Bikepacking Gear

Austere Manufacturing specializes in high-performance, US-made hardware. Their flagship product is a CNC-machined cam buckle that’s lightweight, impressively strong, and built to last a lifetime. Find a closer look here, including an interview with Austere’s founder, Uriel Eisen…

Drop bars vs flat bars? A few weeks ago, we asked our readers which they preferred for long dirt tours and big multi-day bikepacking rides on mixed surface routes. With nearly 3,000 respondents, we reveal the results in our latest video. Additionally, Neil unpacks all you need to know about the differences between the two, particularly their effect on comfort and components. Watch it here.

What makes the best GPS unit for bikepacking? In this video, Neil walks through the critical features, functions, and settings to consider. He also shares his thoughts on the Garmin eTrex series and explains why he continues to use the eTrex 32x over cycling-specific computers for multi-day rides…

Updated June 2021 In bikepacking utopia, we all ride beautiful singletrack on minimal soft bag setups, perfectly packed with the latest in ultralight gear. In the real world, however, many of us aren’t always enjoying trail riding and our gear can often be bulky. Or sometimes we just need a little extra capacity. Perhaps it’s […]

With the Tour Divide kicking off tomorrow, folks might be wondering how riders choose the best tires for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, a long and intense ride that tests all bike components, especially the ones grinding along day after day. In our latest YouTube video, we talk about what factors to consider and reveal a few of our favorite tires for long, mixed-terrain routes…

Wolf Tooth Components just launched their all-new WT-1 Chain Lube, which is designed to clean, protect, and last up to five times longer than other chain lubes. We had the chance to give it a try prior to launch. Find our first impressions here…

What makes a great hip pack? In this video review, Neil shares some thoughts on his new favorite, the Dakine Hot Laps 5L. It’s big, loaded with features that work well on the bike, and he rarely leaves home without it. Find the specs, how he packs his Hot Laps, and how it’s held up to a few months of riding.

Just released, the Ortlieb Handlebar-Pack QR is a rather fresh and modern take on the traditional top-loading handlebar bag. We got to put a couple hundred miles on one for this shakedown review. Find everything you need to know about this unique, waterproof roll-top bag here…

Keen to try sleeping between two trees? Over the last year, we’ve been testing three different styles of hammocks from Eagles Nest Outfitters and Dutchware to see what the fuss is all about. Find our thoughts on those here, as well as an introductory guide to what you need for a reliable bikepacking hammock setup, thoughts from a hammock aficionado, and more…

Just announced, the all-new Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT gets a color screen, more navigation features, nearly six times the storage capacity, and more. We had the chance to test drive one prior to today’s launch. Find our first ride review and impressions here…

Updated May 2021 Back in 2010, Salsa Cycles released the original Anything Cage, an oversized, open-sided cage made from lightweight aluminum tubing. The idea of an oversized cage wasn’t completely new, but Salsa’s concept was pretty groundbreaking. With the intention of stowing items that are significantly larger than a standard water bottle—almost anything—the Anything Cage […]

The Wayward Riders Louise Dropper Post Harness was recently updated with more tire clearance, added stability, and compatibility with dry bags ranging from 3 to 13L in size. We’ve been testing the Louise V2 this spring to discover how much it’s improved over the original. Find the full review here…