Hi all,

I'm new to bikepacking but over the years I've done a few Polaris's and other cycle adventures.
In the past I've always carried my kit on my back with a rucsac and I was wondering about getting some cycle luggage (Wildcat, Alpkit etc).

Do people find that using frame bags etc is a better way? I have always preferred the weight on my back so the bike is more lively and easier to handle but my only experience of having kit on the bike is with racks and panniers.

Before I spend loads of ££'s I was wondering what people's opinions where.

Cheers,

Ed

Once you get a bag, harness, etc it's very unlikely that you'd go back to a rucksack (or panniers). A well packed bike with frame bag, harness, etc behaves very much like an un-loaded bike (or as near as you're ever going to get). Only after you've ditched the rucksack do you realise just how tiring riding with one is.

What you'll find using a backpack is all that extra weight you're carrying on your back gets transferred through your backside every time you go over a bump. For short trips that's fine, but after a while that's going to ache.

Racks & Panniers are ok, but they are heavy and place all of the weight over the rear axel which upsets the handling, and panniers get in the way when you need to get off and push.

No need to spend loads of pounds all up front. Theres either the Make Your Own Gear route, or post something on the classifieds to see if anyone has an old one they no longer need/want.

For me my front Harness gets used on every trip (and commuting) so has easily paid for itself by now. Framebag depends on which bike i'm taking.

An ultimate goal when I pack for a trip is nothing on the back. This is because after a certain amount of time the small niggles on the back turn into the only thing I think about. For a lot of trips I still have a backpack. It caries bulky lightweight items or stuff I'll use fairly soon.

There is also some ancient wisdom in bikepacking which is if you add some storage capacity to the setup, you'll only end up filling it. Limit the storage and you often leave the stuff you don't really need.

Framebags are really good to use. You dont need a custom one (though they are nice), you can use the universal ones from Wildcat / revelate etc. You can also tape spare tubes to the frame in the empty space down below the bottle cage mounts.
Seat harnesses and bar harnesses are great too.

they're above right about comfort, or lack of, using a rucksack. I do however swing back and forth between using a bottle and using a camelbak.
If there's a lot of hike a bike expected on a long trips I often go with the camelbak. It free's up the middle of the bike for balancing out some kit into there and spread out the weight to make it easier to manhandle the bike.
I try to only put water (probably half full) in the pack, perhaps a waterproof jacket too if it looks like I'll need it. This keeps the weight to 2.5kg max on your shoulders / ass bones...

FLV wrote:I do however swing back and forth between using a bottle and using a camelbak.
If there's a lot of hike a bike expected on a long trips I often go with the camelbak. It free's up the middle of the bike for balancing out some kit into there and spread out the weight to make it easier to manhandle the bike.
I try to only put water (probably half full) in the pack, perhaps a waterproof jacket too if it looks like I'll need it. This keeps the weight to 2.5kg max on your shoulders / ass bones...

Pretty much says it for me too. A small rucksack is also useful for chucking in some provisions acquired en route if they are only to be carried a short distance.

Pretty much says it for me too. A small rucksack is also useful for chucking in some provisions acquired en route if they are only to be carried a short distance.

If I know I'll be out a few days and might need to buy/carry some extra food along the way I take a Sea to Summit pack-a-way sil' rucksack.

Works well for food, etc but not so good for logs ... the straps dig in :)

s8tannorm wrote:

Pretty much says it for me too. A small rucksack is also useful for chucking in some provisions acquired en route if they are only to be carried a short distance.

If I know I'll be out a few days and might need to buy/carry some extra food along the way I take a Sea to Summit pack-a-way sil' rucksack.

Works well for food, etc but not so good for logs ... the straps dig in :)

http://store.karrimor.com/karrimor-pack ... ack-794040

Nice find Ben :) ... looks pretty much the same thing.

I've got a karrimor one. Stitching isn't perfect but did the job for me over the summer. Almost disposable from a price point of view...

I have wildcat gear seat pack and handlebar system. It's really secure and so far seems to be able to take fairly rough rides. My partner has a wildcat ocelot which increases the carrying capacity for both of us. My frame is an odd shape, not really suitable for holding anything more than one bottle and I have no holes to secure a bottle under the frame, but I got a couple of stem cells from Alpkit which hold a 750ml bottle and that has enabled me to carry more water. Though, in all honesty, unless you're going across the driest of deserts and complete wilderness, you can almost always replenish water supplies. Use iodine or treatment tablets if your concerned about river water etc. I've managed to stay healthy no matter where in the world I've drunk the water.

Cheers guys,

Looks like the credit card is going to get a what for. My next post will be in 'look what's he postmans brought' thread.

Lol