The Spend What it Takes Bikepacker
- Thread starter Christophe Noel
- Start date
Christophe Noel
Expedition Leader
I've only used my 705 a couple times for bikepacking. Since we both have experience with the New Trent charger, I did experiement with my 705 and the New Trent iCarrier charged it twice. But, that's a heavy solution for uber light travel.
I have since switched to a Garmin eTrex 30. It pairs to an ANT+ heart rate strap, has good bike-centric features and hold's a useful charge for a couple days of riding and constant navigating. I've tried solar panels and that was such a waste of time.
Flagster
Expedition Leader
Thanks!
Christophe Noel
Expedition Leader
Flagster, I think I'll migrate this topic to the front page with a feature on bikepacking navigation devices. Shoot me a PM if you have any ideas.
Camelfilter
Explorer
Older thread, but I'll add a couple things which had once worked extremely well for me:
If you will be camping near/or bellow zero:
A sleeping hood. I used the finbar sleep hood google, or see
http://www2.smumn.edu/deptpages/~finnovations/Hood/hood.html
This hood worked awesome for me, and on occasion was too warm! Sold it when i headed into warmer climate. I would get another.
A vapor barrier liner for your sleeping bag. These take some practice to get used to, I normally wore a thin wool layer as I didn't like the feeling without a layer. The one I used was just a simple silnylon sleeping bag liner (but was water proof) only weighed a few ounces & "almost" lasted a years tour. Integral Designs. I would get another.
Single wall freestanding tent. Single walls take some getting used too to vent properly, and definitely not the best choice for warm/humid conditions. Freestanding is great, can setup with ease-and in interesting spots too (cement pads, abandon buildings, ancient ruins etc). I used an Eureka Zeuse 2 Exo for 8 months-easy setup with just 2 poles, nice headroom when stuck inside, relatively light (?3.5 lbs) , packed really small. Room inside for all gear & the bike (on a couple occasions).
That tent held its value too-sold it in Nepal for about what I paid. I would get another.
If you will be camping near/or bellow zero:
A sleeping hood. I used the finbar sleep hood google, or see
http://www2.smumn.edu/deptpages/~finnovations/Hood/hood.html
This hood worked awesome for me, and on occasion was too warm! Sold it when i headed into warmer climate. I would get another.
A vapor barrier liner for your sleeping bag. These take some practice to get used to, I normally wore a thin wool layer as I didn't like the feeling without a layer. The one I used was just a simple silnylon sleeping bag liner (but was water proof) only weighed a few ounces & "almost" lasted a years tour. Integral Designs. I would get another.
Single wall freestanding tent. Single walls take some getting used too to vent properly, and definitely not the best choice for warm/humid conditions. Freestanding is great, can setup with ease-and in interesting spots too (cement pads, abandon buildings, ancient ruins etc). I used an Eureka Zeuse 2 Exo for 8 months-easy setup with just 2 poles, nice headroom when stuck inside, relatively light (?3.5 lbs) , packed really small. Room inside for all gear & the bike (on a couple occasions).
That tent held its value too-sold it in Nepal for about what I paid. I would get another.
Flagster
Expedition Leader
Another topic I would like to see addressed is footwear...
I don't bikepack a lot but some of the long day adventures I have been on in CO and central WA have required extensive hike a bike...especially on scree slopes...loose rock climbs...
My sidis take a beating on the toe caps and the traction is poor...replaceable soles help with wear but I am always slipping...
I know you always plan to spend more time in the pedals than out but what is your advice on shoes...
I don't bikepack a lot but some of the long day adventures I have been on in CO and central WA have required extensive hike a bike...especially on scree slopes...loose rock climbs...
My sidis take a beating on the toe caps and the traction is poor...replaceable soles help with wear but I am always slipping...
I know you always plan to spend more time in the pedals than out but what is your advice on shoes...
Two-Wheeled Explorer
Proceeding on...
Nope. I see black bear all the time in the forests of MN and WI. Never a problem for me, although I did have a buddy biking with his dog where the dog and a male blackie had at it. Ron had to throw his bike at the bear to get it to back off.
A lot of people who ride the Great Divide MTB Route/Tour Divide Race carry bear spray either on their belt, hydration pack strap or handlebars. Even Alaska fat bike riders seem to carry spray instead of firearms. You have to be a really good shot with a really big (and heavy) gun to hit a charging bear from a bicycle.
That being said...
Ride safe!
Hans
Two-Wheeled Explorer
Proceeding on...
I usually use light-weight hiking boots on bike tours, with toe clips on my Bianchi Volpe and Power Grip straps on my MTB. Rigid enough for biking, flexible enough for hiking, durable enough for the long haul, plus they give me ankle support. I tuck the laces under the tongue while riding.
Ride safe,
Hans
southpier
Expedition Leader
betcha these fellers'd be up to the task: http://www.ltolman.org/99arch/ironridersbook.htm
expedition indeed! and 1 gear, too.
I am guessing a belt he does not carry, have you ever seen a broken belt? I haven't.... They are super stout.
Its a slick ride, makes me want to re-work my Gunnar RockHound in to a bikepacker!
Its a slick ride, makes me want to re-work my Gunnar RockHound in to a bikepacker!
I'll resurrect this waaay cool thread with a not-needed-but-awesome-to-have addition: the Alite Monarch camp chair. I decided very early on that my butt didn't like to be sitting on hard ground, especially after a day of riding, and even more so if the ground is wet, rocky, or on an incline. The Monarch is small and light enough to be my one camp luxury. It has just 2 feet, and requires a bit of practice to find the sweet spot for balance, but that takes about 2 minutes. If you can ride a bike, you can use this chair. As it weighs 1.1 pounds and packs to the size of a shoe, it's perfect to get strapped to an anything cage or stuffed in a backpack. Recovery is everything, and being able to relax after the day is done helps tomorrow be awesome too. Just my .02.
Kiddmen57
Supporting Sponsor
Christophe,
Anything you'd recommend for a light and ultra packable WATERPROOF jacket? Hopefully something close to $150 or so? I want it to keep in the pack just for wind and possible rain during changing conditions.
This is what I use:
http://www.mavic.us/apparel-men-mtb-jackets-crossmax-h2o-jacket
Not so much ultra-packable, but it's small enough. I love mine, and I think I paid about a hundred bucks for it.
Steve
Christophe Noel
Expedition Leader
On the lighter side, I've been using this: The Berghaus VapourLight Hyper Smock 2. Dumbest name ever.
It hits your price point to the penny.http://expeditionportal.com/field-tested-berghaus-vapourlight-hyper-smock-2-0/
I've really put it to the test lately. I've come to the conclusion that it does work. It is ridiculously small. When the rain comes, it does benefit greatly from a good long sleeve base layer under it to help augment the breathability. If I wear it in a hard rain with a t-shirt and under exertion, I get a little condensation.
For the sake of full disclosure, they did provide it to me to test at no cost. I probably would not have braved the $150 without testing it first. However, having used it as much as I have this summer, I would absolutely have popped for the $150.
As an added disclaimer, if I really anticipate lots of rain, as I did in Iceland, nothing beats a good GoreTex jacket like my PacLite jacket from Arc'teryx, which is my foul weather go-to.