This week’s Reader’s Rig comes from Max in Germany, who walks through the Stooge Rambler he built up for off-road touring. Get to know a little about Max, see his custom Stooge, and read his story of finding his way to bikepacking here…

Neil got an early look at a refresh of a classic. For 2026, Salsa is revamping its storied Fargo model with 32″ wheels in both steel and titanium versions. After just a week and around 100 miles on the bike before Sea Otter, Neil’s first look at the new Salsa Fargo 32 is packed with insights. Find his impressions of the new wheel size and frame below…

Joining their EVO X and Pro models, TRP just added two budget-friendly hydraulic options to the EVO family. The COMP and EXPERT models are more affordable but aim to deliver the same stopping power as their spendier counterparts. Dive into the specifics of the 2026 TRP EVO brake additions below…

Teased last year, the Xtracycle OmniTierra is a titanium mid-tail cargo bike designed in collaboration with John Freeman and his border collie, Mira. Pre-orders open today, and we met up with the dogpacking duo ahead of this year’s Sea Otter Classic to hear more about their travels and their purpose-built setup. See it here…

Our spring member drive ends tomorrow, which is the cutoff to join the Bikepacking Collective and have your membership begin with the 16th issue of The Bikepacking Journal. Don’t miss out! We hope you’ll sign up to support us this year. Learn about the upcoming issue, over $9,000 in giveaways, 110+member discounts, and more here…

Our spring member drive wraps up tomorrow, and with its conclusion comes our latest drawing for 20 fresh Collective Reward prize packages worth more than $9,000. See everything we’ll be giving away to randomly selected site supporters here…

Friend&Fiend is a new handmade brand from industrial designer Bailey Van Etten. The initial launch includes a pair of On-Tube Storage bags designed to attach to accessory mounts and expand carrying capacity for snacks, tubes, and other small bits. Learn more here…

Shimano has announced updates and expansions to its GRX and CUES lines, bringing more crank lengths, chainring sizes, and component options. Built for both more aggressive riders and those looking for greater versatility in component choice, explore the details of these groupset updates below…

Inspired by their clipless model, Stomp Lox and Ronnie Romance have brought a flat, trail-running-oriented shoe to the bike space. Dubbed the Trail Worm, this barefoot-style design aims to reconnect users with their natural stride and provide a more grounded feel to everyday use. Nic used the Trail Worms on and off the bike and shares his thoughts in this review…

Wrapping up our current round of Collective Reward giveaways, which includes 15 prize packages worth many thousands of dollars, we’re setting up one randomly selected site supporter with a COROS NOMAD GPS smartwatch. Find details here…

The new Sklar Lightweight Rear Rack has a large top platform, integrated cargo cages, and weighs just over 630 grams. We had a chance to take an early look at the rack during Sklar’s open house this weekend. Find photos and details here…

Two small brands an ocean apart are challenging the status quo with derailleurs built around repairability, compatibility, and mechanical simplicity. In this two-in-one review, we put the Ratio Mech and Madrone Jab to the test on the same bike. The result is a compelling look at what happens when thoughtful engineering meets a growing demand for alternatives to today’s increasingly complex drivetrain ecosystem. Find our full Madrone Jab Review and Ratio Mech Review here…