Adventure Ride Essentials – Check out our trusted reviews and seasoned opinions on everything from gravel tire recommendations to clothing and gear for gravel riding and adventure bikepacking. It’s all in adventure ride essentials from Off-Piste Mag.
Go Light and Don’t Look Back When bikepacking, storage space is precious, and every piece of gear needs to earn its place. Packing light starts with paring your gear down to the essentials. Once you’ve done that, the challenge becomes finding the lightest gear that still meets your needs. I’ve refined my shelter, cooking kit, and food system over the… Read More
If you have tried waxing your chain, you likely know the advantages. I’m talking a smooth, clean drivetrain. If you’re ready to commit to chain waxing, the best way to make it fast and efficient is with a dedicated chain-waxing stand. A dedicated stand makes waxing a snap. Just heat the wax and submerge your chain. We are talking 10-15… Read More
Patagonia Houdini Jacket So light and packable, there’s no reason to leave it behind The best gear is the stuff that simply becomes part of your adventure kit, no debate required. The Patagonia Houdini Jacket is that kind of gear. It’s not about specialty tech or features; it’s about simplicity and its ability to disappear. Stuffed into its chest pocket,… Read More
Size Matters Like backpacking, bikepacking rewards a minimalist approach to your gear. Packing light starts with stripping things down to the essentials and keeping the must-haves as light and packable as possible. A good place to start is with your sleeping kit, specifically your sleeping pad. A good pad can make the difference between a restless night and waking up… Read More
Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt: Light is Right From stormy nights in Tasmania to calm summer evenings in the high desert and snowy high-alpine camps in the Cascades, I’ve spent my fair share of nights in a sleeping bag. But never had I used a sleeping quilt until I started using the Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt 20°. Why go with a… Read More
Like backpacking, efficient bikepacking is all about packing light. Careful choices in tent, sleep system and cook kit are easy places to save weight and space. Choosing a lightweight camping stove and meal plan saves significant weight and space over a more complex cooking plan and stove setup (read about freeze-dried meals and meal tips for bikepacking). There’s no shortage… Read More
As the adventure-cycling category grows, gravel bikes continue to evolve with improved tire clearance. Tire clearance translates to versatility, making a gravel bike a quiver-of-one bike. Run 30mm tires for all-purpose road rides. Run 40mm for all-purpose gravel riding. And run 50mm for adventure rides and bikepacking. How Wide For Gravel Tires Of course, extra tire clearance also raises the… Read More
The current trend in cycling sunglasses is for maximum coverage, where bigger equals better. From well-known brands like Tifosi, Oakley and Smith to up-and-coming brands like Vallon, maximum coverage offers bold aesthetics and serious performance.
Bikepacking Route Craft 101 “All that is gold does not glitter. Not all those who wander are lost.” — JR Tolkien. Gandolf’s words to Frodo as the Hobbit departs in search of Aragorn are equally sage advice for those looking to learn the art of creating bikepacking and adventure gravel routes. Route craft requires equal parts map reading skills, curiosity… Read More
Routine Maintenance Keeping your bike running smoothly is all about routine maintenance. Regular cleaning, lubing and fine-tuning are what keep the miles rolling easy. As the wet season begins here in the Pacific Northwest, regular cleaning is more important than ever to keep your bike running well. As the old saying goes for horses, “rode hard and put away wet”… Read More
April showers may bring May flowers, but March is when I start itching to ride more. March has its fair share of showers, so getting out means wearing rain gear. I will go out on a limb and suggest that no one really wants to ride their bike in the rain. It’s more something that happens because you ride a… Read More
Dressing for cool weather gravel rides requires a balance of breathability, wind protection and warmth. Layering is important, but your choice of the outer layer is even more critical because of the need for wind protection and, ultimately, breathability for your layering system. If it’s not raining, I often run a combination of layers, including a lightweight wind jacket and… Read More
Make Dinner a Priority Part of the fun and challenge of a multi-day bikepacking trip is planning the meals. Some routes let you indulge in small-town food stops where you can resupply or eat at a restaurant every few days. But what about more remote routes and the days when you need to be self-sufficient with your food? Packing enough… Read More
Pack Light, But Not Too Light Carrying a compact multi-tool or a limited collection of bike tools is essential on extended bikepacking trips and remote gravel rides, but the minimalist in me is always looking for ways to carry less. Roadside repairs fit into two categories: bike adjustments/fixes and flat tire repairs. Few tools cover both scenarios, though there are… Read More
Ortlieb, Osprey and Deuter Seat Pack Reviews The seat pack is one of the largest volume bags in most bikepacking setups. They are also arguably the most finicky to set up and fit to your bike. They require careful packing, correct positioning, snug attachment and enough clearance above your tire to avoid problems down the road. We tested a number… Read More
