How Do I Stuff This?
5 bags for bikepacking and what to stick in them
5 bags for bikepacking and what to stick in them
You can bring a lot of gear on your bikepacking treks with the right setup. What you run can depend on your bike and what you need to be comfortable on your journey. Here’s a look at five bags, along with packing tips from pro roadie Rob Britton, who has a lot of experience with multi-day trips. In 2018, he prepared for the road world championships with a 1,700-km ride from Calgary to Port Renfrew, B.C. This past fall, the Rally Cycling rider and two friends travelled around Japan for nine days. “Which end of the bike you pack what gear, I think, is personal preference,” he says.
T Ahe waterproof stuff sack of the Vaude Trailsaddle 12 seat bag ($ 140, sp ortdinaco.com) attaches to a frame that stays strapped to your bike. Once you park for the night, you can take the 12-l bag off easily and get at your things. Britton’s Tip “Allmy clothes are in here as well as some off-bike sneakers( in a separate dry bag ),” he says of the contents of his seat bag. “I will usually pack it in reverse order of w ha ti may need for the day. so camp/ off-bike clothes go in first, and the leg warmers, rain coat, extra gloves and hat go in last. try to com press and roll this down as much as possible to avoid majors way, especially when you’re standing on the pedals .”
The Geosmina Large Top Tube bag B
($ 80, brodiebicycles.com) has an inner chassis that adds to the structure and stability of the 1-l piece. Inside, a divider can keep the contents in order. Britton’s Tip “This is a hipster bike packing ben to box ,” he says of his top-tube-bag. “it holds my Snickers, an di love it .” he also carries at top-tube tool bag with his all-important Leather man and ground coffee.
The Axiom Seymour Ocean weave Frame pack P 3.5 C ($70, axiom gear. com) is made from reclaimed fishnets. The material has a waterproof coating, while the seams are water-resistant. Six hook-and-loop straps keep the 3.5-l bag from swinging. Britton’s Tip “Sometime si will keep a raincoat in here. For the most part, it’ s just accessories and stuff that doesn’ t fit nicely into the other bags ,” he says of his frame bag. Items include rope–“For things,” he says–and a fl ask of bourbon.
The Vaude Trailfront 19 handlebar bag D ($ 120, sportdinaco.com) may work best on a riser-bar bike as its 19-l stuff sack has a length of 65 cm, but the Trailfront’s frame does sit nicely between 40 cm bars. The well-designed straps on both pieces keep everything neat when the bag is bundled between the drops. Britton’s Tip “Ikeepmy entire sleep system this bag. people ask why id on’ tu sea bivy.s imply put, my tent weighs slightly more and takes up only slightly more space and is infinitely more comfortable than ab ivy, especially when it’ s cold and wet outside .”