Bikepacking Gear
Summer 2022, I biked across Europe.
Greece - Albania - Montenegro - Italy - Switerland
1143 miles & 82,000 feet in vert... Below is the gear I used!
The Bike!
REI Co-op Cycles ADV 2.1 Bike
This bike is great for both road and gravel riding.
Women’s Saddle
Ergon SMC Sport Gel Saddle
A comfortable seat is insanely important and this one kept me comfortable + saddle sore free! Keep in mind, having chamois with the right amount of padding (not too thick or too thin) is just as important.
Frame Bag
REI Co-op Link Frame Bag
I like this bag because it’s waterproof and durable. The waterproof closure is a tight seal making it not the easiest to open and close... It’s not a problem if you’re firm but not aggressive with it. I put my water bladder in here and ran the tube up towards the handlebards. Flat things like my notebook and rechargeable battery pack went in here too.
ALSO: With any frame bag, you don’t want to stuff it too full or it’ll be wide and rub where the pedals come up.
Seat Pack
REI Co-op Link Seat Pack
AKA the “Butt Bag” …Easy to use! I shoved my sleeping bag in the base of this to keep it sturdy and then filled the rest of it with things I needed to access often - like layers: a windbreaker, swimsuit, packable pants, etc. The bungees on top were nice for strapping random things or holding my suit down while it dried post-swim. The sleeve on bottom held my rolled up sleeping pad perfectly.
Handlebar Bag
REI Co-op Link Handlebar Roll
I stuffed so many things in this bag... my extra chamois, the tent, layers, etc. I would roll one side up, stuff it full, and presssss it down before rolling the other side up. If you do it right, it can fit quite a bit! It’s nice to put things you don’t need to access often.
Tube Top Bag
REI Co-op Junction Top Tube Bag
I actually ran TWO of these: one on the tube near the handle bars and one on the back of the top tube, lil bungee wrapped around the seat post.
I put all the essential, need-to-access little things inside: sunglasses, phone, wallet, passport, charging cords, lil sunscreen, chapstick, rocks from the beach (lol) and more!
Handlebar Feedbag
Revelate Designs Mountain Feedbag Handlebar Bag
I love this product!! I ran two of these: one on the left and one on the right. They don’t get in the way of your grip and they’re super accessible while riding.
I kept anything from a small film camera to Haribo gummies to toiletries in these bags. The closure system allows you to open and close the top with one hand making it suuuper easy to access things efficiently. The small pockets on the outside are convenient too.
Ultralight 2 Person Tent
REI Co-op Flash Air 2 Tent
This only weighs about 2 lbs and fits two people! It is not a stand alone tent so you need to be on a surface where the stakes can go in the ground OR you can tie the ends to something. It was perfect for Tyndall and I!
Cycling Shoes
TIEM Slipstream Indoor Cycling Shoes - Women's
Technically these are “indoor” cycling shoes but they were perfect for me because I wanted something comfortable to wear OFF the bike so I didn’t have to pack another pair of tennis shoes. They are SPD compatible, super easy to take off/on and very comfortable.
Lightweight Pants
Patagonia Chambeau Rock Pants - Women's
I loved these because they’re super light and pack small. They’re not a thick, warm layer but perfect for cycling in the evening as the temps start to drop. They’re fairly stretchy because they’re technically made for climbing and they have an adjustable cuff cord at the bottom - nice for keeping the ends away from the bike chain.
Body Glide
Bodyglide Anti-Chafe Balm - 0.8 oz.
Put this literally anywhere that rubs and save yourself from chafing. I used it everyday!
Sandals
Teva Hurricane XLT2 Sandals - Women's
These are the only shoes I brought other than the cycling ones. I love Teva’s.
That’s all for now. :) Send me a DM on Instagram if there are items you saw I had on the trip but didn’t add and I’ll get them added on here!
