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Starting out in the morning and not yet knowing where you will be in the evening - what may be a horror for some people has an irresistible appeal for others. Of course Multi-day tours by mountain bike You can also plan from hotel to hotel, hut to hut or couch to couch. However, the full adventure experience of a multi-day tour only materialises when bikers do not stay indoors for at least 24 hours.
Biking outside, sleeping outside: on a campsite or even somewhere in the wilderness (if the law allows it). A bikepacking tour with an overnight stay outdoors belongs on every mountain biker's bucket list. Of course, it wouldn't be an adventure without important questions: Where to sleep? How to cook? What to drink? Fortunately, the market has all kinds of Practical helpers in the form of bikepacking equipment ready.
I only take the essentials with me. Ideally, you don't even notice the equipment. Low weight, versatility and small pack size are ideal when travelling on trails with bags. - Mathias Marschner, TrailXperience
Bikepacking to the million-star hotel
Even the most beautiful camping spot is worth little without overnight accommodation. Wet, cold, wind and midges can quickly turn a bikepacking trip into a survival experience. Exhausted bikers cool down particularly quickly on the bare ground. A sleeping mat and sleeping bag are therefore essential for any overnight stay in the open air. However, the form of weather protection is up to each biker. It doesn't always have to be the classic tent. Other overnight accessories can also be carried on a bikepacking tour thanks to their small pack size and low weight. These four types of mini-hotels promise sweet dreams.
1. tarp
Lightweight, stowable and versatile: a tarp is the simplest weather protection with a guaranteed supply of fresh air. If there are no trees nearby, the tarp can also be stretched between two bikes. For example Quechua Fresh. 39.99 Euro >> available here.
2. bivouac sack
This maximally minimalist accommodation is very popular with adventurers, as it requires nothing but a small piece of flat ground to spend the night. Good models are not only waterproof, but also breathable. The bulge in the head space makes it easier to breathe. For example, The North Face Futurelight Bivy. 249.95 Euro >> available here.
3. hammock
Sleep light and airy with less than a kilo of weight - your bikepacking bags won't fill up too much thanks to this travel hammock. An additional tarp provides rain protection and an insect net keeps uninvited guests away. Hanging points can be found almost everywhere. Tip for more insulation from below: Insert an insulating mat. ENO Sky Lite Hammock. 219.95 Euro >> available here.
4th tent
The classic for outdoor sleepers offers wind, water and privacy protection. One-person models weighing around two kilos also have some space for luggage and can be set up quickly and self-supporting. For example the Nordisk Svalbard 1 PU. 249.95 euros >> available here.
I travelled with the Nordisk Svalbard 1 PU for two months on a bikepacking trip through France and Spain. During this time, the small tent, squeezed into the saddlebag, didn't get much love. The incessant April rain put a permanent strain on the outer tent and, at 1.90 metres tall, I had just enough room to lie down. I was absolutely convinced by the incredibly quick pitching with just two magnetic poles and the high wind protection, which allowed me to sleep peacefully even on the stormy peaks of the Pyrenees. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor
From making a fire to cooking: Equipment for your bikepacking adventure
Cooking system: Primus Lite Plus Feed Zone
Especially for bikepacking adventures Primus has developed a Cooking system in the range, which can be stowed away to save space. The pot sits directly on the cooker with the aid of a bayonet lock. The integrated heat exchanger ensures particularly economical gas consumption. 149.95 euros >> available here.
Saddle bag: Deuter Cabezon SB 16
Deuter promises fast loading and unloading thanks to the waterproof and compressible pack sack - also known as the arse rocket or kebab bag. The roll closure and air valve make it easy to reduce the load to the smallest possible pack size. A robust Velcro fastener ensures a secure fit, even on carbon seat posts. 130 Euro >> available here.
Pot: Sea To Summit X-Pot
Foldable cooking pots are the revolution for self-catering bikepackers, as they fit easily into a frame bag or rucksack. The food-safe 1.4-litre silicone pot with aluminium base can cook 250 grams of pasta in no time at all. A colander is integrated into the lid. 59.95 euros.
Hand chainsaw: Nature is Adventure
This manual mini chainsaw will help you clear a trail of dead wood or procure firewood for your campfire. Small and inexpensive, it is a useful addition to any survival kit. Sawing is particularly easy with two people. 19,99 Euro >> available here.
Insulation mat: Thermarest Z Lite Sol
Anyone who is tired of patching up air sleeping mats should take a closer look at this unbreakable model. Thanks to the interlocking segments, the pack size remains compact and more body heat is retained thanks to the reflective coating. At less than 400 grams, it is also unbeatably light. 64,95 Euro >> available here.
Drinking bottle: Quell Nomad
In summer, the water supply on a multi-day tour is a core element of any planning. With Quell's filter technology, bikers can start their adventure without any worries, as it removes 99.9 per cent of all bacteria and viruses from the bottled water. Simply top up and refuel. A test of this drinking bottle will be available here shortly. 39,95 Euro >> available here.
Sleeping bag: Vaude Selun 800
Only well-rested bikers are fit for the next bikepacking adventure after a long day. The importance of a good sleeping bag should therefore not be underestimated, despite all the weight. With a comfort temperature of five degrees, the Vaude stays nice and cosy even on cool summer nights in the mountains. 220 Euro >> available here.
Gas cookers and the like take a whole load of equipment with them. That's why I personally like to simply make a snack. But I don't want to do without my red mini Bialetti. - Ines Thoma, enduro and bikepacking pro
Jan Timmermann
Editor
