Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

I’ve never tried the SQR I’m afraid so couldn’t say

I think the SQR holds the bag much more rigidly. There is very little sway as the bags have a metal frame that hooks into the SQR at a couple of points

I like the Carradice options because reasons, but whatever you get I would just leave it on the bike and use an appropriately sized nylon shopping bag to take with me when I leave the bike.

Nice one. This is looking like it could be the solution.

Just need to decide between the SQ Slim and Tour now. As I don't use a laptop or carry files I reckon the Tour is the way to go. Side pockets for a race cape and tools sounds ideal.

Surely the whole point of the SQR is that you clip it on and off the bike though?

I should have been more specific, was talking about the original series.

You can use the original Carradice bags with an SQR too. It hangs like it's mounted on the saddle but you can get it a little higher and obviously is removable.

Right, but I find it faster and less dependent on hardware that fatigues over time to use the leather straps and a light extra bag.

One thing to consider is the amount of seatpost you have. The Slim can fit in a smaller gap than the Tour (although likely not an issue either way).

I have a fair amount of seatpost showing so reckon I should be ok

idiot edit

Sat on my sleeping stuff between the rhine and a party with very loud bad music with a lot of others going to ride bikepacking trans Germany tomorrow.
So far it's nice.
https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/btg18/

I'd love to fit a rack either on the front (support for sleeping back and mat) or back (paniers) of my road bike. Sadly, the little guy does not have eyelets and it's made of aluminium with carbon forks.

I've been told p-clips were king – though how do you pick the right ones? Trial and error?

At the risk of asking a simple question with a dozen conflicting answers, what's my best bet for a saddlepack? Want to do a couple of weekend rides off-road this summer. Need something big enough for a coat and hat, some flip-flops, a bivvy and a charging pack for phone/Garmin. Nothing massive.

Any recommendations?

Also, if I see minimum temps of 14 degrees overnight will I be OK wearing a wooly hat and thin puffa jacket over bibs and jersey, inside an Alpkit bivvy on a half-length roll-mat? Or will I shiver all night? I have a sleeping bag but it's massive and weighs a couple of KG so don't really want to take it anywhere.

I like my Revelate Viscacha. It's big but having capacity doesn't mean you have to use it.
There are cheaper options available that work too.

Everyone copes with different temps differently. 14 seems toasty to me.

I think that's the one that @amey has - I borrowed it on a ride down to Brighton and it seemed good. Does anyone stock those in London? I could throw a pair of trackie bottoms in as well I suppose. Looks like min temp in Glasgow will actually hit 11 degrees overnight.

Restrap innit.

Has anyone done a small dyi handlebar bag like a Outershell or similar?

Thanks.

Anyone have the 4.5L Apidura expedition compact frame pack? I have the smaller one but keen to know how much more you can in the 4.5L version. Would love to see a kit list if anyone has one...

Alpkit bivvy, silk bag liner and roll-mat, all fit nicely in an Alpkit drybag and strap to the bars - pretty solid and doesn’t move when you shake the bars. Have also ordered a Revelate saddle bag from Bike24 - but it almost certainly won’t get here before the weekend. Tried to order from Charlie but it wouldn’t accept Monzo.

Bit stuck now - definitely going to do the Dorset ride the weekend after next but I don’t think I’ll have the bag in time to do a Glasgow ride this weekend.

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I like hammocking. But I use a mat in the hammock for comfort, as I’m a side sleeper.

Did you ever try a therma neo air x lite mat? Works for me.

I pop one of these in my hammock:
https://www.alpkit.com/products/numo

Packs down nice and small.

Cheap = tapered dry bag (Alpkit/Restrap/Wildcat) and a heavy duty bungee strap. (If it works for Sean Conway!?)

Middle = Restrap, very well made, 15% off for forumers and made in the UK no less.

Spendy = revelate would seem to have the forum seal of approval, I’m sure almost anything in the revelation/apidura price bracket is aqequately overbuilt for what most of us are ever going to do.

I posted in the sleeping bag thread the other day, there's a very similar thing in Lidl at the moment for £18, 500g. Probably perfect for warm hammock camping.

Is that the 13 or the 20?