Top Tips & Tricks For Bikepacking On A Budget

You don’t need to break the bank to go on a cycling adventure. Bikepacking is a great way of exploring the outdoors on your bike and can be done cheaply without burning a hole in your wallet. Conor and Manon run through their top tips, tricks and hacks to show you that you can enjoy a bikepacking adventure no matter what your budget!

0:00 Intro
0:54 Rucksack
1:34 Straps
2:10 Bivvy bag hack
3:09 Handlebar hack
4:04 Dry bag hack
4:48 Tape
5:26 Budget accommodation
6:24 Bikepacking bags
7:00 Summary

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What top tips do you have for bikepacking on a budget? 🚵 Let us know in the comments below! 💬

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[gcn]

What top tips do you have for bikepacking on a budget? 🚵

[emeQve]

the best tip Ive heard is "just go on whatever bike you have, don't wait for that dream gravel bike etc.. Just get out there!"

[ABiketoEscape]

Weird to talk about doing things on a budget with a Pinarello :)

Dry bags and straps for the win!

[jonk]

Some excellent ideas there. I tried bikepacking in 2021 heatwave. Already had panniers on my hybrid got a compact self inflating matress, a supermarket tent from years back found in the loft. No sleeping bag, took a 'space blanket' and given the heat a change of lycra! Only went 50 miles to a cheap campsite although when I got set up I found I had another 10 miles to do to get food as the local hostelry was closed due to covid. Cycled back the next day. Stopped for coffee and a group of road cyclists were there, the looked at my load and asked how much it weighed. I didn't know but I weighed bike + load when I got home 43kg! It was worth it for the adventure!

[emiljarengrim]

I remember a previous trick from Conor. Always ride with mates so you can nick their chocolate and not having to spend money on your own!

[TheLinkoln]

This arrived just in time, am about to ride round the coast of the UK... Raising awareness of mental health and the advantages that cycling brings.

Hopefully also raise some money for MIND.

[hughjaars]

Used a steel framed hybrid with a rack. On the front was dry bag with clothes and sleeping bag strapped to £8 accessory bar bolted to the handle bars to clear the cables. Rear was 25 litre sports bag strapped to the top of the rack with tent (minus poles), spares and cooking stuff in the bag. Foam mat on top of the bag. 2litre water bottle also attached. Tent poles strapped to top tube. Had great time going slowly around Devon camping on Dartmoor.

[dylanhunt]

Most normal non-high end bikes have or can have a luggage carrier in the back, on which either two cheap large bags can be mounted on either side. Or if you want to go budget, you just put your hiking rucksack on the luggage carrier and put one of the shoulder straps over the saddle and around the seat post and tighten it as much as possible. A 65 liter rucksack is plenty of space for any convenience. If you're on a budget you might have more bulky gear so you might need it. You can also combine 2 sidebags + a rucksack. Or mount a front carrier for 2 extra bags at the front and it works great but of course that's more tinkering and bag costs. A large rucksack has the most flexibility and simplicity and is the cheapest way if you've already got one.

[alexandersnider]

Doing Seattle to San Francisco this summer mostly through the Cascades and Sierra mountain ranges, super looking forward to it. Bikepacking and touring is what got me into cycling.

[geoffreyhoney]

Another awesome video Manon and Conor and gcn! Great beginner tips. Stealth Camping is more of an option here in Ontario. Be sure to have a low profile tent and set upat the entrance to a farmer's field: (usually gravel, no poison ivy, tall grass at sides hies your tent. Break camp early to avoid detection. Super cheap. Use hand dryers at washrooms to dry personal belongings. Eat peanut butter and banana wraps/meat sticks/pepperettes that avoid refrigeration. Love this content and the practical advice! Keep it rolling gcn!

[VictorElGreco]

Agreed on heavy stuff going on the bike, not on your back. I do, however, like to strap on a tiny, $15 sling bag with cash, munchies and sun screen. So much easier than having to open your luggage!

[oatmonster]

I've found the easiest way to go bikepacking on a budget is to just re-purpose the $5000 in premium bikepacking equipment I just happen to have kicking around 😁

[lisasbiketravels]

I’m bike packing the great divide, struggling to get it all on my mtb atm, thanks for the tips

[MrRideBikesFastDownHills]

Connors seatpost is so tall you could just about fit a suitcase behind it!

[grtchldy]

REI have some very affordable bikepaking bags. I recently bought REI brand saddle bag like you showed plus a handle bar roll, top tube bag (for phone, keys, energy bars etc.) and a ditty bag/bottle bag for handle bars. Got then on sale so total price was the same as one brand name handle bar roll or large saddle bag. Now to see if I can fit all my stuff in these. 😀 FYI using my used old ‘93 Trek Single Track!

[MarrafaCycling]

If you need advice I'm pro on it! on road or gravel bikes with or without disc brakes. with cheap trailers and bags and all the pros and cons.

[HuntersCyclingAdventures]

Doing my first bike packing trip in July Gonna ride all the way across Iowa for Ragbrai

[caroline]

Great video as always. Good tips for budget and also for newbies. Nice work 🤙

[JakutzaLP]

GBN (Global Bikepacking Network) incomming 🎉🎉

[salzhaltigersalzhaufen]

Also bring zipties they are universal you can fix your bags and your bike in a hury and you can strap additional stuff to your bike if you need to