How Light is Right for a Bikepacking Tent? My first bikepacking tent was an REI Half Dome—a roomy two-person tent with two doors and a bomber build that handles rainy nights and gusty thunderstorms with ease. But at 4.75 pounds, it’s not exactly ultralight. Nonetheless, I packed it for several multi-day bikepacking trips, including the Oregon Outback, and always appreciated… Read More
A Light, Portable Water Filter for Bikepacking and Adventure Riding Water is a necessity on any ride. Whether you’re on a multi-day bikepacking trip or an epic one-day ride, carrying a small water filter means you are always ready to fill your bottles when there is water nearby. Lightweight, portable water filters are lighter and simpler than ever. This year,… Read More
I’ve long avoided freeze-dried meals in favor of creating simple camping meals like pasta with pesto. But bikepacking offers limited storage space. There are many tricks to packing light, and one of the most effective is using freeze-dried camping meals. But how do they taste? Dehydrated Versus Freeze-Dried A question that came up while researching lightweight camping meals was, what’s… Read More
Ready. Set. Pack. Salsa EXP Handlebar Bag Review Choosing the best bikepacking gear is a lesson in weight, space, function and durability. Salsa Cycles strikes a nice balance in their bikepacking handlebar bag – the Salsa EXP Series Anything Cradle Handlebar Kit. The three-part set-up includes the EXP Anything Cradle, the EXP Dry Bag and an Anything Cradle Accessory Pouch. The… Read More
Waterproof. Durable. Secure. Ortlieb Handlebar Bag Review Well known for their bike panniers, Ortlieb has been making bomber-grade, waterproof bike packs since 1982. So, it’s no surprise that the Ortlieb bikepacking handlebar bag serves up secure, waterproof storage in a durable and easy-to-use design. Clean and simple describe the bag well. But it’s far from basic. It’s a minimalist dream… Read More
Fork Mount Storage – Salsa EXP Anything Cage HD Options. That’s what the Salsa Anything Cage is all about. As the name suggests, these fork-mounted bikepacking cages let you carry just about anything. They expand your carrying capacity on the bike while maintaining a low profile and secure attachment for handling rough off-road travel. The Salsa Anything Cage has evolved… Read More
GoSun 10 Watt Portable Solar Panel Phone, GPS, satellite satellite, camera gear, headlamp, the list goes on. Carrying electronics in the backcountry is the norm these days. Keeping them charged over the course of a multi-day backcountry trip, however, is a project of its own. Portable batteries are an obvious solution and are great for a single device over a… Read More
