Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN

I do not think there is an official list of definitions, but Adventure Cycling might have a list of the different ones they offer. I recall the one trip I rode with them, they called it self supported, but they provided guide and logistics.

I consider:

- Loaded touring, you carry your camping gear and cooking gear.

- Credit card, in motels, haul minimal clothng on bike, no support.

- Vehicle supported, that is where a vehicle (friend or hired person) hauls your stuff for you. May or may not include cooking too. A friend of mine organized a trip, we got the permits, designated the route, we hired an outfitter to carry our gear and cook our food. But, since we got the permits (national park campsites) and not the outfitter, I do not consider this fully supported amd we had no guide support.

- Fully supported, a guide is provided and also rides along in case you blow a tire and do not know how to change one. Motels and meals provided, but you might be on your own for some meals at restaurants. I have done two fully supported trips in Europe, they also provided the bikes.

- Bikepacking, I consider that to be on gravel or dirt trails, carry your own bare minimum of gear, probably only a few days of food, maybe a rack on the bike and maybe not, but probably not panniers. But they likely carry odd looking saddle bag and frame bag. Might be a mountain bike with partial or full suspension, or might be a fat bike, or just about any other kind of bike.

I did not use the term self supported, there are different definitions of that out there so it can be a bit ambiguous.