Neil Beltchenko

The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar is one of Garmin’s new head units with solar charging capabilities, and Neil has been using one for more than a year now. In this review, he shares all the details bikepackers need to know, including some surprising real-world battery run-time findings. Find it all here…

Kicking off the new year, Neil takes a look back at some of 2023’s key moments in our corner of the cycling world, including the state of the bike industry, a recap of some popular events, the status of bikepacking routes, new BIKEPACKING.com features, and more. Plus, he makes some predictions for the year ahead. See it all in our latest video here…

After another big year of trying out newly released gear and using some old products, Neil shares 12 standouts from 2023 in our latest Editor’s Dozen video, including everything from his favorite apparel to cargo-carrying equipment, bike accessories, and more…

The innovative new Tailfin Fork Pack is a modular bag system featuring a low-profile aluminum mount that bolts to a fork or frame and a waterproof bag with an integrated X-Clamp system, allowing it to attach and detach quickly and securely. We had the chance to test the system for a few months before launch. Find our full review here…

How does the slackest bike we’ve ever ridden perform out on the trail? The answer might surprise you. Learn more in our review of the Pipedream Sirius S6, the brand’s latest hardtail that improves on the S5 we reviewed last year with the same unique geometry rolled into a beautiful titanium frame with loads of mounts…

In this piece, Neil recaps the unprecedented 2023 Triple Crown challenge results, highlights the top finishers of the Arizona Trail Race, and sits down with Katya Rakhmatulina, who won the 2023 Arizona Trail Race 800 and set a new Triple Crown Challenge Record.

The Santa Cruz Stigmata, the brand’s longstanding gravel bike, was recently updated with new geometry and some intriguing features that further expand its capabilities. Version four (V4) was marketed for “big races, big distances, or big dumb rides,” and we couldn’t resist putting it to the test. Neil’s been extensively testing the latest Santa Cruz Stigmata for several months for this full review…

Throughout the past decade, our team at BIKEPACKING.com has learned from many mistakes, and we continue to make them from time to time. Here, we discusses these mishaps, reflect on what led to them, and offer some advice for avoiding similar misfortunes…

Despite their gravity/enduro label, Neil found the new canvas Shimano GE5 shoes to perform exceptionally well while bikepacking. In his latest video review, Neil shares his experience with them and what makes them a good multi-disciplinary shoe. Watch it here and find a written review, pros and cons, and a selection of photos…

When bikepacking, your sleeping quarters are nearly as vital as your bike. After all, you often spend more time in your shelter than you do pedaling. In this review, Neil delves into pyramid shelters and, specifically, what sets the Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid XL apart as an excellent option for two people. Read it here…

Can a saddle with built-in suspension offer more comfort on long rides? The BikeYoke Sagma features integrated elastomers designed to reduce vibrations and remedy saddle suffering. In our latest review, we dig into the details after trail riding and bikepacking with the Sagma Carbon for several months…