Bike Packing Essentials

Want to escape from the world on your mountain bike? Then you'll be needing these...

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There is no feeling in the world like leaving on a bike packing trip. Slamming the door on a car you know you won’t be seeing again for several days, immersing yourself in a world only dreamt about from your desk.

Travelling with the minimum of kit to keep you comfortable is a challenge in itself and needs careful choices but, luckily for this generation of adventurers, there are a few companies now supplying ‘off the peg’ adventure gear.

UK-based Alpkit has been specialising in light weight backpacking gear for years but has recently turned its focus to bike packing-specific gear too.

Big-hitters like Specialized have realised the potential of this growing niche, with its excellent range of luggage now available from local dealers. Between the two of them you can fully kit yourself out. We cleared their shelves and went feral for a few days.

01 ALPKIT PIPEDREAM 400 SLEEPING BAG

Rated down to around -4°C, the 400 is an excellent compromise bag for autumn through to spring in the UK. If the temperature drops below freezing we find wearing a few more layers to bed helps get a comfy night. The hydrophobic down used helps when conditions are damp. Pretty much always, then. £200, alpkit.com

02 ALPKIT NUMO SLEEPING MAT