Editor’s Dozen: Lucas’s Favorite Gear and More of 2024

Looking back, I’m incredibly pleased with the Editor’s Dozen posts our team put together this year. I loved reading them and hope you did, too. We added a few fresh voices to the mix for 2024, and in many ways, I think it was our best collection of year-end roundups yet. From its launch seven years ago, this series has evolved naturally to be about far more than just recommending favorite gear. If you drew a through-line connecting this batch of Dozens, the common thread is a feeling of wanting to look beyond stuff and consider the things that truly add value to our lives: community, connection, people, places, and experiences. Gear makes much of that possible but doesn’t paint a complete picture.

For my part, I’d define my 2024 far more by the things I learned and did than the items I bought or used. It was a year full of significant milestones and firsts. Having the right gear enabled many of my favorite experiences, such as bikepacking the White Rim in Utah and riding around the northeast corner of France, but I donated, sold, or loaned out far more gear than I acquired in the last 12 months, which felt necessary and right. I’ve reached a stage in my relationship with possessions where I want to have nice enough things that serve their purpose well and bring me some level of joy to use, and those aren’t typically the latest and most hyped products. With that, find my roundup of impactful things from the past year, many of which I’ve had for some time and found a new appreciation for in 2024.

My Home Workshop

After spending a good chunk of my 30s living out of a suitcase, off my bike, or in a relatively small apartment in Europe, I’m thrilled to have my first proper home workshop as of 2024. It’s not particularly well organized and is still a work in progress, but it more than meets my needs for bike builds and repairs. It’s a longtime dream come true, even if I’ve seen far nicer and better-equipped home shops. Rather than needing to dig around in a tub like I did for far too long, having a designated home for each tool makes projects that much quicker and more enjoyable.

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It’s been an investment to get up and running, but I’ve followed the sound advice of not rushing to buy everything at once. Instead, I’ve slowly pieced it together and bought tools as I’ve needed them throughout the time I’ve been back in the US. At the heart of the shop is a kit from Feedback Sports here in Colorado, which is mixed among a handful of items from Park Tool and various thrift stores, bike co-ops, and Harbor Freight. At this point, I can pretty much take on everything I’m comfortable doing. The only upgrades on the horizon are installing better lighting and a sink when time permits.

1ZPresso JX Coffee Grinder

Made in Taiwan / $116 at 1ZPresso

It’s been around four years since Josh Meissner turned me on to the 1Zpresso JX coffee grinder, and I’ve hardly missed a day of using it since it arrived. I was using a tiny and flimsy (but exceptionally travel-friendly) Porlex Mini for ages before then, and switching to the notably more substantial and comfy JX for my daily brew(s) at home and on casual bikepacking getaways has been a revelation. It’s a big grinder, to be sure, but the oversized wooden knob, stainless steel burrs, and generous capacity deliver a reliably positive user experience and consistent grind.

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At around $120, I’ve gotten thousands of uses out of it by now, and it works like new despite never having done any service or maintenance on it. Unfortunately, it seems 1Zpresso has discontinued this particular model in the years it’s taken me to publish something about it, but they offer a handful of adjacent models. A good grinder is vital to my coffee routine, and this one punches well above its weight. I admittedly still feel the occasional draw to even pricier grinders, such as the widely praised Comandate, but I’m not sure there’s any functional benefit to “upgrading.” As with most things, there’s a sweet spot in terms of price to performance, and this one finds it for me. Thanks for the tip, Josh!

Brother Mr Wooden

Made in Taiwan / £580 at Brother Cycles

My pal Jaron helped me build up my Brother Mr Wooden toward the beginning of 2024, and I remember coming back from my first quick test ride with a huge smile and saying it was my “favorite bike ever” after that brief spin. A year on, that holds true. I own several other bikes, too many, but the Mr Wooden is still the one I almost always want to take for everything except full-on mountain bike rides. With its polished 650B wheels, downtube shifters, rim brakes, and double chainrings, it has some kind of retro-modern magic that impeccably captures the spirit I want in my bikes and the tone I want to set for my rides.

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I’ve significantly reduced the size of my fleet since getting the Brother, selling off a few bikes that occupy a similar space, including a couple I said I’d never get rid of. Beyond adding extra padding under the grip tape, I wouldn’t change anything about the Mr Wooden. As an overthinker, it’s rare for me to build a bike I’m not considering ways to tweak or improve—whether it’s the paint, a component, or a complete rebuild—and having a bike that does its job extraordinarily well without ever needing to spend time thinking about has been hugely fulfilling. Too often, I end up tinkering instead of riding, and the Brother leaves me with no excuses not to get out and spin the pedals.

Little Bags for Organization

Once the more involved decisions regarding bikes and gear are sorted and you’ve figured out what works for you, I think one of the joys of dialing in your bikepacking kit is finding the right place for all the little things. To accomplish this, I rely on small bags to keep everything organized and accessible. Knowing exactly where to find my camera batteries, passport, tools, and toothpaste adds a lot to my bicycle travel experience, especially given my high likelihood of losing things otherwise. Memory cards? Multi-cam pouch in the frame bag’s non-drive-side pocket. Check.

Small bags like those pictured above also offer a great way to add some character to your kit and keep things tidy at the same time. Buying them is also an attainable way to support your favorite maker. They’re a worthwhile first DIY project for folks who want to experiment and save some money, too. I rarely leave the house without a couple of them holding assorted bits and pieces.

Cowboy Camping

From the Italian Dolomites to the Sonoran Desert and the Westfjords of Iceland, many of my best nights of camping were spent in open air. I’d always thought of a tent as an essential piece of kit for sleeping outdoors, but then I forgot mine during a ride of the Oregon Outback route in 2014, and it ended up being a happy accident that taught me a simpler and arguably more connected way to sleep under the stars. In fairness, I’ll note that I’ve also had some of the absolute worst nights of my life sleeping out—there are still blood stains all over my sleeping pad from a hellish night spent in a thick cloud of mosquitos along the Mississippi River in Minnesota.

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The practicality of cowboy camping depends on several factors, and I know it won’t be for everyone. Living in Colorado, the only real risk is overnight rain, which is why I typically pack a lightweight tarp just in case, but I’m always pleased when I can drift off to sleep without needing to fuss with it. Thankfully, that’s most nights here. Skipping the tent saves time in the evening and morning, lightens your bags, and can save many hundreds of dollars for folks who are curious about sleeping outside but aren’t ready to take the plunge and invest in all the gear. If you’re heading out for an overnighter in the year ahead and the forecast calls for clear skies, I’d encourage you to give cowboy camping a shot if you haven’t tried it.

Nikon Zf Camera

Made in Thailand / $1,996 at B&H Photo

There was a time when I jumped from camera to camera, system to system, and format to format, chasing some kind of novelty or perfection that ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied. Churning through gear was exciting in some ways, but my work no doubt suffered as a result of rarely knowing my equipment on a deeper level. It’s been a decade or so since photography transitioned from what I’d call my main passion to simply something I enjoy getting to do as part of my work, and these days, I don’t want to think about my camera; I want using it to be transparent.

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Released at the tail end of 2023, the Nikon Zf paired with a 40mm f/2 lens gets mighty close to being the ideal match for my camera needs, and I’ve loved shooting with one throughout the fall and winter. I appreciate easy access to manual controls, and the Zf nails it in this regard with its chunky, optimally situated dials. Performance and image quality are both superb; despite its compact size, it packs a full-frame, 24-megapixel punch. It’s solidly built, has reasonable battery economy, and the viewfinder is beautifully big and bright. I’ve been using it in tandem with my Fuji X-T3, and although I greatly prefer the files from the Nikon over the Fuji, the X-T3 offers better grip and a slightly more compact size. That said, I’d happily keep only the Nikon if I had to choose between the two.

Ortlieb Fork-Packs

Made in Germany / $65+ at Ortlieb

I’ve owned this pair of Ortlieb Fork-Packs since their release in 2020 and have used them on several trips, but frankly, I never thought much of them. That changed a few months ago when I took them on a journey through the Vosges Mountains in France, where it clicked for me that these are really good bags. With a capacity of about 5.8 liters each, they hold almost exactly as much as I want to haul on my fork for handling’s sake, are a breeze to take on and off thanks to the quick-release mounting plate, and are fully waterproof, like everything from the German brand. The little pop of reflectivity on the sides is a welcome touch, whether it’s for being seen by passing cars or orienting in the dark.

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Ortlieb also offers a slightly smaller 4.1-liter size and a secondary Dark Sand color. If I could do it again, I’d stick with the same size but swap them out for a pair in Dark Sand, which I think is the best-looking color they’ve released. Having seen Ortlieb’s manufacturing facility in person and gotten to know some of the people and products, it’s a brand I fully trust to make long-lasting, easily repairable gear that can be used for years to come. No doubt, these will continue to come with me on trips in 2025, and I’m glad I gave them another whirl.

Learning New Skills

I bought a project vehicle this year. More accurately, I bought a vehicle this year, and it turned out to be a project vehicle. I’ve been car-free for most of my life, and this purchase is my first foray back into owning one in many years. I wasn’t seeking another thing to occupy my time in 2024, but—maybe out of necessity for my mental well-being—trying to fix it up, starting with almost no automotive knowledge, turned into a wonderfully mind-expanding experience. Even with some level of mechanical understanding from working on bikes the past couple of decades, I wouldn’t have thought it possible to change things like spark plugs, brakes, or transmission fluid on a complex, two-ton hunk of metal, but the budgetary constraints that forced me to do the work myself unlocked an exciting new skillset and part of my brain. Turns out my beliefs were self-limiting, and doing basic work on an older vehicle is surprisingly straightforward.

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I still have a complicated relationship with cars, but I want to use this space to reflect more broadly on the genuinely transformative power of learning a new skill, especially as an adult. It’s been far too long since I approached something with a true beginner’s mind, and it’s been such a rewarding experience. In that same vein, having bought my first house this year (thankfully, it’s not a project house), I’ve been pushing my self-imposed limits with various plumbing and minor construction projects that past me wouldn’t have envisioned doing. Equipped with these new skills, rudimentary as they may be, I’ve found that returning to working on bikes now feels pleasantly easy and calming like never before.

Wizard Works Munin Mini Messenger

Made in England / £66+ at Wizard Works

In my summer 2024 Editor’s Dozen, I highlighted the Cedaero Moon Lander hip pack, which I still use all the time, but my one critique of it in the post was its lack of an internal pocket for safely stashing things like a wallet or keys. The Wizard Works Munin Mini Messenger Bag solves that and more, and it’s been my go-to smaller bag since the summer, even making the cut for my fall trip back to Europe.

Made in London by a tiny team worth supporting and available in an array of readymade and custom colors, the Munin Mini hasn’t gotten nearly the attention it deserves, which is part of why I wanted to give it a nod here in advance of my more in-depth look. At 3.5 liters, its capacity is ideal for hauling everyday essentials on jaunts around the city, and it won’t swing around on you thanks to an unobtrusive (and easily removable) stabilizing strap. It features two mesh pockets and a key retainer inside, and a zippered pocket underneath the flap provides a secure place for storage. The only design choice I wonder about long-term is the all-velcro closure, but given the generous amount of material, I can report that it’s as grippy as ever after a half-year of use.

Hunter Smooth Move Bars

Made in Japan / $125 at Hunter Cycles

After admiring them on builds around the web for some time, I finally bought a set of Smooth Move bars from Rick Hunter for the Titus Silk Road I reviewed in 2023, and I’ve swapped them to every mountain bike I’ve ridden since. With a 38mm rise, 15-degree backsweep, and 5-degree upsweep, the Low Rise version is supremely comfortable for trail rides and rips around town. I have yet to find a flat-bar bike they don’t suit, and their 780mm width is just right for me. They’re pretty damn close to perfect.

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Even if I’ll likely never have a Hunter frame, despite Rick being one of the builders I admire most, I’m happy to have something designed by him. Made by Nitto in Japan, I have zero notes about the quality of their construction, and I love the type treatment and polished silver finish, something the bike world can use more of. It looks like Low Rise bars are out of stock on the Hunter Cycles site for now, but here’s hoping there’s another batch before too long. Keep an eye out, and you might spot them on an especially fun build I have coming up later this year.

A Good Hat

That’s right, I’m making the questionable decision to include “hats” as one of my top 12 picks for the year. I suppose I’m doing it partly because, as mentioned in my introduction, I wasn’t particularly captivated by new gadgets and must-have things in 2024. And maybe it’s also because I just need to get up to a proper dozen. My wardrobe is pared down to the point that I rarely need to think about what I’m wearing on or off the bike, but hats (and caps) might be the exception.

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I practically never wore hats until a few years ago, and now I almost always have one on. Perhaps it’s the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, but they’ve gone from nearly invisible to something I’m always seeing and appreciating on others. Beyond their obvious practicality, I like being able to represent some of my favorite brands and organizations in wearable form. I think I’ve even convinced the team to get on board with a couple of far-out BIKEPACKING.com hat ideas for 2025. Stay tuned!

Rim Brakes

When I first got serious about riding, all my bikes had rim brakes, mostly because that was what was available then. Fast-forward a while, and they all had disc brakes; old-timey rim brakes felt like a thing of the past. Jump ahead to the present day, and they’re about evenly split. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Glad as I am to have high-end hydraulic disc brakes to stop me from careening off a cliff when I’m riding trails, I can’t help but find rim brakes and the frames they’re usually attached to more endearing.

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Rim brakes are uncomplicated, light, and sometimes beautiful little pieces of engineering. I won’t go so far as to argue that they stop better than disc brakes, but they stop more than adequately enough in most scenarios, especially on gravel roads or around the city. I’ve ridden the same singletrack loops on different bikes with disc and rim brakes, and while the disc-equipped bike stopped me on a dime and inspired more confidence, I was laughing and grinning a hell of a lot more with rim brakes, underbiked as I may have been. In the minds of many newcomers to cycling, it’s safe to say rim brakes are either antiquated or maligned, but I think everyone who takes a trip down the rabbit hole of bikes should consider having one equipped with rim brakes, whether they’re fancy new Pauls or something costing just a few bucks from a bin at the local collective.

My Favorite Shot of 2024

Although I shot a good number of photos from the saddle this year and got a few that I think turned out fairly well, there’s no question that my favorite photos from 2024 capture my wedding (oh, I got married!). I’m grateful to my friend Ben Hovland for being willing to take a break from his important work as a staff photojournalist at Minnesota Public Radio to come out to Boulder and document the weekend.

I love a dramatic sunset vista or a perfectly placed bike-in-the-road shot as much as anyone else around here, but I’ll cherish the photos and memories from the wedding weekend with a small group of family and friends forever. In the interest of not disappointing anyone who made it this far and was eager to see my favorite photo I shot while bikepacking this year, I’ll close out the post with one from my Sonder Broken Road Ti review taken on my first visit to Canyonlands National Park, where I learned that I am, in fact, absolutely enthralled by the geologic marvels of the American Southwest. I’m not sure what 2025 has in store just yet, but I’d say a return visit to Utah to make up for lost time is likely in the cards.

Thanks for reading! That concludes our most packed year of Editor’s Dozen posts to date. If there’s an entry in my list that strikes you one way or another, I’d love to hear from you in the conversation below.

Further Reading

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