Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Cheers for the write up & pics Andy. Is that a sawn-off toothbrush you were carrying?

Yes, wouldn't fit it's little ziplock bag in the first aid pouch if I didn't chop it!

What Bivy and size Alpkit bag is that? I'd like to save some space by keep all sleeping stuff in one bag. Currently keeping my Gelert Solo tent and sleeping mat in a 13L Alpkit bag, sitting on the front rack, same as yours. It works well. But then i have to keep my sleeping bag strapped on top, or in my seatbag, taking up space needed for clothes.

Never slept in a Bivy bag. How comfy is it really? You stay dry?

That saddlebag you made looks awesome andytk, props!

Having made something simliar, even with my professional setup i know they can be a bitch.

It's a 13L dry bag with a North Face Kilo bag, Alpkit XL bivvy and Rab silk liner. Squished down it would fit into the 8L version but no room for the jacket/long sleeve baselayer. Plenty of room though using the 13L, maybe room for the jersey when I wasn't wearing it but just strapped it on top. I have an inflatable Alpkit mat too but I'd probably strap that to the fork if I ever actually use it.

The bivvy was fine, it's just the same as being in a mummy-style sleeping bag. Stayed dry all night, no rain this time thankfully. I found it warm enough just wearing bibs, tshirt, jersey, socks and a hat all night, it probably didn't drop below 6degrees though, the other guy thought the ground was too cold though and would have preferred a mat or something. Thankfully the ground was pretty comfy, found some springy but not lumpy grass amidst all the heather and bracken.

That saddlebag you made looks awesome andytk, props!

Having made something simliar, even with my professional setup i know they can be a bitch.

Thanks! Spent a lot of time looking the mini-messenger and day pack of yours to figure out how some bits should be stitched together. Getting ready to try a slightly larger and better supported version over the next couple of weeks...

Thanks! Spent a lot of time looking the mini-messenger and day pack of yours to figure out how some bits should be stitched together. Getting ready to try a slightly larger and better supported version over the next couple of weeks...

what material are you looking at? I'd suggest a 500d PU Nylon. Super tough but also light and plyable

also you have bigger balls than me sleeping on the ground without thermarest!

Bikepacking people, quick question.

I'm awful when it comes to working out volumes and stuff - in the real world, how much is 3 litres?

Looking at these f'rinstance, would I be able to fit, say, a t-shirt, some lightweight shorts and some light foldy shoes into 3 litres?

Buy a bigger one. They weigh nothing and you just roll down the space you don't use.

what material are you looking at? I'd suggest a 500d PU Nylon. Super tough but also light and plyable

also you have bigger balls than me sleeping on the ground without thermarest!

I've got a couple of weights of xpac, was going to use a combination of the heavier weight and 1000d cordura for the 'butt' of it and the lighter weight for the rolling part. Cordura will be fairly minimal, just for reinforcement at contact points with the seat post and saddle rails. Will almost a dead rip-off of the older style Revelate bags to see how things fit before worrying about added attachments or weight saving

I don't know about big balls, I think I've still got a couple of kilos of spare fat left insulating my core...

Ah that's not a bad shout.

I'm guessing the stated length dimension is at max capacity? Looking for something to stick on my road bike for cycling home so needs to carry very minimal stuff and fit between drops.

Bikepacking people, quick question.

I'm awful when it comes to working out volumes and stuff - in the real world, how much is 3 litres?

Looking at these f'rinstance, would I be able to fit, say, a t-shirt, some lightweight shorts and some light foldy shoes into 3 litres?

Could you fit that in a 2L coke bottle? If so you're fine.

Alpkit used to list the packed sizes (more or less) of their bags so you should be able to figure out how bit it is compared to your arm or thigh or something else you have to hand...

I've got a couple of weights of xpac, was going to use a combination of the heavier weight and 1000d cordura for the 'butt' of it and the lighter weight for the rolling part. Cordura will be fairly minimal, just for reinforcement at contact points with the seat post and saddle rails. Will almost a dead rip-off of the older style Revelate bags to see how things fit before worrying about added attachments or weight saving

I don't know about big balls, I think I've still got a couple of kilos of spare fat left insulating my core...

I wanted to have a play with some xpac a while ago, but realistically 500d is superior due to the overall abrasion resistance. It's just so damn expensive it's not worth looking at from a production perspective, especially when 500d exists. It's a supremely underrated fabric that is slowly becoming more and more used. xpac was kind of the ultralite badge of honour (aside from cuben), but people are coming around to the idea of using something that will last a touch longer.

I love the idea of the stuff though, if i was making things just for me, I'd definitely be tempted as long term durability isn't something I really have to worry about on personal bags.

Could you fit that in a 2L coke bottle? If so you're fine.

Alpkit used to list the packed sizes (more or less) of their bags so you should be able to figure out how bit it is compared to your arm or thigh or something else you have to hand...

I just found an Alpkit thing saying they measured 1L storage as eight pairs of socks.

I reckon 24 pairs of socks worth of space should be fine, but as pointed out by psee I may as well get a bigger one and roll it down.

I really want to do a bikepacking overnight trip asap. Does anyone else in the South East want to get in on the action?

Me in august maybe if I can afford to buy some a few little bits by then. But itd need to be cross tyre suitable ;)

I wanted to have a play with some xpac a while ago, but realistically 500d is superior due to the overall abrasion resistance. It's just so damn expensive it's not worth looking at from a production perspective, especially when 500d exists. It's a supremely underrated fabric that is slowly becoming more and more used. xpac was kind of the ultralite badge of honour (aside from cuben), but people are coming around to the idea of using something that will last a touch longer.

I love the idea of the stuff though, if i was making things just for me, I'd definitely be tempted as long term durability isn't something I really have to worry about on personal bags.

I didn't do much research beyond how easy to work with xpac is and what seemed to be 'on trend' at the time. Interesting that the PU Nylon is tougher, will definitely pick up a metre or two next time I get chance and have a play.

Picked up some off-cuts of cuben at the same time as the xpac for peanuts, not used it yet though, it just seems weird!

I just found an Alpkit thing saying they measured 1L storage as eight pairs of socks.

I reckon 24 pairs of socks worth of space should be fine, but as pointed out by psee I may as well get a bigger one and roll it down.

Sounds good, as long as the diameter of the bag isn't a concern then I'd definitely say go for the bigger one for flexibilty. I have 1L and 8L versions, if you want I can fill them up, pop them between some drops and take a picture... drop me a PM if so, I'll forgot to check here before I get to work tomorrow.

I really want to do a bikepacking overnight trip asap. Does anyone else in the South East want to get in on the action?

Me in august maybe if I can afford to buy some a few little bits by then. But itd need to be cross tyre suitable ;)

If you fancy some a-to-b bikepacking I'll be doing London > Manchester at the end of July. Probably roads though.

Andy, that's very kind but don't trouble yourself - I think I'll go 8L anyway - want to chuck it on my mountain bike for some off-road trips too.

Thanks for the help.

Na, wanna use the ECR andy, but thanks anyway.

Reading this thread makes me happy and sad. Happy about the stuff I read, sad that I'm sitting at my desk reading stuff and not out there bikepacking the shit out of it.

Yes, wouldn't fit it's little ziplock bag in the first aid pouch if I didn't chop it!

I buy kid's toothbrushes for trips; the smaller head allows the arm to remain longer, thus adding grip space while keeping the overall dimensions short enough.

lolol

License please.

The bivvy was fine, it's just the same as being in a mummy-style sleeping bag. Stayed dry all night, no rain this time thankfully. I found it warm enough just wearing bibs, tshirt, jersey, socks and a hat all night, it probably didn't drop below 6degrees though, the other guy thought the ground was too cold though and would have preferred a mat or something. Thankfully the ground was pretty comfy, found some springy but not lumpy grass amidst all the heather and bracken.

Think you could keep it up for a week or two?

I think that'd depend on where I was and what the weather was like really...

Thanks to a postponed polo tournament I should be able to get out again in a fortnight, hoping to get 2 or 3 nights depending on how quickly I riding, will probably be a solo effort this time too.