Squeezebox

Big Aura and others seem to have a very wrong view of light weight touring. Does not have to exclude a tent, cooking or spare clothes. But lightweight certainly does not include a tent big enough to include a bicycle, multi spare clothes, a cast iron skillet, etc. That stuff is for car camping. Nothing wrong with supported touring if that is your desire. It's just not the only way.

BigAura

Actually I wasn't painting you, I was responding to Squeezy. I realize as the OP you thought all my points were directed at you. Sorry.

My posts are intended to enlighten others especially new-to-touring-folks of my perspectives based on my-personal-experiences. I do realize (and have stated many times) that there are multiple styles of touring and each cycle-tourist needs to decided for themselves what works for them. It's all good

nun

It's rare for someone to start touring as UL or lightweight. Most people new to touring will want to cover their bases and usually over pack. Then they will reduce their gear but still use 4x panniers and that's where people often stop because they are happy. The people who continue to reduce their gear weight and tweak their set ups are usually cycling nerds....so by definition not normal people.

fietsbob

1st weekend of June the Ultra Light competitive tourers will gather again, to see who can do the fastest un supported trip across the US .

This Past year There was an east to west group, and the larger west to east group, perhaps some differences in conditions between the 2,
they seemed to cross paths in the Mississippi river area..



...

nun

Yeah those guys make my setup look ridiculously heavy. There is a balance to be made. I've found that traditional 4x panniers is too heavy, true UL without cooking and sleeping on bubble wrap is too uncomfortable, but the Goldie Locks zone for me is 20lbs of gear and 20lbs of bike.

Ty0604

Yeah, they're called sock puppets in the forum world.

+1 - My first tour was done with ~25lbs of gear. Five tours later and it's down to ~10lbs of gear. Trying to go lighter this year. Which will be easier since I wont be alone. Can ditch a few things I had when I was solo (pump mainly).

sexy cyclist

Oh, my bad. I'll offer you an apology as well

nun

Gear list with weights

Ty0604

I don't know individual weights but this is what I ended my trip with this summer. Panniers were weighed by bike shop in Maine (weight of panniers not counted) and then matched by the FedEx package sent by BikeFlight (minus panniers and bike of course).

Pretty much what I started off with as well but I had 1x more t-shirts, 1x more socks, a JetBoil + fuel, a sweatshirt, 1x more padded shorts and a book, all of which were sent home before I was out of South Dakota. And 1x more water bottle which I lost going over some train tracks.

Certain times of year my gear list is identical but I don't carry anything that says "seasonal" so no compression sleeves, compression pants, rain pants, or rain fly for the tent.

2x t-shirts (counting the one I'm wearing)
2x socks (" ")
1x shorts
1x padded shorts
Compression arm sleeves (seasonal)
Compression pants (seasonal)
Bike gloves
1x spare tube
Pump
1x water bottles
Camelbak
Journal
Pen
External battery for phone
Rain pants (seasonal)
Rain jacket (always since it's also my morning jacket)
FibreFix spoke repair
Gorilla tape strips
Sunglasses (seasonal)
Sleeping bag (which one varies by season)
Tent (with or without the rainfly, seasonal)
Credit card/debit bank card
1x BioFreeze (Trial package)
Toiletries (toothpaste & brush, contact solution + case, body wash; all trial packages)
Travel towel
Bare bones multi-tool
1x Chamois Butt'r (Trial package)
1x tire lever
$5-$10 in cash
Helmet (depends on the route. Don't always carry it. If I don't use it I carry a helmet beanie to protect from the wind)

Think that's all if my memory serves me right. Packing for the Southern Tier currently and have about the same amount of gear but added a GoPro & charger but not taking the compression pants, pump, external battery or multi tool since I'll be with others who have that gear. We decided to only carry one of each.

sexy cyclist

If you swap the body wash for travelon soap sheets you can save an ounce or two

BTW the next video is nearly done. Rocky View Virginia to Beckley West Virginia. Took it easy that day, only ~65 miles. Had some friends I wanted to see in Beckley but their shop was closed by the time I rolled into town. I think the next day was 140 or so....rode from Beckley to the WV/Ohio border.

BigAura

I agree. But my stance is for lightweight simplicity and rugged reliability. That's holy-grail I seek and espouse.

Lt Stonez

I agree, if you had told my that 8-10 years ago. But with more and more bikepacking (handlebar,frame and saddlebags) you are simple forced into ultralight/lightweight gear cos you need all the space you can get. At a cost
And with bikepackingbags I diddent have to buy a touringbike at all. So you can say the money I saved on not buying a new bike I have put in ultralight gear.
The biggest cost is the "big 3" tent, sleepingbag and sleepingpad. That alone was 830$
The same gear is perfect for backpacking also when am on fishing trips

sexy cyclist

Lt Stonez, what sleeping system do you use? I paid under 200$ for mine which is why I'm curious.

Admittedly I'm using pretty low end stuff. Here's what I brought on my last cold weather trip (I pack lighter in the summer):

Marmot nanowave 45 sleeping bag
nemo tensor small mummy air pad
2.5oz cacoon air pillow
chinook ascent bivy

For warm weather tours I ditch the bivy and sleeping bag and use a silk sleeping liner instead. Sometimes I bring a bug net as well if I think I'll need it.

Ty0604

Never heard of them

sexy cyclist

https://www.amazon.com/Travelon-Laun.../dp/B000Y0CL8K

I carry the body wash versions on bike tours. Add some water and you've got soap. They basically weigh nothing and take up zero space. Used to carry a 4oz bottle of dr bronners. They sell them at REI too.

mstateglfr 

Then you got stuff on significant sale. Good work, but that stuff isnt $200 retail online

sexy cyclist

90$ for the pad, 40$ for the bivy, 20$ for the pillow, 50$ for the sleeping bag is what I payed. Sleeping bag was on clearance at an REI and the bivy seems to fluctuate in price, guess I got lucky.

Summer setup is 110$ for the pad and pillow + a 6$ silk sleeping liner (magellan brand purchased at sports authority in Texas, can't find them anymore, wish I could) and a 12$ bug net from friendly swede.

Sometimes I use a tent, it was 70$. Eureka Solitaire. Hard to beat it for the price / weight ratio.

Used to rock a 15$ hammock. Grand Trunk ultralight. Pretty amazing price / weight / comfort ratio.

Lt Stonez

You have too remember that US made gear cost more here in Norway, and if you buy from Internett stores then there is shipping tax and al cinds off ****.
My biggest investment was the sleepingbag, Western Mountaineering SummerLite 32 Degree Sleeping Bag - at Moosejaw.com
I got it for 350$ on SALE in Norway
Next up is the tent, MSR Freelite 1 Tent: 1-Person 3-Season | Backcountry.com
Also got that on sale for 310$
Last thing is the sleepingpad, https://www.rei.com/product/881905/e...e-sleeping-pad
That cost me 150$ on sale in Norway
Total cost around 810$
Total weight 2kg
Am sure if I had bought gear at total weight at 4-5kg I could have got it for around 300-400$ I guess!
But it also cost to buy things twice(uppgrading). I hope I dont need that now

sexy cyclist

That's unfortunate the prices are inflated due to your country of origin :/

That's a really nice looking sleeping bag / tent combo, much lighter than my marmot and eureka setup. I might have to upgrade sleeping bags sometime next fall. Thanks for the links.

EDIT:

While we're on the subject of sleep systems, here's a short video I made that gives a good look at mine. I swapped the silk liner and pocket blanket for my marmot sleeping bag on the tour, otherwise everything was the same.

BigAura

Huh? I said ultra-light: bivy, no extra clothes, racing bike, no kitchen is not for me nor do I recommend.

BTW: I posted my lightweight rig & pack-list(with weights), including photos, of my 11-day tour this summer. And I'm quite sure my weights were well under your 4-day Katy tour, assuming what you've post to be true. I think your gonna have to practice what you preach, before castigating others.


What are you talking about? None of this applies to me!


wild camping outside of Rohrersville, Maryland (pop. 175 + 1)

Lt Stonez

Nice video man, and beautyful place to tour. Nice to see you touring ultralight with a carbon bike
I will do the same late spring/summer. Denmark Netherlands and maybe France I hope. saddle bag 15 Litre framebag5 Litre handlebarbag 15-17litre pocketbag outside handlebarbag 4 Litre gastank/jarrycan is about 2litre total atleast 40-42 litres. That is all the space I got, and then you have too go ultralight

nun

My set up is lighter than some and heavier than others......but it's still the best....now where's the irony emoji.
Some people feel that this is a competition when it isn't. It's great to see different setups, bikes and budgets as long as they are believable and shared with a generous spirit, but we need to have our radar up for exaggeration and bluster. This should be an opportunity to share and learn, not to brag and inflate egos

Happy Feet

Right on Nun.

Not a knock against the topic but just like the stove thread I think it's pretty easy to get hooked into some sort of competitive thing with UL gear while sitting behind a VDT. In reality it's not a contest. Weight is like that because it's something quantitative while the more important aspect, enjoyment, is qualitative.

I also think the region you tour in has a whole lot to do with what you pack, if you are being somewhat honest about taking care of yourself and not planning to bail at the first sign of something going sideways.

If I tour the gulf islands during our predictable summer hot spell I could easily do so with only a handlebar bag and one small drybag or day pack. I have an UL sleeping bag, mattress and bivy sack that would fit in the latter and everything else in the former. That's not really rocket science - it's just that one doesn't need much to be comfortable in those conditions.

Flip the script and tour in the shoulder seasons through our mountains and that's not the case. No rain gear? Come on... that will get old after about day 1.5 of our common drizzle. No warm clothes? Be prepared to bail at about the same time. No tent to climb into to get out of the weather? Either impose yourself on others or stay in motels.

I met a young man walking up to the Tunnel Mountain Campground in Banff this fall with no gear at all. He must have read Into the Wild and been inspired. He thought he would just be able to "rent" gear like a tent and sleeping bag at the campsite or just ask around and borrow stuff! I partly admired his moxy but was also irritated by his attitude of careless dependence upon others.

Some people see that as an opportunity to meet others which is true and I will admit my personality may play into being against that sort of thing. I am more an introvert and don't like initially meeting strangers by asking for favours. Also, as a vegetarian it's awkward having people invite you to dine with them only to then say no thanks because the food has meat products in it. So I like to be self sufficient that way too.

The question should not be "how much weight do you carry/not carry"? but more "How does whatever you carry add to your enjoyment while touring"? For me that's a moving target based on the aims of the tour, which is really a vacation on a bicycle. Like the OP, if my aim is to ride long distances and riding the bike is the main focus, UL could add enjoyment. If I am on a holiday with friends or family things like a lantern, cards, a real cookset and a tent may add more enjoyment and I will probably carry more than the others because I am the more capable rider and have the bike for it. If I could get my wife to tour I would carry 2X the gear so she could ride unencumbered! Having her along, even at the cost of carrying twice the gear would add to my enjoyment.

If it's my brother, adding rocks to his panniers while he's not looking would have the same effect.

bikemig 

+ 1.

Ty0604

That's awesome, thank you! I'll check them out. My skin is pretty sensitive but they're cheap enough to ditch if they irritate my skin.