10 Great Gadgets for bikepacking you might not know about!
When it comes to holidays and cycling, many people are now choosing bikepacking over a traditional vacation. Cycling to new places and exploring new cultures is amazing by bike. Bikepacking trips are getting increasingly popular every year, and we can totally understand why.
When it comes to a bikepacking trip having the right equipment goes a long way, and you can get pretty inventive with what to take. In this article, I want to tell you all about some awesome things you might want to consider taking on a bikepacking trip that will offer a huge amount of value to help you in many different situations.
Disclaimer
I am an affiliate marketer, so if you we’re to purchase anything from this list, there’s a possibility I will make a commission on it. It doesn’t mean you are charged more. It means the company cut me a few percent for the recommendation.
Drawstring Bag
Yeah, I know it sounds so simple, but a drawstring bag costs about £5, and it will be one of the most useful pieces of equipment. It’s great when shopping in a rush and means you can carry a huge amount more. These are great for so many reasons. It could be the last stop of the day before a campsite or hotel where you will need extra supplies, or you might even be planning to ride through the night, and there's no resupply. For the space they take up and the weight, they are definitely worth taking.
Mini Sewing Kit
A sewing kit will come in very handy, especially in an off-road bikepacking adventure. They have a huge amount of uses, such as repairing clothing, and fixing slits in tyres, and you can even use them to fix items such as your frame bag. I once read online about a guy who used a sewing kit on a bikepacking race when he was stuck out on a remote trail. It got him to the finish, and he completed the race in time.
Carrier Straps
When you go bikepacking, no matter how well you pack, sometimes there’s just not enough space. Carrier straps are excellent at just helping you carry that little bit extra you might need, such as a few more energy bars or even a spare inner tube in case you get lots of punctures.
Emergency Lights
One challenging thing when it comes to bikepacking is ensuring you have enough lighting. Typically most people only get away with a couple of nights before needing a charge. What happens if you run out a little early or your dynamo hub breaks? I typically take these little clip-on lights as a backup. They are not going to give you an amazing amount of visibility, but if you're on a dark road, they could be the difference between being seen or not seen.
Water Purification tablets
When cycling in very remote areas, sometimes it can be very challenging to get water, and sometimes you might find yourself drinking from a water source that might not be ideal. Some bikepackers take water cleansing tablets if they are unsure where they are drinking from. Although they only help for 99%of germs, it is better than nothing.
Mini Bike Lock
When people go bikepacking, typically, they don’t take a lock. This is because locks are heavy and take up way too much space. Though if you were to take a small combination lock, It could make shopping much easier and less risky. I highly recommend treating these as cafe locks only as they are easy for robbers to get through with the right tools, but for quick stops, they are ideal.
AA Battery Power Bank
Although you might want to test this on your devices before you go, as it doesn’t always work with everything, you can actually get AA battery banks. So if you are bikepacking and get in a situation where you can’t charge and need some power, you can buy batteries to charge your goods.
Waterproof Wallet
Sometimes it rains, and other times it really rains. Having somewhere to keep your important documents dry is vital. Frame bags, saddle bags, and even top tube bags, although they say they are very waterproof, a full day of rain will soon get inside of most brands. A small wallet to keep your phone, passport, and any paper tickets you might have is ideal.
Revolut Card or similar
When I go away anywhere, I tend not to use my normal bank card. Instead, I use a prepaid card. This is for many reasons, such as security. If I lose it, I can cancel it easily, and it is good for dealing with exchange rates too.
Multi Charging Cables
When you go bikepacking, there are a lot of things to charge, and you end up taking a few different types of cables. If you find one gets wet or breaks, it can be a pain trying to find another. I highly recommend taking a secondary multi-charging cable as a backup, so if you have any issues, you have a spare.