Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

you mean these? https://www.alpkit.com/products/stem-cell-dry-xl https://www.alpkit.com/products/stem-cell-xl

I think I will buy one of the alpkit roll top stem bags. Just trying to decide what size to buy. I guess it’s better to just go for the bigger one?

I wish alpkit had photos of their bags fitted to bikes.

For scale, the regular stem cell will hold a normal cycling bottle. The XL will hold a Brukit.

I actual have a regular in black for sale if you are interested?

I'm interested if you can post to Bristol?

awwwwa yuss

Will send you a pm.

Edit - @lemonade jumped in ahead of me and bought it. You could of atleast waited for me to reply first as it was offered to me.

I'm sorry, doesn't the forum usually work on first come first served? I was looking to get one of these, saw he was selling, so offered to buy it...

If it makes you feel any better I only paid a little less than RRP.

What's the cheapest non-tiny bikepacking saddlebag solution around? I'm planning a long weekend's CC tour to NL with my kid brother this summer; he'll be on his road bike, and I'm trying to divert him from the way of the rucksack.

This is pretty spacious and easy to lash things onto!

I've been quietly impressed with my Roswheel cheapo ebay bag. I haven't really stuffed it yet but I've used it twice a week about 2/3 full for a couple months and have never noticed it whilst riding.

The Alpkit tapered drybag. OK, but isn't as structurally stiff/rigid as more 'standalone' seatpacks (it's designed as an inner bag really).

I've got decent results by:
1) Make sure the narrow end (where it attaches to the seatposts) is really tightly packed. Use small items like socks, pants etc to really fill the space.
2) Stiffen the bottom of the bag. I use my folding bowl for this.
3) Using lots of velcro round the seatpost, going through as much of the daisy chain webbing as I can.

Old Carradice TBH, with the bagman, although I don't know how small your kid brother is.

I've ordered an Alpkit Gnaro as they look pretty impressive for the money, and reckon it should take a compressed sleeping bag so that plus dry bag strapped to seatpost would be enough;

Ta all; I'd have gone for a Carradice (it's what I'll be using), but a bag+support will be £60+, and I think he wants to do this on the cheap (hopefully this will be his gateway drug trip into touring...)
I'd wondered about the Alpkit drybag, but the Roswheel bags also look within his budget - did you get the waterproof or the regular saddlebag @mrJL ?

I got the 8-10 litre normal one for £25

The Lomo saddlebags is really good for the money. Made of pretty heavy duty dry bag material and has stiffened panels on the sides. Plus a fairly okay strap system

Do you reckon it’s worth starting a thread where we lend this gear out? It seems a bit stupid to shell out silly money on all this tat for it to only get a couple weeks use, and it’s not like it’s delicate or anything.

When would you need it?

I got mine off the carradice factory shop on ebay for something like £40 with the sqr block. Have used it for a few months but will soon be commuting by Brompton so going to get a front bag for that and may not need carradice any longer. Fwiw it's absolutely fantastic, swallows work laptop and clothes every morning.

yeah, why not. I have the following to borrow for £beer:

1. Revelate Viscacha seat bag (pretty large)
   
2. Revelate size XL frame bag (really large)
   
3. Revelate Sweetroll Medium (medium)
   
4. Wildcat Tiger Drover seat bag harness (pretty larger)
   

No, because I'm subbed to this one and don't need to be subbed to another one to find out if someone needs a bit of kit I could loan out. :P

Just get a cheap small front rack adapted to the back - stronger and cheaper and more useful than specific supports.

The Gower trip was awesome btw. I probably managed to cycle 80% of it, and 90% would be possible if you are fitter/ better at mountain biking /less heavily loaded. The views were constantly sensational and I had non stop sunshine. Would totally recommend this route. Although I will be happy if I never again have to carry a bike up a steep sand dune.

Friendly horses everywhere too.

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I like the idea of this. Also happy to lend stuff out and it would make me happy that the stuff is being used instead of staring at me from the corner of my room

1. Revelate Viscacha (with tapered alpkit drybag)
   
2. Revelate full frame bag
   

3. Roadrunner Jammer
   The above is pretty much my go to kit now. I use the tapered drybag as it's easy to stuff everything in it the right shape then just slide it into the revelate.

4. Apidura half frame bag

5. various feedbags.

Excellent, i'm glad you enjoyed!