FAQ: I’m wanting to go away on my first overnight bikepacking trip, what are some essential items I will need to get together before then?

There are a range of essential items you need before heading away even for just a short overnight trip, and they mostly fall into the following categories:

• Bike and Bags
• Tools and components
• Clothes
• Shelter and Sleep
• Water, Food and cooking
• Toiletries/First Aid
• Miscellaneous

Below I will go into further depth in each of these categories with a suggestion of the main components you will need, as well what makes them necessary. 

• Saddle bag
• Handlebar bag
• Frame bag
• Stem bag
• Top tube bag

This category represents everything you need to repair any issues that you have in getting to your destination, both in terms of parts and tools.

A common range of tools to take for an overnight trip would be:

• Spare tubes (minimum two per bike)
• Puncture repair kit
• Tyre boot
• Multi tool
• Pump
• Tyre levers
• Chain breaker and chain link
• Small bottle of lube

Some essential items to bring along would include: 

• A raincoat
• Bike shorts
• Bike shoes and socks
• Gloves 
• Underwear
• Thermals top
• Legwarmers
• A warm jumper (cotton-free)
• Lightweight sports tops and shorts
• Anything you want for camp (beanie, sandals etc)

Another relatively self explanatory category, which would include:

• Tent
• Sleeping mat
• Sleeping bag
• Compact pillow

This category involves basically everything you would consume of the given time period you’re away. This would include:

• Water bottles/bladder and water 
• Water purifying system (tablets, filters, etc)
• Freeze Dry meals or other lightweight nutrition
• Riding snacks
• Stove, lighter, gas canister
• Spork, knife, pot and mug

Some basics and some more specific items, including:

• Toothbrush/Toothpaste 
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm
• Toilet paper
• Chamois cream
• Any other personal products (medication, menstrual products etc.)
• Stocked first aid kit with bandages, painkillers etc.
• Emergency blanket

Some further essential, but hard to categorise items:

• Helmet
• Headlamp and bike lights
• Mobile phone with maps and/or physical maps
• Personal Locator Beacon and/or GPS
• Sunglasses 
• Cash/card and ID
• Camera
• Pen

Please note, you would definitely want to carry a larger range of gear than what has been highlighted above it you were going away for more than a couple nights. Consider this the bare minimum to get you home on a short trip.