Packing List

 

Solo Month long trip in Spain ^ See: Bikepacking Basque Country, Spain

5 day trip in New Zealand South Island ^ See: NZ Packing List

 

Bikepacking 2017

This is my Packing list. To the very last drop. For more details on the below items – there will be links in every section to go into further detail and reviews on specific items with weights. (I have found you can’t trust advertised weights so I bought a kitchen scale to provide true weight.) Keep in mind, the photos of the gear are from back in 2017 and I have updated much of my gear since then.

I find I learn most on my smaller adventures, my weekenders where I am really testing the gear and paying attention to what works and what doesn’t. I started collecting hiking equipment when I was 8 years old and joined Cub Scouts. Since then my equipment and how I use it has evolved over the last 20 years. Some things get updated but some pieces have stuck with me a long time. I like to question myself and every component – Questions like;

1. Do I require this to survive the trip?
2. Do I require this to enjoy the trip?
3. Is this the lightest and most compact version?
4. Do I need to win lottery to update it?

(5. If you live in Australia or other smaller economies: Is it available for me to buy?)

The gear I will be reviewing on Bark & Spark will be mainly for bikepacking but I am learning that hikers could actually learn a thing or two from bikepackers! These guys are not only fiercely ultra-light but also (and more importantly) super compact!

It’s also constant and evolving process…

So what am I currently carrying? Below I have listed the items of what I pack for multi-day Bikepacking trips in most Western Australian environments (no snow). I know it seems like a lot, but I’ve been very specific, focused on compatibility so it fits in the bikepacking bags.

((You will see some updates and certain components added or crossed out – the Gear Updates are explained in detail here:  New Gear! Tried & Tested))

The Bike:

• The Surly ECR 27.5+ with Moloko Bars
• Modified handlebar stem 31.8mm x 45mm
• Specialized Power Comp Saddle
• Tubeless tyres (I have two wheel sets) – 27.5×3″ or 29×2.35″
• Helmet – Bell Super DH (can convert to full face for MTBing)
• Crane Japan E-Ne Bell
• Dynamo Hub
• Sinewave Revolution USB Charger
• Serfas Red LED
• Cateye Volt 800 RC Front Light
• Abus 205 Combi-loop Bike Lock (long thin lock for around trees or through gear)
• Abus Bordo Granit (tough foldable lock)
• Note: If travelling overseas – Travel insurance, I found FastCover will cover a bike if it’s under 3 years old.

More details on Choosing a bike and getting it fit

Bike bags:

• Surly Frame Bag (to suit Small ECR)
• Revelate Harness
• Revelate Egress Pocket
• Revelate Gas Tank
•  2 x Mountain Feedbag
• Revelate Viscacha Seat bag
• 2 x Salsa Anything Cages
• 2 x Salsa Anything Cage bags
• Voile Straps
• 2 x Bidon Cage Looney Bin (for 1.5L bottles)
• 1 x Normal Bottle Cage (for 600ml bottles)
• Caribena

Cooking kit:

• Soto Windmaster Stove Titanium
• Butane Gas bottle (100g lasts me 7 days)
• Sea to Summit X-Kettle
• Sea to Summit X-Plate
• Snow Peak 450ml Ti Cup
• Plastic Titanium spork
• Flick knife
• Flint
• Matches
• Scourer
• Bin bags (I usually use dog poop bags because they are liquid tight 😉 )

More details on Cooking Kit

Sleeping kit:

• Odyssey insuLITE Sleeping Bag – Comfort (5deg) –
• Sea to Summit Spark 2
• Sea to Summit Comfort Light Insulated Sleeping Mat – 0.64Kg
• Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Liner – 0.4Kg
• Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow – Regular – 0.07Kg
• Coleman Ridgeline 2P 1.7KgI

If no Tent

• DD Hammocks Small Tarp
• Alpkit Hunka XL Bivy

If tent:

• Wilderness Equipment Space 2

Water:

(5L minimum – I am touring in Western Australia after all)

• Camelbak 750ml Insulated Water bottle
• Sea to Summit Packtap 4L 
• 2 x 1.5L Plastic Bottles (if needed)
• ASIS 750ml double walled Insulated water bottle (can keep hot for 12 hours)
• Lifestraw (bit too bulky but super light)
• 2 foldable 500mm water bottles Anaconda
• Aquatabs Purification tablets

Emergency & First Aid:

• Bob Cooper Survival Kit except kept Mirror, Magnifying Glass, first aid equipment, tweezers – packed in other areas
• Bob Cooper Help Survival Blanket (also can be used as emergency shelter and emergency blanket)
• Bob Cooper Snakebite First Aid kit (3 bandages)
• Muscle Tape
• Nurofen, Panadol, Anti-histimines, Aspirin, Epipen
• KTI Safety Alert PLB

Bike Repair kit:

• Blackburn Wayside Multi-tool
• Multi-tool (2nd hand w pliers)
• 2 x tie down straps
• Electrical tape
• Chain lube
• Cable ties
• Lezyne Micro Floor Drive Tyre Pump
• Digital reader
• Spare tube
• Tyre patch kit
• Super glue
• Nuts and bolts (for bottle cages)
• Spare chain link
• Dynaplug
• C02 Canister

Electronics & Accessories:

• Black Diamond Spot Headlamp
• iPhone 6 – Telstra (if overseas use SimsDirect for prepaid SIM card ready to go)
• Quad Lock Handlebar Mount
• Cateye Wireless Bike Computer – basic
• USB Powerbank – Goal Zero Flip 30 Recharger Anker 20,000mAH
• Skull Candy Wireless headphones
• UBS Wall charger
• Various charging cords
• Tom Tom Bandit Action Camera
• GoPro Hero7
• Mini Tripod
• Apps used: Google Maps, Trailforks, Splittr, Podcasts, Kindle, Camera, Hostelworld, Google Translate, Rome2Rio, Strava, WhatsApp, Spotify
• Garmin Fenix 5 watch

Other:

• Notebook and pen
• Paper maps
• Wallet & Cash
• Mosquito Headnet
• Harmonica
• Pack of cards **only if I have travelling companion
• Sunglasses case
• Fold up S2S Backpack

Toiletries:

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste (travel size)
• Facewipes  Face Cloth or Chux Wipe
• Eco Soap (for clothes washing)
• Hairbrush and Hair ties
• Deoderant
• Lucas Lucas Paw Paw Ointment (lipbalm)
• Antibacterial Handwash
• Toilet Paper
• Luna Cup (best thing ever invented)
• Nail clippers with file
• Tweezers
• Microfibre Towel
• Earplugs
• Natures Kiss Chafe-ease Chamios cream
• Bug Spray (small)
• Mozziegear Mosquito band
• Sunscreen SPF30 Water Resistant
• Razor

Clothes:

• Marmot Featherless Hoody 0.380Kg
• Salomon X Ultra Prime Hiking Shoes
• MerinoBASE Thermal top
• MerinoBASE Thermal pants
• 4 x Underwear
• Bikini bottom and Sports crop top (to wear as bathers but can double as more undergarments)
• 3 x Socks (2 x ankle socks and 1 x Outdoor Thermal Sock)
• 1 x Bra
• Specialized Andorra Bike Shorts
• Thongs (Flip flops)  TEVA Reef Sandals (so you can ride in them)
• Lorna Jane pull-up pants
• 2 x T-Shirt
• Long sleeve shirt + 1 x singlet
• Dingo Dreaming Head Scarf (buff)
• Riding Gloves
• Hat
• Beanie
• Raincoat
• Slipper style Booties (great to sleep in or wear around camp)
• Eyres Terminator Safety Glasses
• Oakley Radar EV Path (Prizm Trail) riding glasses

Bikepacking with dogs: 

• Dog lead
• Dog Harness
• Dog Shoes – PomPreece
• Sea to Summit X-Plate
• Twice the amount of dog biscuits than normal
• Omega-3 tablets
• Dog poop bags

Food:

Snacks:

• Vital Green Sachets
• Clif Bars
• Corn Chips
• Coffee, tea and peppermint bags
• Airwave gum
• Random nuts/lollies
• Sandwich bags

Breakfast:

• Muesli with Craisens

 

Inside Australia – I use a dehydrator to make a lot of my food