I love that you are recommending panniers, I have tried and tested many options for packing my gear, after a lot of trial and error i came back to panniers, the most simple and effective way to carry things on your bicycle. Of course the more modern bikepacking packs are lighter and more aerodynamic, but i don't care to much about performance. For me comfort is the first priority,
You are killing my bike pack, camping gear budget, Neil. Damn you. Thanks for all the great recommendations and constantly taking one for the rest of us.
So, I'm a (very) old-school bike TOURING guy....probably being doing it longer than many of you have even been alive. And being so, I'm often pretty stuck in my ways. But I also do some bike PACKING, using a more modern/current approach. A couple of bits stood out to me in this reviews. The first being panniers. It's VERY hard for me to break old habits on this front. The main reason, as I see it, to go with bikepacking type gear rather than panniers is for when I'm walking/pushing a bike, which just ain't fun with panniers. When I am using bikepacking bags at these times I'm glad for it. But yeah, I gotta admit, panniers still have a lot of benefits (and in fact I do use them bikepacking - small ones - more often than not). The pillow. Yep, I've used clothes stuffed into stuff sacks for decades. But about 2 or 3 years ago I finally decided to "try something new" and bought a Nemo Fillo. Much to my shock and surprise I absolutely loved it. Ain't no way I'm ever going back now. Feel kinda stupid for holding out for so long. Neil, this channel and your content are fantastic. I've learned and enjoyed so much. Thanks for what you do here.
About sandals, the Quechua ARPENAZ 100, usually sold on Decatlhon stores, weights 538g on number 42 (EU/BR). Guys, that's strong sandal. Have using one pair have five years. Very adjustable, very confortable for 20km+ walks and hiking. Very good also for cycling.
Great recommendations per usual. Think one of my favorite gear items of this year is my Cranktank 3L from Adventure Hydration. Can’t recommend it enough! As a stove, I love the simple design of the timeless Trangia.
LOVE that Ornot Hoodie. It's great in the sun, but it's also a functional layer on cool mornings or in the evening. It's hard to go bikepacking without it.
Modl outdoor straps have been my favorite pick up of the year. Denver brand , great system and the glow and the dark one has been. Great for keeping my u lock strapped down on my. Commuter.
Pillow is an essential for me, I've tried the spare clothes in a dry bag trick and I end up with a sore neck. It was bad enough hiking, would be even worse trying to ride. Got a Thermarest quilt half price on Black Friday (£100 in the UK), looking forward to trying it out. So much smaller and lighter than my (synthetic) sleeping bag and also rated for lower temps.
I’ve got a tiny off brand version of the stove. It’s been great. Saved me and the kids when we had to call mom for a bailout due to cold rain. I warmed up soup cans and made tea; quickly improved the moods
Although I haven’t had a beer can detonate in a bike bag I have had one fail in a bidon cage. Since then, I’ve carried Sapporo steel cans. No more exploding beers!
My two biggest standouts of small, inexpensive upgrades this year was 1, Bontragers cargo net. I figured out a way to wrap it around RockGeists Mr Fusion and and much more storage capacity on top. Easy to tuck in sandles, slide in a bag of garbage, or even a pack of beers! Held up great and has bailed me out a few times when storage got low on the road. 2. In Canada, MECs waste less shopping bag. Cheap, light, packs nicely, and gives you something to toss extra stuff into if walking from camp to the beach/water. Can be used in combination with some small items and used with the cargo net as well to stop them from falling out.
Excellent recommendations! You might want to check out FlextailGear's rechargeable mattress pump with light. Dual purpose, lightweight, and wonderful tent, awning light.
I appreciate the recommendations, but I just want to say, 3 years ago, I bought a tire pump at Mountain Warehouse for $14, and it's been a lifesaver! I can barely believe it myself!
Those brs burners are just great,you can carry some stainless mess to place on the top for better balance 😅 I do have some Revelate nano panniers which do the job of more stuff! just depends i’ll still use saddle / tail bags 👌🏻
I love how the sandal recommendation even acknowledges bedrocks are the bomb. I heard about them a little while ago and have almost never taken them off
They were the main reason my feet were hurting, so I dont like them all that much, but if you dont have an issues with flat feet or need more support, they are pretty great.
I’m gonna look into that Nemo pillow. We just finished a four day trip doing the tally tango in Tallahassee and I was not getting a good nights sleep because of my crappy ass pillow.
My experiences from this year: brands put ultralight or bikepacking word in the name of their product and sell for 2x price. There weren't any "how could I live without that"-product this year.
As soon as I saw the sandals. I thought Chacos would be better. Stiffer sole, good arch support and adjustable straps. A little heavier due to the footbed.
I like this idea. I looked on Amazon and see them searching for “bicycle handlebar extension”. Bonus they are cheap starting at $10.00. Funny, I did not see any with a dry bag attached just lights, bells and accessories. I like this setup. I am going all in this year on dry bags for fork and Handlebars and just rear back loader seat bag. REI has their brand with 11 liters on sale for under $30. My carbon gravel bike does not take a rear rack unless you spend a ton of money on a tailfin and new thru axel.
I have the same ones Dakine Cross X they’re like $25-30. Have had them for 2 or 3 years and would fully recommend. Have bought another paid of gloves since but barely lasted a few months as is typical with most gloves, and I’ve gone back to the well used Cross X and don’t really need to replace. They’re slightly warm but not sweaty, but work in cool ~45°F shoulder season rides. Haven’t tried but I’m likely going to buy some Hestra bike gloves, look really solid but about $50
Did anything catch my eye? Well ‘from $65’ for a mini-pump caught my ear! And Neil never batted an eyelid. I can only assume that ‘industry discount’ applies 🙄
I love that you are recommending panniers, I have tried and tested many options for packing my gear, after a lot of trial and error i came back to panniers, the most simple and effective way to carry things on your bicycle. Of course the more modern bikepacking packs are lighter and more aerodynamic, but i don't care to much about performance. For me comfort is the first priority,
You are killing my bike pack, camping gear budget, Neil. Damn you. Thanks for all the great recommendations and constantly taking one for the rest of us.
Loved the beer bag move. Very dedicated to the craft beer crew.
So, I'm a (very) old-school bike TOURING guy....probably being doing it longer than many of you have even been alive. And being so, I'm often pretty stuck in my ways. But I also do some bike PACKING, using a more modern/current approach. A couple of bits stood out to me in this reviews.
The first being panniers. It's VERY hard for me to break old habits on this front. The main reason, as I see it, to go with bikepacking type gear rather than panniers is for when I'm walking/pushing a bike, which just ain't fun with panniers. When I am using bikepacking bags at these times I'm glad for it. But yeah, I gotta admit, panniers still have a lot of benefits (and in fact I do use them bikepacking - small ones - more often than not).
The pillow. Yep, I've used clothes stuffed into stuff sacks for decades. But about 2 or 3 years ago I finally decided to "try something new" and bought a Nemo Fillo. Much to my shock and surprise I absolutely loved it. Ain't no way I'm ever going back now. Feel kinda stupid for holding out for so long.
Neil, this channel and your content are fantastic. I've learned and enjoyed so much. Thanks for what you do here.
About sandals, the Quechua ARPENAZ 100, usually sold on Decatlhon stores, weights 538g on number 42 (EU/BR). Guys, that's strong sandal. Have using one pair have five years. Very adjustable, very confortable for 20km+ walks and hiking. Very good also for cycling.
Just started using panniers for commuting, plan to try them for packing this summer. I agree, total game changer!
Great recommendations per usual. Think one of my favorite gear items of this year is my Cranktank 3L from Adventure Hydration. Can’t recommend it enough! As a stove, I love the simple design of the timeless Trangia.
The PB Swiss Tools are gorgeous… would love to have them as torx as well😍
LOVE that Ornot Hoodie. It's great in the sun, but it's also a functional layer on cool mornings or in the evening. It's hard to go bikepacking without it.
Modl outdoor straps have been my favorite pick up of the year. Denver brand , great system and the glow and the dark one has been. Great for keeping my u lock strapped down on my. Commuter.
Pillow is an essential for me, I've tried the spare clothes in a dry bag trick and I end up with a sore neck. It was bad enough hiking, would be even worse trying to ride.
Got a Thermarest quilt half price on Black Friday (£100 in the UK), looking forward to trying it out. So much smaller and lighter than my (synthetic) sleeping bag and also rated for lower temps.
I’ve got a tiny off brand version of the stove. It’s been great. Saved me and the kids when we had to call mom for a bailout due to cold rain. I warmed up soup cans and made tea; quickly improved the moods
Nice job Dad!
The Nemo pillows are the bomb! Worth every penny.
The Old Man Mountain Ponderosa panniers are fantastic! I've been using them for a few years now.
Although I haven’t had a beer can detonate in a bike bag I have had one fail in a bidon cage. Since then, I’ve carried Sapporo steel cans. No more exploding beers!
My two biggest standouts of small, inexpensive upgrades this year was 1, Bontragers cargo net. I figured out a way to wrap it around RockGeists Mr Fusion and and much more storage capacity on top. Easy to tuck in sandles, slide in a bag of garbage, or even a pack of beers! Held up great and has bailed me out a few times when storage got low on the road.
2. In Canada, MECs waste less shopping bag. Cheap, light, packs nicely, and gives you something to toss extra stuff into if walking from camp to the beach/water. Can be used in combination with some small items and used with the cargo net as well to stop them from falling out.
Excellent recommendations! You might want to check out FlextailGear's rechargeable mattress pump with light. Dual purpose, lightweight, and wonderful tent, awning light.
Lantern looks rad I might have to get one
A good camp pillow is a game-changer. But the one piece of gear that I don't leave home without is my Helinox Chair Zero.
Would love to see a review of ZenBivy. I love my setup for bikepacking
enlightened equipment quilts have a similar system for attaching to your pad!
I appreciate the recommendations, but I just want to say, 3 years ago, I bought a tire pump at Mountain Warehouse for $14, and it's been a lifesaver! I can barely believe it myself!
Nice.
Those brs burners are just great,you can carry some stainless mess to place on the top for better balance 😅
I do have some Revelate nano panniers which do the job of more stuff! just depends i’ll still use saddle / tail bags 👌🏻
I love how the sandal recommendation even acknowledges bedrocks are the bomb. I heard about them a little while ago and have almost never taken them off
They were the main reason my feet were hurting, so I dont like them all that much, but if you dont have an issues with flat feet or need more support, they are pretty great.
I’m gonna look into that Nemo pillow. We just finished a four day trip doing the tally tango in Tallahassee and I was not getting a good nights sleep because of my crappy ass pillow.
I bought the Nemo pillow over a year ago…love it!!!
My experiences from this year: brands put ultralight or bikepacking word in the name of their product and sell for 2x price. There weren't any "how could I live without that"-product this year.
just don't buy overpriced products people
Seeing you sink the pannier beer made me wonder if you’ve ever been to Australia and tried our version here…
Angry catfish shoutout?? So cool
As soon as I saw the sandals. I thought Chacos would be better. Stiffer sole, good arch support and adjustable straps. A little heavier due to the footbed.
Next camping trip I won’t forget my mojo light for some smooth pumping.
🫠
Any thoughts on the Cycplus E pump? May be worth looking at for the Top 10 / 2025
I'd be curious to know how the Gunninson tires compare to previous version the XR4, which I really liked(in the 2.6).
What is that handlebar setup that you have the drybag connected to?
I like this idea. I looked on Amazon and see them searching for “bicycle handlebar extension”. Bonus they are cheap starting at $10.00. Funny, I did not see any with a dry bag attached just lights, bells and accessories. I like this setup. I am going all in this year on dry bags for fork and Handlebars and just rear back loader seat bag. REI has their brand with 11 liters on sale for under $30. My carbon gravel bike does not take a rear rack unless you spend a ton of money on a tailfin and new thru axel.
My favorite handlebar system on the planet, although it's not cheap. bikepacking.com/gear/rogue-panda-blue-ridge-handlebar-harness-review/
lol @ the Pannier Beer!
Neil, on the bontrager clip, what pants are you wearing?
Where is that on the screen @ 0:13?? It's beautiful
And that’s the pannier beer… hahaha
Hey man. What kind of handle bars are those . Drop bars at minute 4:45 ?
those bars are redshift kitchensink bars, pretty good bars
Hi , at 2:35 mn you have a pair of gloves Dakine look amazing 🤩 please by any chance can you give me the Ref ?
Many thanks
I have the same ones Dakine Cross X they’re like $25-30. Have had them for 2 or 3 years and would fully recommend. Have bought another paid of gloves since but barely lasted a few months as is typical with most gloves, and I’ve gone back to the well used Cross X and don’t really need to replace. They’re slightly warm but not sweaty, but work in cool ~45°F shoulder season rides.
Haven’t tried but I’m likely going to buy some Hestra bike gloves, look really solid but about $50
@@AndrewSteavpackthanks a lot for taking the time to answer me ❤ and sharing about the gloves , am going to look for buy one 😊
"smooth pumping" eh? say no more!
👍👍👍👍👍👍🚲🚲🚲🚲
Did anything catch my eye? Well ‘from $65’ for a mini-pump caught my ear! And Neil never batted an eyelid. I can only assume that ‘industry discount’ applies 🙄
The industry is about to see massive price increases, get ready.
@@BIKEPACKINGcomand WolfTooth is ahead of the pack!
I’m sorry, Bont*rag*gar?