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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280 Years, 196 Cyclists & 4,065,596 Kilometres — But What Does The Database Of Long-Distance Cycling Journeys Really Tell Us?
Tim & Laura’s quantitative study of the achievements of nearly two hundred long-distance touring cyclists makes for some fascinating browsing. Who’d have guessed, for example, that the highest average monthly distance (9,673km) would be 41 times greater than the slowest (234km)? Who’d have guessed that 38% of these cyclists would have chosen to use 700c road sized wheels on their bikes, compared with 62% using 26-inch mountain bike sized wheels? Who’d have guessed that exactly two thirds of those riders would have cycled solo, and for an average trip length of 28,482km? Who’d have guessed that it would be possible to get by on as… Continue reading →
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Kona Sutra 2015 Touring Bike: A Preview
[UPDATE: Kona’s updated 2016 Sutra has recently been announced. Check out my preview here.] The Kona Sutra has been my short-haul road tourer of choice for the last few years, ever since I rode a 2012 model of the Kona Sutra down the Pacific Coast of America in 2012. When I reviewed the 2014 Sutra, it seemed to me that Kona had moved it away from road touring towards more adventurous back-road and rough-road tours. This was probably a good move, as there are many well-established touring bikes to compete with, but not so many in the field of short-haul, mixed-terrain touring. It wasn’t perfect,… Continue reading →
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Ridgeback Expedition Touring Bike Review & Detailed Photos
Disclosure: I was eager to test-ride the Ridgeback Expedition, as it looked on paper like a brave and welcome entry at the lower end of the 26-inch wheel expedition bike market in the UK. It was returned to Ridgeback after the testing period was over. I’m not affiliated with Ridgeback in any way. Overview Released in 2014, the Ridgeback Expedition is a 26-inch wheel equipped touring bike at the low-middle of the pricing scale. It’s one of their World series of bikes, which also includes the well-regarded Panorama (reviewed here last week). The bike’s build and specification orients it strongly towards long-haul expedition-style touring in the developing world with a big lean towards… Continue reading →
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Crosso Dry, Twist & Expert Pannier Review & Detailed Photos
Disclosure: The Dry and Expert panniers reviewed here were originally supplied by Extrawheel during my testing of their prototype Voyager trailer. I then bought a pair of Twists on the strength of their performance, and use them to this day. Crosso are a Polish manufacturer of waterproof drybags and bicycle panniers. I’ve used their panniers and drybags for 7 years, riding thousands of miles with them in a huge range of climates and conditions. While my recommendation comes with some caveats, I’ve become a big fan of their simplicity and functionality — not to mention their very affordable price-tags. Their panniers come… Continue reading →
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Ridgeback Panorama Touring Bike Review & Detailed Photos
This guest post was written in 2014 by my friends Tim & Laura Moss, who spent 16 months riding two Ridgeback Panorama touring bikes 13,000 miles (20,000km) around the world. The bike has changed little since then and has kept its reputation as a classic British road tourer. The Panorama is British bicycle manufacturer Ridgeback’s top-of-the-range tourer from their World line of touring bikes. Ideally designed for short tours in developed countries, ours have performed well over a longer period (eight months and counting), carrying heavier loads (up to 45kg in winter) and over rough terrain (from dirt tracks in… Continue reading →