Five day tour across South Korea in the summer. 2 man tent, trangia alchohol stove, summer down sleeping bag, and bulky, self-inflating mattress pad. Worked great. Probably 20-25# of gear.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=271855http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=271856

Later, I spent 5 months cycling across China, Tibet, Nepal, and India with a more traditional 5 bag setup. I loved having the extra space to store several days worth of food and water in an unfamiliar environment, but despised the extra weight and winder resistance going over the himalayas. If I were to do it all again I would have used just the two year panniers and the handlebar bag. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=271857

Zepp,
that 2nd photo became wallpaper, outstanding!

So does anyone else use a Mountainsmith day pack? They are really great at taking the weight off your back and putting it on your hips. Plus no sweaty back.

I used a wingnut, does the same thing. I believe Asana uses a larger version of the pack I use.

Thanks robow! If you want more pics from those trips you can check out my various CGOAB journals!

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/thecyclingvagabond

Inspiring journals.

I used a Camelbak Charge LR 70oz hydration pack AND a North Face Hipster fanny pack when I toured in August. I could not get enough of the North Face Hipster, it's my new riding buddy. Low profile, easy to spin around back to front for access when you stop and need your phone/credit card, and it was super durable. The Charge LR was ok. I needed a way to hold my DSLR, and this fit the bill, but it wore out pretty quick and was very uncomfortable when I had all 70 ounces of water in it, because it would pull the camera's angles against my back. It was not designed for a DSLR. I just put up with the discomfort and eventually ignored it completely, but when I do my next tour, I'll want to come up with a different system.

There's a great chest pack from Clik Elite that looks to hold the camera perfectly for the next tour, and I'll add a slightly larger handlebar bag for food/water. I basically just don't know how my setup will look for the next tour- trial and error will probably iron out most questions.


Those who bikepack with frame bags, how much water can you hold? What's your maximum litres, and where do you put it?

I've never been comfortable riding with stuff on my back, but I did buy one of these to use around town, on hikes or to carry a ukulele in an emergency.

http://www.rei.com/product/799600/se...kable-day-pack

You never know when you may have a need to carry a ukulele in an emergency.

I am real fond of the REI Flash 18 pack, but am curious about the one you linked especially given it very light weight. Is it comfortable with a few pounds in it? Also is the siliconized cordura reasonably durable?

.. my pocket Mandolin, I'd never leave home without it..
stayed in a village in Co Kerry , SW Ireland
an extra week or 2 just to come back to join the pub music sessions with new friends ..

The Sea-to-Summit pack is amazingly light (~2oz) and small when stowed. The material is thin so I'd avoid putting anything with sharp edges in it and the straps are not padded, but they are reasonably wide, and there's no hip belt. So it's ok for around town and to carry emergency stuff, but it's no where near asfunctional as the Flash 18, but a 2oz I wouldn't expect that.

That is all about what I had guessed, but thanks for the verification. I can see myself using one on tour where it is going to be worn less, but probably not if I actually intended to wear it for much of the tour or to even temporarily carry heavy stuff.

At two ounces or so, I would certainly take it if I owned one and decided to leave the Flash 18 at home.

I'm sensing a commonality here - because of inescapable volume constraints, it's exceedingly difficult to go rackless without using a bag you mount on your person.

That said, I've toured with a backpack in the eighties when i was just getting into mountain bike bikepacking tours...once i was able to get all the gear off my back, i never looked back.


However, bmike and asana cycles make the Wingnut packs look very appealing, and i am strongly considering a wingnut/revelate setup for a retro-nouveau bikepacking setup to retrace and expand on some of my early bikepacking trips.

I agree, I would only wear the backpack while riding if it was an emergency. As I don't use a hydration pack, dislike the feeling of weight on my back while riding and I'm not coming at this from a bikepacking perspective where a backpack if standard equipment my default to carry extra stuff is the space I keep spare in the Ortlieb and deploying the longflap. I mostly got it because the Ortlieb isn't that great for carrying around town all day or hiking. I like the Ortlieb's "easy on-easy off" mounting so I can take it into stores, but if I want to walk any distance it's a bit of an odd shape. The bag was also in a clearance bin at REI so I couldn't pass it by.

Yes this is definitely a good assessment of the S2S pack.

We bought two, and have used them a LOT in the past three months (almost), but generally for off-bike stuff, and all day at that. On the bike, they can be a bit sweaty, and nun is right about being careful with boxes with corners and other sharp stuff (even some of the plastic packs food comes in these days have sharp corners).

But with care, it's surprising the amount that will fit in there and the weight it can tote.

I learned a long time ago from a touring friend that having a backpack along is really handy when you need to get to a shop 3 miles away for supplies, or if you want to go off exploring without the bike for a day. I've had several iteration, but the S2S one is the lightest and most convenient so far.

A couple of other notes: The straps are adjustable, but they are thin, and can start digging into my shoulders with a moderate load in the pack. There also is no second pocket as I have had in other larger packs that fold back into this pocket, but in practice this is not a big issue. Stuffing the material into the tiny sack does need some patience and dexterity, and it's best to get the straps in as early as possible; it really is a tight fit.

For my current grocery hauling needs i've been bringing one of those promotional musette bags that gets handed out at bike events.

Weighs less than a fart, folds up to nothing, and carries a good amount.

lots of folks on the TD this year that went backpackless. (and lots of folks fully loaded back and bike.
you are already most of the way there with small and stuffable kit.

i've been choosing to carry mine thus far. i can almost go without... but then its so damned convenient...
i think i will be able to do it when i get a full frame pack. lots of dead space in that frame. and if i swap out my sleeping pad and my bag to something lighter for summer, i could definitely do it.

going out this weekend again. will be chilly in the mountains, and we are on a 'fun' type of trip - so i'll likely be bringing the stove and some extra clothes for exploring a few areas on route on foot.
mostly paved, with some dirt road and a bit of trail in there to where we hope to camp.

i'd still pack one of those sea to summit bags, or similar though, on a longer outing.

I've used the S2S ultra-sil pack on my last two long tours. I use it for excursions/day hikes, grocery getting, and as a stuff sack in my panniers. When used as stuff sack it contains my go-to items that I might need for that particular days riding. I've never needed to use it on my back while riding on tour, although it's available for an overflow situation.

In addition to touring with the pack I use it almost daily as a gym bag or while riding my fixed-speed and wanting to carry something. When only packed with a couple of pounds, I hardly notice it's there. So far I've experienced no negative durability issues, in the year and a half I've owned it.

Next time REI has a sale I'll have to pick one up and see how it works out for me. Compared to my Flash 18 the S2S is 8 ounces lighter, and that is without considering that I would use something lighter for water, saving the weight of the hose, the big heavy cap, and the bite valve. Given that it would probably cut something like 13-14 ounces. That was really pretty substantial since I am already at 10 pounds last trip. With no loss of comfort, I can see an 8 pound trip on the horizon (31 with the bike) with a few of the other adjustments I am thinking about.

For trips where I really want to be able to fill the camel-back bladder with ice I'll stick with the Flash 18.

I sort of regret using ultralight in the title of this thread, it brings along some negative connotations and the idea that anything over some weight is stupid. I admire the ability to really reduce weight and I've looked at numerous youtube videos with guys showing off Tyvek pants and using their poncho as rain gear and shelter, but I'm just not willing to reduce weight and comfort to the extent that is required to be truly ultralight. There's some point where the cycling benefit of a lighter load is offset by the reduced comfort in camp and off the bike. An example would be my sticking with the Carradice Camper over a compression bag. It's possible to strap the compression bag to the saddlebag loops of a Brooks and the seat post, but it's not as stable as the Carradice unless you have some minimal rack like a Bagman. With the Bagman it's stability is good, but I'm still left with the annoyance of having to blindly fish around for stuff in the bag. I don't know if the Relevant saddlebags solve that. The Carradice is 1lb 2 oz heavier than the Viscacha but the Viscacha has less capacity (14L vs 24L ). So I stick with the Carradice for now as the ~1lb penalty I pay is offset by it's better functionality and I don't need to have additional frame bags.

Its all a complex matrix of personal preference, bias, cost and function.......there is an infinite solution set which is why this thread is doing the Energizer Bunny.

i have / had sketches of a carradice style bag made from the same stuff as the bikepacking bags. would have to have someone make it for me.
would be cool. especially with 2 outside pockets like my carradice SQR tour had.
when you look at the volume / weight ratio it helps put things in perspective. at least for me.

i've gone through the following (not all for 'touring', but for rando events, long long day rides, exploring, overnighters, etc.)

full Ortlieb setup, nice, bomber, pretty standard for a world tour or a cross country tour
Ortlieb handlebar bag (still use is on my IF from time to time for rando rides)
Ortlieb seat packs - still in use sometimes on the Fargo or Pugsley of IF, but it doenst' play nicely with my Brooks Swallow.

Carradice SQR Tour - really loved that bag, but it was so damned heavy with the mounting block and steel frame. really nice tough. served many a long day ride / century / dirt road ride into the mountains here.
also was in use on my fixed cross check for around town stuff

Nelson - loved that bag too, hated it in the wet and cold and fumbling with those little leather straps, had it in use with and without the rack
Camper Longflap - whoa, big bag. Used it for a few months, sold it - super big though!

Acorn front bag on a Marks rack (on my IF), never overnighted with this, but used it for some brevets and lots of day rides, and a 24 hour flèche - loved it for easy access - hated the fussy leather and when it got wet. with the seatpack always felt like i was rolling around on a full dresser harley, just needed some tassels...

then i moved into the epic (before he was revelate) stuff. love it. had the rear pack made custom for my IF and cross check at the time (only 4" of seatpost showing on the crosscheck), and eventually made the jump to a fargo.
so much different in terms of camping / overnighting with this stuff than all the other stuff i've used.

getting into and out of the seatpack will likely drive you nuts nun, i try to pack my harness and seatpack with stuff i only need in camp.
which is one of the reasons i added the gas tank and the jerry can - so i can keep daily stuff close at hand
(and why i want to replace the tangle with the full frame bag)


dry bag in harness - sleeping bag and pad
pouch on harness - personal stuff that i want access to on the bike - glass case, food, map, etc.
mountain feedbag - food on bike
gas tank - camera, batteries for lights / headlamp / etc.
jerry can - tums, eye drops, lip balm, sunscreen, ibuprofen, electrolyte drops, aqua mira, lactaid

frame bag (ideal, when i get it, otherwise i spread this between the seatpack and the tangle bag)
hydro bladder and hose (drink on the go)
cook kit
bike tools / spare tire (although i am eyeing a rocket box or old bottle under the downtube for this, if needed, but i'd rather not have it dangling underneath)
first aid kit
bear spray (when needed)
tent poles

seatpack - contrail, clothes, food and or cook kit, etc.

wingnut pack - SPOT, wallet, cell phone, plastic bag for phone / camera / etc., misc layers that i've shed: cycling cap, thin gloves (when needed), vest, arm warmers, etc.; empty hyrdo bladder for cameling up, etc.

yeah, maybe 'lighter weight touring' or something.

You're probably right. I kinda like staehpj1's "Less Encumbered Touring" it has a more positive Zen quality to it.

Downsizing is a word that seems to be a good one for lifestyles, and maybe in this case. It has connotations of removing what you don't need, but keeping what you want, which are two different things.

If you think it important for archive purposes, maybe shoot a PM to the mods and request the title to the thread be changed to suitable wording. They can do that, and it might broaden the appeal of the thread, because there are some really good things in here that people can reference to reduce the weight of their loads.

The references to UL earlier should not be a worry, and if the mods agree, just put an explanatory paragraph in by editing your first post.

Less is More
And the whole of ones kit is greater than the sum of its parts.

How touring with less (weight, gear, etc,) opens the door for more (miles, terrain, fun, etc)
That's the way I look at it.