As others have said, the term "touring" was around first. As to why they started using "bike packing" , it probably has as much to do with marketing and opening up a new stream of revenue to the industry.
While bikepacking equipment has been borrowed by people who want to ride marginal bikes for touring and carrying stuff that is loaded too high for such twitchy bikes, bikepacking gear did originally have a purpose. As I stated above, I’ve tried all the methods of carrying stuff off-road and bikepacking gear is by far the best tool for the job. Revelate Designs’ development of bikepacking gear really was revolutionary for off-road touring. Prior to 2007 the only options were trailers or panniers both of which have issues as I detailed above. For road touring, bikepacking gear is a poor substitute for panniers.
Originally Posted by
skookum
No.
The hipsters who are into bike packing, don't have bikes that will take racks and panniers. Besides that gear is totally uncool.
The geezers who have bike toured all over the world and have panniers, racks, handle bar bags etc. see no need to buy totally new gear to do the same activity.
A friend attended a presentation at a local gear store about bike packing.
After the presentation she asked a lot of questions like "Why couldnt I just use the panniers I already have for this trip? If the handlebar roll interferes with the brake levers, why dont I just use a handlebar bag?
She decided not to go on the trip. "Those people annoy me", she said.
I’m not a hipster. I am a geezer. But I do off-road touring and I have few issues with bikepacking gear for that purpose. I’m not about to put the bags on my Dean El Diente SL and go touring with it, however. I have an excellent...and very stable... Cannondale touring bike for that purpose.