The gear you’ll want to take on your trip depends on the time of year, whether you’ll be camping, how remote you’ll be, and many other factors.
There are many great resources on the web that recommend packing lists and review gear options for cycle touring and bikepacking, so this won’t be a comprehensive list, at all. Instead, here are a few (in some cases quirky) pieces of gear this author has found delightful and you might too:
- The biggest improvement in my cycle touring great has been the addition of this helmet mirror. See this write-up for info on why bike mirrors are so great, and worth the dorkiness. The EVT Helmet Mirror is the one I love.
- Wearing a helmet with built-in lights has been a game changer: my lights are always available to turn on, including in heavy traffic, and they are easy to charge in the tent at night from a battery. Brand: Lumos
- Adventure Cycling requires all riders on its tours to wear helmets, and also display a reflective triangle on the back of their panniers or around their waist. Strongly recommended. The Joglite brand has a strap that fits around a pannier or your waist.
- I want to be visible on roads, or even on trails in hunting season. The Women’s Tour Cycling Jacket (sleeves zip off to become a vest) is a comfortable solution for road riding, or something simple like the Jogalite Cycling Vest. I wear something this bright almost every day on tour.
- It’s hard to decide what lock to bring touring, because you need something heavy-duty in the cities, but don’t want the weight otherwise. The one I bring is the LITELOK GO FLEXI-U. It weighs 650g (1.4lb) which is about half as much as a heavy-duy D-locks but still has a Sold Secure Silver rating.
- SPD bike sandals are cool in the summer, warm in the winter (with wool socks), dry quickly in the rain, comfortable walking around a store, look incredibly stylish (well ok you can’t have everything), and a great touring choice. Seriously they are the only bike shoes I’ve used for the last 20 years. Shimano brand: SH-SD501
- I’ve never gotten a flat with Schwalbe Marathon tires, after tens of thousands of kilometers touring.
- This clever laundry line is small and easy to use. Don’t forget to wring out your clothes first in your towel; it makes a world of difference. Also, always pack up your clothesline whenever you take off your last piece of laundry so you don’t forget it! Sea to Summit brand
- If you are using a phone for navigation, get a phone holder for your handlebars.
- I have two 10,000 mAh rechargeable batteries and I’ve found that enough to charge my phone, helmet, GPS watch, and Garmin Inreach overnight (and sometimes during rides) if I’m able to charge them up at campgrounds or coffeeshops every day or two.
- Life was better when my touring bike had a kickstand. The Pletscher Twin-Legger Kickstand is center-mounted and my favourite, however unfortunately it won’t fit on many bikes. A Click-Stand is a fairly useful work-around if your bike wont fit any other touring-capable kickstand.
- The Topeak Road Morph G Pump with gauge tire pump is reliable, easy to pump up (it can rest on the ground with little fold-out legs), and has a gauge.
- I love having a quick-release handlebar bag that I can easily take into stores or bathrooms. It contains all my valuables, as well as things I want in easy reach. I never leave my valuables (wallet, keys, etc) unattended on my bike. I use one from Jandd but it has been discontinued alas.
- Camping-specific gear:
- A collapsible bucket helps make daily laundry at camp less of a chore. Sea To Summit brand
- A seat/kneeling pad can be a relief when everywhere is rocky or wet
- To take all the frustration out of pitching my tent, I bring a lightweight tent stake mallet as a comfort item. Brand: Coughlan’s.
- Lots of bike campers love a lightweight camping chair
- Your mileage may vary, but I love big vestibules in my tent. I use the North Face Stormbreak 2 when camping solo. A bit heavy, but inexpensive and it makes me happy.
Finally, don’t forget a first-aid kit and a repair kit!