2023 Bikepacking Gear of the Year

Tailfin Top Tube Pack

As we mentioned in our review, Tailfin successfully reinvented the top tube bag this year using their new ultra-grippy and versatile V-Mount system to forego a steerer tube strap and create a super stable bag. All in all, both the Zip and Flip versions are very well-executed and cleverly engineered additions to the Tailfin range.

$75 at Tailfin

New Revelate Frame Bags

Revelate Designs released three new frame bags this year, all of which were carefully thought through to match newer bike geometry and are made in Oregon with 100% recycled fabrics. Revelate isn’t one to launch new products willy-nilly, and it was clear when we tested the Rifter, Choss, and Sandur that they were all very well made.

$120+ at Campfire

Ron’s Bikes Fabio’s Chest

The latest Connecticut-made waxed Cordura Ron’s Bikes Fabio’s Chest is not a featherweight bag, but after thousands of miles of use, it’s become a trustworthy favorite, and it’s clear why this modern classic has developed quite the fanbase. Find our full review here, written after a big 1,000-mile scouting trip on the EDT.

$270 at Ron’s Bikes

REEB SST

If you’re a fan of steel hardtails but want to dabble in full-suspension, the SST is a fitting option. Better yet, the SST’s excellent geometry and above-class performance supersede its impressive aesthetic. Everyone we’ve spoken with who’s tried the new REEB SST has had nothing but good things to say about it. Find the review here.

Black Mountain Cycles La Cabra

The Black Mountain Cycles La Cabra has received more review requests than any other bike on the site over the years. We weren’t disappointed after testing one extensively this past spring. The La Cabra not only has a great selection of provisions, but it possesses a remarkable balance between surefooted stability and nimble responsiveness that assured it a spot in this list. Find our review here.

Santa Cruz Stigmata

Let it be known that the Stigmata is the first carbon bike that’s made it into our annual Gear of the Year awards since 2019. It’s that good, and Neil summed it up as the best gravel bike he’s ridden in a long while. Despite a couple of cons, like the obvious lack of fork mounts, it’s a worthy addition to our list of top bikes in 2023. Find the review here.

Maxxis Forekaster

After a ton of use in a broad range of conditions and terrain, the 29 x 2.6” Maxxis Forekaster became a go-to tire that easily doubles for dirt-touring and singletrack mountain biking. It falls neatly in the middle of the brand’s other two popular tires, the DHF and Rekon, and is fast, durable, and corners very well. Find the full review here.

$95 at REI

Growtac Equal Brakes

We’ve been quietly testing a pair of Growtac Equal mechanical brakes this year. Not only were we happy to see another option in an otherwise forgotten category of components, but we were quite pleased with their performance after putting some miles on them. Stay tuned for a detailed review.

$365 at Velo Orange

Hope Union RC Pedal

We tested the Hope Union RC pedals in a variety of conditions this year; they endured rain and heavy mud and continue to run smoothly without needing service. The Union RCs are exceptionally well-built, reliable, and offer class-leading performance with an almost transparent ease of use. Find the full review here.

$190 at Backcountry

Doom Ti Bikepackers Delight

The Doom Bikepacker’s Delight is a unique 7/8” bar that offers nice angles and a sturdy feel with a tangible bit of full-bar flex for comfort. The titanium version adds a little more compliance and and vibration damping that does an excellent job at minimizing hand fatigue. They’re a hefty investment but worth it if their angles and measurements fall into your comfort zone. Find our review here.

$250 at Doom

DURO CRUX 29 X 3.25″ TIRES

The revamped Duro Crux is literally an upgrade if you’re used to riding on normal-sized tires. And with a versatile tread that’s grippy on burly trails, comfortable over corrugation, and fast-rolling on forest roads, it can be a great all-around tire. As long as you’re fine with pushing a large-volume tire, its durability makes it a good contender for long-distance bikepacking. Find our review here.

$80 at Jones

Bike Yoke Sagma

The BikeYoke Sagma saddle presents a unique elastomer system that complements its small and lightweight form factor to create a saddle unlike anything else we’ve tried. It’s customizable with different elastomers, and the two of us on the team who tested it found it to be remarkably comfortable and hardwearing. Find the review here.

$169 at BikeYoke

SQ-TOOL NINE KEY CARD

The SQ Labs x Wera Tool collaboration is an impressive little tool. This high-quality, compact eight-piece hex wrench set fits in a flat card holder, which can be used for other items, too, which we’ll cover in our upcoming review. The set includes hex 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hex wrenches, Torx 10 and 25 bits, and a Philips bit. Stay tuned for more.

$50 at SQ Lab

Pact Lite Kit

Although this is a tool kit no one wants to talk about, the new Pact Lite Kit has been a favorite this year. The PACT Lite Kit is an all-in-one backcountry bathroom kit for burying your poop and features a lightweight trowel with a nested storage capsule containing a set of mycelium tabs and compressed wipes.

$35 at Pact

Wolf Tooth Remote Pro

With its added adjustability, a bearing pivot, and increased leverage, the new Wolf Tooth Remote is one of the smoothest and most refined dropper levers we’ve used. It’s no surprise that it quickly became the favorite of a couple of team members.

$69 at Wolf Tooth

Rogue Panda Bismarck Bottle Bucket

The Rogue Panda Bismarck Bottle Bucket’s primary purpose is to keep a water bottle in an easy-to-access location. It’s also particularly handy because it has four super useful stash pockets that are perfect for chapstick, earbuds, snacks, and other items that are best stowed within reach. The new version we tested this year greatly improved upon the last, too. Find it in my Editor’s Dozen from this past spring.

$65 at Rogue Panda

Wizard Works Hobgob Hip Pack

With two years of development behind it, the London-made Wizard Works Hobgob is one of the nicest and most feature-rich hip packs we’ve seen to date. Miles spent a couple of months wearing one in advance of his recent review, and he noted its top-notch construction, remarkably user-friendly design, and ability to comfortably haul his full-sized camera while riding.

£195 at Wizard Works

Peak Design Out Front Bike Mount

While the Peak Design Out Front Mount may appear to be just another phone mount in an already crowded market, it’s proven superior to competing products we’ve tried in the past. It’s perfect for everyday riding or quick bikepacking trips where a GPS device isn’t needed and has a number of ingenious engineering touches and comes backed by a lifetime guarantee. Find the full review here.

$70 at REI

Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid XL

After using the Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid XL all year, as both a shelter for two and a solo tent, Neil has been blown away by its overall construction and craftsmanship and the fact that it packs down into a relatively small and light package. Mountain Laurel Designs’ exceptional attention to detail and the durability and UV resistance associated with Silpoly secured it a spot in this list. Review here.

$365 at Mountain Laurel Designs

Exped Mega Pillow

The Mega Pillow is Exped’s largest, most luxurious pillow and the closest thing Emily and Miles have found to their pillows at home. The microfiber topper is soft, removable, and washable, and while it might not be the most packable pillow out there, it’s been an essential accessory for comfortable nights under the stars.

$45 at REI

Big Agnes Rapide SL

Miles and Emily brought the Big Agnes Rapide SL double sleeping pad along on six-week bikepacking trip in Australia earlier this year and have had a hard time going back to regular pads since. The Rapide SL is their lightest double sleeping pad, with a generous 40″ width, 4.8″ thickness, and 4.8 R-value that’s kept them warm on a number of sub-freezing nights. There’s no getting around its bulky pack size, but they think the added comfort it offers on long trips is worth it.

$299 at Big Agnes

Gas Canister Refill Adapter

When we reviewed the new FlipFuel device earlier this year, we made it clear that it was previously released under another brand. Still, FlipFuel did a good job at taking it to market and spreading the word. As a result, a couple of us are regularly using it to refill small fuel bottles and top them off for local overnighters. It’s a simple and inexpensive solution that’s beneficial for anyone who uses canister stoves. Find the review here.

$35 at AMZN

HYDRAPAK FLUX/SEEKER+

Miles and Neil were both very impressed with Hydrapak’s new line of filters and soft, collapsable bottles. The 42mm Filter Cap is compatible with all HydraPak 42mm opening products, including flasks, Seekers, and Flux bottles, and it has proven to be efficient, durable, and easy to use. Find the review of the Seeker+ here and the Flux+ here.

$50+ at Hydrapak

Vargo BOT XL

Bigger isn’t always better, but we were excited to see our favorite ultralight cook pot reimagined in another size. We have’t used it extensively to figure out all the possibilities for Tetris-like cook kit options, but we’re already impressed with it enough to give it a spot here. The new size not only makes it capable of being a cook pot for two, but it also adds the capability to store a larger 230-gram fuel canister, among other things.

$110 at Vargo

Shimano GE5 Shoes

The Shimano GE5 was the favorite in the clipless/SPD shoe category this year. The GE5 ticks a lot of boxes with a wide toe box and a secure fit that offers confidence both hiking and descending. Better yet, it has a great flex/stiffness ratio, perfectly recessed cleat pocket, and a grippy rubber outsole, all of which add up to it being an excellent hike-a-bike SPD shoe. Find our review here.

$105 at Backcountry

Ornot Lightweight Mission Shorts

Although we reviewed the Ornot Lightweight Mission shorts at the end of 2022, they became one of our favorites throughout the year. Made in California from Bluesign-approved materials, these lightweight, stretchy do-everything shorts are perfect for anyone who appreciates a short-ish inseam and is looking for shorts they can wear during rides and everywhere in between. Miles and Lucas both swear by them.

$125 at OrNot

Bedrock Mountain Clogs

While the Bedrock connoisseurs on our team had a little time getting adjusted to the thong-less life, they’ve both become converts to Bedrock Clogs in the “off season.” They’re not exactly sandals in the truest sense of the word, but for those who are accustomed to Bedrocks—folks who live in them—they’re a good alternative that provide a little more warmth and security than our go-to adventure footwear.

$160 at Bedrock

Priority 600HXT

The new Priority 600HXT is a trail-focused hardtail based around a 6061 alloy frame, a moderate 140mm fork, internally-routed dropper post, and Pinion’s C1.12 gearbox. It also has lots of mounting points and clearance for 29 x 2.6″ tires, making it compelling as a bikepacking bike. Find more details in this dispatch.

Stooge Scrambler V3

On the heels of an excellent experience with the Stooge MK6, we can’t help but look forward to the next generation of the brand’s other flagship platform. The V3 Scrambler should be out this spring, and we’re eager to try on one out for a proper comparative review and see how the “adventure Stooge” lives up to the hype.

Otso Voytek 2

The Next generation of the Otso Voytek has a few new features that grabbed our attention when we saw it on display at this year’s MADE event. The new Voytek has a fresh new geometry, additional cargo mounts, and Otso’s new GeoChip system that allows you to adjust the reach and head tube angle on the fly. Find more details in this dispatch.