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

This hasn’t been a big gear testing year for me, as I’ve tried to prioritise sharing adventures with my son as well as friends new and old. In fact, I’m mostly using the exact same gear as last year, and having just checked my previous roundup, I can confirm that everything I listed in 2023 is working just as well now as it was then! For instance, my favourite tyre is still my favourite tyre (the Duro Crux 29 x 3.25″, though I have been very impressed by 29 x 2.6″ Vittoria Mezcals, too) and my giant Pedaling Innovation pedals, after a set of replacement bearings, are still keeping me happily riding in Bedrock sandals and 5.10s alike (though I’m very curious about the new Outlier Pendulums, if only they were more affordable).

I know, this isn’t too constructive in terms of sharing honest, real world feedback on new gear that’s come to market, which I do think can be very valuable for making informed buying decisions. But at least I’m happy to stand by everything I recommended last year, as gear that I really like and as gear that really lasts, which feels extra important to me as the world’s resources become ever more scarce and its piles of trash become ever greater (if you’ll forgive my climate anxiety). Talking of which, our societal drive for things does sometimes get me down, especially with all the heavy events that have unfolded in 2024. Still, cycling is the best way I know to keep my spirits buoyant, and in full acknowledgement of the hypocrisy of it all, it does require some new gear from time to time.

My favourites can be found below, and I’ve also tried to incorporate some non-gear into this gear list. In part, this is to alleviate my own apprehension in encouraging you to add further to the world’s existing Ocean of Stuff, but also because modifying existing possessions or buying secondhand gear can be a clever way of satiating our appetites for something different, and it’s easier on the pocket as well.

Rivendell X Cardiff Goat Cycling Gloves

Made in Pakistan / $25 at Crust

I picked up these crochet mitts at Sincere Cycles in Santa Fe earlier this summer. In the past, I believe they’ve appeared on the Rivendell site, which I feel is always a good sign that you’re buying long-lasting, no-nonsense apparel. Made from goat leather and cotton, I have to admit that I was initially drawn to them for their aesthetic appeal. However, good looks aren’t enough unless they’re comfortable, offer crash protection, and are durable, all of which they also do.

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Since the summer, these gloves have been subjected to a full gamut of weather systems, including being soaked through during monsoonal downpours and then crinkled dry in the brightest of New Mexican sunlight. There’s been lots of wiping of my salty, sweaty brow, too. There’s no gel padding to these gloves, but my ESI-style foam grips and swept-back Jones bars offer all the vibration absorption I need, along with big tyres. If your local shop doesn’t carry these gloves and you’re ordering them online, I noticed Somafab offer them too, as well as the Crust link above. At $25, the price is surprisingly reasonable. For once, it’s nice not to be upcharged for choosing retro looks!

Flextail Tinypump 2x

Made in China / $40 at Flextail

When I first heard this Flextail pump in use on a winter fat bike overnighter, I have to admit that I was a little horrified. Picture the scene: we were all huddled around a fire in New Mexico pondering the meaning of life and all of a sudden, it sounded like one of my camping compadres had started vaccumming around camp, completely killing the vibe! And yet, here I am eating humble pie, because I ended up buying one myself, and since then I’ve not looked back. Sure, large-volume pump sacks are provided with all modern air mattresses and do the same job in both blissful silence and without mildew-creating moisture, as will happen when blowing up an air mattress with your breath alone.

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But I have to admit, I’ve always found these bags fiddly and often frustrating to use, and the whole process is probably the only part of camping I tend to dread. With the Flextail, however, I can now generously offer to blow up the mats of my partner and son to their delight (and perhaps in part to appease them, given the resultant noise). Plus this particular model, which is a touch heavier than the lightest version, acts as a lantern that we can hang from the ceiling of the tent, so we’re not shining our head torches into each other’s eyes. I also recently acquired an orb-like diffusing lampshade ($6), which I think will make a great way of bringing back those mellow campsite vibes in the ensuing silence.

Hydro Flask Coffee 16oz

Made in China / $33 at Hydro Flask

An insulated bottle may not always seem worth the extra weight and lower capacity compared to a standard stainless steel version, at least when it comes to a bike tour. But we love ours, and this example from Hydro Flask travels with us on most of our trips. We typically use to keep our freshly made coffee piping hot in the morning while we’re making the rest of our breakfast or to drink tea at night. But come winter, it also comes into its own on day rides, when stopping to sip a warm brew is a great excuse to chat to friends and keep the vibe social.

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Incidentally, we’ve made this one our own by decorating it with stickers from one of my most creative of friends, illustrator Yeshe Parks. Yeshe also designed one of my favourite Backpacking Collective T-shirts!

Tailfin Bar Bag System (Drop Bar)

Made in China / $305 at Tailfin

This summer, I found myself back in my old home of Bristol, UK, and had a chance to visit the Tailfin HQ, which is based there. I didn’t initially pay too close attention to the drop-bar version of Tailfin’s new handlebar system, simply because I haven’t had a drop-bar bike for a number of years. But then I realised that its compact width and nifty closure would likely work well with my favourite alt bars, which it did! Like drop handlebars, the useable space provided by Jones’ H-Bars Bend is fairly narrow, given the inward placement of brake levers and the angle of exit of the cables, which can make it awkward to run with many bike bags on the market.

Over the next few months, I ran one on my Jones LWB, taking it to France, Italy, and around the UK. In the images above, it’s paired with a set of 16L Mini Panniers, which have room for my laptop, and a prototype, rear-opening version of their now classic Aeropack. As is so often the case with Tailfin, attention to detail can only be described as superlative, and there’s the sense that every last detail has been obsessed over. As an example, the front mesh, expandable panel does a great job at stowing snacks and layers securely and includes zippered compartments for keys or a wallet. This effectively replaces the need for a stem bag, both cleaning up the cockpit and eliminating any risk of clipping knees on bags when out of the saddle, as can happen with bikes that have short top tubes, like my Jones, or with some alt-style bars that sweep back significantly. There’s zero movement over rough terrain, and no risk of rubbing the paint away from your headtube either – or damaging your frame, if you’re running delicate carbon. I also love the way Tailfin’s highly adjustable mounting system doubles as a gadget cockpit when the bag is removed. This really adds a lot of value to the system as a whole and makes it as useful during the week for day rides and commutes as it is on a weekend outing. It goes some way to justifying the extra weight, price, and complexity compared to handlebar setups that that are hardware-free.

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With all this tech going on, I’m hoping multi-year durability is as good as I’d expect at this price point; I’ll be keeping an eye out for potential delamination of materials as much as resilience to general wear and tear. After all, it has to be said there are a lot simpler and more affordable ways of attaching a drybag to your handlebars, it’s just that the Tailfin Bar Bag System does it so very well. If you’re not running Jones H-Bar Bends or constrained by the width of drop handlebars, their mountain bike version is fantastic too.

Postcard gifts

Made in USA / $1 each or so at Moo Print

We were recently inspired by Lucas’ Par Avion Exchange’ postcard project in which Emma participated (and there’s apparently another round beginning soon) and had a run of extra Porcini prints made, copies of the prints she’d sent out as her contribution. The original watercolour was painted after one of our trips into Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte, and this particular specimen that you see here was harvested in Cuajimoloyas, Oaxaca. Before being immortalised in watercolours, it was enjoyed with sourdough bread, a sprinkle of course salt, and some olive oil.

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Carrying around a dozen postcard-sized prints does take up some valued space in a bikepacking setup, but they make such wonderful gifts for people we meet on our travels. As bikepackers, we’re so often the recipients of generosity on the road, and this is a small but very personal way of giving back and creating some meaningful connections – after all, isn’t this a big part of what bike touring is all about? Unfortunately I’m no artist, but nonetheless, I plan to get a run of a few favourite photos I’ve taken for our next run and do the same. Sure, printing postcards means extra things in the world, but these feels intentional and uplifting, so I’m good with that. They worked out to be around a dollar each, though the price depends on the number you print and expediency of the shipping.

Oveja Negra x Richardson Outdoor Cap

Made in Bangladesh / $30 Oveja Negra

On my last visit to the US, I noticed these Richardson Outdoor caps (Style 935) were all the rage and available in a number of bike shops I visited. As someone who likes to run a classic trucker’s cap under my helmet to keep the sun off my face, I was drawn to the mesh and airy build, which is more open than my usual foam cap, as well as the softer, more malleable brim.

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I bought this one at Oveja Negra’s flagship store on a trip to Salida; I love the patch they chose and I’m a big fan of this company too, both for the quality of their products and the sense of fun they bring to bikepacking.

Nocs Provisions Field Tube

Made in China / $125 Nocs Provisions

On the subject of using gear from companies you like, we were fortunate enough to receive a visit from Chris McKleroy here in Oaxaca. Chris is the head honcho of Nocs Provisions and was here to enjoy a bikepacking trip with his partner. Given that he was riding a Torrent, Norco’s long-travel, progressive hardtail, I took Chris on my favourite pre-coffee rowdy morning loop, and he gifted us this monocular in return. Funnily enough, we’d first met on a ferry in San Francisco many years prior. That time, I was returning from a campout in Marin County, and struck up a conversation with him when I saw the nifty Boombotix speaker attached to his backpack, a company he was working for at the time.

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Anyway, back to Nocs. By its single-eye nature, a monocular is half the size of a binocular, making it that much easier to stash in a pannier. We’ve mostly used ours to identify guacamayos and hawks from our terrace and watch hummingbird battles over territory, which can be epic! But in the past, I’ve used monoculars for scoping out distant campsites when touring, and it’s been a hit with my son Sage too. The Field Tube offers an 8x magnification, is waterproof, has a really nice tactile and durable feel, and comes in a range of catchy colours like Banana Slug and Oxblood Maroon, rather than plain old black or some kind of militaristic camo. Another small but welcome touch is this brand’s packaging, which is made from recycled cardboard and soy ink and is glue-free.

Esker Japhy Complete (size S)

Made in Taiwan / $3,000+ at Esker Cycles

Okay, this bike isn’t mine. Rather, it was a birthday present for Emma, and full disclosure, an industry discount meant I can’t claim to be either especially generous or flush! Still, I’d be thrilled to ride one myself, as the Japhy has proved itself to be an ultra-versatile machine for both challenging cross-country mountain bike rides this summer and week-long bikepacking trips alike. Its 66 degree head angle boosts confidence on steep descents without committing to a matching set of progressive geometry numbers (like a particularly steep seat angle or long reach) that I personally find less suited to longer, mixed-terrain bikepacking trips. The colour Emma chose, a deepish purple, looks way better in real life than it does on Esker’s website.

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So far, Emma has taken it on multi-day forest road trips in New Mexico – one of which is soon to be published in The Bikepacking Journal – and trail riding in Colorado. The stock build has required zero changes apart from an initial upgrade to Shimano XTs, and the additional, eyeleted seat clamp and extended bolts for its Portage dropout, which are required to run a rear rack – my Tumbleweed Micro Pannier Rack, in this case. Not only that, but Sage (now about 5’2”) was able to borrow it this year, which has meant it’s had plenty of use. I know he’s hankering for a full-susser, but still, it was a delight to see him cleaning techy Coloradan cross-country trails on a hardtail!

I love steel in terms of frame materials, as much for its rugged longevity and resilience to dings, dents, and scratches as any difference in ride feel. It’s a material that lends itself well to having bikepacking bags attached or being slid into the bowels of a Mexican bus without too much concern. And, it’s one that will likely outlive us all. In fact, I think all my older steel frames that I’ve passed on or sold are still circulating in the world.

Stooge Rambler frameset (57cm)

Made in Taiwan / £750 at Stooge Cycles

Also in a steel vein… this summer saw me acquire a new frame of my very own on my annual visit to see family and friends in the UK. I’ve been a fan of Stooge bikes since their earliest days, back when there wasn’t even a model that fit me. Fast forward a number of years, and there’s now a whole range to choose from, including size options.

I’ve been asked a few times why I chose the Rambler, and not a Scrambler or Dirt Tracker, both of which are more in my usual wheelhouse, as it were. However, as the owner of a Jones LWB and SWB, I wanted a bike that wouldn’t create too much overlap and would be really well-suited to the realities of UK riding, rather than the rutted dirt roads of Oaxaca or the sandy washes of New Mexico. Basically, I was after a bike that would feel on the right side of underbiking for me. By this, I mean that it would keep me on my toes, but still be capable enough not to feel frustrated by its limitations and end up defaulting to tarmac, as has often been the case with more traditional gravel bikes I’ve tried. Make sense? Without doubt, the Rambler ticks all those boxes and seems perfectly suited to the life it will be living with me, mostly bouncing around the Purbeck coastline and cruising around the New Forest with the Woods Cyclery folks, who have become firm friends over the last couple of years. I did get a chance to push its capabilities though, when a few of us made the pilgrimage north to Stooge Towers in Shropshire to ride Welsh trails with Stooge’s Andy Stevenson himself, and tackle the infamous Pen Bwlch Llandrillo crossing!

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Build wise, it’s what I affectionately call “thoughtfully cobbled together.” To keep to a reasonable budget, I dug around for parts I already owned, which accounts for the hydro front/mechanical rear mishmash and even the decision to go singlespeed for now – between 53 to 56 inches, depending on location. In keeping with the Rambler’s retro looks, my new Brooks B17 saddle is a feast for the eyes and a treat for the backside (once worn in), and it’s attached to an old PNW dropper post to propel it into the 21st century. Officially, the Rambler is available in two colours: Mustard and Royal Maroon. Stooge aficionados, however, might have spotted that I chose a limited edition third option, courtesy of the Woods Cyclery. It’s a shade of yellow that Woods owner Tom Farrell described as like a “a summer-faded T-shirt” and I have to say, it looks particularly good under a carefully curated splatter of Welsh mud.

Shod with lightweight 27.5 x 2.6″ Schwalbe Racing Ralphs, the Rambler is just what I’d hoped it would be. It’s lively and fun to ride off road yet grounded enough for me to tackle rough-stuff terrain confidently and enjoyably. It clips along quick enough on tarmac, making it a pleasure to ride on British countryside lanes, too. The net result is that my Rambler is an extremely versatile machine that’s well-suited to the wide variety of surfaces I gravitate towards in the UK. With its smaller wheel size, it’s also compact enough to fit into a small bike bag for taking the Eurostar to France (or a plane), and its tyres fit on most train hooks, which sadly can’t be said of 3″ bikes in the UK. Unfortunately I left the country shortly afterward building it up, which means I’ll have to wait until next summer to enjoy it more. For now though, it’s parked up at the Woods Cyclery for anyone to test ride. It’s the largest frame, so it will suit those at the taller end of the spectrum.

Magic Components Moth Bars

Made in Taiwan / $110 at Magic Components

Dovetailing with my Rambler build, these Moth bars has been something of a revelation. While I’ve been aware of this style of handlebar for a while, it’s mostly been in the context of adding flair and comfort to vintage mountain bike builds. It wasn’t until I saw at set on a Stooge Rambler via Stooge’s IG feed that my interest was really piqued. After all, I’m much more a fan of alt handlebars than drop handlebars, and these Moths really tied the build together perfectly.

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Materials-wise, they’re made of chromoly steel, which means they’re plenty stout for peace of mind, and they offer just the right amount of compliance to take the edge of a bumpy bridleway riding without feeling too noodly. The Moths have a generous wingspan of 745mm and a rise of 50mm with a backsweep of 60 degrees, which is even more than my Jones H-bars. Still, I found they offered a similar riding trait in that I can slide my hands for or aft to increase or decrease my reach. This means I can get a little aero for road stints or just hang off the back of the bike when things get rowdy. Shape-wise, all that leverage has proved welcome for singlespeeding, too.

In terms of other spec, Moth bar come in a fairly uncommon 25.4mm clamp diameter. A downside to this is that you’ll likely need a new stem – I chose a lovely one by Nitto – and the bar isn’t compatible with modern electronic devices like my Hammerhead Karoo 2 or the likes of the Tailfin handlebar bag I listed above, at least without extra shims. There’s the hefty weight, as well. There’s no number listed on the Magic Components site, and I forgot to weigh mine, but I expect they’re something around the 900-gram ballpark. Then again, if you’re worried about weight, a chromoly bar probably isn’t for you.

Mountain Laurel Designs V2 ULTRA X 400 Poco Panniers

Made in USA / $215 (pair) at Mountain Laurel Designs

Whilst MLD’s Poco Panniers probably wouldn’t be my choice for some situations – like doubling up as commuting panniers, where bags need to be removed easily and quickly on a twice-daily basis, or in the UK where complete and unquestionable waterproofing is often key, they’re a great option for lightweight yet practical bikepacking. They’re simple, capacious, easy to repair, and at less than 200 grams each, they barely impact the way your bike feels, whether you’re lifting it up a flight or stairs or riding it. Their 6-9L capacity per side is a very useable, and they sport a slender profile that makes life a little easier on bike pushes. Being panniers, smaller riders can also get full use of their droppers, too, which is why they’ve been living on Emma’s bike most of the time.

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As mentioned, removing them isn’t as quick as the likes of another favourite pannier of mine, Tailfin’s 16L Minis, but they make up for this by flat packing to the next to nothing, making them great to travel with. I also like that they’re made from Ultra X 400 fabric, which is a relatively eco-friendly option within the fabrics realm, and easy to fix with duct tape should you take a spill. Durability is reasonable given their weight, and I should add that despite my previous comment, the Pocos actually do a good job at keeping contents dry, even if they can’t match the same come-what-may weather resilience as a set of heavier Ortliebs.

Embroidery Kit

Made in China / $1 and upwards from our local street market or a haberdashery

This last one is a little obtuse, but bear with me, as it’s part of my “appreciate what you have and maybe even reinvent it a bit” thought process for 2024. I should qualify this further by admitting that in this case, it’s Emma who was responsible for the creativity below, thanks to a $1 embroidery kit and her skills that added a beautiful custom mushroom detail to my old Patagonia Nano Puff, my go-to jacket on almost all my bikepacking trips. Along with patches, it can be a unique way of repairing gear, too.

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Emma learned to embroider at the school of YouTube and the kit she used is an incredibly basic plastic one she bought in a local market. There are much nicer ones to be found, in more natural materials, from your local hobby store or haberdashery. Fans of Spinal Tap will appreciate the latter especially.

Visiting your local gear recycler

The World, e.g. Boulder Sports Recycler

As this isn’t a single piece of gear, I’m giving myself a free card to add in one extra recommendation for 2024. I’ve never been to anywhere that can match the US for the way it commodifies just about everything, including getting out and about in the great outdoors, and all the paraphernalia we apparently need. However, the irony here is that this also means that I’ve never been to anywhere that can match the US for secondhand gear stores!

This year, I’ve been tapping into Colorado’s vast array of offerings. Many of its mountain towns boast thrift stores that specialise solely in outdoor gear and apparel. Some of it is sold on consignment, with prices that decrease as the months go by, so you can really decide what it’s worth to you. Most recently, I’ve honed in on a number of them in Boulder, where my son lives, and been impressed by how affordable it can be to build up a “new” bike or keep an existing one going, as well as stocking up on all the camping gear you could possibly need – even the kind of specialist, lightweight gear we recommend here! They’re great places to visit when buying clothes for a rapidly growing child, too.

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Earlier in the spring, I wrote about a trip Sage and I made to Santa Fe titled New Adventures with Old Gear that included a trip to our favourite shop there. Tourist (the name of the store) offers both thoughtfully selected and curated shiny new gear and lots of lovingly owned second hand gear too. It really is a treasure trove of a shop, and one of my favourite things to do with my son is to give him some cash with the proviso that he’s only allowed to buy secondhand gear. It’s amazing how far a $20 note will go!

I also love the idea of old gear gear having its own story to tell. Wouldn’t it be cool if we added little tags that outlined some of the trips our gear had experienced before we sold it on, rather than always claiming it’s “barely used” to get the best price? Let’s celebrate buying secondhand gear and not be ashamed of it!

My Favorite Shot of 2024

I’m terrible at picking favourite photos, so I’ll go with one that captures one of my favourite memories of the summer. After picking him up from his mum’s, my son and I drove up to Nederland, Colorado, to spend some time riding trails and car camping. As part of our week together, we’d also planned an overnighter, and our route was loosely based on the site’s Boulder Weekender Loop.

Photos themselves are just fleeting moments in time. But the associated memories attached to them can be especially evocative. This one both captures his mischievous spirit, as his character develops as a 12 year old, whilst also summing up how happy we feel when we’re camping together. On this occasion, Sage and I had just spent a cold night in the tent, sipping on hot chocolate to keep warm. This photo is from the morning after, when the first beams of sun had begun to warm us back to life once more. Normally, I’d encourage Sage to help with camp chores, but this time I wanted him to enjoy that delicious moment of being bundled up in a warm sleeping bag, before it’s time to extricate yourself and start the day. Sage being Sage, he was quite happy to comply!

The two of us have bike toured with each other for well over a decade now. Wherever it may be in the world, we find comfort and familiarity in the process of camping together, and it transforms anywhere we go into places we feel connected to. Camping has helped bond us together as father and son, and to the lands through which we’ve travelled. My hope is that it will always be something he can come back to find peace, joy, and connection, whatever direction his life takes him.

If you’re interested in purchasing any of these products, please support your local bike shop and buy from them when possible. If you can’t, or they’re only obtainable online, we’ve provided links to manufacturers and stores where they are currently available; some of these retailers offer a modest referral fee, which helps support this platform. This has no bearing on the review or selection.

Further Reading

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