Enthusiast

There have been several threads in the past asking about touring with backpacks but they have only explored actually wearing the backpack on your back. I'd like to talk about ways to carry a pack on the bike.

There is some cross-over between the backpacking and bike touring communities so I'd imagine others have been in a situation similar to mine. I'm on a bike tour but I want to go backpacking along the way. Earlier this summer I rode 1500 miles towing a Kelty Red Cloud 5600 in a trailer. I've attached an image. The setup worked well but I had too much unused carrying capacity and weight.

This past weekend I tested out a new setup on a 220 mile mini-tour to Montreal from Vermont. I replaced some equipment and now am using a smaller pack, the Golight Jam 2, strapped to a rear rack. Much lighter and faster than before but not perfect. I had to use the pack's own straps to secure it to the rack, which leaves them more prone to damage in a crash. The standard rack, of unknown manufacture, that I used did not fully support the pack as can be seen in the attached image.

Do the esteemed members of this forum have suggestions for alternative methods I could use to carry my pack and gear? Perhaps a front porteur rack with the pack acting as a bit of a windshield? Or a single asymmetric saddlebag? Or maybe just orient the pack vertically on my rear rack? Experiences/thoughts?

I'm also considering a handlebar-type bag to shrink the main pack down a bit more and to double as my food bag when backpacking.

positron

cant post much now, but look up the tour terrain backpack rack thingy on peter whites website for an idea. you could maybe come up wiith something similar using your back rack for a larger backpack... just a thought.

arctos

For several years long ago I used a Gregory Day and a half pack standing upright behind my saddle. The compression straps and waist belt held the pack in place by the seat and seat post. I was able to do this because I rode a large frame bike with sufficient seat post showing.

It worked very well for off pavement touring in the Andes of Ecuador with small front panniers only. The pack was made of cordura and was very durable. Modern light silnylon fabrics in the Go-Lite Jam may not be as durable over time.

Enthusiast

I was a bit worried about shifting the center of gravity of my load higher. It also seems like a more precarious perch than having the pack laying flat. Maybe I can rig up some straps to wrap around the pack and attach to my saddles' strap tabs.

twodeadpoets

I used to tour with a backpack on (and panniers) and I hated my back not being able to breath (got hot real fast). Also, almost everyone I've ever seen on a bike with a backpack did not look happy. For mtbing their great but I personally wouldn't on a road tour... for what it's worth

c_m_shooter

I would say just secure your pack to a single wheeled trailer. It will probably be cheaper to buy the trailer than to get set up with front racks and panniers anyway. I wouldn't want to ride very far with all the weight up on top of the rear rack.

The Impossipede

Agreed. BOBs have a drybag as a factory option, so instead of that, I would just put your pack in trashbag, throw it in the trailer, and go.

Erick L

Panpack makes convertible panniers. Never used them and reviews are few but good. I'll probably order a 40L or 60L model next year. From what I understand, the packs alone are rudimentory but you can add padded shoulder straps and belt for serious backpacking. There's a small set of front panniers that attaches to the 40-60L packs. I'm surprised this kind of design isn't more common.

stevage

See also this convertible seat bag:

stevage

To be honest, your second setup looks pretty good, though you could obviously tweak it a bit. (" I had to use the pack's own straps to secure it to the rack, which leaves them more prone to damage in a crash." - bungee cords are a dime a dozen)

The thought occurs that a frame bag would be good to hold stuff that you don't want to carry with you, like bike tools. That sort of presumes you have somewhere safe to leave the bike...

You can also hang the tent from the handlebars. I've just been experimenting with this, since I got my new Epic Designs frame bag. It was ridiculously simple to do. I already had the tent in an old sleeping bag bag with compression straps, so I simply hung it over the handlebar bag mount, and bam...it fit perfectly and is held in place by the brake and gear cables. Works well to counterbalance the rear weight, and due to the slightly lower position, has fewer handling issues than a handlebar bag.

Machka 

I seriously considered purchasing this when I was first looking for panniers. I ended up with my Axioms, which are great, but this pannier is still somewhat tempting:

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...7_10000_201501

Juha

There's this thread in Commuting on pretty much this same subject. The Nashbar pannier mentioned above does not get very good reviews there, but there are some other suggestions.

I've wondered myself if there are any reasonably good solutions to this. Then again, I just rode 16kms in rain to work. I know I would not want to carry the Ortliebs in my back with all the water and grime on them. It would also probably be difficult to get the good ergonomics of a decent backpack. It seems it's better to put a "real" backpack in a drybag and throw it on a trailer.

--J

stevage

Strangely, every time I imagine a backpack that goes on a rack, I picture it the other way around, with the mounting system being opposite to the part that sits against your pack. An MTX mount would be good...

Enthusiast

This was my thinking earlier this year. I'm really cheap so I made my own trailer(which doubled as my shelter) so I could save hundreds of dollars. The BOB would be lighter but much more expensive than my current trailer. I've cut 30+ lbs with all the changes to my gear, including ditching the trailer, and I love being lighter weight. The weight and cost of a trailer is a bitter pill for me to swallow in order to carry a backpack, and this thread is about exploring all alternatives.

Enthusiast

When I was shopping for the Go-Lite pack I met a guy who had used a Jam 2 on a rear rack in his tour through South America. I know I'll have to be careful about abrasions, but I'm hopeful that the Jam 2 will hold up. (It isn't sil-nylon)

Enthusiast

stevage, the panpack and Epic Designs gear are both cool. Those panpacks didn't seem cut-out for serious backpacking. I was experimenting with my own designs based off the idea before I went with a ready-made cheap pack.

I love the Epic Designs stuff. Their framebags and seat bags are so innovative and efficient for on the bike use. I hadn't seen that convertible saddlebag. It would be perfect for day-hikes or times when the bike needs to be carried.

Machka, that Nashbar pannier was what I was referencing when I mentioned asymmetrically mounting the backpack. I bet a regular pack (with some sort of stiffened frame) would be able to be attached in that way. Would there be long term consequences to riding with an off-center load like that? I'd imagine aches and pains would spring up.

Juha

I'm sure this depends on load weight and ride distance. Most of the time I commute with just one pannier. On my way home I usually stop at the grocery store and fill the pannier up to capacity. At that point I can tell the load is off center for the remaining 3kms home, but there have been no problems with bike or myself. I've only done it for 6-7 years.

If the load is really, really heavy and you're riding longer distance, then maybe. By then you'd likely be exceeding rack's stated max load anyway.

--J

Enthusiast

I'll be touring off and on throughout North and Central America for at least a year. When I'm on tour I tend to do 80-120 miles a day or around 500 miles a week. The load shouldn't ever be more than 40lb max.

Bacciagalupe

I'd definitely pick up a trailer. For that kind of a trip, you will benefit from the ability to pile on supplies when you really need it.

I've been checking into the Burley Flatbed Trailer, which may work out for your uses. Toss your gear into the backpack, pack a few extra waterproof stuff sacks, and you're all set.

Enthusiast

But..but...I already have all the supplies I need in my pack with room to spare! Waaaa, I don't want to haul a heavy awkward trailer again!

Hehe, seriously though, when I get down to New Orleans this winter I'll have access to welding equipment and maybe I'll put something together that is smaller and lighter than the old trailer.

When I was in Montreal I really appreciated how much easier it was to maneuver through traffic and lock the bike up without the trailer. It was kind of an epiphany in terms of how much less hassle carrying gear on a bike could be.

Erick L

Have you seen/tried them? The Backcountry and World Tour models with the optionnal straps and belt are supposed to be just like a regular backpack. The little front bags (lowrider version)attaches to the large bag so you have 2 bags instead of 4 and a 57L or 78L pack for backpacking.

Again, I haven't used them myself. This is from the tiny bit of info I managed to find. Panpack has a 30-day return policy so you can always give them a try. Shipping isn't refundable though.

Enthusiast

Erick L, I have not seen or tried them in real life. Also, I shouldn't have used the phrase "serious backpacking", as there are many serious backpackers who have overbuilt packs like those. However, as a backpack for my uses, the Backcountry model offers a limited daypack-like capacity and many superfluous features for a substantial weight penalty and 4x the price of my current pack. I would not like to haul it up mountains. That said, if I had loads of money and wasn't so into the ultralight-ethos Panpack's products would be quite appropriate.

I've sewn packs before and I think an ultralight pack which could be divided up similar to the Panpacks may have moved up a few notches on my projects list.

Bacciagalupe

A BOB Yak weighs about 14 lbs, only a few pounds heavier than 4 decent panniers. Unless you're really good at design and fabricating, a commercial trailer will almost certainly be worth the investment. You'll be able to haul exactly the type of backpack you want, without jury-rigging up something weird, unbalanced and/or inconvenient. You already have the willpower to cut out the fat, so it's unlikely you'll just pile crap on the trailer. Worst case scenario you can get one from fleabay for $200 or so.

Frugality has its advantages, but if you're investing the time and energy into a tour as extensive as this, I see no reason to skimp on something as critical as your luggage system.

BigAura

My backpack is an Equinox Katahdin ultralight that weighs 26 ounces. I turn it inside out, put my sleeping pad inside and roll it up. I cover it with a plastic bag and strap it to the top of my rack. My gear goes in my panniers. I've only used this for a three day excursion where I had a safe place to store my bicycle gear. Which brings up the bigger issue - safely storing your bike while backpacking.

Enthusiast

Interesting. So when on the bike your Equinox pack only holds your sleeping pad and your other gear goes in panniers? Then when you do your excursions you repack all your backpacking gear into the pack and leave the bike stuff in the panniers? Sounds like a good system.

As for storing my bike while backpacking, when I went hiking in the Adirondacks there was a lodge near the trailhead that allowed me to lock my bike on their porch. I bet many rangers would be willing to even let you leave your bike in one of their buildings. Now that Fall is approaching you can hike a ways off the trail and bury your bike stuff in leaves and brush!