Touring - Rack Advice

What is the average, and/or, recommended weight capacity for front and rear racks for loaded touring?

I figure an actual extended loaded tour is a distant thing for me, but why buy a light set and a loaded set of racks? Short 2-5 day trips are in the near future however. I am fully bossed and drilled for all things touring on my Dawes.

Any input/opinions/recommendations are welcomed. The $120 racks probably aren't in my immediate budget, but I only want to buy these once, so delaying a purchase may be necessary to get good ones.

There isn't any one number, 25-35 front and back is average for better makes, look at tubus and surly for info. The racks themselves can weigh a lot, so you could be as high as 80 pounds of gear there, without any water strapped on tent etc... So while it may not sound like a lot it adds up.

There isn't any one number, 25-35 front and back is average for better makes, look at tubus and surly for info. The racks themselves can weigh a lot, so you could be as high as 80 pounds of gear there, without any water strapped on tent etc... So while it may not sound like a lot it adds up.

Thanks for the info.

The "adding up quickly" is the purpose of the shorter trips to parse out what I will use, want, or need vs what I start out with. The various packing lists are very helpful, but nothing beats hands on information for packing.

Good plan. I just meant that the nominal maximums you can carry on the racks add up quickly, I don't carry those maximums most of the time.

Good plan. I just meant that the nominal maximums you can carry on the racks add up quickly, I don't carry those maximums most of the time.

Well now you've gone and burst my bubble. I was thinking you were some kind of touring Zeus if you carry 80# of gear, lol.


You nailed my question on capacities though. It helps in my judgment of possible off brand stuff should I run across it, although known entities have a huge comfort level for durability and performance. It's part of the "I haven't done this so should I blow big bucks on gear right out of the blocks?" dilemma.

Are you thinking about front AND rear racks for these 2-5 day tours? Considered people have crossed the US (and farther) with only rear racks, you could probably get by with getting only a rear rack and some higher capacity rear panniers. And, if that is the case, I personally would recommend spending the money on a Tubus rack. Most of their rear racks are rated to at least 80 pounds (my cargo is 90) and are covered by a 10 year warranty. Very solid construction with a reputation to back it up. If you haven't, I would check out thetouringstore.com for information on the Tubus racks.

I had this same debate recently, but decided on the Tubus rack because I had read too many negative things on here and crazyguyonabike regarding cheaper (cost and construction) racks. Just my two cents through.

Here's a good price on Tubus Cargo rearrack. $94.95

http://www.lickbike.com/searchsite.asp?SEARCH=tubus+cargo

I went ahead and bought the Jandd extreme and expetition racks though for $54.99 a piece.

Probably not as good as tubus ,but got front and rear for price of 1 tubus.

Are you thinking about front AND rear racks for these 2-5 day tours? Considered people have crossed the US (and farther) with only rear racks, you could probably get by with getting only a rear rack and some higher capacity rear panniers. And, if that is the case, I personally would recommend spending the money on a Tubus rack. Most of their rear racks are rated to at least 80 pounds (my cargo is 90) and are covered by a 10 year warranty. Very solid construction with a reputation to back it up. If you haven't, I would check out thetouringstore.com for information on the Tubus racks.

I had this same debate recently, but decided on the Tubus rack because I had read too many negative things on here and crazyguyonabike regarding cheaper (cost and construction) racks. Just my two cents through.


For the 2-5 day runs, just a rear rack. I am of the opinion that for a more lengthy run, weight distribution would be better served with front and rear. Granted, this is coming from zero extended loaded touring experience, but from a life long affliction of a semi over analytical technical thought process:)

So far, Tubus and Jandd seem to be the standouts.

Ugh, not sure what happened with the partial post. aplogies.

Here's a good price on Tubus Cargo rearrack. $94.95

http://www.lickbike.com/searchsite.asp?SEARCH=tubus+cargo

I went ahead and bought the Jandd extreme and expetition racks though for $54.99 a piece.

Probably not as good as tubus ,but got front and rear for price of 1 tubus.

Yep, been looking at that option too, for the same reason.

Oddly, either no one in my area has given up on touring, or has never considered it because my favorite mode of aquisition is gently used, but I have had zero luck with that. I'm a patient bargain stalker though, so we will see. I have another couple of months before the scorching heat breaks.

Even though I won't need the fronts for shorter runs, it seems a consideration to use them for slowly adding weight for training purposes. The idea of carrying lighter loads for short rides and one day jumping into "loaded" sounds like a miserable first week or so.

If I was on a budget, I'd buy the Blackburn Expedition for the rear and the Nashbar front rack (which looks to be a clone of the old Blackburn Lowriders.) They should work fine. I toured with a Blackburn Expedition and Lowriders for many years and thousands of miles, carrying lots of weight (too much, undoubtedly.) They never gave me any problems. (Except when a mounting bolt fell out on the back. Always use Loctite on rack support bolts.)

My present budget approach is to buy what I think is the best. (No, I'm not rich, but I've already got all of my gear, so when I buy stuff it's only to upgrade.) I have a Tubus Cargo in back and a Jandd Extreme in front. I'm very happy with both of them. I don't see anything out there that's good enough to make me want to upgrade.

If I was on a budget, I'd buy the Blackburn Expedition for the rear and the Nashbar front rack (which looks to be a clone of the old Blackburn Lowriders.) They should work fine. I toured with a Blackburn Expedition and Lowriders for many years and thousands of miles, carrying lots of weight (too much, undoubtedly.) They never gave me any problems. (Except when a mounting bolt fell out on the back. Always use Loctite on rack support bolts.)
This is what I used to ride across the US on the TransAmerica and and subsequent rides. I was very happy with them. My daughter used the same and also was very happy with them. They are often on sale at Nashbar (or Performance) and are inexpensive to start with.

Thanks for the Balckburn tip. I have looked at them and put them pretty near thetop of the listed at the Nashbar fronts.

I have a set budget that I would like to stay within if at all possible,and would like to leave as much as possible for the panniers. Some of the links to racks have shown me some modestly lower prices on previously shopped bags as well, this is great.