Bikepacking is on your bucket list for this year, but you don't know what you need on the go? 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, as well as 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've 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 an entire 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 looks completely different!
Three points have a big impact on your packing list:
- the season
- the location
- individual conditions
- That's why you should think in advance: When are you going bikepacking? And where are you going? How warm is it there and how much rain is 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 need to prepare!
- Furthermore, there are always personal conditions that influence the packing list. One person needs special medications, while another gets cold quickly and should 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 here. 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 so that you are well equipped on your bikepacking trip?
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 big parts of the bikepacking packing list - Overnight 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 anyone who rides a lot also needs 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 packed size and still offer enough space and comfort for one to two people. With most trekking tents, the tent poles are backpack-friendly short, but it doesn't hurt to check if the poles really fit into your bike bags! If the weather stays dry, you might also be fine with a tarp, a sheet that you can stretch over yourself.
Sleeping pad
Hardened bikepackers may sleep on the ground if necessary. Today, there are ultralight sleeping pads with a tiny packed 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! But make sure you choose a light model with a small packed size and that the thermal insulation suits your personal warmth needs and the weather conditions.
Pillow
If you like to have a pillow when 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 it comes to camping equipment for a bikepacking holiday, make sure to buy particularly light products!
With the right packing list, you'll sleep like a king even out there!
Food - delicious bikepacking accessories
You can choose here: Do you completely take care of yourself on the go? Or do you stop for one or another meal (or simply 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 you can enjoy a warm meal far, far outside.
Today, there is a huge selection of trekking kitchen equipment, which is also excellent for bikepacking gear. A set is particularly recommended where the stove, gas cartridge, cup, bowl, and pot are nested inside each other. The spork is usually also tucked away somewhere space-saving. A good knife or pocket knife you need to 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 dishwashing liquid.
There are also large weight differences with gas stoves, choose the lightest one 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 that, 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 else cook?
Creating a precise packing list for bikepackers is particularly difficult here because, as we all know, tastes differ. The need for calories is also very individual. Depending on the length of your 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 rather 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 on hand so that you are not tempted to grab chocolate bars, cookies, and the like at the next gas station. Nuts, trail mix, fruit, muesli bars, homemade energy balls, or energy bars are higher-quality foods than a chocolate croissant!
Various 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 ready-made meals in bags available. You just need to heat them or stir 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 assemble such meals yourself.
Sufficient liquid should not be missing from your bikepacking gear! Hydration systems or water bottles can be stored on the bike or in the luggage (you can read about the pros and cons of the containers here). If you don't want to miss out on coffee or tea while on the go, you need to pack the appropriate utensils – or plan for 'to-go'. If you're really far 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, while others find that the cookware unnecessarily inflates the bikepacking packing list.
Clothing Packing List for Bikepacking
The gear you personally need for pleasant days and a comfortable night is a very individual 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 you will come to appreciate on multi-day cycling tours!
- Cycling clothing is cut so that it doesn't press, cut, or slip while in the saddle
- Like all sportswear, cycling clothing is breathable
- Functional fibers are easy to wash and dry quickly
- Functional clothing is generally particularly lightweight
- There are fibers that prevent the development of odors, your fellow riders will be grateful!
Pants, Shirts, and Sweaters
When you set off, you wear a complete outfit, i.e., pants (long, shorts, or zip-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're on the road for more than one day. Then one more shirt for the night, that's it. The longer you plan your tour, the more extensive the list of clothes will naturally become. Some hand washing detergent ensures freshness on longer bikepacking tours, and you can wear clothing items multiple times.
Choose the Cycling Shorts + Shoes Carefully!
Bikepacking means long hours in the saddle. Therefore, you should wear cycling shorts, preferably with padding. And you should definitely test the combination of shorts + 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 water and swell a bit by evening.
For 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 shorts | Jerseys | Cycling shoes | Cycling jacket
Which jacket belongs on the bikepacking list?
- A good rain jacket should always be ready for outdoor sports. For bikepacking, a cycling rain jacket is especially recommended because the shape fits the riding position.
- A windbreaker is very pleasant in windy conditions or on fast descents, but it cannot replace the rain jacket, as it is usually not waterproof. Conversely, it works: The rain jacket is generally also windproof!
- A fleece jacket on the bike? Unfortunately, it doesn't work alone, as the wind whistles right through fleece fabric. However, fleece is perfectly suitable as a warming base layer!
Rain clothing
Why a cycling rain jacket is important, we probably don't need to explain. But rain pants also belong on the accessory list because a wet bottom is really no fun when bikepacking! And don't forget to keep your feet dry, overshoes will help you there. Also – so small yet so important – if you're out in unpredictable weather, you should have waterproof gloves!
↪ You can buy cycling rainwear directly in the online shop
Body care and medical supplies
On our bikepacking packing list, there aren't many hygiene products, but a few basics should not be missing on a multi-day tour.
Hygiene products & sunscreen
Pack what you normally need – a toothbrush and toothpaste are the minimum! If a shower is planned, a shower gel-shampoo combo is practical. It comes 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 the friendship! Also, toilet paper and/or paper tissues and wet wipes can be a great helper in emergency situations. What should 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 accessory 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 with you. Additionally, it doesn't hurt to pack a painkiller or two for emergencies. The blog has a 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 while on the go. Microfiber towels have the advantage of drying extremely quickly and having a small pack size.
Accessories for hygiene, bike, and technology in bikepacking – important little things 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 little things are still missing, then you can start the bikepacking adventure!
Technology – Nothing Works Without a Phone
Even in bikepacking, electronic devices are useful. 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 juice on the go, you should have a charging cable and a (solar) power bank ready. The bike lighting should 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 entrust your way to a bike GPS.
Here is the list of technical equipment that we need again and again on the go.
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 Lights
Documents and Cash – So You Can Travel Lightly
A little cash in the local currency, an EC or credit card, and your ID/passport should not be missing on any tour. Don't forget a note with emergency contacts and appropriate travel documents, such as train tickets or addresses. You should definitely pack these important documents in a waterproof container or a dry bag – who knows how heavy 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! Definitely take the essential tools and a multitool with you on the 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! A small lock should also never be missing if you want to leave your bike unattended.
The Bikepacking Checklist at a Glance
Here is the complete bikepacking checklist to tick off:
|
Sleeping Tent/tarp Sleeping bag Sleeping mat Pillow |
Food Gas stove/grill Lighter! Cup/pot/cutlery Dish soap Snacks Hiking 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. Mobile phone + cable Power bank Headlamp Bicycle lights Money and papers GPS |
Bicycle Tools Spare parts Pump |
Here in the blog, you will find more bikepacking starter tips:
- Bikepacking Bikes - which one can start the adventure with you?
- Which multitool do you need on the go?
- Cycling gloves
- The first aid kit for cycling tours
No matter if you are planning an overnighter, a whole weekend, or a longer bikepacking tour, we wish you lots of fun!
