Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

Bike Packing: Pro Vs. Enthusiast

Picture this: You’ve driven into the beautiful, sprawling deserts of southern Utah ready to head off for 4.5 days with only your bike, a buddy, and what you can both carry in. You’ve decided to bike pack The Swell, a famous area just outside Capitol Reef National Park. Your stomach is flipping with excitement, the sun is forcing you to squint at the swatches of sand that lie before you and you realize you have no idea what you’re doing. Good thing you found this blog post! We’re here to tell you exactly what a seasoned cyclist/bike packer and an amateur took on this exact same journey. The two you’re about to read about took 4.5 days to complete the “Stonehouse Lands Loop”. To be clear, this is not the easiest or most popular route, but an adventure to be had nonetheless. (If you’re looking for something a little easier, they recommend the “A Swell Night Out” Loop.) Meet James: A seasoned cyclist who has been commuting on the streets of Milwaukee and Minnesota, all year round, for over 17 years strictly by bike. He also had ~10 years of bike packing experience.

James brought:

SEATPOST BAG: SLEEPING BAG, SLEEPING PAD, PAJAMAS OVEJA NEGA TOP FRAME BAG: ELECTRONICS, MULTI TOOL, RX REAR FRAME CAGES X2: 1.5L WATER EACH GAS TANK TOP TUBE BAG: SNACKS OVEJA NEGRA FRAME BAG: RAIN GEAR, EXTRA SNACKS, PHONE REVELATE HANDLEBAR WRAP: TENT, FLY, DYNAMO HUB LOWER BOTTLE CAGE: GRAYL WATER FILTER 1ST BLACKBURN OUTPOST CAGE W/ SALSA DRYBAG: SNOW PEAK ULTRA LITE MAX STOVE, 4OZ FUEL, TOWEL, 1.6L STANLEY STAINLESS STEEL COOKER, LIGHTER, LAUNDY 2ND BLACKBURN OUTPOST CAGE W/ SALSA DRYBAG: ENERGY GELS, 4 DAYS OF FOOD (DOUBLED AS A LAUNDRY BAG AT END) SURLY 24 PACK RACK IN FRONT W/ SURLY PORTER PETIT 20L: MORE CLOTHES,CROCS, 2 BIKE TUBES, EXTRA STRAPS, TRASH BAG BOTTOM RIGHT OF RACK: FLAT REPAIR KIT, CHAINLINKS, BOLTS, ZIP TIES BLACK DIAMOND BACKPACK: 2.5L WATER, SNACKS, TRASH, WINDBREAKER Meet Eric: Eric has been bike commuting for nearly a year now in SLC and was no stranger to smaller rides back in Milwaukee. He’s been a biking enthusiast for years and brought valuable years of backpacking experience to the table, but bikepacking is a fairly new feat.

Eric brought:

ORTLIEB 16L SEATPACK: CLOTHING/SNACKS SALSA FRAME BAG: 3L WATER, 2 NIGHTS OF FOOD, 4 DAYS OF SNACKS, BATTERY PACK, CHARGERS RELEVATE TOP TUBE BAG: PHONE, CHAPSTICK, SUNSCREEN 2 REI FEED BAGS: 1L OF WATER (IN EACH), KNIFE, TRASH 14 L HANDLEBAR ROLL: TENT, SLEEPING QUILT, MORE SNACKS, FLASHLIGHT, TOILETRIES 1 SALSA "ANYTHING CAGE" W/ ULTRALIGHT SEA TO SUMMIT BAGS AND VELO STRAPS: SLEEPING BAG LINER, SLEEPING PAD, PILLOW RELEVATE JOEY DOWN TUBE BAG: MULTI TOOL, ELECTRICAL TAPE, SEALANT, CHAIN LUBE, STRIPS OF BACON, AIR PUMP, 2 TUBES 2 SALSA CAGES W/ LIGHTWEIGHT SEA TO SUMMIT BAGS: BOILING POTS, POCKET ROCKET, 4OZ FUEL CANISTER, SPORK, CAMP TOWEL, LIGHTER, 2 MORE DAYS OF FOOD, COFFEE FOR ALL 4.5 DAYS. ULTIMATE DIRECTION RUN VEST: 2L WATER, WATER FILTER, QUICK LAYERS, MORE SNACKS We hope this list finds a way to help you out on your first, next, or 100th bike packing trip! As always, stay vigilant on weather and don’t underestimate the sun in desert environments or at higher altitude. Until next time be safe, have fun, and we’ll see you out there! Finola McDonald thinks bios are really hard but here is her best go: Finola is a runner, a writer, a climber, snack enthusiast, cat mom, and city lifer turned nature lover who loves getting people outside. She is a firm believer that time in Earth’s wild spaces is time best spent and we need it more than ever. She hopes by sharing her passion for our planet and outdoor recreation, she can convince others of the same. In her free time, you can find her touching cool rocks, running around SLC and the Wasatch, and trying her hardest to leave this earth better than when she entered it. Follow us on Instagram + Facebook: Tag us @geartrade with the hashtag #unnewoutdoor #wearitout on your post or story for a chance to be featured on our page.

Have Spring & Summer gear to sell? Get cracking.

Spring is here. Have Tents, Sleeping bags, Hike & Camp gear, or Bike gear? Now is the time to sell them. It is now easier than ever to sell your gear on Geartrade. With our new Consignment Selling option you can finally reclaim your gear closet. Send it in. We take care of the rest. Geartrade is Climate Neutral Certified