Bikepacking Gear

Wolf Tooth just dropped a trio of SPD-compatible pedals (CTRL, ALT, DEL) with a slick party trick: tool-simple, adjustable Q-factor for a dialed stance on any bike. Neil tested the CTRL and ALT trail and XC pedals and came away impressed. Find our full Wolf Tooth pedals review for ride impressions, specs, and pros/cons here, plus a back-to-back comparison with Shimano SPDs.

Dropper posts might get all the glory, but the tiny lever under your thumb makes—or breaks—them. Over the years, Logan has tested dozens of remotes, and he recently pulled together his top five standouts that nail ergonomics, feel, and compatibility. Find his roundup of the best dropper post levers available here…

With more gravel-oriented clipless shoes hitting the market in recent years, Nic decided to take a look at the Giro Empire SRC—a revamped version of the brand’s storied VR90 model. After 3,000+ miles, he learned a lot more than just how these clipless shoes performed when attached to a pedal. Read on for the full long-term review and see how they stood up to “feet made of acid”…

With three sizes to choose from, the new Stealth F35 Wedge Frame Bag is designed to fit a variety of bikes, plus it has a nifty magnetic Fidlock-equipped side pocket for ride essentials. Find Miles’ review here after a lot of day rides and his last overnighter of the summer…

After three years of real-world use, Logan weighs in on the Restrap Race Saddle Bag, a holster-and-drybag setup that’s genuinely waterproof and dropper-friendly. Dive into the review to hear why it’s become one of his go-to seat packs for packing light, plus the full verdict and pros/cons…

Announced earlier this year, the Outer Shell Mega Bar Bag is the California-based bag maker’s first foray into a large, top-opening handlebar or saddle bag. While it might look like any other bag, it has a nifty trick up its sleeve that sets it apart. Over the last few months, Miles and Emily used it on a week-long bikepacking trip, several overnighters, and plenty of day rides. Find the full review here…

It’s dizzying to think about how many different methods and systems there are to carry stuff on a bike these days, especially when you consider the limited number of options […]

Earlier this summer, SQlab released the 710 2.0 grips, featuring a supportive mini-wing and a sophisticated shape that looked like a great alternative to the popular Ergon GA3 grips. Over the last few months, Miles has been testing two sizes on day rides and bikepacking trips to see how they stack up. Find his review here…

With a growing number of electronic options on the market in 2025, the release of the Growtac Equal Control levers, a set of adjustable friction brifters, appears squarely out of left field. Having logged well over 10,000 miles on friction shifters, Nic took a look at the Japanese manufacturer’s newest lever option to see whether this new take on old technology is worth shifting to…

New to the British brand’s lineup is the Restrap Switch Pannier, a micro-pannier that uses a minimal mounting technology to attach to two bottle bosses, typically found on fork blades. Nic took a detailed look at these new bags to see if they’re useful for bikepacking and in line with the quality he’s come to expect from the Yorkshire maker…

Over the last five months, Neil has put the new Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 through its paces on everything from quick day rides to multi-day bikepacking trips. Along the way, he’s logged enough miles to deliver clear takeaways on the updated hardware, features, and what’s changed from the previous version. The big question: Is it fit for bikepacking? Watch now to find out…

Part of the new PFAS-free 7mesh Guardian Collection, the 7mesh Guardian Air Jacket is an ultralight waterproof jacket made from Gore-Tex ePE fabric. Find Miles’ first impressions after testing a pre-production version on several early-season bikepacking trips and details on the entire Guardian Collection here…