This is my first tour and I didn't have a ton of money for gear so I went with the 'use what you've got' philosophy. Giant Escape 2 with 700 x 32C Marathon Mondials and Nuke Proof Electron Evo pedals. Everything else on the bike is stock. Ortlieb classic rear panniers, a 20L Sea to Summit drysack as a trunkbag, and a custom handlebar 'bag' made by a friend from an army surplus pack-roll. I lash my Thermarest over the top of that with a Sea to Summit 2m bomber tie-down strap. I've done over 2,000km so far and the everything has performed beautifully.

Photo taken at Los Reyunos, Mendoza Province, Argentina.