A Complete Bike Touring Gear Guide and Kit List
If you’re planning your very first cycle touring trip, the thought of packing may seem daunting. What bike should you bring? What’s all this gear you need? How will you carry it all?
Everything listed below is what I took with me on my London to Istanbul tour. It saw me comfortably for those three months across Europe and fit into two front and two rear bike panniers.
At its heart, bike touring is all about minimalism and simplicity. The mantra of “it’s better to have it and not need it” is not the way to go. You need to be selective with what you bring, as you’re the one who must grind the weight of your luggage up those hills! I learnt this the hard way, and so have omitted some non-essentials that I took with me from this bike touring gear guide.
Arguably, you don’t need half the stuff I’m going to mention, but it’ll certainly make your journey more comfortable. So without further ado, here’s my complete bike touring gear guide and packing list!
The bike itself (obviously)
Touring bikes are specifically designed for long-distance, weight-bearing cycling. They have a longer wheelbase than regular bikes, providing more stability and comfort while carrying a load, and have several attachment points for racks and bags.
When choosing a touring bike, you’ll want to think about the demands of your ride, such as the type of terrain you’ll be riding on, how much gear you’re planning to take, and how long your ride will be. The answers to these questions will ultimately affect which bike would be perfect for your tour.
That being said, you don’t necessarily need a touring bike. If you already own a lightweight yet sturdy bike that has rack mounts and the ability to carry your load, is comfortable, and has decent tyres, you’ll most likely be fine. I cycled from London to Istanbul using a hybrid from Trek, for example.
To be perfectly honest, a touring bike can be any bike. Or almost any bike, at least. It completely depends on the sort of ride you’ll be undertaking. If you’ll be going off-road or riding on gravel, you’ll want a bike with wider tyres. If you’re planning to stick exclusively to roads, then a sturdy road bike could work, though you’ll want wider tyres to accommodate your weight load and inevitable off-road detours.
If you’re planning to circumnavigate the world on your bike, a dedicated touring bike really is the best option.
I have a whole blog post on choosing a bike for your tour, if you’re keen to learn more.
Some good touring bike options include:
Hybrids can also make good touring bikes:
Pannier racks
Choosing a pannier rack for your bicycle is about as exciting as watching paint dry, but strong racks are essential when preparing for a long-distance bicycle tour. You’ll be clipping your panniers and bike bags onto them so they need to be hard-wearing and capable of carrying your luggage.
Every bike is different, and there are many variables to consider when choosing your racks:
- Does your bike have disc brakes or rim brakes? Your rack might need extra clearance if you have disc brakes.
- Does your bike have mounts to attach the back rack to, or will you need to use clips?
- Does the rack give you plenty of heel clearance? Essential if you want to be able to pedal when the panniers are attached!
You’ll also want to consider the material your racks are made from:
- Aluminium: very lightweight but less durable.
- Chromoly: heavier than aluminium but durable and strong.
- Steel: heavier than chromoly but very durable and can be welded if they break.
- Titanium: lightweight but expensive.
Make sure to check your wheel size and dimensions to get the one best suited to your bike. If you don’t know much about bikes, I’d advise getting racks fitted at your local bicycle shop.
Panniers and bike bags
Panniers and bike bags are where you’re going to store all your gear, and they’ll sit on your pannier racks.
Ortlieb is one of the most popular pannier and bike bag brands as their bags are known for being waterproof and durable. That being said, Ortlieb isn’t the cheapest at £100+. You certainly don’t need to fork out for Ortliebs, but it’s worth getting good quality, waterproof panniers that will last.
If you’ll be camping on your tour, you’ll likely need front panniers as well as back panniers, because camping and cooking gear can take up a lot of space. If you’ll be staying in hotels or similar on your tour, you may be able to get away with only back panniers. It all depends on how much gear you’ll be carrying.
I currently use these back panniers from BTWIN and they serve me very well. They’re waterproof, durable and have plenty of space.
I also used some cheapo front panniers from Aldi which, quite frankly, sucked, and they broke very quickly. This is why it’s worth investing in some good-quality panniers.
Some great options for panniers include:
Bike gear
Don’t forget to bring a helmet, a bike lock, a repair kit and tail lights! You’ll also want to consider the tyres and saddle fitted to your bike.
Tyres
Good quality tyres are key for a smooth ride. For bike touring, you want a tyre with high durability and puncture resistance to minimize your chances of having issues while you’re on the road. As a rule of thumb, a wider tyre generally makes for a more comfortable ride. A little bit of grip is helpful too so you can handle gravel and other off-road surfaces you might encounter. On the other hand, more volume and more grip mean a slower ride, so you want to find a balance that works for you.
Saddle
The ideal saddle will vary from person to person, depending on your body geometry and what’s comfortable for your shape. Finding a comfortable saddle is essential though, as you’ll be sitting on it for hours each day!
Many cyclists swear by Brooks Saddles. When properly “broken in,” they mould to the shape of your butt and flex with your body’s movement. However, they can feel very hard and uncomfortable until they’re broken in, so you’ll need time to get used to it. As one Reddit user said: “they form nicely to your bum and begin to feel like a well-worn shoe, making them very comfortable.”
I personally found Brooks Saddles a bit too expensive, however, and opted for a more cushioned saddle with an anatomical cutout. Saddles with anatomical cutouts are great for women as they relieve pressure from our lady parts.
Bike repair kit
A flat tyre or two is inevitable on long-distance tours, so you’ll need to be prepared and able to deal with this. While most towns have bike shops to help with repairs, you’ll most likely ride long stretches between towns and don’t want to be caught out.
At the minimum, you’ll want to bring:
- Spare inner tube(s)
- Patch kit
- Multi-tool for tightening anything that comes loose and for adjusting things
- Tyre pump
- Chain oil
Camping gear
For bike touring camping gear, you can afford to carry a little more weight than you would if you were hiking, but it’s still best to keep the weight of your luggage as low as possible.
If you’re travelling in a duo, you’ll be able to share the load here. You only need one tent and one stove etc.
Here are some of the basics you’ll need for camping while bike touring:
Tent: You’ll want to pay close attention to the weight when choosing a tent. A lightweight tent like the Vango Banshee 200 works great for bike touring. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s quick and easy to pitch, too!
Sleeping bag: Sleeping bags can be large and bulky, so you’ll want to weigh up the size of the bag with the weather conditions of where you’ll be touring. A compact, lightweight sleeping bag like the Vango Ultralite Pro 200 would be perfect in the summer. If it’s going to be colder, you’ll need something heavier yet warmer.
Sleeping mat: I used and loved this Forclaz mat as it was comfortable, lightweight and easy to inflate, deflate and transport. It also came in a waterproof bag.
Travel pillow: I usually just fold up a jumper and use that as a pillow, but it would certainly be more comfortable to use an actual pillow! I will be using this inflatable pillow from Forclaz for my next bike tour.
Portable stove and gas cylinder: I love the MSR PocketRocket Ultralight Stove. Remember that you can’t fly with a gas cylinder, so you’ll have to pick one up at your destination if you’re flying to the start of your tour. Don’t forget matches or a lighter so you can light your stove!
Plates and cutlery: You can’t go wrong with the Sea to Summit Delta Camp Set.
Clothing
When packing for a bike touring trip, you’ll want to bring lots of layers and versatile pieces that work together. Remember that you can wash clothing by hand and laundromats may also be available, depending on where you’re touring. In Europe, every campground I stayed at had a sink so I could hand wash my clothes, and some had coin-operated washing machines, too.
You’ll no doubt have days off the bike to do some sightseeing, so it’s nice to bring non-cycling clothing as well. I personally wouldn’t want to walk around a city in my cycling pants!
Here is a list of recommended clothing for bike touring:
2 cycling shorts: You’ll want some good quality cycling pants/shorts with a padded backside, as these will be the most comfortable to ride in for hours each day.
4 tops: It’s a good idea to have your chest and shoulders covered when you’re outside for hours every day, so breathable t-shirts are probably your best bet.
Non-cycling pants/shorts: For lounging at camp in the evening and for sightseeing, it’s nice to have something a little looser so you’re not constantly wearing cycling shorts.
Long sleeve layer: A moisture-wicking long-sleeve layer is great for covering up your arms when you’re outside most of the day, or if the mornings are a little fresh.
Jumper/fleece: For when it gets chilly!
Waterproof jacket: Essential – it’s better to have a waterproof and not need it than to need it and not have it!
Gloves: Gloves will protect you from cold mornings and will also help prevent scraping up your hands in the case of a fall. Padded gloves also help to prevent cyclist palsy and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Hat: It’s a good idea to protect your face from the sun.
Sandals: Taking off your shoes at the end of a long day of cycling is a wonderful feeling, and it’s nice to slip into a pair of flip-flops or sandals while relaxing at camp.
Shoes: One pair of comfortable shoes that you can ride in, hike in, and spend a day sightseeing in.
5x underwear/socks: Depends on the length of your trip of course, but I’d bring a maximum of 5 pairs of each as you can always wash them.
Miscellaneous
Not all of the following are necessary; it entirely depends on you!
- Passport
- Wallet and money
- Refillable water bottle(s)
- Day pack
- Head torch
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Soap and shampoo
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Hairbrush and hair ties
- Quick-dry travel towel
- Portable battery pack(s) to charge electronics
- Camera
- Maps
And there you have it, your complete guide on what to pack for a bike tour!
More cycling guides 🚲
- Check out my Cycle Touring Hub for all my cycling content
- How to plan your first long-distance bike tour
- How to choose a touring bike
- Best panniers for touring
- Best tents for touring
- How to fly with a bike
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About The Author
Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger who writes about active adventure travel. She’s been blogging for almost 10 years, and has written for publications such as Lonely Planet, World Nomads, and Southeast Asia Backpacker.
