing camping gear for your bikepacking holiday, make sure to buy particularly light products!
With the right packing list, you'll sleep like a king even out there somewhere!
Food – Delicious Bikepacking Accessories
You have a choice here: Do you completely self-cater on the go? Or do you stop for a meal or two (or just for ALL of them??)?
Cookware, Gas Stove, and Grill
Depending on the area you are traveling in, it may happen that you set up your camp far from civilization and there is no pizzeria nearby. Then you will be glad if you have your own cookware and a gas stove and can get a warm meal far, far out.
Today there is a huge selection of trekking kitchen equipment, which is also excellent for bikepacking gear. Here, a set is particularly recommended, where stove, gas cartridge, cup, bowl, and pot are nested into each other. The spork is usually also tucked away somewhere to save space. A good knife or pocket knife you must take separately. If you are only out for one night, you can probably do without it, but for several days you need a small bottle of dish soap.
There are also large weight differences in gas stoves, choose one as light as possible!
Small camping grills are also available, and the idea of an evening by the fire after a strenuous bikepacking day is quite romantic. But especially in summer, fires are now banned in many places! If you rely on it, you might end up crawling into your tent after a cold dinner!
Attention! Don't forget the lighter!
Food and Liquid – do you cook or let someone cook for you?
Here, a precise packing list for bikepackers is particularly difficult, because as we all know, taste is subjective. The need for calories is also very individual. Depending on the length of the bikepacking trip, you should plan enough supply stations or take the appropriate ration with you. Usually, you don't spend your bikepacking adventure in the outback, but pass by bakeries, restaurants, or supermarkets during the day.
Even if you can shop on the go, you should always have a few calories in small portions at hand, so you are not tempted at the next gas station to reach for chocolate bars, cookies, and the like. Nuts, trail mix, fruit, granola bars, homemade energy balls, or energy bars are higher quality foods than a chocolate croissant!
Different bars during the day and, for example, pasta or rice in the evening are a good solution. Both do not take up much space, provide you with carbohydrates, and fill you up. Besides snacks for on the go, it is worth planning meals in advance, as you have two different, very practical options:
- There are many different meals that are sold ready-made in a pouch. You just need to heat them up or mix them with hot water – done. Vegan, gluten-free, breakfast or lunch, the selection is huge! Just search online for trekking meals and be surprised!
- You can also find numerous guides online that help you put together such meals yourself.
Adequate liquid must not be missing from your bikepacking gear! Hydration systems or water bottles can be stored on the bike or in your luggage (you can read about the pros and cons of the containers here). If you don't want to go without coffee or tea on the go, you need to pack the appropriate utensils - or plan for 'to-go'. If you are really far away from civilization, a water filter can help, allowing you to drink water from a mountain stream, for example.
For some, the gas stove is a must, others find that cooking gear unnecessarily inflates the bikepacking packing list.
Clothing Packing List for Bikepacking
The gear you need for comfortable days and a cozy night is a very personal matter! Which clothing belongs in your bikepacking gear primarily depends on the weather (and thus on the region, weather conditions, and season).
Our tip: Only 'real' functional clothing, or cycling clothing, belongs on the bikepacking packing list!
Functional clothing for cyclists has many advantages that will grow dear to your heart on multi-day bike tours!
- Cycling clothing is cut so that it does not press, cut, or slip in the saddle
- Like all sportswear, cycling clothing is breathable
- Functional fibers are easy to wash and dry quickly
- Functional clothing is usually particularly lightweight
- There are fibers that prevent the formation of odors, your fellow riders will be grateful!
Pants, Shirts, and Sweaters
When you set off, you wear a complete outfit, so pants (long, shorts, or Zipp-off pants), jersey (or shirt, sweater, or long-sleeve shirt) and socks. And you can pack this exact outfit again as change of clothes if you are on the road for more than one day. Then just a shirt for the night, that's it. The longer you plan your tour, the more extensive the list of clothing becomes. Some hand-washing detergent ensures freshness on longer bikepacking tours and you can wear clothes multiple times.
Choose the cycling pants + shoes carefully!
Bikepacking means long hours in the saddle. That's why you should wear cycling pants, preferably ones with padding. And you should definitely test the combination of pants + your saddle extensively before the big bike trip!
The same goes for the shoes. Choose comfortable shoes and break them in well. They should leave a little extra room, as feet tend to retain some water and become thicker towards the evening.
For the breaks, it has proven useful to have a pair of light sandals or just flip-flops so your feet can breathe.
⬊ Cycling Clothing for Bikepacking Tours ⬋
Cycling pants | Jerseys | Cycling Shoes | Cycling Jacket
Which Jacket Belongs on the Bikepacking List?
- A good rain jacket should always be part of outdoor sports. For bikepacking, a cycling rain jacket is especially recommended because its shape fits the riding posture.
- A windbreaker is very pleasant in the wind or on fast descents, but it cannot replace the rain jacket, as it is usually not waterproof. Conversely, it works: The rain jacket is usually also windproof!
- A fleece jacket on the bike? Unfortunately, it doesn't work alone, as the wind whistles right through fleece fabric. However, as a warming base layer, fleece is perfectly suitable!
Rain Gear
We probably don't need to explain why a cycling rain jacket is important. But the rain pants also belong on the accessory list, because a wet bottom is really no fun when bikepacking! And don't forget to ensure dry feet as well, overshoes will help you with that. Also – so small yet so important – if you're traveling in unstable weather, you should have waterproof gloves!
↪ You can buy cycling rain gear directly in the online shop
Body Care and Medical Supplies
Our bikepacking packing list doesn't include many hygiene items, but a few basics should not be missing on a multi-day tour.
Hygiene Items & Sunscreen
Pack what you usually need – a toothbrush and toothpaste are the minimum! If a shower is planned, a shower gel-shampoo combo is practical. They come either in solid soap form or as a mini travel bottle that takes up little space. If you're not traveling alone, deodorant will maintain friendships! Also, toilet paper and/or tissues and wet wipes can be a great help in emergencies. What must not be missing is the sunscreen – your skin will thank you.
First Aid & Medications
You never know what might happen, so a small first aid kit is an important item on the bikepacking gear list! Band-aids, a bandage, clips, and disinfectant spray can help you after a fall. If you need to take special medications, you should of course bring them along. Additionally, it doesn't hurt to pack a painkiller or two for emergencies. There's a blog post that helps you choose the right emergency bag!
Towel
A small towel should definitely be included, if only to enjoy a bath in the river along the way. Microfiber towels have the advantage of drying extremely quickly and having a small pack size.
Accessories for hygiene, bike, and technology during bikepacking – important small items for your packing list!
Technology, Documents & the Needs of Your Best Bikepacking Buddy
If you pack the things listed so far, your well-being is taken care of. A few small items are still missing, then you can start the bikepacking adventure!
Technology – Nothing Works Without a Phone
Electronic devices are also useful when bikepacking. Everyone has a smartphone today, whether for emergency calls, as a camera, as a flashlight, or for navigation, your phone is an indispensable helper! To ensure it doesn't run out of power on the go, you should have a charging cable and a (solar) power bank ready. The bike lighting should of course not be missing, and a headlamp is really practical if you want to set up the tent in the dark.
If you don't want to rely on your phone's navigation, you can trust your route to a bike GPS.
Here is the list of technical equipment that we need again and again on the road.
The following technical accessories are fixed on our bikepacking list:
- Smartphone including charging cable
- Power bank including charging cable
- Battery lighting (if your bike doesn't have a hub dynamo)
- Headlamp
Possibly also important:
- Navigation device
- Adapter (socket, USB to mini USB, etc.)
- Camera including batteries and charging cable
Bikepacking Technology
Bike GPS | Phone Mount | Bike Lamps
Documents and Cash – So You Can Travel Carefree
A little cash in the local currency, an EC or credit card, and your ID/passport should not be missing on any tour. Also, don't forget a note with emergency contacts and the appropriate travel documents, such as train tickets or addresses. You should definitely pack these important documents in a waterproof container or dry bag – who knows how hard it will rain.
Tools, Spare Parts & Lock
Your best friend on a bikepacking tour is, of course, a well-functioning bicycle. But a breakdown is not a disaster; you can fix many minor problems yourself – if you have the necessary equipment! Be sure to take the essential tools and a multitool with you on tour! Additionally, a good mini pump, a chain lock, and a suitable spare tube (or many!) are important. If you ride tubeless, you should have some sealant, and a few drops of chain oil will always delight your bike! Also, a small lock should never be missing if you ever want to leave your bike unattended.
The Bikepacking Packing List at a Glance
Here is the complete bikepacking packing list for checking off:
|
Sleeping Tent/Tarp Sleeping Bag Sleeping Mat Pillow |
Food Gas Stove/Grill Lighter! Cup/Pot/Cutlery Dish Soap Snacks Trekking Food Drinks, Water Filter Trash Bags |
|
Clothing Rain Gear Change of Outfit Hand Wash Detergent |
Hygiene Toothbrush, Toothpaste Shower Gel+Shampoo Sunscreen Tissues/Wet Wipes First Aid Kit Towel |
|
Technology etc. Phone+Cables Powerbank Headlamp Bike lights Money and papers GPS |
Bicycle Tools Spare parts Pump |
Here on the blog, you can find more bikepacking help:
- Bikepacking Bikes - which one can join you on the adventure?
- Which multitool do you need on the go?
- Cycling gloves
- The first-aid kit for cycling tours
You shouldn't miss the posts "Bicycle Accessory Guide 2026" and the Bicycle Helmet Guide 2026 if you are interested in the latest trends in bicycle accessories! Whether you're planning an overnighter, a whole weekend, or a longer bikepacking tour, we wish you lots of fun!
