Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Saw some of the Miss Grape kit in Soho Bike at lunchtime - looks really well made and perhaps a bit more rugged than Apidura.

If it's an inconvenience please don't put yourself out. Just thought I'd share the code here in case anyone else was considering the Restrap stuff and hadn't seen the code.

what are peoples tent recommendations? looking for something thats relatively cheap and will fit 2 people. and obviously needs to pack down fairly small as its for bike packing.

Haven't done any yet but piecing together the kit to be able to as i'd like to get a little trip sorted for this summer.

come to think of it any gear recommendations are good!

MSR Hubba series is top notch

I really like my hoolie 2

For 2 people bike touring I think you really want a 3 man. Once again I suggest the Coleman cobra 3 as a good balance between price/weight/quality.

The naturehikes are good as well, lighter but not as well made.

Don't know who your second person is. Me and @Jules already told you we ain't sleeping with you. Get looking at a 1 man.

Nah it's fine-worked out a few quid more but with a couple of nice matchy matchy drybags that the Wiggle offer didn't cover.

Wiggle order arrived today tho; s'nice, but pricey... like all the best bits are.

Yeah we have our own tent

Recommend the Naturehike lightweight offerings on aliexpress. Think I got my two man for about £70. Not much over a kilo. Not sure how long lasting it will be, but it's managed about 12 days last summer and still looks like new.

I broke mine, the ring that the pegs connect to broke. However, thats because @Hulsroy and I were both in it and neither of us are what you'd call small - our combined shoulder width over stretched the tent a bit. . I think he's making me a replacement soon which will be better than the Alu one it came with.

I recommend the tent thread: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/148457/

The issue is actually not the ring but the hollow threaded studs in the end of the poles. They are made of shitty alu and too thin walled.
And also don't call me fat :(

don't call me fat :(
Powerful, sorry.

Thanks for the explanation.

Lol

I'll take some photos of the fix so others might do the same to their tent

I've got to say, I have the small Restrap framebag and its superb....quality is easily up there with revelate, without the cost, and made in Britain, if that sort of thing bothers you!
Almost Scotland, but Britain none the less! 👍

Can anyone identify the framebag in this pic? Looking for a bag of similar size...

Looks like the bag I, err my missus washes bras in.

Hello Folks!
I'm leaving my hometown in a few days for an Italian Divide (on the road tarmac, btw).
I struggled to find any aero bars bag. Any tips? TY!

Google

Zipp Vuka Alumina or Profile clip on aerobars

I'm already using deda aerobars since years. I'm looking for a bag ...

I missed 'bag'.

Handlebar roll bag? Or a feedbag?

^no prob!
I would ideally love anything around 5-6 liters capacity.

Just got my Restrap order and had a chance to fit it/get a better look at it.

From the drybags to the holster there's no comparison to Alpkit-such good quality of stitching and fitting. The holster is really easy to fit and has nice solid 2" straps over seatpost instead of shitty 1" webbing jobbys that stretch-the holster itself is solid and has no give so won't end up scraping off your back wheel every time you hit a bump then need swathed in inner tubes to try to hold it in place. Medium frame bag is perfect for my 54cm Wolverine-nice and snug to the front triangle but leaces about 3" at the rear for bottle access. Bar holster is equally easy to fit and has optional straps for tying to headtube for lumpier stuff, again-it's solid and isn't going to flap about or anything. I don't think the width of my Cowbells will allow me to use the full 14litres of the drybag but still plenty to squish in there.

Some people give bikepacking grief (@Skülly!) but if done this way with well designed and constructed kit instead of having flimsy, insecure and over stuffed bags then you're getting a really good compromise between minimal, aero packing for more spartan touring that won't overburden you and using panniers that inevitably get the kitchen sink flung in them and feeling like you're a packhorse.

Will be keeping my panniers for longer/easier trips but definitely looking forward to using the Restrap kit for shorter/faster/offroad tours.

I got my custom Restrap bag last week. I'll have to give @skinny his bag soon. Need to get missus to scrub it clean first.. it's mud, honest guv...