This is a list of the varied gear and equipment I currently use on my cycle tours and bikepacking trips, together with manufacturer and retailer links.
The collection represents 20 years of riding Earth on long-haul (months/years) and short-haul (days/weeks) trips, buying and making cycle touring and bikepacking gear, and publishing blog posts, books and occasional videos on the topic. I hope it’s interesting, but please don’t assume I’d recommend every item on the list to you. Gear choice is a personal thing.
There are a few hand-selected affiliate links to makers and retailers I believe in, which are identified with an asterisk (*). Read my affiliate policy here. I don’t link to Amazon.
Cycle Touring Equipment
All-Purpose Touring Bike
For mixed-terrain and long-haul trips I have been riding a custom-built Oxford Bike Works Expedition since 2014. If you have time, here’s a 10,000-word walkthrough of the design and build, and details of recent upgrades.
Further reading:
- What’s The Best Touring Bike? (Updated Annually)
- A Massive List Of Expedition Touring Bikes For Round-The-World Rides (43 & Counting)
- 3 Critical Questions To Ask Before You Choose A New Touring Bike
- Touring Bike FAQ (part 1 of 7)
- Should I Buy Touring Bike X Or Touring Bike Y?
Cycle Touring Panniers
My rear panniers are either Extrawheel Wayfarers or Carradice Super Cs (review / buy direct / eBay), depending on whether I need full waterproofing.
When I use front panniers (rarely), I take Crosso Dry 30s (eBay).
I strap things to racks with flat bungees to avoid damage.
Further reading:
- Do I Really Need Ortliebs? A Buyer’s Guide To Panniers For Cycle Tours & Expeditions
- Carradice Super C Rear Pannier Review
- Crosso Dry, Twist & Expert Pannier Review & Detailed Photos
Handlebar Bag
Ortlieb Ultimate Classic in the larger 6.5‑litre size (buy direct / Cyclestore / Tredz / eBay). I also like Klickfix front baskets (eBay).
Drybags For Panniers
I have a big pile of roll-top drybags between 2l and 20l capacity, which I add to as the oldest ones wear out. I use them to organise and selectively waterproof gear inside my luggage. The longest-lasting over time have been from SealLine (buy direct) and Sea To Summit (buy direct).
Plastic carrier bags work too.
Cycle Touring Cargo Trailer
Extrawheel Voyager, now the Voyager Pro (review). I love it, but use it only when I need to carry tons of extra stuff (Arctic in winter, Outer Mongolia off-road, etc), which these days is very rarely.
Dirt-Road Bikepacking Equiment
Off-Road Bikepacking Bike
My dirt-road/gravel bikepacking bike is a 2024 custom built Oxford Bike Works Outlander, purpose-designed for shorter multi-day rallies and rides with lightweight camping gear.
Bikepacking Frame Luggage
Most of my bikepacking luggage is from UK direct retailer Alpkit: a Stingray custom frame bag, Big Papa seat pack, a Stem Cell handlebar pouch, and a Kanga handlebar harness with a 20l Airlok Dual. They don’t sponsor me. I just like their stuff. I also use a top-tube bag and handlebar pouch from Decathlon.
I often wear a Deuter 3‑litre hydration pack, and sometimes a LowePro all-weather hip pack for camera gear.
Cycle Touring Tent & Camping Equipment
Tent
If my partner is along for the ride, we’ll pack our 3‑berth MSR Mutha Hubba HP. Today’s equivalent is the MSR Hubba Hubba 3 (buy direct / REI / MEC / eBay). Ours is 16 years old and going strong.
For minimalist bikepacking I’ve been using the British-designed Terra Nova Starlite 2 (my review / buy direct and get 10% off with code TOMSBIKETRIP / eBay).
Also read:
- What’s The Best Tent For Cycle Touring & Bikepacking?
- 12 Crucial Qualities Of A Bicycle Traveller’s Perfect Tent
- Why Tents Suck, And Some Alternative Ways To Camp On A Cycle Tour
Tent Alternative
I don’t actually like tents. So if it’s practical I’ll sleep in a British Army Paratex bivvy bag (eBay) or, better, a Hennessy Deep Jungle Hammock (review), depending on mood and likelihood of trees.
Sleeping Bag
In 3‑season conditions, I curl up in an Alpkit Pipedream 250 (discontinued; try the slightly lighter Pipedream 200 or heavier 400) plus a Scottish Silkworm liner (eBay).
For winter conditions I use a down-filled Big Agnes Storm King rated to ‑25ºC (discontinued).
Camping Mat
For regular touring and camping, an Alpkit Airo 180 (direct). In winter, an Exped DownMat 7 (my review); the closest of today’s models is the Dura 10R (buy direct / REI / MEC / eBay).
Also read:
Extras
Alpkit Drift inflatable pillow & cover (buy direct), Alpkit Qark headtorch (buy direct), McNett/Gear Aid Tenacious Tape (Go Outdoors / REI / MEC / eBay) for gear repairs (duct tape also works), bamboo toothbrush.
Camp Stove & Cookset
Cooking isn’t always essential, but if I’m away for long enough to want to cook my own food or make a brew, here’s what I use:
Stove
Riding solo: a Vango Firestorm Compact canister stove (direct / eBay) or a homemade meths/alcohol stove (how-to video).
In pairs/groups or on longer trips: Alpkit Koro (direct) for canister gas alone, or MSR WhisperLite Universal (review / buy direct / REI / MEC / eBay) for liquid fuel and long-term serviceability.
Also read:
Cookware
Riding solo: An older version of the MSR Trail Lite Solo kit (buy direct / eBay) when fully loaded, or an Alpkit MyTiMug (buy direct) to save weight.
In pairs/groups: Alpkit AliPots (buy direct), and sometimes a GSI Outdoors Pinnacle frying pan (buy direct).
Also read:
Water Purification
If I need one (rarely), my filter of choice is the Sawyer Squeeze (REI / eBay).
Utensils & Accessories
Spoon, Opinel No8 stainless steel folding knife (REI / MEC / eBay), a couple of tupperware containers, canister of sea salt, teabags, scouring pad, free hotel shampoo bottle filled with washing-up liquid, ziploc bag of laundry powder.
Clothing
On long trips I usually wear a combination of items from the backpacking and hiking departments, rather than cycling-specific clothing. This means bamboo or merino wool baselayers, currently a Patagonia merino ¾‑sleeved jersey (men’s/women’s); long MTB shorts with padded riding shorts underneath; and flexible, quick-drying hiking or climbing trousers for sun protection.
I then throw in whichever of the following items are relevant:
Waterproofs
Alpkit Sigma waterproof jacket (men’s/women’s), sometimes supplemented with a bin bag, and a pair of very expensive but very waterproof Patagonia overtrousers (men’s/women’s).
Sunglasses
Basic cycling sunglasses from Decathlon.
Insulated jacket
For 3‑season riding I pack a Patagonia Nano Puff recycled synthetic jacket (men’s/women’s). For serious winter camping I hide inside an Alpkit Fantom (men’s/women’s).
Shoes & Socks
My feet get on well with Salomon’s low-profile Gore-Tex hiking shoes. Your mileage may differ. I love Darn Tough socks and bring whatever thickness suits the climate. I always pack flip-flops or Crocs.
Headwear
Various Buffs, depending on circumstances – UV protective, high-vis, visor, fleece, etc. They’re really useful.
Helmet? Obviously.
Tools, Spares & Accessories
- Basic toolkit
- Topeak Alien II multitool, Topeak Road Morph G tyre pump with gauge, Park Tool GP‑2 self-adhesive patches, Park Tool TL-1C tyre levers, regular puncture repair kit, small bottle of Green Oil chain lube, strip of Gorilla Tape wrapped round seatpost, handful of assorted cable ties/zip ties attached to LHS seat-stay.
- Extended toolkit
- Cassette tool, crank extractor, bottom bracket tool, adjustable spanner, 10/12mm hex key for Shimano freehub removal, strips of inner tube rubber, hose clamp, electrical terminal block.
- Basic spares
- Inner-tube, chain links, brake shoes/pads, 3x spokes (rear drive-side, rear non-drive-side, front).
- Extended spares
- Another inner-tube, spare chain, gear cable set (inner/outer/ferrules), brake cable set, hub/headset/bottom bracket bearings, canister of grease.
- Other extended trip gear
- MSR stove service kit if applicable.
Further reading:
Tech
Gadgets are even more dependent on personal preferences. I currently use a Google Pixel 7 XL smartphone for navigation and communication, keep it charged with an Anker PowerCore 10K rapid-charging power bank and a 4‑way USB mains charger, and take photos with a real camera.
Further reading:
I’ve written many blog posts about choosing equipment for cycle touring and bikepacking that will help you make informed buying decisions that match your trip, preferences and budget.
This library of free content includes regularly-updated posts about commercial touring bikes and custom-built expedition bikes, cycle touring and bikepacking tents, cycle touring panniers, stoves for cycle touring and bikepacking, sleeping pads, cookware… seriously, the list goes on.
Warning: Any blogger who tells you there’s a “best” set of equipment for cycle touring or bikepacking, or that you absolutely must have something (especially if it’s expensive), probably has a vested interest in you buying it. Just saying.
Latest blog posts about cycle touring & bikepacking gear:
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Black Friday 2023: Cycle Touring & Bikepacking Deals That Give Something Back
As long-term readers of this blog will know, I’m not exactly an advocate for the irreverent spending of money on stuff. I write highly opinionated posts, for example, about why fancy gear is totally unnecessary, how to get touring bikes and equipment for next to nothing, and how to travel forever for free. That sort of thing. But I understand that outdoor enthusiasts occasionally have to splash out on new gear. Some, apparently, even enjoy doing so. I personally tend to wait until my stuff is falling apart at the seams and covered in repair tape – and then wait another year for… Continue reading →
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No Stupid Questions: Do I Need Special Hydraulic Brake Fluid For Winter Touring?
A reader writes: Thank you for bringing up these timely questions on the subject of winter cycle touring in sub-zero conditions! I myself rode to the Scandinavian Arctic back in the winter of 2011. It turns out that winter can be a source of fun and novelty for adventure cyclists, so it’s great to hear from someone planning a ride like this. Let’s start with the question of whether you need special winter fluid for hydraulic disc brakes on a touring bike (or any other type of bicycle, for that matter). Continue reading →
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Oxford Bike Works Expedition: New Upgrades For 2023
Before my recent Australia tour, I took Tom’s Expedition Bike back to its birthplace in the UK for a tune-up and a few experimental upgrades. This post details what’s changed, explores the thinking behind the upgrades, and goes deep into the specifics of why they were made. (Warning: it’s a 5,000-word long read, so maybe put the kettle on.) Continue reading →
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3 Critical Questions To Ask Before You Choose A New Touring Bike
When you’re in the market for a new touring bike, it’s important not to dive too deep until you’re clear about what kind of cycle tour you actually want to go on. Especially with the current trends towards ultralight bikepacking, gravel bikes, touring e‑bikes, etc, manufacturers will work extremely hard to sell you something you never knew you needed. They’ll even give top-of-the-range bikes to social media influencers (yep, they’ve discovered cycle touring and bikepacking too!) to promote products that for most riders are a waste of precious travel funds. If you’re not careful, before you know it you’ll have bought… Continue reading →
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27 Cycle Touring & Bikepacking Apps For Every Imaginable Purpose
While I’m a big advocate of low-tech bike tours, almost every long-distance rider today is bringing along their smartphone for the ride. But what exactly are the best apps for cycle touring and bikepacking? It’s a tricky question. To my knowledge, there is no single app that does everything an cycle tourer or bikepacker wants when exploring the world by bicycle. And that’s probably because the cycle touring or bikepacking lifestyle is a complex, multi-faceted thing, taking in a diverse range of activities that go way beyond route planning and navigation. No one app could possibly serve all of them! This… Continue reading →