Bike touring gear essentials

May 7, 2024 9 min

For the best adventures, you need the right bike touring gear. It will keep you comfortable, help you repair your bike, and help you cook meals. However, it can be not easy to know what to take and what to use. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know, from the correct kit you need to take to places where you might want to invest a little bit more money.

Bike touring gear list essentials!

Now, the exciting part! Let’s discuss the bike touring essentials you need for your adventures. We recommend these, but the list can quickly change depending on where and who you are going.

In each section, we will guide you on where to invest for a potentially enhanced bike touring experience. This list leans toward being an ultra-light bike touring gear list that you can add to. It can also be used as a mountain bike touring gear list or a DIY bike touring gear list. Let’s go!

Touring bikes on buycycle

The bike

bike touring gear — A robust touring bike can transport you across continents

A good touring bike

A bike is the most essential kit to get you going. We recommend a touring bike, but many use gravel, mountain, or road bikes. Providing it is comfortable and has rack mounts, anything goes. To learn more about touring bikes, check out our dedicated article "What is a touring bike?".

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If you are looking for a pre-owned bike from a trusted supplier make sure to take a look at our shop and check out some of the latest mountain bikes, gravel bikes and touring bikes we have in stock.

We often get asked about a fixed-gear touring bike. A fixed-gear touring bike will only give you one gear, is challenging to start and stop, and can be dangerous if you do not have brakes. A fixed-gear touring bike is not a good solution.

Alternatively, a gravel or a mountain bike

A gravel bike or a mountain bike can also do the job. However, not all suit a suitable bicycle for long-distance bike touring. In that case, you have to choose your gravel bike carefully. Look at our guide on choosing a bike for bikepacking and our selection of the best gravel bikes for bikepacking.

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We have a huge selection of gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and road bikes ready for purchase on our shop.

Carrying

Racks	Adding racks to the front and the back will help with carrying capacity.
Panniers	For the front and rear so you have a lot of low down space to store kit.
Frame bag	For essential items you use throughout the day.
Top tube bag	For anything you need access to when riding.
Bottles or bladder	For carrying water.

The best investment you will make in bags is spending a little more money on waterproof options. Not only do they keep your kit nice and dry for bikepacking or bike touring adventures, but it is also common to pack too much gear initially. However, as you gain experience, you will gradually learn to pack lighter and more efficiently.

Clothing

Cycling shorts	Using padded shorts will go a long way.
Cycling trouser	For cold conditions if required.
Cycling jerseys	When it comes to bike touring, something relaxed or more casual.
Cycling windproof	To take the edge off a cold day and for light rain.
Cycling shoes	Clip in shoes that you can walk in will improve the experience.
Base layers	They are great for keeping you cooler and warmer.
Cycling socks	Sports socks will also work great, go for breathable.
Gloves	To keep your hands warm on cold mornings or nights.
Down jacket	For casual wear and very cold rides.
Helmet	Very important to keep you safe and required in some countries.
Casual clothing	For off the bike excursions and relaxing
Sleep clothing	Shorts and a light t-shirt is normally enough.

We believe you should invest in cycling shoes and clothing, as they are more functional and are what you will spend most of your time wearing. But it is up to you: if you feel more comfortable without it, that is fine too. Oh, and of course, a good helmet, which gets updated every few years to ensure it works properly when you need it.

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Spares and repairs

Multi-tool	For on the bike repairs, ensuring a chain tool and screwdrivers if possible.
Inner tubes + Patches	For repairing the punctures you are more than likely getting.
Pump	To ensure you can keep the pressure in your tires.
Tire levers	Tire levers to help you remove a tire from a rim.
Spare hanger	Incase the hanger breaks on your bike. Not all bikes need these.
Spokes and key	Spare spokes and a spoke to key install and adjust them.
Chain link and pliers	In case your chain breaks and it needs repairing.
Valve core + tool	To repair valves if required.
Chain lube	For keeping the bike well lubricated.
Brake pads	If you end up wearing yours out quickly.
Spare Cables	To repair gearing or brake cables.
Extras	Insulation tape, cable ties, and a sewing kit will help you.

When it comes to spares and repairs, you are going to want to invest in a really decent multi-tool—one with lots of functions and that comes from a good brand. You also need to ensure that if you have a bike with a hanger, you must take one, as these are hard to get on the road without an address to post to.

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Camping and Eating

Tent or bivvy	We recommend a tent for bike touring camping gear.
Sleeping bag	For keeping warm in your shelter. The right season bag will make a good night.
Sleeping mat	To ensure when you are sleeping it is not directly on the ground.
Inflatable pillow	Great for comfort. A lot of people use spare clothing.
Head torch	For setting up camp in the dark and as a backup light.
Stove and lighter	To help generate heat for cooking.
Pot, mug, spork	To help with cooking and also for coffee and eating.

If you are on a long tour, you must ensure that you get good sleep and the best rest possible. If not, you will be miserable. You can also read our guide on where to sleep while bikepacking. Investing in a good tent and sleeping bag can make such a big difference. Because bike touring camping gear is cheap and lightweight, it does not always pay off.

Electronics and charging

Lighting	One front light, two rear lights for safety.
GPS	A GPS device will help you navigate and save all your ride data.
Power bank	Needed to recharge devices on the go.
Charging cables	For each device you have and a wall charger.
Travel adaptor	To make sure you can plug in at wall sockets where you are traveling.
Mobile phone	For emergencies or just to stay in touch with loved ones.

Investing in good lights is a must. Going for well-known brands that offer extended warranties makes riding at night a much better experience. You might also want to consider a dynamo, which uses the momentum of the front wheel to generate power for your power bank.

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Safety and hygiene

High vis gilet	A great way to make yourself more visible when conditions are not ideal.
Emergency Blanket	These foil blankets are great for keeping you warm in emergencies.
First aid	You never know when you might need a bandage or some plasters.
Whistle	In case you need to alert someone or even scare away an animal.
Toothbrush + paste	Dental hygiene is easy to ignore while away on an adventure.
Towel	A small lightweight towel for washing at campsites really helps.
Hand wash	For before eating with your hands or after getting them dirty.
Sun cream	For skin protection. Should be applied a few times a day at least.
Wipes	In case you need to take a short break.
Chamois	In case you need some extra help for saddle pain or irritation.
Home comforts	Anything from a sleeping mask to a couple of hot chocolate pouches.

It is easy to forget to practice hygiene and look after yourself when cycling all day. One of the most amicable feelings is cleaning your teeth in the morning. Many great touring cyclists stopped a trip early because they did not look after themselves. A good mountain bike touring gear list and DIY bike touring gear list will include some things you don’t need but want.

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We have a huge selection of gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and road bikes ready for purchase on our shop.

Recommended extras

Waterproof jacket	For those days where the weather is really bad.
Waterproof trousers	If you have storms coming in and it’s cold they really help.
Poncho	Can be used on and off the bike to avoid getting too wet.
Camera	For taking pictures so you don’t forget the amazing memories.

If you are planning a long tour, make sure to take all the extras you need. It can be harder than you might think to get certain things when riding in remote places or even in different countries. This ultra-light bike touring gear list is just the basics, and it’s important to add things you want.

Bike touring rain gear best practices

Miserable weather is not always planned. Bike touring rain gear practices mean you should be equipped for all the wet weather you will encounter. Don’t be shy about carrying more waterproofs, as they can be the difference between continuing and having to stop until the stop passes.

Do I need all this for bike touring?

This is the gear we recommend you take on a long trip. Depending on where you are going and how long you are going, this list can easily change. Over time, the more experience you get, the better you adapt your bike touring gear list for yourself. Especially when it comes to bike-touring camping gear, this list should be classed as an ultra-light bike touring gear list to which you add.