Bikepacking for Beginners: Kit, Bikes and First Trips

What bikepacking is, and how it differs from touring

Bikepacking is self-supported riding, usually over one or more nights, with your kit carried in soft bags strapped straight to the frame, saddle and handlebar. There are no racks and no panniers, and that is the main thing that separates it from traditional touring.

Touring hangs weight low on front and rear racks, which suits long stretches of tarmac and carrying a bit more comfort. Bikepacking keeps the load close to the frame and off the wheels, so the bike stays narrow, lighter and far happier on bridleways, forest tracks and the rough mixed-surface routes a fully loaded tourer would struggle to reach. The trade-off is space. You carry less, so you pack with more thought.

For a first trip you do not need to travel far or rough. Plenty of people start with a single night out on a canal towpath or a forest loop close to home. The appeal is simple: a small amount of kit, a route you can ride in a weekend, and somewhere quiet to sleep.

Cyclesite Tip. If you already own a gravel bike or a hardtail, you can almost certainly try bikepacking this month without buying a single new bag. Borrow or improvise for the first night, then buy properly once you know what you actually reach for.

Choosing a bike

There is no single correct bikepacking bike. A gravel bike, a hardtail or rigid mountain bike, or a sturdy adventure or touring bike all work well. What matters is not the label on the frame but a handful of practical features.

Look for clearance for wider tyres, which give grip and comfort on loose ground and let you run lower pressures. Look for stable, comfortable geometry you can sit on for hours, rather than a twitchy race position. Look for low gearing, because a loaded bike climbs slowly and you will be grateful for an easy gear on a long drag. And look for mounting points: bosses on the frame and forks for bottles and cages give you somewhere to carry water and kit without everything hanging off the saddle.

A gravel bike is the popular starting point for mixed-surface routes, quick on tarmac and capable on tracks. If your plans lean rougher, or you want more comfort on technical ground, a mountain bike with a hardtail or rigid frame gives you bigger tyres and a more forgiving ride. Both are sound choices, and our gravel cycling for beginners guide is a useful read if you are weighing up that style. Whatever you pick, get the fit right first. A bike that fits you will always beat a more expensive one that does not.

The bags and where they go

A basic bikepacking setup uses three bags, each in its own place on the bike.

The handlebar roll sits across the bars at the front. It is long and cylindrical, and it suits bulky, light items you do not need during the day, such as a tent, a sleeping bag or spare clothing.

The frame bag fills the triangle between the top tube, down tube and seat tube. It carries the heaviest items, kept low and central where they least upset the handling: tools, food, water, a stove. A full-frame bag holds the most, though it takes up your bottle mounts, so plan your water around that.

The saddle pack, sometimes called a seat pack, straps under the saddle and tapers out behind the bike. It is good for soft, medium-weight kit such as a sleeping mat, waterproofs and a first-aid kit. Pack it evenly and cinch it tight, because a heavy saddle pack that sways is one of the most common first-trip annoyances.

Add small extras as you go: a top-tube bag for snacks and a phone, or a stem bag for a bottle. Keep weight low and central, keep the front end light, and check that nothing rubs the tyres before you ride.

The kit you actually need

It is easy to over-buy. For a first overnighter in Britain, this is the honest short list.

Shelter: a lightweight tent, a bivvy bag or a tarp. A small tent is the easy option for a first trip because it deals with rain and midges without fuss.

Sleep system: a sleeping bag rated for the season and an insulated sleeping mat. The mat matters as much as the bag, because most of your warmth is otherwise lost into the ground.

Clothing: layers for British weather, which means planning for rain and a cold night even in summer. A waterproof jacket, a warm layer, and dry socks and a base layer to sleep in.

Food and water: enough food for the ride and the evening, a way to carry water, and a means to treat it, either a filter or purification tablets, if you plan to refill from streams.

Tools and spares: a pump, spare tubes, a tubeless plug kit if your tyres are set up tubeless, a multi-tool, tyre levers and a spare quick link for the chain. Fix a puncture at home before you leave so you know you can do it in a lay-by.

Lights and navigation: front and rear lights, and a way to find your way. A phone with an offline map works well, though a dedicated GPS unit saves your phone battery. Carry a power bank either way.

Cyclesite Tip. Lay everything out on the floor at home, then pack it into the bags exactly as you will carry it. If it does not fit, you are carrying too much, and the floor is a far better place to find that out than a car park at dusk.

Planning your first overnighter

The best way to start is small. Ride out, sleep one night, ride home. This is often called an S24O, a sub-24-hour overnight, and it is the single most useful thing you can do before committing to anything longer. You learn how your kit packs, how the bike handles when loaded, and what you forgot, all within easy reach of home.

Keep the first route simple and close, somewhere you could bail out and get a train or ride home if the weather turns. Check where you are allowed to camp: wild camping rules differ across the UK, so use a campsite, a bothy or land where you have permission rather than assuming. Tell someone your route and rough timings.

Test everything on a short shakedown ride before the trip proper. Load the bags, ride a couple of hours, and note what rattles, rubs or annoys you. Small problems are easy to fix at home and miserable to live with at 9pm in the rain.

When you are ready for more, the UK has established long-distance routes built for exactly this. Cycling UK's King Alfred's Way is a 350km off-road loop from Winchester that many riders tackle over several days. The Badger Divide runs roughly from Glasgow to Inverness through the Highlands, and the 800-mile Great North Trail heads north from the Peak District. Sections of the National Cycle Network also link up into gentle overnighters. Ride a short one first, then build up.

Buying a used bike to start

You do not need to spend heavily to begin. A good used gravel or mountain bike will take you a long way, and buying second-hand keeps more of your budget for the bags and shelter that actually make the nights comfortable.

Focus on condition and fit. Check the frame for cracks or dents, spin the wheels for buckles, and look at the drivetrain and brake pads for wear. Confirm the frame takes the tyres and gearing you want, and that it has the mounts you will use. If you are new to buying second-hand, our used gravel bike guide walks through what to inspect. Always check a bike is not stolen before you hand over money: ask for the frame number and run it against the UK stolen-bike databases and the police, and be wary of any seller who cannot show ownership.

Before you buy, get a sense of the fair price. Our free bike valuation gives you a used-market figure to check an asking price against, so you know whether a deal is genuinely good. When you are ready, you can browse gravel bikes, mountain bikes or the full range of bikes for sale and start with something that fits both you and your first route. If you fancy an assisted option for bigger days, our used ebike battery guide covers what to check on a second-hand electric bike.

Common questions

Do I need a special bikepacking bike to get started?

No. A gravel bike, a hardtail or rigid mountain bike, or a sturdy adventure or touring bike all work for a first trip. What matters is clearance for wider tyres, comfortable and stable geometry, low gearing for loaded climbs, and mounting points for bags and bottles. If you already own a suitable bike, start with that and buy a dedicated one only once you know the riding suits you.

What is an S24O in bikepacking?

An S24O is a sub-24-hour overnight: you ride out from home, camp for one night, and ride back the next day. It is the ideal first trip because it keeps you close to home, needs little planning, and lets you test your kit and packing for real before you commit to a longer route.

How much kit should I carry on a first bikepacking trip?

As little as you can get away with while staying warm, dry and fed. For a British overnighter that means a shelter, a sleeping bag and mat, layers for wet and cold weather, food and water with a way to treat it, basic tools and spares, lights and a means of navigation. Lay it all out at home first, and leave behind anything you cannot justify.