Panniers vs the BIKEPACKING KIT

The Great Debate: Should You Ditch Your Panniers for Bikepacking Bags?

Ever found yourself on a long bike tour, staring down a tempting dirt road, only to be held back by your heavy, cumbersome setup? You're not alone. Many of us start our cycling adventures with the classic four-pannier touring rig—it's reliable, carries everything but the kitchen sink, and has been the gold standard for decades. But what happens when the call of the wild gets too loud to ignore? When you want to trade smooth asphalt for rugged singletrack and gravel paths?

That's the exact crossroads many riders find themselves at. It’s the moment you start wondering if there's a better way. A lighter, more agile way to travel that lets you explore the places you previously only dreamed of. This is the story of making the leap from traditional bike touring to the streamlined world of bikepacking—and a guide to help you do the same.

What's the Real Difference, Anyway? Two Philosophies of Travel

At its heart, this isn't just about bags; it's about two different approaches to adventure.

• Traditional Bike Touring: Think of this as bringing your home with you. With a sturdy steel frame, front and rear racks, and four panniers, you have ample space for comfort and "just in case" items. It's perfect for long hauls on roads, where capacity and durability are king.

• Bikepacking: This is the minimalist, off-road-focused sibling. Born from ultra-endurance races like the Tour Divide, bikepacking uses a "rackless" system of bags that strap directly to your bike's frame, handlebars, and seatpost. The goal is to be light and nimble, keeping your bike feeling more like a mountain bike and less like a tank, so you can tackle challenging terrain with a grin on your face.

For us, the moment of truth came while pushing our fully-loaded touring bikes along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Seeing other riders float by on lighter setups was an epiphany. We knew we had to make a change. It was a leap of faith, but one that completely transformed how we travel.

The Great Gear Purge: How to Go Minimalist Minimalism

Let's be honest: you simply cannot fit the contents of four panniers into a set of bikepacking bags. The first step is adopting a new mantra: "If in doubt, leave it out." This process can be painful. I remember the first time I tried packing my new bags, staring at a pile of my beloved gear on the floor with no space left on the bike. It takes a ruthless shift in mindset.

Here's a simple, systematic way to audit your gear:

1. The Survival Pile (Non-Negotiable): This is your core camping gear. Tent, sleeping bag, mat, stove, and cookset.

2. The Safety Pile (Essential): This includes your rain gear, a spare set of warm clothes, first-aid kit, and your tool/spares kit.

3. The Luxury Pile (Question Everything): Everything else goes here. Your camp towel, extra "town" clothes, that beloved egg carrier. Now, be ruthless. Do you really need it? Can something else do the job?

A brilliant strategy is the "One-a-Day" challenge. For a month, get rid of one thing every single day. It could be as small as trimming the excess straps on your bags or as big as ditching your tent stakes because you know you can always use rocks. This constant process of refinement helps you dial in a truly minimalist kit.

Upgrading "The Big Three" 🐘

You don't need to buy all new gear, but if you're going to invest anywhere, focus on the items that offer the biggest weight and space savings: your tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. Modern ultralight gear can feel like magic.

We swapped our heavy four-season tent for a lighter three-season model and traded our bulky synthetic sleeping bags (weighing $1.8$ kg or $4$ lbs) for down quilts that weighed less than half that and packed down to a fraction of the size. It's an investment, for sure, but you can upgrade one piece at a time to make it more manageable on the wallet.

Let's Talk Numbers: The Real-World Difference ⚖️

The weight savings aren't just a feeling; they're dramatic. It comes from two places: ditching the heavy racks and the bags themselves being lighter. Let's break it down.

Traditional Touring Kit

Standard Bikepacking Kit

You read that right. You save over $3.2$ kg ($7$ lbs) on just the bags and racks alone! But the real magic is in the volume. With less than half the space, you're physically forced to carry less. If you have the space, you'll inevitably fill it. A bikepacking setup prevents you from hauling a $75$ kg rig down the road.

Do I Need a New Bike? 🚲

Not necessarily! The beauty of a rackless setup is that it can be adapted to almost any bike. However, the style of riding bikepacking encourages might make you want a new ride.

We eventually sold our trusty Surly Disc Truckers. Why? Tire clearance. To comfortably ride on rough, unpaved terrain for hours, you need the cushioning effect of wider tires (think $2.0$ inches and up). They provide flotation over sand and mud and act as natural suspension, saving your body from a bone-rattling beating. If you're serious about getting off-road, a hardtail mountain bike or a gravel bike with wide clearance is your best friend.

Choosing Your Arsenal: A Guide to the Bags

The world of bikepacking bags can be overwhelming. Here’s a simple breakdown of the core components:

• Seat Pack: This is the big bag that straps to your seatpost and saddle rails. It’s perfect for bulky but light items like your sleeping bag, quilt, and extra clothes. It’s the most iconic piece of the setup.

• Frame Bag: This bag fills the main triangle of your bike frame. Because it’s centered and low, it’s the ideal place for your heaviest items: tools, spares, water, and food. Consider a custom-fit bag to maximize every square inch of space.

• Handlebar Roll/Harness: This system sits up front and typically holds your tent and sleeping pad. A harness system is more versatile, as it allows you to strap in any dry bag, while an integrated roll is often simpler and more stable.

• Accessory Bags: These are the little "feed bags" on your handlebars or top tube bags. They're your cockpit, perfect for snacks, your phone, and anything you need to grab on the go without stopping.

The Laptop Problem: For digital nomads, this is a huge challenge. Solutions include using a small backpack (which many find uncomfortable), having a custom bag made, or using a large, traditional-style saddlebag like a Carradice, which can easily swallow a small laptop.

There's No "Right" Way: Finding Your Middle Ground

Remember, this isn't a religion. You don't have to be a purist. Part of the fun is tinkering and finding what works for you. Maybe you love the idea of a lighter load but can't part with the convenience of panniers. No problem! Try a "middle way" setup: a lightweight rear rack with a pair of small "micro-panniers" combined with a handlebar roll and frame bag.

The goal is to build a bike that inspires you to ride further and explore more. Whether that's with a full pannier setup, a stripped-down bikepacking rig, or something in between, the best setup is the one that gets you out the door and on your next adventure. Happy trails!