Whats in you mnt. backpacking kits

1. Revelate Designs Harness for strapping tent+drybag to handlebars 2. Revelate Designs Terrapin for strapping drybag to the seat post 3. 10L cycling pack for water, camera, food, rain jacket, spare tube, etc. 4. Tarptent Moment because it is quick to setup and does not need trekking poles 5. Sea to Summit eVent drybag for sleeping clothes, puffy jacket, and sleeping bag 6. Everything else jammed into seat post drybag. 7. Bear spray in the frame water bottle holder (we got big critters in these mountains). Bikepacking makes me go more "minimalist" than when I am walking with a pack on my back. On the bike there is less overall volume to carry all that extra stuff I may otherwise bring.

I use a rigid suspension mountain bike and I'm riding rail trails and gravel roads and not traveling singletrack, so I'm using a conventional rear rack and a small front rack with Arkel Dry-Lites panniers and a couple dry bags. The variances from my hiking kit are differnt rain gear and the addition of a couple bike tools and tire repair items. I dont see the need for frame bags and the high mounted bike packing seat and handlebar packs unless the bike has a full suspension and is ridden in narrow quarters. The rack and pannier alternative is more stable, has a lower center of gravity and is very adaptable. As with backtracking, you need to avoid large bags and over packing.

This year my wife and I have been working to refine our kit for a planned GDMBR tour. It’s been a lot of fun to get out and ride. We haven’t found one single resource for bikepacking but we’ve learned a whole lot from other’s experiences on the trail.

One key lesson we’ve learned is to get everything off your back and onto the bike. It is a lot more comfortable to not carry a backpack. There are some great bag designs from folks like Revelate Designs and Porcelain Rocket for the bikepacking style — no racks required.

We already had lot of gear for backpacking. What’s differnt is how things are organized to use space all over the bike in different bags. There are many things on the list that can be shared by 2 — shelter, first aid, kitchen, tools, and more.

The final list will vary a little but we’re getting pretty comforable that this is close to what we will use. I don’t list what we are wearing. Like Dale and Ryan mention above, you learn to be pretty space efficient on a bike. We will be tweaking some details including how to charge electronics with a combination of a battery pack and a dynamo hub.

<b>On the bike</b>
GPS Garmin eTrex 30 or Garmin Edge
Headlight
Tail light
Bottle cages x 2
Water bottles x 2

<b>Top bag – Revelate Designs Fuel Tank</b>
Snacks
Camera

<b>Cockpit/Handlebar – Revelate Designs Mountain Feed Bag
</b>Snacks
3rd water bottle
Sunscreen
Water treatment – Aqua Mira or AM tablets

<b>Frame bag</b>
2L Platypus water bottle
Pump
Tire levers
Patch kit
Spare tube
Hex wrenches – 4mm, 5mm, 3 mm, 2mm
Chain tool + extra links
Screwdriver – flat blade & Phillips
Spokes w/nipples cut to fit
Spoke wrench
Zip ties
Small collection of bolts
Cleaning toothbrush
Small bottle lube
Small rag
Tarp pole

<b>Seatbag – Revelate Designs Viscacha</b>
More food
Trash compactor bag for a liner
Shorts/bibs – 2nd pair
Arm warmers or Sun sleeves
Socks, 2nd pair
Sleeping socks
Rain jacket with hood
Rain knickers
Camp pants
LS shirt
Down jacket
Liner gloves
Boxer briefs
Headlamp
Warm cap
Mosquito head net
Wind vest
Bandana
Repair kit for mattress
Small towel [½ shamwow]
Pot
Stove – Pocket Rocket
Fuel – 1 canister
Spoons
Mugs
Knife
Fire starter
Tinder
Repair tape & cement
Bear bag & rope

<b>First aid/Health
</b>Sunscreen
Antibiotic ointment
Chamois cream
Soap
Leukotape
DEET spray
Band-aids
Telfa pads
Immodium
Benadryl
Rx meds
Micro Swiss Army knife with scissors

<b>Handlebar bag – Revelate Desings Sweetroll
</b>Sleeping quilt
Mattress
Down jacket
Stuffsack with Tarp, guylines, stakes (attached to front of Sweetroll)

My kit for the bike isn’t much different than my kit for backpacking.  I pack most of the same layering kit I would for backpacking, but add a few cycling specific layering pieces (armwarmers, toe booties, cycling gloves, knickers, etc. weather dependent).  Down quilt and tarp get stuffed in the seatbag, sleeping pad goes in the handlebar harness along w/ down jacket.  Everything else (food, cook kit, stakes/poles, windshell, first aid, tool kit, camera, etc.) get spread out around the bike.  Smaller readily accessible items go in the top tube bag and/or handlebar harness pocket, and the rest of the small items get stuff in the frame bag.  If you have your UL backpacking kit pretty well dialed, it shouldn’t be a problem transferring it over to the bike as long as you scrutinize everything.  You can of course spill some items over into a backpack, but it’s preferable IME, to get everything onto the bike for a stable ride and you back will thank you at the end of a long day in the saddle.

Hauling water, more than 48oz. worth, can be a bit of a chore.  Fork cages and down tube cage setups can extend your volume carrying abilities.

Tweak your kit a bit and dial it in.  Like anything involving gear, your mileage may vary and you may find little ROI in fussing around too much with kit.