Our ultralight bike touring gear list
/<later, we'll add photos and how we divvied up the gear between front and rear bags plus frame bags>
Our basic plan is go as light as we can and to be as self-sufficient as possible. We will bike and sight-see during the day, most nights will be spent camping, and we will cook most of our own meals.
Firstly, these are items that we are NOT taking (but that we frequently get asked about):
- bike racks
- panniers
- bike trailer
Instead, we are going bikepacking style, using drysacks in bags that mount on the saddle and the front handlebars.
This is what we're starting with, based on backpacking experience, and much research:
Shelter and sleep - 72 oz
- Tent - 63 oz split between two -6 moons Lunar Duo Tent + Carbon fiber poles + tyvek ground cloth
- sleeping bag - 22 oz - Mtn Hardware Phantom 32
- stuff sacks -3 oz
- sleeping bag liner - Cocoon silk liner - 4.5 oz
- sleeping pad - Thermarest xlite - 8.2 oz
- pillow - Exped Air 3 oz (not cheap, but love this thing)
Camp essentials - 36 oz
- First aid - 6 oz (split between us)
- trowel - 3.8 oz (split between us)
- TP kit - 3 oz
- Towel - 3 oz
- Toiletries kit - 8 oz
- Gear repair kit - 4 oz
- Dyring line / bear bag line - 3 oz (split between us)
- Headlamp - 3 oz
- spare glasses - 2 oz
- sunglasses + case + interchangeable lenses - 4 oz
- wallet - 1.5 oz
Cooking & water - 16 oz
- Water filter - 3 oz - Sawyer, with 2x2L water containers (split between us)
- Cup - 2 oz - ziplock round screw top container w home made insulation liner
- Bowl - 2 oz - ziplock round screw top container with home made insulation liner
- Caldera Cone Alcohol stove + 0.9L Titanium pot - 12.7 oz (split between us)
- Fuel - 6 oz avg (split)
Biking essentials - 64 oz
- Multitool - 2.7 oz
- Pump - 8 oz
- tire fix kit - 4 oz
- 2 spare tubes - 12 oz
- lights - 6 oz
- lock - 15 oz
- chain oil - 3 oz
- water bottles - 6 oz
- chamois cream - 3 oz
- on-the-bike food - 4.5 oz avg
Electronics and extras - 25 oz
- Solar charger - Instapark Mercury 10 - 16 oz
- USB battery charger - Instapark 5200 mAh - 4.9 oz
- iPhone - 3 oz
- camera - Wifi hotspot Sony with strap to put on my stem for quick on bike access - 11.1 oz
- paper + pencil + eraser in a ziplock - 2 oz
Clothing - on the bike - 28 oz carrying, 50 oz wearing
- 1 jersey to carry, 1 to wear
- cycling gloves
- 1 cycling shorts to carry, 1 to wear
- cycling shoes
- rain jacket - Marmot Essence with hood - 8 oz - ultralight and great for backpacking as well
- rain pants - Marmot Precip with full zip - 10 oz - you can go lighter but opted not to spend money here, already had these for backpacking
- socks - easy wash/dry (wool or synthetic)
Clothing - insulation for on the bike and camp - ~15 oz
- light fleece top (H) or Patagonia Cap 2 zip up - 8 oz
- sun arm covers + knee covers - 3.5 oz
Clothing - off the bike - ~27 oz
- flip flops - crocs - 7 oz
- running shorts - 4 oz
- wool short sleeve shirt - Icebreaker - 4.5 oz
- travel skirt - Kuhl stretch - 7.6 oz
- 2 sets quick-dry underwear - Patagonia - 2.5 oz
Bags - TBD
- rear saddle bag - 15oz - Revelate Terrapin holster
- front handlebar holster for dry bags - 6 oz
- clip on bag for front holster - 2 oz
- Frame bag (TBD)