OUR BEST GEAR FOR BIKEPACKING - JUNYUAN Bags - Golf Bag,Sports Bag,Outdoor Bag Manufacturer

Whether you’re rigging up for a mid-week micro adventure or loading up your rig for an arduous 1000km overlander, any camping gear that makes the cut has to be light and compact—and completely worth it.

Whilst gear choice is subjective, the list below has earned my trust over the years and keeps me excitedly planning the next adventure.

eVent® Compression Dry Sack

This rugged sack keeps your gear compressed and dry. The eVent fabric panel at the base is both waterproof and breathable—keeping everything nice and dry, even in the worst conditions. Simply stuff your bulky items like sleeping bags and clothes inside and roll all the air out through the eVent panel. Clip the rolled top closed and compress your gear down to a third of its original size with the evenly placed straps. These space-saving sacks add almost no extra weight, eliminates bulk and have minimal potential failure points, like plastic valves.

I use this bag up front in my handlebar roll. The bag compresses width-wise, so it can fit most drop bars, mountain or alt bars. I choose the largest size that still provides plenty of clearance between the bag and the front tyre.

eVent® Compression Dry Sack

eVAC™ Dry Sack

Yep, bikepackers and eVent are a match made in heaven. The eVAC Dry Sack is a great choice for use in the seat pack. As good as compression sacks are at reducing bulk, sometimes you don’t want everything scrunched together so tightly. The ovalised shape of this dry sack makes it a perfect fit for running inline and behind the seat. They remain narrow enough to stay out of the way while getting in or out of the saddle—and they don’t bump the back of your thighs while pedalling.

eVAC™ Dry Sack

Big River ™ Dry Bags

I run Big River Dry Bags in places where abrasion will be an issue—on the fork legs or under the down tube secured in a manything cage or some equivalent. Then again, really, they can be used anywhere. The ovalised shape keep things nice and tight and the durable lash points add extra security. The 3L or 5L sizes are perfect.

Big River™ Dry Bags

Ultra-Sil™ Nano Daypack

I used to think bringing a backpack was an unnecessary luxury, but the Nano Daypack only weighs 30 grams! It makes forays off the bike so much more convenient—acting as shopping bag, hiking pack and airline carry-on when I need it. Or carrying bags of Doritos out of town.

Ultra-Sil™ Nano Daypack

X-Pot™ Kettle 1.3L

The X-Pot Kettle fits easily where other pots struggle—right in my frame bag. Inside the kettle, I store both an X-Mug and an X-Brew coffee dripper so the bulk of my camp kitchen collapses down to just 35mm thick! This also frees up the space beneath my downtube to carry two litres of water.

X-Pot™ Kettle 1.3L

Escapist™ Tarp

There’s no shelter more versatile than a tarp. The medium size Escapist Tarp provides plenty of protection, if set up correctly. I have used this tarp in conditions ranging from sudden snowstorms to windy West Australian summer nights. I’ve hung it between trees, used it freestanding, anchored to my upside-down bicycle, or even once thrown over a picnic table while dodging hail. It’s just 300 grams and packs down to the size of a water bottle.

Escapist™ Tarp

Nano™ Head Net

A head net can be a lifesaver on buggy rides and, at 23 grams, there’s no reason not to take the Nano Head Net.

Nano™ Head Net

Ultra-Sil™ Outhouse

Keep the Ultra-Sil Outhouse handy at all times! Besides keeping toilet paper quickly accessible and dry, I also store a Pocket Trowel, lighter and some hand sanitiser inside so I’m always ready when I’m ready.

Ultra-Sil™ Outhouse

Ultra-Sil™ Dry Sacks or Lightweight Dry Sacks

Everything that I think I want to stay dry goes in an Ultra-Sil™ Dry Sack or Lightweight Dry Sack. You’ll find these in my frame bag, holding my daily snacks or even extras tucked into the side of my feed bag, just in case. They weigh next to nothing and keep things dry and dustproof when the going gets tough. No more ripped single-use plastic bags for me.

Ultra-Sil™ Dry Sacks Lightweight Dry Sacks

Airlite™ Towel

I bring two Airlite Towels on the road with me. One small (12g) for cleaning up or drying my feet after a stream-crossing, and another large (48g) one for impromptu swims.

Airlite™ Towel

Aeros™ Ultralight Pillow

I don’t cut corners on getting a good night’s sleep after a big day of riding. Luckily, because my Aeros Ultralight Pillow weighs 60 grams and folds up smaller than a plum, I don’t have to. Plus, I can put just enough air in to dial in the balance of support and squish that I like!

Aeros™ Ultralight Pillow

Spark™ II sleeping bag | lower limit -2°C

My Spark II sleeping bag—Flame II for women—packs down to the size of a water bottle and, at 490 grams, weighs less than a full one. As a side sleeper, I especially appreciate the roomier cut. Extra light doesn’t need to be extra tight.

Spark™ II sleeping bag Flame™ II sleeping bag

Etherlight™ XT Insulated sleeping mat

Besides a bag of peanut M&M’s squirreled away on my bike at all times, the Etherlight XT Insulated—or women’s specific Etherlight XT Insulated— is my luxury item. Using the Airstream Pumpsack, it takes less than three breaths to fill it up to a cushy 10cm in thickness. Then I finetune the pressure with the multi-function valve, releasing air until I’m just off the ground. This is the way I like it for sleeping on my side—and something I can only do with a thicker mat. Major bonus points too for being stable—I don’t want to feel like I’m sleeping on a bouncy castle.

Etherlight™ XT Insulated Womens specific Etherlight™ XT Insulated

Stretch-Loc TPU Straps

Stretch-Locs are handy, to say the least. Every spare inch of your bike becomes a potential spot for a bit of gear and these handy straps will lock it into place. If one strap is not enough, you can also easily combine multiple straps to create a Frankenstrap. They’re uncomplicated, but super useful. Read more about why you’ll love them in this blog Why Bikepackers Will Love Loading Up With Stretch Loc Straps.

Stretch-Loc TPU Straps

About the author

Author and his handlebar mascot ‘Watermelon Pig’

Ryan lives a double life as our International Sales Manager and gung-ho cyclist. His love affair with two-wheeler life started in Portugal, where he began his two and a half year cycling tour—completing over 50,000 kilometres through 25 countries.

More recently, his bike trips have moved away from panniers and racks to exploring the more remote tracks of Australia with frame bags and low pressure tyres. He was lucky enough to have completed the Hunt 1000 before the recent fires devastated the Australian high country.