Bikepacking: Here’s how to pick your perfect bike

Which bike suits you best? There basically are three options to choose from:
1. Gravel bike
2. Touring bike
3. Mountain bike

Each of these has its unique pros and cons, which we will have a further look at in this article.

How to how to pick your perfect bike?

A bikepacking bike can be a fairly big investment, so it is good to think about it carefully. Let’s discuss the three options below:

1. Gravel bike

You will most often encounter bikepackers on a gravel bike. A gravel bike is an excellent middle-ground choice. Combining elements of both touring and mountain bikes.

The big advantage is that you will have more off-road adventures with this choice than with a touring bike. The main reasons for this is the tire width, but also the fact that the bags hang higher and are therefore less likely to get caught on plants, bushes or other things.

Is your plan to cycle more on unpaved roads, such as gravel and sand paths? If so, it’s essential to choose a bike that can handle this type of terrain. In that case, it’s better to opt for a gravel or mountain bike.

In Scotland I had a great off-road adventure with my Canyon Grizl

Unlike bike touring, the gravel bicycle frame does not have to carry as many kilograms. After all, with a gravel bike you’ll only take the essentials with you. This is a disadvantage compared to a touring bike. You can simply take less with you, and you’ll live a more minimalist lifestyle. So you sacrifice some luxury (as far as bikepacking is a luxury).

With a gravel bike you have to pay more attention to your weight and space availability. You can easily do an overnighter or multi-day adventure with this bike. But for adventures that last several months or even years, I would recommend a touring bike.

Since you can’t take that much with you, gravel bike adventures are usually over a shorter time-period than a touring bike.

For most people, a gravel bike would be the winner of the three.

”A gravel bike is an excellent middle-ground choice. Combining elements of both touring and mountain bikes.”

Pros:

You can do more off-road paths than with a touring bike.
It’s more lightweight than a touring or mountain bike.
More comfortable on gravel- and sand roads than a touring bike.
You can take the more adventurous, unpaved, trails.
Suitable for 4-season use: snow, mud, sand and in forests.
Lighter construction than a touring bike or mountain bike.

Cons:

There is less space for your stuff than with a touring bike. So it’s a less luxury lifestyle than with a touring bike.
It’s likely that you’ll have to invest more in your gear to reduce the weight and space.
Gravel bikes are great for shorter adventures of up to four weeks, but for longer trips, I would recommend a touring bike.

2. Touring bike

Next up is the touring bike. I personally started bikepacking with a touring bike, and I consider it a great starter bike to get to know bikepacking.

The main advantage of a touring bike is that it allows you to carry significantly more gear compared to the other two options. This makes it an excellent choice for longer trips. If you expect most of your adventures to last four weeks or more, a touring bike is definitely worth considering.

A touring bike is also more suitable for cycling with the whole family. It doesn’t require much technical skill, as you’ll be riding mostly on paved or well-maintained roads, making it a safer option. Plus, when traveling with your family, it’s useful to carry extra gear like food, kitchen utensils, and other essentials.

The big downside and major advantage of a touring bike

All of the above also highlights the main downside of a touring bike: your bikepacking adventures feel less adventurous and extreme. You’ll rarely hit off-road trails, meaning you’ll spend less time in remote or wild areas.

The big advantage is that you can enjoy a more comfortable and luxurious lifestyle during your trip. You can carry more food, clothing, devices, or even a foldable chair. A touring bike makes life on the road easier — and after a long day of cycling, that extra comfort can make all the difference.

In 2020 I cycled from home to Venice, I was even able to take a foldable chair!

Pros:

You can take way more stuff.
Best for trips that take a couple of weeks, months, or years.
The best option for cycling with the whole family.
A more luxurious lifestyle.

Cons:

More luxury means more weight.
It’s less off-road.
Less adventurous, wild, and extreme.
It’s not as great on gravel and sand paths as a gravel or mountain bike.

3. Mountain bike

With a mountain bike you can tackle any terrain

Broadly speaking, you won’t come across many bikepackers on mountain bikes. That said, there are some regions where they seem more common. From what I’ve seen in bikepacking content, mountain bikes seem to be quite popular in North American countries.

The biggest advantage of a mountain bike is that you can take the most wild and off-road paths. A mountain bike also provides extra comfort on these roads because of its suspension.

If you know in advance that you will mostly do overnighters or trips of only a few days, and that the areas where you will be bikepacking are mainly off-road with poor road surfaces, then the mountain bike is definitely an option to consider.

Something to keep in mind is that with a mountain bike, you can carry less gear than with the other two types of bikes. The suspension causes the frame to flex and move, so you need to make sure your bags have enough space and don’t get caught. This often comes at the expense of valuable space, which is already limited when bikepacking.

Keep the following in mind when buying a mountain bike

With gravel and touring bikes, you often find certain types that are designed for bikepacking. You can recognize this when the designer thinks along about options for storing your luggage. For example, in the front fork you’ll find various options to put a rack to which you can attach your bags.

While this is often carefully considered with touring and gravel bikes, it’s less common with mountain bikes. So, when buying a mountain bike for bikepacking, make sure it has options for attaching your bags.

The Canyon Grizl has many **options for attaching bags** or gear

Mountain bikes with single suspension are called hard tails. Full suspension mountain bikes also have rear suspension. They are therefore heavier, but at the same time the suspension provides more comfort and control.

Pros:

Most comfortable option on rough or poor road surfaces
The most adventurous choice, offering the greatest off-road possibilities
Allows you to cycle in unique places inaccessible to the other two options

Cons:

Least storage space for your gear
Offers the least luxurious lifestyle
You’ll likely need to invest more in lightweight gear to save space and weight
Less suitable for long trips
Heavier than the other two bikes due to extra suspension

Key questions on how to pick your perfect bike

Exercise: each bike has its pros and cons. To help determine which bike suits your bikepacking needs, answer the following questions:

Do you prefer some level of comfort and luxury, or are you fine with a more minimalist lifestyle?
How important is versatility if you plan to use the bike for other cycling activities?
Will your adventures mostly follow paved roads or off-road trails?
Do you prioritize speed and efficiency, or comfort and stability?
What kind of weather conditions do you expect to encounter?
Are you planning longer trips or shorter ones?
How much gear do you plan to carry?