Touring - Touring/Backpacking Comparison

Hi,

I'd like to hear from those who are (or have been) backpackers and how their touring experiences have compared to their backpacking outings. Specifically with regard to camping, wear and tear on the body, uphill challenges, gear carried, safety, enjoyment,...et cetera.

Do you have a comparative analysis to share on this?

What are your thoughts? What do you like or dislike? What are the pros/cons for you?

Thanks.

Reality

I was an avid BP'er for years.

Much tougher on the knees, and a week in the Whites (of New Hampshire) will ONLY be in the Whites. On a bike, I can easily cover 400 miles in a week.

I love the distance I can cover on a bike, and if I want to do day hikes on days off the bike, then I get the best of both worlds.

Speaking for myself and the kind of on-road touring I do, I would consider bike touring more like a combination of backpacking and "ultralite" car camping.

"Backpacking" because you are self-sufficient, self-powered and usually have a challanging goal to meet for the day.

"Car camping" because you can take the "kitchen sink" if you desire, usually camp at established sites with some amenities, come in contact with people and can kick back at the end of the day with a beer and steak. If a problem arises, you can usually find help nearby.

I think if you were to do an off-road adventure--like the Great Divide (!)--that would be more like pure backpacking.

I really enjoy both bike touring and backpacking, each in their own ways...mainly for the self-sufficiency aspect.

The major drawback for me is that you are more ambulatory in the woods while backpacking. It's hard work lugging a touring bike to a primitive camp spot 2 or more miles from any road or manmade path - particularly if you're trying to get it up a hill through dense forest or up a face of otherwise climbable rocks. This makes it so that many, if not most, primitive camper-bikers tend to camp much closer to the road.

If you're willing to throw caution to the wind somewhat and trust the odds of your remoteness, you can hide, camouflage, and lock your bike in the woods and backpack away from it to an even more remote campground just fine if you want, thereby combining both disciplines. Many people won't recommend this, but I've done it countless times.

In other ways, bike camping is far superior. You can certainly carry more, and the bike is a legitimate form of transportation that can carry you surprising distances in a day's time, and it's a pretty easy thing to repair barring a major incident.

Also, in backpacking, you usually have to park your car somewhere where cars are supposed to be parked, and you are more limited in your choices for simply getting away from any road you want (assuming you took a car to get there). That is to say: Any time you feel like getting offroad unnoticed with a bike, you simply can. I don't know that this is quite true with a car.

A suitable bike can also traverse trails that may be limited to something as wide as a car. Then again, so can a backpacker, but there are some trails that traverse states.

Security of stuff can definitely be more of an issue, but it's really rare to have your things messed with while you're in a small-town grocery during the day (just about the only time I leave my bike alone other than the aforementioned ninja hiding).

The rush of bicycling to an unknown destination with all the things I need to survive is excellent, and for my money it's always treated me better than backpacking overall. Riding through the sun in a pastoral valley or next to an ocean and getting that air in the face is something unparalleled in my life.

On the Bike Friday folding bicycles site, there's a guy who manages to stow a collapsible kayak into his trailer, find a river or lake, fold his bike and gear and bring them with him through the water (I assume by towing them behind in the trailer with a guy line) and then reach the shore wherever and stow the kayak away again and then unfold the bike and ride on. Very neat.

Security of stuff can definitely be more of an issue, but it's really rare to have your things messed with while you're in a small-town grocery during the day

Many of those small town groceries have a senior citizen or two that tend to sit on the inevitable bench outside the "general store" - after a short chat about the weather, they make a GREAT security system.

Many of those small town groceries have a senior citizen or two that tend to sit on the inevitable bench outside the "general store" - after a short chat about the weather, they make a GREAT security system.

Yep! :D

I backpacked a bit, then started cycling to recoup from knee injuries (from hiking). With a properly fit bike, long distance cycling is easier on the body than hiking is, over the same amount of time (IMO).

Cycle touring, you can cover more distance, see more, and meet more people-should you want to. It's still at a slow enough pace, that the sites can be enjoyed. Touring in populated areas offers a lot more food choices compared to bacpacking (outback type).

Comparing European "train/bus" bacpacking, I save on transportation costs, and see a lot more. I think I get a better "feel" for a particular Country/region-and it's people, compared to just whizing from one spot to the next. It's allways easier (for me anyways) to meet people in rural areas than in an urban. In urban areas/touristy bits, hostels are great to meet & hang out with folks.

Camping gear is the same, but it's easier to carry more, should you want to. Finding official campgrounds along a route usually requires a bit of planning, a lot less so though, than while on a hike where camping at designated sites is required. Wild/free camping is about the same, dependant of course upon the area you're cycling through.

I feel cycle touring is safer than bacpacking, again dependant upon the route cycled.

Another trick I have when it comes to securing the bike, is if I NEED to go to a Big Box Grocery store/ Xmart, I'll first cruise the parking lot looking for either the security guards (ya know, with those yellow flashing lights), or the shopping cart herders - get a chat going with them, and then ask if they want a coke or a coffee.

Most are just tickled pink to think they are helping me on my Quixotic quests. (I have about a dozen email convos with parking lot people I've met in my travels)

Bike tours can be a lot like backpacking trips and take on some of the same elements.

In areas where there's lots of national forest land you can do some very interesting and remote road and trail touring. I ran into a bear while on tour a couple of weekends ago! Accordingly, carrying first aid kit, extra food, water purification, rope for hanging food, etc. all have a place on these types of tours.

Using a state gazatteer as a roads guide helps you to pick out all the less traveled roads, the 'gravel highways' of the national forest system. Stopping in the ranger station always helps,too, the FS maps are some of the most detailed maps i've seen and tend to cover lots of area for cheap.

Interesting question, I think you'll find quite a few of us enjoy both, and there are similarities in terms of gear, self-sufficiency, etc, while at the same time having different logistics and offering different rewards.

I think backpacking is just more extreme in all aspects than bike touring, and the payoff is substantial, but it is more work and sacrifice to get those rewards. If you want real wilderness, I think it is just about the only way to go. Backpacking will allow you to find a camping spot that has not a person in sight for miles! No sounds but the wind, maybe a creek or waterfall, and that of critters. At night you are truly alone, with yourself, the stars, and nature, which can be a little scary and very humbling. A few days of this is a very invigorating and spiritual experience.

Bicycle touring is a more comfortable and efficient way to travel, with more amenities available along the way, but with the general limitation of having to travel on roads for the most part, which limits the amount of solitude and wilderness that you will experience. However, it also brings a couple of big advantages - being able to start from home, and the ability to go for longer periods of time. And face it, carrying 40-50 lbs is a lot easier on a bike than on your feet!

Both require discipline and planning to be self-sufficient, although backpacking usually requires carrying all of your food with you from the start, and paying somewhat more attention to meals, water supply and filtration. Usually there will be no stores to buy that forgotten item once you hit the trail for several days. You will need to drive to the trailhead in most cases. I use almost all of the same gear for either activity - tent, bag, sleeping pad, cooking gear, etc. Due to the need to carry gear and walk, I find backpacking to be harder on me physically - it beats up my knees and feet, even with trekking poles. I always lose weight, even over just a few days, due to the exertion, and limit myself to those few days duration.

I hope someday to tour the Great Divide Mtn Bike Route along the spine of the Rockies - it might be the best of both worlds, but have not yet worked out the time and logistics, or found someone compatible to go with for that amount of time. To me that would be an incredible way to spend three months or so.

john

I think the best trips are combinations of backpacking and bike touring. Ride out somewhere with a trailer loaded with a backpack, then go hiking.

I am both a backpacker and bike tourer and find both enjoyable and actually complementary.Backpacking is more load bearing (on the body) so within reason it actually balances this drawback of cycling.But, due to this, there is much more potential for wear and tear and injury backpacking.And, I would say this also makes backpacking tougher particularly up or downhill. I find I use almost all the same gear for both activities and actually the backpacking background compels me to bicycle tour much lighter than many .

I use foot or cycle for my basic transportation ,as well ,so I have done a number of trips where I just load my backpack and gear on the bike and travel to and from backpacking locations where I do multiday backpacking ,concealing my bike near the trailheads.On one trip, I even managed to push my loaded bike offtrail through a remote swamp(slough) with water levels approaching my top tube.I called this bikepacking sort of combining the two activities lol.

Camping, I stealth camp touring ,usually in woods or remote areas,so once you get the hang of it ,it is similar to backcountry camping though as others have said you are usually closer to a road ,etc.Bike touring you are generally closer and more accessable to other services as well so there is not as much need for "trail angels" but you will find people very friendly and accomodating towards touring cyclists particularly on the established routes.

Bike touring ,safety wise, the major concern to me is usually chosing safe routes but once done I rarely feel unsafe(all my touring has been in the U.S. though).Like you have to stay alert in the backcountry, you also have to stay alert on the road.

In hot weather I much prefer to be on cycle,while during really cold weather I prefer to be on foot.Backpacking, I focus on experiencing nature on its own terms with as few manmade influences as possible,bike touring ,for me is about seeing all an area has to offer,including the people, though I still tend to prefer somewhat remote areas.

I agree with just about everything said so far, but will add a few more comments.
I was a cyclist for many year, started backpacking, hiked the Appalacian Trail, and now am getting into touring. For starters, I noticed you are using different muscle groups. I lost my cycling legs during the AT but got them back afterwards. Unfortunately doing one, wont prepair you for the muscle pain of the other. Many people are pointing out that you tend to camp close to the roads, but if you tour with a mountain bike, then you can go just about anywhere a backpacker can, assuming legality of the trail. If you use the road, thats obviously different.
Equipment wise, you definately can cary more. Backpackers tend to worry about ounces, while tourist tend to worry about pounds. I noticed many of the people on this forum who try to be lightweight tourists, tend to mention their backpacking experiences as well. This is probably not coincidence. The best example of this is bringing a foam pad to compliment your thermarest. I wouldn't do that backpacking but will do it every time cycling. I'm not saying go heavy, just there is less need to ULTRA light weight. Most the gear is comparable. The backpack becomes panniers and everything else remains much the same. I still use my alcohal stove and tarptent.
I geuss one more thing is that the bike is real expensive. If you already have a mountain bike, then try touring off of that first.
The biggest similarity of the two is that you can take the advice of people who have already done it, but doing it the way you are most comfotable is the best way to go.
Scott (TurkeyBacon AT 02)

I was an avid BP'er for years.

Much tougher on the knees, and a week in the Whites (of New Hampshire) will ONLY be in the Whites. On a bike, I can easily cover 400 miles in a week.

I love the distance I can cover on a bike, and if I want to do day hikes on days off the bike, then I get the best of both worlds.

Bikepacker67, yes...covering the miles is sure a lot easier on the bike. As I've always said: "It's all about the route."

Reality

Speaking for myself and the kind of on-road touring I do, I would consider bike touring more like a combination of backpacking and "ultralite" car camping.


rnagaoka, I agree. They both have a lot of similarities. I like being able to bring a little somthing extra along that goes on the bike rather than my back.

Reality

In other ways, bike camping is far superior. You can certainly carry more, and the bike is a legitimate form of transportation that can carry you surprising distances in a day's time, and it's a pretty easy thing to repair barring a major incident.

Security of stuff can definitely be more of an issue, but it's really rare to have your things messed with while you're in a small-town grocery during the day (just about the only time I leave my bike alone other than the aforementioned ninja hiding).



Alekhine, I too like the ability to carry more and cover more distance while biking. What can take a day to hike, can be done in an hour touring -- backpacking days are cycling hours.

It's always nice to have someone trustworthy around to watch your bike/gear. Here's a tip I use that may or may not be helpful, but I do it anyway... If you carry a digital camera, take a picture of your bike/gear, so that you have a photo ready to present to authorities if your bike/gear is stolen. This, of course, is conditional to the fact that your camera wasn't stolen too.

Reality

Cycle touring, you can cover more distance, see more, and meet more people-should you want to. It's still at a slow enough pace, that the sites can be enjoyed. Touring in populated areas offers a lot more food choices compared to bacpacking (outback type).


Camel, I like to meet people and I like food! I've enjoyed the discussions that I've had with people I have met on my journeys. Most of the time it's fun for me to make contacts this way. Talking with people helps to reinforce my faith in the general goodness of people - that is often distorted by television news....

I like to have access to more food that I can pack - whenever possible. I hit the gym, regularly, and I like to keep my properly-configured caloric intake at a level that will maintain my muscle growth and overall health. This is quite challenging when backpacking.

Reality

Interesting question, I think you'll find quite a few of us enjoy both, and there are similarities in terms of gear, self-sufficiency, etc, while at the same time having different logistics and offering different rewards.

I think backpacking is just more extreme in all aspects than bike touring, and the payoff is substantial, but it is more work and sacrifice to get those rewards. If you want real wilderness, I think it is just about the only way to go. Backpacking will allow you to find a camping spot that has not a person in sight for miles! No sounds but the wind, maybe a creek or waterfall, and that of critters. At night you are truly alone, with yourself, the stars, and nature, which can be a little scary and very humbling. A few days of this is a very invigorating and spiritual experience.

Bicycle touring is a more comfortable and efficient way to travel, with more amenities available along the way, but with the general limitation of having to travel on roads for the most part, which limits the amount of solitude and wilderness that you will experience. However, it also brings a couple of big advantages - being able to start from home, and the ability to go for longer periods of time. And face it, carrying 40-50 lbs is a lot easier on a bike than on your feet!

Both require discipline and planning to be self-sufficient, although backpacking usually requires carrying all of your food with you from the start, and paying somewhat more attention to meals, water supply and filtration. Usually there will be no stores to buy that forgotten item once you hit the trail for several days. You will need to drive to the trailhead in most cases. I use almost all of the same gear for either activity - tent, bag, sleeping pad, cooking gear, etc. Due to the need to carry gear and walk, I find backpacking to be harder on me physically - it beats up my knees and feet, even with trekking poles. I always lose weight, even over just a few days, due to the exertion, and limit myself to those few days duration.

I hope someday to tour the Great Divide Mtn Bike Route along the spine of the Rockies - it might be the best of both worlds, but have not yet worked out the time and logistics, or found someone compatible to go with for that amount of time. To me that would be an incredible way to spend three months or so.

john

mtnroads (john), that was an excellent comparison - thanks for sharing it.

Reality

I am both a backpacker and bike tourer and find both enjoyable and actually complementary.Backpacking is more load bearing (on the body) so within reason it actually balances this drawback of cycling.But, due to this, there is much more potential for wear and tear and injury backpacking.And, I would say this also makes backpacking tougher particularly up or downhill. I find I use almost all the same gear for both activities and actually the backpacking background compels me to bicycle tour much lighter than many .


RWTD, I feel that my interest will always be a hybrid of the two. They both have their advantages... I'm am getting to the place that I want to go easier on the back, knees, and feet though.

Reality

I agree with just about everything said so far, but will add a few more comments.
I was a cyclist for many year, started backpacking, hiked the Appalacian Trail, and now am getting into touring. For starters, I noticed you are using different muscle groups. I lost my cycling legs during the AT but got them back afterwards. Unfortunately doing one, wont prepair you for the muscle pain of the other. Many people are pointing out that you tend to camp close to the roads, but if you tour with a mountain bike, then you can go just about anywhere a backpacker can, assuming legality of the trail. If you use the road, thats obviously different.
Equipment wise, you definately can cary more. Backpackers tend to worry about ounces, while tourist tend to worry about pounds. I noticed many of the people on this forum who try to be lightweight tourists, tend to mention their backpacking experiences as well. This is probably not coincidence. The best example of this is bringing a foam pad to compliment your thermarest. I wouldn't do that backpacking but will do it every time cycling. I'm not saying go heavy, just there is less need to ULTRA light weight. Most the gear is comparable. The backpack becomes panniers and everything else remains much the same. I still use my alcohal stove and tarptent.
I geuss one more thing is that the bike is real expensive. If you already have a mountain bike, then try touring off of that first.
The biggest similarity of the two is that you can take the advice of people who have already done it, but doing it the way you are most comfotable is the best way to go.
Scott (TurkeyBacon AT 02)

ncscott, I've learned a lot about gear from my backpacking excursions too. You tend to get smarter when you carry the weight on your back across the rocks and rivers...state after state. And, I like the ability to carry some extra things to keep me more comfortable when biking.

My gear is all fairly lightweight, but I like being able to carry a better shelter and sleeping bag/mat when biking. There are a few more gadgets that I'll carry on a bike too.

Reality