How I Pack My Gear (2021)

This page describes the way I pack my gear for a trip of thirty days or more in which I will be camping and when the temperature might be as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If I won't be camping I eliminate the camping gear and the top-tube bag. If the trip is shorter than thirty days I eliminate other items. In colder weather I make needed adjustments. When I'm camping in warmer weather I substitute a heavy-duty sleeping-bag liner for the sleeping bag.

I pack according to the adage A place for everything and everything in its place, and choose the places in order to make accessing items as easy as possible. Here are two rules I follow:

  • Items needed during the riding day must be in the handlebar bag, in an outside pocket of the trunk bag, or mounted on the frame of the bike
  • The top-tube bag may carry only camping gear

According to these rules, the handlebar bag may, and does, carry items not needed during the riding day, and all three bags may, and do, carry camping gear.

Since publishing this page I have made some changes to how I pack. These changes are reflected in the outline below but not in the pictures. I will revise this page as I continue to make changes. You can find a previous version here: How I Pack My Gear (2019)

The total weight of my three loaded bags is 18.4 pounds. The total weight of my bike and the three loaded bags is 47 pounds. As the song says, I'm travelin' light.

See Complete List of My Gear for a list of my gear organized by type, rather than by where packed, including links to the specific items I own. The links in the outline below refer to lists on that page.

See also Review of My Gear.

How I Pack My Gear

  • BIKE - 28.6 pounds
    • Handlebar
      • Mount for handlebar bag
      • Phone mount and phone
      • Left and right mirrors
    • Head tube
      • Front light
    • Down tube
      • Water bottle in cage
    • Seat tube
      • Rear rack
      • Water bottle in cage
      • Air pump
    • Left seat stay
      • Rear light
  • HANDLEBAR BAG - 6.2 pounds, not including snacks
    • Main compartment
      • Zippered pouch
        • Wallet
        • Change purse (3" x 4" mesh zip case)
        • Spare cellphone and paper clip in cover for cellphone (when not in use)
        • Bluetooth earpiece (when not in use)
        • Cutlery (in utensil bag)
      • Bike parts (all except tubes in a 4" x 9" mesh zip case)
      • Cable lock
      • First-aid kit
      • Shop gloves and rag (in a ziplock bag)
      • Camping supplies (in a 3.5" x 7" mesh zip case)
      • Biking supplies (all except shop gloves and rag in a 4" x 9" mesh zip case)
      • Electronics accessories (in a 4" x 9" mesh zip case)
      • Rain jacket (in a sock as a stuff sack)
      • Sunglasses, clear goggles, and reading glasses (each in a cloth bag)
      • Snacks
    • Right outside zippered pocket
      • Tools (in a 3.5" x 5" mesh zip case)
    • Left outside zippered pocket
Handlebar bag and its contents - 6.2 pounds
  • TOP-TUBE BAG - 3.0 pounds
    • Air pillow and pillow case (in stuff sack of air pillow)
    • Tent fabric (in stuff sack of air mattress)
    • Headlamp
    • Clothesline
      • Footprint folded in sixths wrapped around rolled air mattress folded in quarters
      • Light sleeping-bag liner (in its stuff sack)
    Top-tube bag and its contents - 3.0 pounds
    • TRUNK BAG - 9.2 pounds
      • Main compartment
        • Clothing
        • Sleeping bag (or heavy sleeping bag liner)
        • Microfiber towel
        • Inside pouch
          • Emergency-cash purse (3" x 4" mesh zip case)
          • Bluetooth keyboard and phone stand (in a plastic bag)
          • Sewing kit, extra contact lenses, and extra shaving cartridges (in a 3.5" x 5" mesh zip case)
      • Outside left
        • Velcro pocket
          • Cleat covers
          • 8-inch ball bungee cord when not in use to stabilize trunk bag
        • Water-bottle carrier
          • Contact-lens cleaner (12-ounce bottle)
        1. Outside right
          • Zippered pocket
          • Velcro straps
            • Tent pole, stakes, and lines (in tent pole bag)
        2. Outside rear zippered pocket
          • Liquid soap
          • Insect repellent
          • Sunscreen
          • Outside tab
            • ROAD iD tag
      Trunk bag and its contents - 9.2 pounds

      See Complete List of My Gear for a list of my gear organized by type, rather than by where packed, including links to the specific items I own. See also Review of My Gear.

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