Bikepacking Bags

For the rear bag on his Budget Bikepacking Build-Off, Logan made a DIY pants-leg stuff sack from a pair of jeans he picked up for $5 at a thrift store. In this Make Your Own Bikepacking Gear (MYOBG) tutorial, he walks through how to make a waxed denim rack-top bag from start to finish…

There are innumerable ways to haul stuff on a bike, but that didn’t stop Rackhackers from taking it a step further with their DIY pannier kit, which repurposes readily available hardware and discarded plastic containers for a surprisingly solid setup. We jumped on the opportunity to experiment with the Romanian brand’s kit in multiple configurations. Find our Rackhackers Cannier DIY Panniers review here…

US military sustainment pouches are tough and inexpensive, and with a couple simple hacks, they can become practical, budget-friendly mini-panniers. As part of our Budget Bikepacking Build-off, we tested this concept in the field. Check out this tutorial on how to make military sustainment pouch mini panniers…

Wrapping up our 2024 Editor’s Dozen posts, Lucas reflects on a busy year brimming with experiences and lessons and tries to pick out 12 things that made a difference. From bikes and bags to coffee, cameras, and a handful of intangible things, explore his complete collection of end-of-year favorites here…

If gear, clothing, and bikes were chosen purely for function, we’d likely have settled on a uniform list by now, varying only by climate and terrain. Instead, the market fuels our acquisitiveness with minor differences and new standards, shaping a consumerist mindset that feels self-driven. In Joe Cruz’s 2024 Editor’s Dozen, he offers a hopeful alternative: that the gear we choose can also reflect how we imagine and hope a ride will feel. Find his perspective on the topic and a list of 12 takeaways from 2024 here…

After a quiet year of going deeper around his home in Germany, Josh Meissner reflects on our vexed relationship with gear and rounds up his favorite products and practices that have helped shift his perspective in subtle and big ways in 2024. Find Josh’s time-tested and fresh highlights in his Editor’s Dozen here…

Having spent most of the year living on his bike, including eight months around Africa, Evan Christenson put together an eclectic roundup of his favorite things of 2024 and an engaging reflection on “stuff” after needing uniquely little of it this year. Dive into Evan’s Editor’s Dozen here…

Following a year of sharing adventures with his son and friends, Cass Gilbert reflects on some of his standout items and ideas in his 2024 Editor’s Dozen. He also offers an update on how his picks from last year have fared up to today. Find new favorites from rides around Mexico, England, France, Colorado, and beyond here…

By way of introduction to the editorial staff, Nic Morales offers up his Editor’s Dozen for 2024! After a year spent traveling through the ins and outs of the bike industry, Nic’s Editor’s Dozen will hopefully give you some insight into the kind of cyclist and human being he is. Dive in here…

Just released, the Tailfin Long Top Tube Bag comes in three lengthy sizes with some pretty nifty features. After testing one ahead of today’s launch, Logan may have changed his views on this style of bag, upgrading it from an ugly duckling to a useful darling. Read about that and more in our full Tailfin Long Top Tube Bag Review here…

The season for end-of-year roundups is here! In Neil’s 2024 Editor’s Dozen, he shares his favorite gear from 2024, tested through the Arizona winter, summer in the Midwest, and countless overnighters and day rides around Colorado. These standout items truly earned their place as gear worth mentioning. Dive in here…

In the first chapter of our 2024 Bikepacking Awards, we celebrate the gear that impressed us most this calendar year. Explore our team’s top choices across 50 awards in 11 categories, covering standout bikes, components, camping gear, apparel, and more. Plus, check out our “Best in Show” bikes from this year’s expos…