Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Most important thing is I don't have my bike nicked, while I'm sleeping or shopping or eating in a cafe, or on the toilet. Not sure where I'll be or for how long, so while I'm sure in rural France nobody steals and everybody loves their mum I'll prefer the added security.

After a moment of hesitation I locked my bike outside the train station office in tiny village in the north of France early on a Sunday morning. Got out a few minutes later and had to chase a teenager making off with my tent. Unlikely but still possible.