Tom’s Cycle Touring & Bikepacking Kit List

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:

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:

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:

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:

  • What’s Really The Difference Between Bikepacking & Cycle Touring?

    What’s Really The Difference Between Bikepacking & Cycle Touring?

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    Over the last few years we have seen the rise of a new sub-discipline of bicycle travel. It’s called ‘bikepacking’, and it’s become such a hit that almost every mainstream bike manufacturer now produces at least one ‘adventure bike’ or ‘bikepacking rig’, or includes the word in their marketing spiel for bikes that might fit the bill. Specialised bikepacking luggage, too, has proliferated, from a few cottage industries turning out bespoke, hand-stitched frame bags to pannier giant Ortlieb launching a line. Someone I know who helps run a bikepacking website told me they get over one million hits per month. (For comparison,… Continue reading →

  • What Does The Ideal Cycle Touring Clothing Collection Look Like?

    What Does The Ideal Cycle Touring Clothing Collection Look Like?

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    I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel I’ve ever quite solved the cycle touring clothing quandry. Walk into a bike shop or outdoor store and it isn’t quite as simple as finding the ‘cycle touring’ department and taking your pick. I inevitably end up wearing garments – such as trekking trousers, merino or bamboo T‑shirts, hand-made linen slacks, tailored cotton shirts, etc – that were never designed for cycling at all. These are generally supplemented with only a few cycle-specific accessories such as padded shorts, riding mitts, Buffs, waterproofs, and perhaps socks and shoes. I get the impression that… Continue reading →

  • How To Assemble A Fix-Anything Cycle Touring or Bikepacking Toolkit

    How To Assemble A Fix-Anything Cycle Touring or Bikepacking Toolkit

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    What tools, spares and supplies would the perfect cycle touring or bikepacking toolkit contain? Is it even possible to curate such a kit?  If it is, which products have earned the strongest reputation for reliability on worldwide bike trips? And finally – which of those items should make it into the portable toolkit you’ll be packing for your next bikepacking trip or cycle tour? These are the questions I want to explore in this detailed post on the subject of toolkit assembly for bike touring and bikepacking. Note that if you have a non-standard bicycle configuration, such as a Rohloff hub or Pinion gearbox, hydraulically-actuated… Continue reading →

  • How To Go Ultralight Bikepacking (A Fully Loaded Cycle Tourist’s Perspective)

    How To Go Ultralight Bikepacking (A Fully Loaded Cycle Tourist’s Perspective)

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    Ultralight cycle touring – a.k.a. bikepacking – is something I’ve been asked repeatedly to cover on this blog. As luck would have it, lightweight bikepacking is also something I’m getting more and more interested in, especially now I’m based in a place with endless potential for dirt road adventures in the mountains. Exciting plans are brewing for this style of adventure cycling. But a trial run is always a good idea… Luckily, a couple of weeks back, I found myself with the unexpected luxury of an empty week in my calendar, a touring bike in need of a workout, and an appointment to… Continue reading →

  • Unconventional Sources Of Cheap Cycle Touring Equipment

    Unconventional Sources Of Cheap Cycle Touring Equipment

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    Last year I sourced a touring bike, luggage, camping & cooking gear, spares, tools and clothes for £25.17 and then rode it the length of England on a budget of 25 pence. It was fantastic proof that money is no pre-requisite for adventure, and that you can get everything you need practically for free. However, finding the gear did require time, energy and luck in considerable amounts – not to mention the challenges of travelling without money (full story here). This article, therefore, is for those who do have a bit of cash to spend on getting up and running, but aren’t… Continue reading →