Plan & Prepare

Who doesn’t enjoy the idea of bikepacking with their dog? Promises of wagging tails and grinning muzzles at every rest stop, topped off with restful bliss at the end of the day. What’s not to love? John Freeman has been bikepacking with Melan for a couple of years. Here are his tips and insight…

Planning a big, overseas bikepacking trip can seem like a daunting task. After spending a month riding dirt roads through the Peruvian Andes, Cass returns with advice for putting together a similar journey.

Dylan Taylor is currently leading the American Trail Race and after 14 days he’s just about halfway through the 5,148 mile route. We caught up with Dylan to inquire about his bike, gear kit, and race experience so far…

After just 12 days, Indiana Schulz is almost halfway through the 5,000 mile American Trail Race from North Carolina to Oregon. We intercepted Indy just outside the Smoky Mountains to learn more about his gear kit and trip so far…

Ever wonder what goes in an around-the-world bikepacking kit? In this video, Josh Ibbett goes over every item in his 12-month gear list, bag by bag…

One of our favorite trail food companies recently released two new meals — Spicy Korean Bibimbap and Mexican Quinoa. They also added two breakfast items to their menu. We took several out on the trail and feasted over the weekend. Here’s the verdict.

Here at bikepacking.com, we like to feel we’re an open-minded collective of riders and explorers. Ever fascinated by different modes of carrying cargo on his bike – depending on the length and style of the trip – Cass reports back on his experiences ‘basketpacking’ in Southern California, along with a full a breakdown of his gear list.

It doesn’t take long for one’s bikepacking addiction to start pushing you out the door further into the shoulder seasons. But when the dead of winter comes into play, this is a next-level habit. Winter bikepacking offers a whole new set of challenges. Miles shares how he tackled these demands through carefully planning the right gear.

While planning for the upcoming Baja Divide, Brendan Collier, creator of the Stagecoach 400, started documenting his preparations. This video series has some great tidbits, whether you’re riding the Baja Divide or planning a trip closer to home.

“Which bags should I start with? Are there any specific bags you’d recommend? What do you pack where?” These are probably the most common questions we’re asked. In an effort to answer them, we proudly present our Complete Guide to Bikepacking Bags, along with six starter setups — from our barebones Hack Kit to our money-no-object Dream Bag Kit. For ideas on how it’s all put into practice, we’ve also included packing techniques from several bikepacking veterans, along with a list of bag makers the world over.

Miles tried a lot of gear during his first year bikepacking. He also explored a new route in Ontario, learned to sew, and found a new addiction. Read his year [of gear] in review…

Shoulder season weather in higher elevations can be dicey, and even dangerous. When bikepacking in these environs, the balance between going light and going too light is a delicate one. Here is our guide, tips, and tricks for planning a bikepacking trip — without tipping the scales — for the variety of conditions that mountains can dish out.