Josh Meissner

What’s a sleeping bag beyond goose down in a nylon shell? A whole lot more, as Josh Meissner found out on a ride to Gdynia, Poland, where he connected with the passionate folks behind established ultralight manufacturer Cumulus Outdoor. Settle in for an exclusive tour of their factory and go-to overnighter spot, thoughts on the nuanced ethics of down, and a relational take on local production and repairability, all set against a lovely backdrop of summer on the Baltic Sea…

After a quiet year of going deeper around his home in Germany, Josh Meissner reflects on our vexed relationship with gear and rounds up his favorite products and practices that have helped shift his perspective in subtle and big ways in 2024. Find Josh’s time-tested and fresh highlights in his Editor’s Dozen here…

After a long weekend spent uncovering the most brilliant bikes and other goods from Bespoked Dresden 2024, we’re happy to present our second roundup of mind-expanding work from Europe’s largest handmade bicycle show. Find another loaded gallery and join us in meeting the gifted makers of our favorite bikes from the show here…

Are we getting lost often enough? Exploring more mindful navigation, Josh Meissner joins a mysterious gathering on the outskirts of Berlin called SteppenLOST. Join him as he gets turned around in the forest, and find a delightful set of photos from the event here…

Longing to bolt water bottles, cargo cages, or mini panniers to your rear rack? In this Gear Tip, Josh explains how to make the Ortlieb Quick-Rack and other racks even more bikepacking-friendly using nothing but included parts and a few extra bolts. Find a detailed walkthrough here…

After a month of bikepacking in Spain, Josh follows up with details on the Rohloff-equipped ATB he designed and built with Big Forest Frameworks in Germany. Read on to find out how big tires changed his trajectory, musings on affordances, and a striking set of photos from off-seasonal Spain here…

It may be the first of April, but sun protection is serious business. After extensive testing in Spain, Josh Meissner shares his experience with Da Brim, a polarizing helmet-mounted visor that casts shade and ignites opinions in equal measure. Read on to learn more about the sexiest cycling accessory under the sun…

Ever wondered what goes into crafting a bike frame by hand? At the beginner-friendly framebuilding course at Big Forest Frameworks in Berlin, Josh Meissner built a custom 29+ ATB from scratch and documented the process from start to finish. Find his detailed report and photos from the workshop here…

Mads Hulsrøj Jæger, the Danish framebuilder behind Hulsroy Cycles, recently released a sleek side-loading stainless steel bottle cage, which he makes by hand. Find an overview of the well-crafted accessory and a soothing video on how it’s made here…

In our final Editor’s Dozen from 2023, Josh Meissner reflects on 12 highlights that shaped his eventful last year of touring all over Europe. Ranging from practical gear to immaterial inspiration, find his collection of favorites that blur the lines of bikepacking here…

Dynamo-curious? In this easy-to-follow guide, we shine some light on what makes always-on dynamo lighting and charging a perfect fit for bikepacking and more. Read on to find essential concepts about dynamo hubs, guiding questions, and advice for assembling a transformative dynamo setup that’s right for you…

In the second installment of our Bespoked 2023 coverage from Germany, Josh Meissner walks us through his top 10 highlights from the handmade bike show that extend beyond bikes and gear. Read on for his thoughts and photos spurred by the immense talent and collaboration on display at this year’s gathering…