My 2021 Bikepacking Gear List

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

So... What do you think? Have plans of strapping your Backpacking Gear to a Bike & giving Adventure Cycling a try in 2021??? 👇Let Us Know Down Below!👇

[@cgriggsiv]

I hope this year I will be able to get a nice four-day trip down to Finley State Park down on the buckeye trails The whole trip is around 368 miles

[@kyle_scharf]

I am planning to try my first bikepacking trip this year.

[@safromnc8616]

I think the Tenkara would be a great addition if you are going someplace you could utilize it...

[@frodoadventure1]

Planning to hit a long section of the NCT for a couple days.

[@MrZetsu1995]

I'm planning on doing a bikepacking trip of about 1200km, gonna go the full coast of Finland, we'll see what happens...

[@pierreprior2933]

As a bikepacker myself, I love the direction your channel is taking!

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Just trying to expand everyone's Outdoor Adventure Horizons. You can only make so many Hiking Videos in 5 years (350 of them!) 😉

[@ntr10me]

More bike content - SUPER welcome decision.

[@johnjames4583]

Bike packing brings a lot of things to the table. One, if your like me, i have a bad foot from the service. Hiking is fun but short lived, where as on a bike I can extend the miles, and have a pain free trip. Bikes allow you to travel farther period. Granted you are not going to be doing any wilderness travel. I like the fact that someone with your vast experience in Hiking and Biking is willing to share this knowledge with us. Thank You

[@elorz007]

14 degrees? That's quite a nice weather. **Laughs in Celsius**

[@TheRickurb]

“Steel Sherpa”! ❤️ I’m stealing that one!

[@tanstaafl1960]

Well, ‘Iron Donkey’ is pretty dated, so I guess a new nickname is warranted. 😉👍

[@TheBlazingSilver]

This isn't content that's super applicable to me, but its clear that you love it. So I'm just gonna comment here to help feed that engagement algorithm demon!

[@TheBlazingSilver]

Get back to the circus you clown.

[@carlospilkington3249]

Hi Darwin, From Spain we would love to see some more of yor great bikepacking videos. Thanks a lot for all the inspiration. Love your trail vids!!!

[@adrienrenaux6211]

For anyone wanting to start on the cheap, you can strap a lot of things to a bike with a bit of ingenuity. You can use a wet bag, loop the buckle around the seat post and then strap it up against your saddle rail to make a cheap seat bag. You can strap any kind of dry back, stuff sack to you your handlebars. You can even make a burrito out of Tyvek and strap it to your handlebars! If you have a rack, you can easily strap some sort of bag on top of it!

[@hikermichael9443]

I'm becoming a bikepacker myself. My commute to and from work is ~22 miles of mountains and I've just bought a new lighter weight bike I'll be turning into a touring bike as well. It's a hard tail mountain bike. I love it so far. I'm gonna put drop bar clamp adapters and a rear seat post rack to really make it look the part.

[@michaelharlow1712]

Look at you being brave and bucking the hiking trend. Need some bikepacking videos!!

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Not "Bucking It", just trying to expand my & your horizons a little bit when it comes to Outdoor Adventure 🤙

[@philhorne3293]

The single gear up front was a surprise. So I did the math on the torque ratios with the rear cassette. Your bike is built for climbing! Nice!

[@JoeOsChannel]

Glad to see you doing Bikepacking videos, that makes your channel even better. I've done plenty of bike touring in the past with racks and panniers, trips up to 7000 km solo. But in 2021, I will also be getting into the bikepacking style as well. Looking forward to more of these videos from you! Cheers from Thunder Bay Ontario Canada

[@certifiedfishingcycling9208]

First ever search for bikepacking as I am thinking of making it a reality...boy, am I ever glad I chose your thumbnail 🙏. Solid content, very informative, and easily affordable items for purchase for me, the beginner. YES, MAKE MORE BIKEPACKING CONTENT..I WILL BE FOLLOWING AS YOU HAVE EARNED YOURSELF ANOTHER SUBSCRIBER THROUGH THIS VIDEO ALONE! KEEP IT UP.

[@sedonasugarloaflodge7971]

dude! The foam pad to save your therma is brilliant! I've been fighting punctures every time I have gone out.

[@Sk8ter-Dad]

Stoked to see more bikepacking videos in 2022!!!!

[@dnestlerode5513]

Can’t get out much currently but I have been planning trips that include bike packing for the 1st time so I am very pleased to see the new content.

[@BillyMcGovern]

Darwin, Love the fact you did this in 2016. I feel like everyone is getting into bikepacking right now (me too). I thru hiked the AT in 2017 and really don’t see myself going back to backpacking. Two wheels is the way to go.

[@johnnymcandrew]

I use all your thru hiking video gear for my bike packing setup, now you are doing bike packing videos. This is awesome Darwin, keep it up :)

[@swnorcraft7971]

Hell yes! Bring on all the bikepacking videos you want to.............cant wait. Thanks for sharing.

[@lindadou1631]

yes, more bikepacking info. We have always rode but bikepacking sounds like something we can get into. Love the channel, hiking and or biking.

[@bikerob1231]

yes MORE backpacking content please. I do more biking than I do hiking.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

I say... Why not both?!

[@zach5620]

Darwin doesn’t even go to the mailbox without his buff💀

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

TRUTH!

[@jimbojet8728]

Neither do I.

[@robgutie1935]

Big fan of the carradice style bags. Must be nice to be tall enough to have that giant frame bag. I needed to switch to side draw bottle cages just to keep two bottles in the frame.

[@Crowiferous]

Psyched that you're back to bike packing videos! I fell in love with 2 wheel travel when I biked across the US in 2010; life changing doesn't cut it. Go Darwin go!

[@iamdrew14]

I love seeing the bikepacking content! I'm an avid backpacker dabbling in bikepacking, and this content is exactly the kind I'm looking for. Keep it coming, my friend!

[@MrJacobmetcalf]

Think you for always being so encouraging at every level for people

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Always Trying 😉

[@alessandrog.1985]

First I apologize for my basic English. I follow your videos with interest ( the last short film is really nice ) and I find your approach to bikepacking interesting. Explanations always very useful for people like me who are at the beginning. Thanks for sharing your experience. Hi from Italy

[@CustomAwesome]

I found and followed your channel in 2016 BECAUSE of the bikepacking content. Keep it comin'!! I'm doing the Sky Islands next month, so I was pretty stoked to see that vid last week.

[@cjcar178]

I just did my first bikepacking trip and I'm hooked. Loved the video!

[@dage1301]

Thanks for the update Darwin. I love the direction you are taking regarding sharing all your adventures. As a new bikepacker I found this both interesting and helpful. Thanks again!

[@MakoBeauty]

OMG YES I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VIDEO

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Ta Da!

[@Lucas-lz3cq]

Yes please with more bikepacking content! I feel like 2020 made Bikepacking pretty trendy.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Geez... Seems like it! 😳

[@sagehiker]

@@DarwinOnthetrail That is why folks are more receptive to your bikepacking content versus 2016, when we were in a thru-hiking craze. I could still ride bikes when many of the local trails were closed.

[@OgedeiKhanOKOK]

Very helpful video man. Bikepacking might be a niche category but for those interested in it ur vids are amazing 👍

[@RideAlongside]

I subbed to the channel because of the 2016 bikepacking content. Waited until the end of the world to see the next bikepacking video from you. Thanks for getting it out before all goes up in flame. -Nick 😃👍

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Awesome! Thank You! 🔥❤️🔥

[@spectac1983]

I started watching for the bikepacking several years ago. Stuck around because hiking gear has a good bit of overlap, but glad to see bikepacking again!

[@valeriehunter3795]

Love it! I love to ride but have stayed at hotels, gets expensive even though splitting cost with my daughter. Considering investing in the gear needed to camp.

[@mclostinthewoods]

Love it. Great vid. Looking forward to more bike content. I'm in the DFW area (TX) and recently discovered a nearly complete project to create the longest trail in Texas. It's called the NETT (North East Texas Trail), and its 130 miles long and runs from Farmersville (right on the northeast edge of DFW) to New Boston (just southwest of TX/AR border). It has established campsites and runs through a bunch of small TX towns. I'm thinking that might be my first long bikepacking experience. I'm excited to see my state embracing the outdoor community. You'd think a state the size of TX would have some great long trails, but the longest backpacking trail here is the LSHT (Lone Star Hiking Trail) which is 96 miles and not maintained that great in a couple sections.

[@mysterious.hiker.x]

I came here after the Odyssey video to find out what the heck the bag inside the frame was. Come to find out its called a...frame bag. Glad you posted this for the non-bikepackers to get more acquainted.

[@VincentLoGreco]

I'm also a backpacker who's into bike touring. I have a Soma Saga Disc that I built myself and I use it for mostly rail trail trips (Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal are my favorite trips). I plan to get out this spring on a S24O on the Schuylkill River Trail near my house since this summers trip is a backpacking trip.

[@TravelTourTaste]

Hey Darwin great to see you again. Hope you had a great Christmas and just wanted to wish you a very Happy New year and may 2021 bring you much success, joy and happiness. Stay safe and catch up again real soon.

[@jacovdmnz]

I did my first bikepacking adventure this weekend. 122km over two days on the Little River Rail Trail in between Christchurch and Little River in New Zealand. I had such a blast and am already looking forward to the next one. Happy Days!

[@hanniegraceoutside4870]

Love love love! My best friend and I thru hiked the AT last year and are now looking at doing some serious bikepacking (with hopefully going east coast to west coast in 2023), so we we're thrilled to find your channel. I love your vibe, your mix of adventure and cycling, and your videos. Definitely more bikepacking stuff!

[@philliplaroe6107]

Many years ago ( like 40!) I did some bike packing which turned into back packing and now as my knees are getting old I am looking again to return to my bike. I have enjoyed all your backpacking videos and would greatly enjoy more dedicated to biking. I have already added the loop out of Patagonia to my upcoming travels!

[@johnwych5612]

Another great video, thanks. I started watching your channel for gear advice getting going with bikepacking, then got hooked on the beautiful hiking films you make! I'm really enjoying these bikepacking features again. The highlight of the summer was convincing my (16 year old 'you're so uncool, Dad') son to come with me on a short bike packing adventure. He loved it and even had to admit the water filter, stove, food, sleep system and everything we took 'just worked' - thanks to you. Keep them coming :)

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Excellent video, I see that your rear and front bags are quite traditional in design unlike the other more "trendy" modern bags, that's interesting, I still use a pannier rack on the rear but I'm thinking of getting a new bike and omitting the panier rack in favour of the more modern setup.

[@tomsitzman3952]

Why go "modern"? Modern is a throw back to the USA army of the 1980's

[@theadventurousgeezer]

Thanks Darwin! I've just started to get into both backpacking and bikepacking and love them both. Nice to know of someone who enjoys both just like I do. Great content in your video, as usual.

[@philamongthehills501]

Fifteen years ago having kids and new rail trail going across the county got me back into cycling which got me into bike touring which got me back into backpacking. I am in the process of getting my off the shelf bike setup better for touring from the local bike shop and have been researching routes across the state. Please keep producing these videos.

[@firelight70]

I like the bikepacking content as well, so please add some of it to the channel (but I enjoy the backpacking stuff, too). One thing I notice; on the spare tube you carry, try to position the stem where it won't potentially rub the tube while being jostled around when you ride. I've seen people pull out a tube to fix their flat only to discover it's flat where the stem rubbed a hole in the tube.

[@marcselby6715]

I started watching your channel as I wanted to the TCR and wanted to learn about lightweight gear, so even better now that actual bike content being included.

[@chrislowe3060]

I’d suggest leaving the plastic stem cap on the spare tube and also keeping the tube wrapped in a rag or old sock. Over time the tip of your valve stem and multi tool will rub a hole in your tube. Not something you want to discover in the middle of nowhere. Flat spare tubes were a surprisingly common problem I saw when working as a mechanic on charity rides and centuries. It’s one of those things I never saw when working in a shop but saw quite a bit working at events.

[@SimplyLesa]

I wish I could bike... But age and back injuries won't allow it... I love following you on youtube. I carried over my AT gear and ideas into both foreign travel and then Nomad life on the road in the states. Now I winter car, well SUV camp and have a tiny off off-grid studio and greenhouse! Keep filming and being real.

[@timot_one]

Glad to see you're posting more bikepacking videos. I originally found your videos while researching gear to get into bikepacking a few years ago. Looking forward to seeing more content.

[@sethbeiden1305]

Bikes are awesome, so please keep it coming! I love backpacking and riding bikes - love merging it! Bikes allow you to see more in the same time, although faster, but in a totally different way. Amazing.

[@danielepperson9683]

Heck yes! Super pumped you’re putting out bikepacking content!

[@js4513]

Love the bike packing content just as much as the hiking!

[@ellenderee350]

Hi Darwin, interesting video, thanks. Have you considered using rear or front luggage carriers. Something quite common in Europe. Advantage is that your weight moves down (I mean gravity point lower). Disadvantage probably aerodynamics. 🤗

[@jimclark2599]

YES!! More Bikepacking content! Thank you.

[@theredravenworkshop3037]

Super helpful full of awesome information! More bike videos are always welcome.

[@OutdoorsWithJohnUSA]

Darwin, I have always done a lot of biking in the past, and over the last few years, I've been hiking and backpacking. I have even done a few bikepacking trips in 2019, but none in 2020 due to COVID. I am ready to head out on some bikepacking adventures in 2021. I look forward to more bikepacking content from your channel to inspire us.

[@calywil]

I watch all of your videos Darwin, can't wait for more bikepacking vids. I'm currently in Las Vegas looking for 2 night trips within driving range. Gonna do a trip to Flagstaff once the weather breaks in spring.

[@ridesrambles8903]

Always great to see other folks great, and interesting to find out why they choose one thing over another. Enjoying the new content, cheers bud

[@sagehiker]

Well done! I bought a bike in May specifically for dirt road touring, Eastern MT and WY to Canada the first year or so. (Surly Bridge Club 27.5) My practice and training is on the County Roads, BLM, and Forest Service Routes. I am picking up next month a permit to camp on Montana State Lands to expand the experience. i am hoping for my first bikepacking in late March, weather permitting. My current project is winter backpacking but there is a winter snow/ice bike nearly finished in the barn. (1984 trek MTB - rigid fork and frame with wide studded tires. And 8 speed internal hub conversion) Boot or wheel, is all real.

[@rabbitdadthings]

Just picked up a giant contend AR. Haven’t had a decent bike in a really long time. Of course some of my first thoughts now are bike packing trips! Great, another hobby I won’t have the time for. Haha! The good thing is bike packing offers more trails accessible for weekend trips compared to backpacking in my area. Thanks for the video and inspiration!

[@bxf1_]

I bought an aluminum Cannondale Topstone this year. I'm ready to customize it & get my bike packing gear & get out there. I wish I could get some Whiskey carbon wheels! I like the idea of a 2L water bladder in the frame bag. I was considering a 2L camelback riding vest. I have a wish list of hiking hear from you now I'm excited to start a bike packing list & buy items when I can. More bike packing content please. Thanks for all the imformative vids! See you on the trails!

[@SiopaoSauc3]

I for one would appreciate a full bike nerd parts video. Geek out on stuff like the stem spacer bell, the tanpan, why you don't run dynamo.

[@matthewsponseller]

Good orientation to your gear and set up! And yes please to more bike packing content!! I have learned plenty from your hiking videos, but have found my true love is bike packing as opposed to backpacking.

[@garrywhelan9211]

Fully support your inclusion of bikepacking. I came to your channel as a long time hiker and cyclist looking for what's current in lightweight backpacking - since it's the same for bikepacking! I've ended up enjoying all your hiking content and the little you covered for bikepacking, so more power to you. It's all inspiration for adventures and exploring.

[@dougnevitt2257]

Love the bike content! Keep em coming. Thanks

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Thanks, will do!

[@kathleenm7629]

We've followed for you hiking for awhile now and are so excited to see bike packing stuff. We just recently bought gravel bikes with bike packing in mind and viola! There you are adventuring like we want to...again. Glad to see your tips and follow...Yeah!

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

NICE!

[@coleirvin9984]

TRANSAM 2021 right here!! love the new content

[@jackpumkinhead9583]

this was awesome i’m an avid hiker, but ever since I did the katy trail in Missouri I have gotten super into bike packing also , it’s so similar in so many ways that I don’t know why more hikers don’t talk about it the cool thing with bike packing is that you can really make a lot more miles then you can hiking a lot easier

[@logandavies9017]

Yes!! I have hopes to ride the XWA trail across my home state of Washington! I absolutely love this content you are putting out!

[@meganwildt2481]

Perfect timing. I am saving up for a new bike (my curent bike is a cheap thing from walmart that has no way to attach any sort of bag)and a big 5000+ mile trip that I have been planing for over a year now. I would love to see more videos about long trips. Any interviews you do with other people biking with you. I plan on saving 6 to 7 months just so i can see the things and do all the things that i planned to see and do on this trip. I have no delusions of grandeur thinking that it will happen this year but hopefully next year or the year after. Im guessing i would need to have about $6000 saved up so based on what i have saved so far the timeline for this mega trip lines up with 2 years.

[@evelynpagan6762]

Yes, more of these videos. I bike and hike but never have bikepack. I'm in can't wait go see more!

[@279seb]

Cool to see you going the bikepacking route. I tried it out last summer and loved it. Starting to make plans for this summer.

[@littletownie4008]

Thank You Darwin. Its great to see you doing more bikepacking videos. It's summer time for me and my friends. We are planing a 400km ride through the Molesworth Station and the Rainbow trail. An adventure Ive been looking forward to if for ages. It's useful to see how and what other people bring on their adventures.

[@toddsymborski9698]

Always looking for good info on bikepacking....PLEASE...MORE...BIKEPACKING...CONTENT!!!

[@32hammasta]

In Finland, the Road Traffic Act stipulates that a bicycle must have a front and rear light. Thanks for the good video. I hope to see more bikepacking videos in future:)

[@jae.m.luna2023]

Hell yeah! I’m glad to see you are going to start doing bikepacking videos again. I’ve been interested in doing more riding so I’m excited to learn more about it. 👍🏻

[@NimbusNikko]

i got into backpacking gear for ultimately doing a huge bikepacking trip so im thankful you made a video like this !

[@margiepaskert3289]

Yes, please. I am not currently bikepacking, but you are inspiring me to do so. Thanks!

[@bradweaver6124]

More bikepacking please. Just getting into it myself.

[@Hihihi96]

Yes, do more vids about using the steel sherpa to get out there. My goal this year is to strap my pack(waymark mile) to my bike, head out my garage and ride to the “mountains”. Then secure my bike and hike for a a couple days. I’m a little nervous about leaving my bike; but I think it could be stealthly stashed.

[@Galactico42]

To the "use what you have" point, I got a vintage 90's rigid bike last year and used regular dry bags on a rear rack for my first overnight. Still got on singletrack. Investing in more specialty gear now, but it was a great way to dip my toe in.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

NICE!!!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@Galactico42]

@@DarwinOnthetrail An important thing I've picked up from your channel is the value of camping gear that's not just light, but PACKABLE. I'm looking at down quilts not so much to save weight, but to downsize my bike bags.

[@MrTheWathcer]

I always was a grea fan of your thru-hikes, and always wanted to do one myself! But just a month ago I got very interested in touring and bikepacking, so your content is just a blessing for me! :DD Thank you Darwin for the amazing content!

[@DAMN55117]

I like the crossover Darwin. Definitely interested in some bike packing content.

[@theimperialsage]

Love the Bike content. While a lot of people may not be able to take a long bike trip, I feel there are always good bike trails to explore here in the Midwest. I was really inspired a coupe years ago to explore the biking community by watching your videos. I would always welcome more biking content.

[@jimdelfin4935]

Sharing this to my fellow bike buddies here in the Philippines. Thanks!

[@user-oe7jh1ee4o]

I just asked and you delivered.. thanks for all that you do for us here ..

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

My pleasure! 🤙

[@공세리-h2c]

It's very nice to hear that you are cycling Please keep on youtube

[@daigentaylor]

Keep it coming! I love the bikepacking content. Currently planing a long trip this spring.

[@cshaslag]

Thanks so much for sharing information on bike packing. I bike pack and love to see what others use. Thanks for emphasizing that you can do this with any bags/bike you have and showing the cross-over between hiking and bike packing.

[@DaveM-mp6yu]

Awesome, I just started last year. The tenkara rod is great for bike packing. Thanks.

[@austinray4200]

So glad you’re doing bikepacking videos!

[@willek1335]

I'm a relative beginner myself and my gear is pretty similar. The only difference is aero bars. It makes it a lot more comfortable on your arms, and one of the cheapest ways to add speed/distance. My last addition is to think about aerodynamic of my bags because my average speed is fairly high, and then aero is a major factor. Your frame bag is excellent.

[@obikedog]

Nice to see a fully dialed setup. Only one small quip - Unless it's winter and I'm using it for a thermos, stainless steel is too hot-n/-heavy for carrying water during the day. Maybe that's a good idea for cooking water? Just not sure what purpose SS serves in 2021 other than looks - which are very retro-cool - especially if you're running CrMo!

[@KnightsoftheTrail]

I love this. I've never even thought of bike packing before, but it sure seems fun, and it's just another extension of adventure. I'm down for more content. Keep them coming. I would like to see a video on how you plan your trips, routes, and were to stay the night on your journey. Thanks.

[@tomsitzman3952]

For the newbe there is no right way to travel on a bike. Some bikers bring everything but the kitchen sink. I once met a guy on the road who brought a small TV, He said Why not?. I met a guy going cost to coast with the clothes on his back. Every evening was a hotel and a 6 pac of beer with his restaurant meal. Every week he would buy cheap tee shirts and underwear and throw the soiled stuff away. I'm kind of old school at age 80, I have a lot of equipment options. Good equipment never wears out. I have a three page equipment list that I can select from, depending on the time of year and the type of trip. My phone is now my camera, my maps, and weather radio. I use flat paddles with spikes and my only shoes are Keen sandals with a toe cap and sock to match the weather. Alpaca socks are incredible, they never smell. I have two grab/grub bags on my handle bars. So handy. I don't carry a stove much anymore. I carry "Stacher" brand silicon bags to pick up a prepared restaurant meal or grocery store food for on the road and to carry to camp. My rule of thumb is only bring stuff that has two or more uses. Always carry a nonperishable dense calorie emergency meal . A woman friend I used to bike tour with carried "the little black dress" for a dine out evening. It fold to nothing. Doing hard days long days or short sight seeing days. There are no rules Carry as much or as little as you need and enjoy what you do. See you on the road.

[@davyhaynes6716]

Darwin, be careful with your Bagman bracket. I’ve had and used one with a traditional Carradice bag for over 20 years. The bolt loves to work loose. Keep a check on it every few days or so. Also, those bolts are known to break, as they really do have an unfair moment on them. For a longer or remote trip I’d carry a spare for not much spare weight.

[@Ratatrail]

You are one of the reason why I did the PCT in 2019, great channel, excellent advices as usual, thanks for sharing 🤓