You LOVE cycling (I always say cycling to distinguish it from motorcycles) AND you love camping / the great outdoors??? So you will LOVE, or at least SHOULD love, bikepacking!! Who could resist getting so far out in nature that sometimes you wonder if they will find your body if something should happen to you, like a broken bone, a snake bite, you run out of water... Whoah, stop thinking negative!!!! It CAN be dangerous, but that is why you should prepared to handle any emergency, like a ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE!!

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Rule #1: Always have comms to the out side world!! A lifeline availiabe even with no cell service!!! 

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There are plenty of small trips to get you familiar with bikepacking solo. All you have to do is reach out to me and we can slowly (or quickly, it's really up to you) start collecting gear that will be good for a starter bikepacking kit. Alot of these can be on the cheaper side and can be upgraded later on as you see fit. The best site to start collecting knowledge is: 

 

Bikepacking 101 - BIKEPACKING.com. 

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You may also 'youtube' (as in the verb) how to bike pack. There are millions of unpacking videos of people unloading their bike after a long trip and showing you their essentials. Your essentials will obviously differ somewhat, but there are some basics you should have.  

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Great Resource is: Bikepacking Gear That Lasts, A Gift Guide - BIKEPACKING.com

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After you collect some gear, you will need a place to put it. I am always a fan of buying the products made from the manufacturer for the bike, so I opted to buy all Salsa accessories that are direct mount for my Cutthroat frame. If you don't know about the Salsa Cutthroat, read this: Salsa Cutthroat Review - BIKEPACKING.com. Many other bikes do not have all the mounting options that the Salsa Cutthroat have, so there are bag makers who  can custom make your bags for you. There are also many generic fit bags on Amazon, or directly from the manufacturer's website, that will serve your purpose.

Check out my page on products review for some of my favorites.  

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I would choose a full frame bag over a half frame, but having water bottle cages that are exposed is really nice too, so the half frame bag still fits the bill. You can squeeze alot of gear in these bags if you know how to roll and pack neatly in stuff sacks, but who has time for that? The best way I know how to pack a bag is stuff everything in it and punch the crap out of it, getting it as compact as possible and roll tops are always the best in lieu of zippers. With some time, you will develop your own style and your own packing list. Until then, choose one that you can modify and go from there. 

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Just start researching what other's pack, mirror it, and refine based on your experiences..

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A Year (of gear) in Review, My First Year - BIKEPACKING.com

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Check out the Trips page for any future bikepacking trips I am doing in the future. All are welcome and I would love to help you get started!!