Bikepacking essentials: our guide to everything you’ll need and why

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or just getting started, here’s our guide to the key kit to take - plus a few tips on optional extras

Male cyclist riding a gravel bike with bikepacking bags
(Image credit: Future)

Bikepacking is a wonderful way to spend a holiday or weekend. You get to know the area far more intimately that just staying in some accommodation or camping. Even travelling somewhere fairly local, you’ll experience a very different side of it on a bike than you ever would otherwise.

Like with any holiday or bike ride, there are the many usual things that you really don’t want to forget. So, drawing on our long experience, we’ve put together a guide detailing all the items we take on every bikepacking trip – plus a few optional extras (marked with an asterisk).

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