How to Bikepack

Multi-Day Mountain Biking

Multi-day mountain biking is bikepacking at its core: carrying only the bare necessities on a bike that’s light enough to explore the trails you’d seek out on a day ride. Routes may vary in length, from a 40-mile, sub-24-hour overnighter (S24O) to a multi-week jaunt spanning several hundred miles. They may begin close to home and be logistically straightforward to organize, utilizing both favorite rides and unknown trails. Or, they may require planning and travel to destinations to ride established bikepacking trails.

Almost all mountain bikes can be made into capable bikepacking rigs. This said, your bike of choice may well impact the type of route you’ll enjoy most. On the dirt roads of The White Rim, for instance, almost any rigid bike will do. But on the technical singletrack of The Appalachian Beer Trail or The Colorado Trail, full-suspension bikes make more sense. In snowy, coastal, or sandy conditions, such as the Camino Diablo, fat tires may well be a necessity.

Ultralight, Race, & Gravel

Self-supported ultra racing was popularized by the The Tour Divide, a 2,745-mile bikepacking race from Banff, Canada, to the Mexican border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico. Since then, races have sprung up all over the US, and increasingly, around the world. This style of bikepacking typically involves the use of a lightweight mountain bike – be it full suspension or hardtail – complemented with an efficient, ultralight gear kit. Race routes are typically 200+ miles over a mixture of surfaces and terrain, often including gravel and some pavement.

So, what makes the perfect bike for ultralight bikepacking and racing? Terrain and surface conditions vary greatly between routes, which changes the requirements of a bikepacking rig. For example, the GDMBR is known for its long stretches of gravel, while the Huracan 300 has plenty of sand and singletrack. Here are three different, versatile examples. Each has its own niche:

Expedition & Dirt Touring

Traveling overseas by bicycle has always been an incredible way to connect with people and experience cultures, unfiltered... even more so when your itinerary explores low traffic, unpaved roads, and involves unearthing rugged and remote places seldom seen by other travelers. And that's exactly where a bikepacking-inspired setup excels, rather than the more cumbersome, traditional four-pannier setup that has long been favored by cycle tourists.

The list of three bikes below is a little one-sided, as each has the ability to run larger volume tires than would be considered typical for long-distance touring. But there is rationale behind it. Fat tires add comfort and suspension without requiring the usual maintenance of an air shock or fork. They also facilitate floatation, which opens up more terrain like sand and snow. The frames we’ve listed are also all chromoly, which is both repairable and better suited to being slung on the roof of a bus, or boxed up for a flight.

Note that these bikes may not be for everyone. If your intended path leans more toward pavement and gravel roads, there are other options. In many situations, a standard mountain bike with a 2" or larger tire will certainly suffice. And, given recent technological developments, wide rims and 2.4" tires are also a great option that won’t necessarily require dedicated frames. Additionally, give mid-fat and fat bikes a chance. From experience, we’ve found that larger volume tires encourage explorations along the road less traveled, opening up horizons previously unconsidered. Teamed with a lightweight packing mentality, the world will really become your oyster.