Neil Beltchenko

Neil’s latest review highlights his experience with the Six Moon Designs Lunar Orbiter, a one-person, single-wall tent. With plenty of nights across a multitude of seasons and bikepacking trips, explore his in-depth video look at this freestanding tent below…

Featuring a thoughtful design, a standout steel fork, and exceptional ride quality, the Sklar PBJ is a unique production ATB that offers a refreshingly simple yet highly capable platform for riding a wide range of terrain. After 350 miles of testing, learn why it left a lasting impression and renewed Neil’s appreciation for what a well-executed rigid bike can do. Find his full Sklar PBJ review here…

Neil’s latest video shares some of our best spring bikepacking routes. From European ventures through isolated Spanish towns to the peaks and valleys of Appalachia, Colorado, and Southern California, this inspirational list is sure to provide a spark for your next getaway. Watch the video below…

Announced last July, Old Man Mountain opened its FLiP cage design to several small bag makers across North America. With six distinctive sets of bags, Neil’s latest roundup put each of these FLiP cage designs to the test and examined how they use the mounting system to their advantage. Explore his findings in video and written formats below…

Neil’s latest video, “Why I Quit Racing,” explores his relationship with a high-performance lifestyle, the sacrifices it demanded, and why he ultimately decided to take a step back and pedal at a slower pace. Find the 12-minute video, a gallery of photos from throughout the years, and a written version of his story here…

The new microSHIFT Advent MX and MX Black groupsets are a redesign of the brand’s budget-focused Advent and Advent X systems. With claims of better shifting, increased durability, and a wider range, Neil put this fresh mountain bike group through its paces to see if it delivers the same affordable quality. Find his video and written reviews here…

After years of trying various techniques and packing styles, Neil shares the latest version of his layering system. For an in-depth breakdown of every element of his lightweight, all-weather-oriented kit, watch the video below…

With plenty of overlap between the backpacking and bikepacking worlds, Neil recently tested some alternative water storage solutions that have proven popular among backpackers. From compatibility with water filters to ease of use, Neil walks through the pros and cons of six bottles that stood out after months of extensive testing. Find his video and breakdown of each bottle below…

In Neil’s latest video, fresh off the Monumental Loop, he takes an extended pit stop with single-speed ultra-racer Alex Kowalski for an in-depth chat about his cycling history and future plans. For more on Neil’s latest interview, dive into all the details below…

After a couple of seasons with the Katabatic Gear Palisade Quilt, Neil shares his long-term review, including thoughts on why he prefers quilts, the features that make the Palisade the best he’s used, and everything else you need to know. Find it all here…

Concluding our 2025 Editor’s Dozen series, bundle up and dig into fall/winter favorites, featuring several cold-weather gear standouts that include a Minnesota-made Polartec hat, stealthy winter boots, smart repair tricks, camera upgrades, and a do-all fat bike. Plus, find a little reminder to take care of yourself when the temps drop and to-do lists grow…

For Collective Reward #233, we teamed up with Luxefly Basecamp, winners of our 2025 “Best in Bikepacking Kitchen” award, to give away five camp meal bundles to randomly selected members of the Bikepacking Collective. Find all the tasty details here…