Packing for a bike tour can feel overwhelming, but a clear bike tour packing list turns a jumble of gear into a manageable system. The Adventure Cycling Association breaks touring gear into five broad categories: on-the-bike clothing, off-the-bike clothing, miscellaneous camp essentials, bike tools and spare parts, and sleeping and cooking gear. You do not need to buy everything new; whatever is already in your closet is likely enough for a first trip, and a 90-day tour generally requires no more gear than a seven-day one. The list is meant to be adapted to your personal needs and past experience, not followed item for item.
Gear Categories for a Bike Tour
Adventure Cycling’s packing checklist organizes essentials into five groups. On-the-bike clothing includes a helmet, touring shoes with some flex in the sole, cycling shorts, wool or synthetic socks, leg warmers or tights, a short-sleeved shirt, a light long-sleeved shirt for layering and sun protection, rain jacket and pants, and waterproof shoe covers. Off-the-bike clothing covers comfortable shorts and pants, underwear, sandals or lightweight shoes, a wool or fleece hat, a wool sweater or fleece jacket, gloves, and a swimsuit. The miscellaneous camp essentials category lists toiletries, a pocket knife or multi-tool, a lightweight lock and cable, water-carrying containers with at least one U.S. gallon capacity, a basic first-aid kit, bandanas, sunglasses, a flashlight or headlamp, a sewing kit, insect repellent, sunblock, nylon cord, bungee cords, a water filter, and a camera and journal. For areas where bears are present, bear spray and cords to hang bear bags are also suggested.
Bike tools and spare parts include tire levers and a patch kit, a spare tube (and possibly a spare tire), a mini-pump, blue threadlocker to keep bolts tight, electrical tape, a spoke wrench, spare spokes, an Allen wrench set, a screwdriver, a chain tool, small vice grips, brake and derailleur cables, extra nuts, bolts, and wire, assorted zip ties, a small bottle of chain lube and a rag, bicycle lights front and rear, a rearview mirror, a hose clamp, spare brake pads, spare clipless-pedal cleat bolts, and duct tape. Sleeping and cooking gear covers a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent with rainfly and vestibules, a ground cloth, personal eating utensils, a sleeping bag liner, a backpacking stove with fuel and fuel bottles, and lightweight cooking pots and pans.
How to Pack Your Panniers and Bags
Adventure Cycling’s packing guide emphasizes that less is more. The total load should stay between 15 and 45 pounds. When using panniers, put roughly 60 percent of the weight in the front panniers and 40 percent in the rear. Heavy items such as tools, spare parts, cooking equipment, fuel bottles, food, and on-the-bike clothing usually go in the front panniers, while light, bulky items like off-the-bike clothes go in the rear. The sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and tent are typically strapped to the rear rack and add weight to the rear wheel. Before packing, line your panniers and sleeping bag stuff sack with heavy-duty plastic garbage bags; even bags labeled waterproof can leak in hard rain. Roll your clothing and pack it vertically so you can see the end of each roll and avoid wrinkling. Ziplock bags help keep things organized and dry.
If you use a trailer, aim for the same 15-to-45-pound load and keep the heaviest gear low and toward the front of the trailer. Line the trailer bag with a garbage bag if it is not already waterproof, and use stuff sacks to organize gear inside. A handlebar bag or small pack should hold items you need during the day, such as your wallet, camera, and flat-fixing tools. Adventure Cycling recommends keeping the handlebar bag to a maximum of 5 to 8 pounds. Always start with extra room in your panniers for items you pick up along the way, and always take your handlebar bag with you when you leave the bike.
Bikepacking and Overnight Gear
For bikepacking trips, Adventure Cycling’s guide suggests thinking of your gear like a carry-on: bring only what you need and need everything you bring. The clothing system includes base layers that dry fast and pull moisture away from the skin (avoid cotton in favor of synthetics or merino wool), a long-sleeve midlayer and tights for extra warmth or sleeping, an insulated jacket for evenings and chilly mornings, and waterproof breathable rain jacket and pants. Rain gear also helps cut wind-chill on cold descents. Daily lows below 50 degrees Fahrenheit signal a need to think carefully about warmth, and any chance of rain becomes more serious when temperatures are cold.
Camping gear for bikepacking can be borrowed or bought used. A lightweight freestanding tent is ideal because it can be pitched on rocky ground or concrete. A down sleeping bag or quilt is light and compact; synthetic insulation is cheaper but heavier and bulkier for the same warmth. An accordion-fold backpacking pad is cheap and lightweight, and it straps easily to a saddle bag or handlebars. A cooking system is optional if you will pass a town once every day or two; otherwise, a compact alcohol stove avoids a bulky fuel canister. Water capacity depends on the route: for routes with plentiful water, carry about two liters and refill as needed; on hot days or with no refill opportunities, carry at least four liters; for dry camping, five to six liters will last most people through a day of riding and a night of camp, though in very hot weather or dry landscapes it is not unheard of to carry 10 liters or more. Always filter or purify water from natural sources. A lightweight backpacking filter that catches bacteria and parasites is sufficient in the United States and other infrastructure-rich countries. In places where sanitation infrastructure is lacking, a purification method such as UV radiation or chlorine dioxide drops that deactivates viruses is recommended.
For a simple bike overnight, Adventure Cycling’s checklist strips things down to a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, small tent or bivy sack, food, personal toiletries, tire levers and patch kit, a spare tube, a mini-pump, Allen wrenches, and clothing layers. A deluxe version adds a thicker sleeping pad, cooking equipment, a camp pillow, headlamp, and extra clothing sets, but every extra item adds weight. For more on camping gear, see our camping gear page.
Repair Items to Carry
Park Tool’s essential home mechanic list recommends developing two sets of tools: one for the seat bag for on-the-road use, and another for home maintenance. The on-the-road essentials include a hex wrench or screwdriver set (often in a multi-tool), tire levers, a patch kit, and a floor pump with a head that fits both Presta and Schrader valves. For home use, a drivetrain cleaning kit, chain lubrication, degreaser, spare tubes, and plenty of cotton rags are also suggested. Adventure Cycling’s touring checklist adds a mini-pump, blue threadlocker, electrical tape, a spoke wrench, spare spokes, a chain tool, brake and derailleur cables, zip ties, and duct tape. Carrying a few spare parts and the knowledge to use them can prevent a long walk. Our repair kits page offers more guidance on assembling a kit for the road.
Water Treatment for Remote Areas
The CDC advises that if you are not sure whether water is safe to drink, you should treat it to remove germs. Boiling is the best way to kill germs. Bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute; at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes. The next best option is to filter water and then disinfect the filtered water. A filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller, or one certified for NSF standards 53 or 58 for cyst reduction or removal, will remove parasites but not viruses or all bacteria. A filter with an absolute pore size of 0.3 micron or smaller removes bacteria and parasites, but not viruses. Reverse osmosis filters remove parasites, bacteria, and viruses, and also remove salt. Chemical disinfectants such as unscented household chlorine bleach, iodine, or chlorine dioxide tablets kill viruses and bacteria but may not kill parasites, so the CDC recommends filtering water before disinfecting it. Chlorine dioxide tablets can kill the parasite Giardia and are somewhat effective against Cryptosporidium, but filtering first is still safest. Pregnant women, people with thyroid problems, and those with a hypersensitivity to iodine should avoid water disinfected with iodine, and no one should drink iodine-disinfected water for more than a few weeks at a time. Portable UV light units can kill parasites, bacteria, and viruses in small amounts of clear water, but the water should be filtered first because cloudy water blocks the light. The CDC also reminds travelers that clear water can be unsafe; a mountain stream may look clean but still contain germs. In remote areas without toilets, bury your poop at least 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet away from lakes, rivers, and other natural waters, downstream from where water is collected.
Practice Pack and Loaded Ride
Adventure Cycling’s packing guide and bikepacking guide both stress the importance of a practice pack and a fully loaded ride before your trip. Pack your bags well in advance, not the night before you leave, to discover if your sleeping quilt blocks your shift levers or if a frame bag rubs your knees. Then take a practice ride, ideally with an overnight or two, to see how the loaded bike handles and to identify gear you can leave behind. Pack heavy things low and close to the middle of the bike for nimble handling. The frame bag, down tube, and front fork are good places for heavy items like water, tools, and electronics. Items you need during the day should be easy to reach; things you will not need until camp can be buried deeper. Waterproof key gear such as electronics, warm layers, and your sleeping bag. If a bulky tent does not fit in one bag, split it into pieces, strapping poles to the downtube and stuffing the rest into a seat bag or handlebar bag. Secure all straps and buckles, and tether any items attached to the outside of your bags so rough trails do not separate them from your bike. For more on planning your trip, visit our travel logistics section and the bike tour logistics article.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight should I carry on a bike tour?
Adventure Cycling recommends keeping your total load between 15 and 45 pounds. With panniers, put about 60 percent of the weight in the front and 40 percent in the rear for stability. A handlebar bag should not exceed 5 to 8 pounds.
Do I need a water filter for bike touring in the United States?
According to Adventure Cycling’s bikepacking guide, a lightweight backpacking filter that catches bacteria and parasites is sufficient in the U.S. and other infrastructure-rich countries. The CDC advises that boiling is the best way to kill all germs, and filtering followed by disinfection is the next best option. Always treat water from natural sources to avoid illness.
What tools should I carry for basic bike repairs?
Park Tool’s essential on-the-road list includes a hex wrench or screwdriver set, tire levers, a patch kit, and a pump. Adventure Cycling adds a spare tube, mini-pump, blue threadlocker, electrical tape, a spoke wrench, Allen wrenches, a chain tool, zip ties, and duct tape. A small multi-tool with a chain breaker can handle many common adjustments.
For more detailed packing lists and gear suggestions, visit our packing lists page.
