What to take and how to carry it.
These are the items I take with me, to be safe and comfortable when I go touring. I'll update this list whenever I see omissions or change-up my kit.
You don't need to match this list exactly. People take different things depending on where and when they are going, and what works for them. It will take a few tours for you to find a setup that works for you.
Before you leave, don't forget to let someone know where you're going and when you will be home. When you return home, let them know that you arrived back safely.
They key points here are reliability and waterproofing. I bought a custom touring bike for a trip of indeterminate length, so I got the best quality that I could afford at the time.
Steel is a good choice for racks, as it can be welded if it breaks. A heavier rack is a better choice than a lightweight one, as panniers can get pretty heavy, and the bike will bounce around on rough surfaces.
Ortlieb panniers have a good reputation but the mounts can jump off the frame in rough conditions. Adding extra mounts can mitigate this. Over time my Ortlieb panniers have developed small holes, so they're no longer waterproof. I line mine my important panniers with dry bags, which also don't last forever.
- Front rack: Tubus Tara Lowrider
- Rear rack: Surly Rear Rack
- Rear: 2x Ortlieb Back Roller Classic panniers
- Front: 2x Ortlieb Sport Roller Classic panniers
- Handlebars: 1x Stealth Handlebar Roll, to carry my tent
- Handlebars, 2x Revelate Mountain Feed bags (for drink bottles/food/batteries etc)
- Frame: 1x Revelate Mountain Frame bag (since worn out - the zip died twice). Now I have a Revelate Hopper. A frame bag is useful for quickly stashing electronics when it starts raining, but note that a full frame bag will remove access to drink bottle mounts
- Lightweight backpack: a cheap alternative to buying racks, but your back may not thank you! Pack size is limited, as you don't want it to be bumping into your helmet. I think I used an Osprey Talon 33 when I bike-packed the Annapurna Circuit.
Be prepared - a bike theft or failure can be a real problem if you are a long way from the nearest city.
Additionally, if you will be needing to disassemble your bike (e.g. in order to put it into a bike box) you will been a multi tool (with a range of Allen keys and screwdrivers), a pedal spanner, and a pump to reinflate your tyres.
- Front light and charging cable
- Rear light(s) and charging cable(s)
- Dynamo hub (optional, allows smartphone or light to be powered at ~13km/hour)
- Water bottle mounts
- Water bottles
- Speedo (optional, for tracking distance to the next destination or turn-off)
- Phone/GPS mount (optional, for alerts/navigation) - I use a QuadLock case/mount
- Straps or bungy ties (for mounting extra gear or drying clothes while riding or in tent)
- Tough cable lock (for locking to fences etc) and key or combination
- D-lock (for locking rear wheel to frame) and key
and
- Pre-ride checkup (tighten bolts, inflate tyres, adjust brakes, oil chain)
- Tube patch repair kit (or tubeless equivalent)
- Tyre levers
- Pump
- Multi-tool (Allen keys, chain breaker, screw driver)
- Chain oil and rag
- 'Macgyver' style duct/duck tape for general repairs
- Zip ties for (re)attaching things to your bike's frame
- Pedal spanner (optional, to remove your pedals)
You may choose to eat in cafes instead, but it is still very comforting to be able to make your own hot drinks at night. A cooker also allows you to purify drinking water, which is usually recommended even at official campsites.
- Cooker and windshield
- Cooker fuel/gas (may require a fuel bottle, I mounted mine underneath my frame)
- Lighter or matches
- Knife/Fork/Spoon
- Pot with lid (pot doubles as a plate)
- Pot scrub (optional)
- Cup
- Breakfast food (nutritious and fast cooking)
- Snack food (nutritious, no cooking)
- Dinner food (nutritious and fast cooking, buying extra as I pass through towns)
- Hot drink powder/sachets
- Pocket knife (can opener, knife)
- Rubbish bag (to dispose of at home)
- Thermos (optional, for hot drinks during the day)
- Coffee maker (optional)
- Additional water bottles (if travelling to campsites without water sources)
A warm and comfortable bed helps ensure that you have enough physical and mental stamina for the next day of riding.
- Tent, and waterproof fly, poles, guy-ropes, pegs
- Groundsheet (to protect tent base from rocks)
- Sleeping Mat
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping Bag Liner
- Pillow (or use clothes inside a dry bag)
- Small microfibre towel (to dry tent inner with if packed wet)
Rain, sweat, dew and river crossings can all make you wet. You must have dedicated warm and dry clothes to put on when you stop moving.
- Cycling top (wool or synthetic)
- Cycling pants: Ground Effect Supertankers or Ground Effect Ranchsliders
- Cycling socks
- Cycling gloves
- High-vis vest / sash
- Wind and waterproof jacket (high-vis if possible)
- Wind and waterproof pants: Ground Effect Splashdowns
- Wind and waterproof gloves
- Balaclava / 'Buff' / scarf
- Weatherproof cycling shoes or boots with stiff grippy soles for cycling/hiking/hike-a-biking
- Old newspaper (to dry wet shoes overnight)
- Helmet
and
- Camp top (wool or synthetic)
- Camp jumper
- Camp pants
- Camp socks
- Camp gloves
- Camp shoes (optional, if cycling shoes would be cold when wet)
- Warm windproof jacket (eg 'puffer' jacket)
- 'Beanie' hat
- Thermal sleeping top
- Thermal long johns
and
- Glasses/contacts and sunglasses
Keeping yourself clean is important for your health. Keep New Zealand beautiful by taking waste home if there are no bins around.
- Wet wipes or similar and sealable rubbish bag (to dispose of at home)
- Tissues or toilet paper
- Toothbrush and toothpaste and/or chewing gum
- Deodeorant
- Medicines/ointments
- Mirror (optional)
- 'Pee' (black water) bottle (optional, for comfort on cold/wet nights)
- 'Poo pot' or small spade (optional, if no toilet on route - see When you’ve gotta poo)
- Microfibre towel (if you like swimming, brrrr!)
- Antiseptic ointment
- Plasters / Band-Aids
Bring your own power supply - cold weather makes batteries go flat faster. Don't rely on having enough phone coverage to use the internet.
- High capacity battery pack (for recharging USB devices)
- Solar panels (these work best when you aren't moving)
- Waterproof watch (useful when your phone dies)
- Phone / Camera / GPS / Diary
- Phone voice/data plan
- Offline maps and campground information
- Headphones (so as not to disturb others)
- Tripod / selfie-stick / drone
- Charging cables
- Head torch and spare batteries
- Book to read in tent (optional)
- Cash ($1 and $2 coins, $5 and $10 notes for camping grounds - prices vary but are usually odd amounts like $8 and $15)
- EFTPOS card (for supermarkets, cafes, bike shops, etc)
- Pen (to fill in campsite registration cards)