Bikepacking Gear

The Vargo Titanium Hexagon Stove was one of the most impressive new pieces of gear that we carried on our tour through Africa; and Vargo’s knack for efficiency innovation and elegant design doesn’t stop there, so we put together a full Vargo bikepacking kitchen…

“… it’s like being a big kid on a grown up BMX bike… that can plow over anything.” – D-Molasses

The Five Ten Maltese Falcon LT all-mountain shoe is a great SPD bikepacking option with a lightweight design, water resistance, rugged construction, and the near perfect blend of stiffness and comfort.

Why the quiver is not dead: one for dirt-road touring and one for bikepacking.

Part 1 of 2 of a ramble pondering nomenclature (dirt touring vs bikepacking), the state of the 29+ platform, and the Surly Krampus vs the ECR…

The Vargo BOT is an elegantly designed 1 liter titanium water bottle with a titanium screw lid that triples in versatility as a cooking pot and an excellent storage container.

Fundamentally, the frame bag is the most basic and practical piece of bike luggage. It’s also the easiest to make… and only requires a consumer sewing machine and a little skill. Here’s how to plan, design, and construct a simple frame bag.

Prepped and ready for the unremitting ascents and knuckle-bleaching descents that make up an epic trail network in the western North Carolina Appalachians…

A preview of a few new items I’ve assembled for an upcoming bikepacking trip through the Appalachians…

The Surly OD Crank is a pretty piece of metal, not to mention one of the only options for setting up a 2x system on a 29+ bike… and one of the few options for yielding a granny gear for bikepacking. Also, a comparison by the numbers…

Most gear takes a absolute beating while on a long tour. None more than what’s beneath your feet…

The accumulation in both my storage unit and in-laws’ garage has reached a tipping point. It’s time to thin out the stable. Here are a few good deals on frames, racks, tires, wheels, etc…