Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Saw this and thought it was a bit smart

https://flic.kr/p/ratsYp

Any recommended wheels for a 29” touring rig? I’m lightweight myself but tend to carry 30 kg of gear. My OEM wheels are equipped with a standard 11s body and I’m thinking about upgrading group set to a 12s SLX. Basically looking for a 30 mm inner width, boost spaced 29” wheels at around 600€. Advice much appreciated.

@spj7 was suggesting something here: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/368139/#comment16187910
ofc these are low budget considering yours but mind having a look if they have premium wheels as well.

Still gonna get some serious tyre buzz on that bag!

I have interest only in that one of the founders/inventors is a friend. I tested it for them on the Badger Divide and helped out a bit with some filming. I really like it, much better for easy access/carrying multiple separate bags while bikepacking. Never liked bar rolls etc as they are even worse than saddle bags for getting things in and out. I had a mid sized sleeping bag, tent poles and other crap strapped to it. Very stable and you can still use the tops.

Neza at Whathappenedoutdoors

I build something similar for a tour some years back to carry a big sleeping bag with a shit handlebar harness. Worked pretty well. The straps to hold it in place is a good call. I have been following them on Instagram and might just get one.

Ooo neat. Love those dead simple solutions!

A little bigger than you're after but I've found these dry bags from Lomo really hard wearing:
https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/dry-bags-uk-info_354.html#SID=117

Jack the rack is up... already smashed the target in a couple of hours.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/milesgibbons/jack-the-bike-rack

Looks good, but waiting til May next year is a bummer. Maybe the Nitto F-16 could be a substitute https://ebay.us/CXhc4K

I have one, I may stick it on eBay!

Apols for the weight weenie madness, but...how many grams?

Just weighed it without the strap or bungees and it was 674g

Edit - just updated the weight, it wasn’t entirely on the scale. I think they have it on the Kickstarter page.

I thought you meant you had the Nitto!

Ha, no. I have the Jack, complete in the box. I don't know all the details, but it's not one of these kickstarters where they need the money to fund development, it's all been planned out and ready to go I think.

Let us know if you ebay it, I might bid!

Just weighed it without the strap or bungees and it was 674g

The Jack seems rather heavy at 700g ("including retention strap, 'M' load strap, material base and 31.8mm spacers"). A classic Blackburn EX1 rear rack is 535g and rated to carry 18.2kg.

And the Tubus Fly weighs 420gms and is also rated for 18kg.
Without retention strap of course, which it doesn’t require.

I reckon I could knock one up from bits of carbon fibre. 150 grams or so.

It probably could have been made from aluminium in order to make it lighter, but I’m sure they had their reasons for using stainless steel. For one, I don’t think weight weenies are the target audience.

Also, I don’t think comparing rear racks with multiple anchor points to new design of a front rack is particularly relevant.

Rear rack breaks, skid to a stop, happy happy fun times.
Front rack falls off you might be crawling around the dirt looking for your teeth.
Take the steel option, or two. If pain persists contact your doctor.

Ta. I was looking at then but only saw 3 packs. If I can find one that's the same length as the Big River but a bigger diameter I could be on a winner. The Big River worked well but it would be nice to make the packing less fussy. I still need to find a solution for the stem and aerobar bolts rubbing holes. We just got back from An Turas Mor and I used a crisp packet in front of the stem, after we saw rub marks on day one.

They might be a bit tall at 29cm (not sure if that's rolled or open though).
The Big River just fits with enough room for me to ride the tops and it's 29cm/22cm open/closed (1 roll only)

You know you've made it when you have bikepacking kit named after you...
https://www.beerbabe.co.uk/ourshop/prod_7657067-Hippy-Down-Under-Pack.html