Bikepacking for beginners

Pull off your first overnighter without a new bike or a perfect kit — five simple steps from idea to S24O.

You don't need a perfect bike or perfect kit — you need a small, achievable plan. Here's how to pull off your first overnighter without overthinking it.

Bikepacking for Beginners: How to Plan Your First Trip

A practical beginner's guide to bikepacking: choosing a bike, planning your first overnighter, what to pack, and how to ride loaded without overcomplicating it.

No. Any bike that fits you and accepts wider tyres (35 mm+) will get you started. Gravel bikes, hardtail MTBs, and even sturdy touring bikes are all great. Upgrade only once you know what you actually need.

How far should my first bikepacking trip be?

Aim for an 'S24O' — sub-24-hour overnighter. 40-80 km out to a campsite, sleep, ride back. It exposes every gear and planning issue in a low-stakes way.

Bikepacking bags (saddle bag, frame bag, handlebar roll) keep weight close to the frame and work on rough terrain. Panniers carry more but flop on singletrack. For mixed-surface routes, go bags-first.

Start with established routes on bikepacking.com or Komoot Collections, then build your own using Komoot, RideWithGPS, or Strava heatmaps. Look for forest service roads, rail trails, and quiet backroads.

If it fits you and clears at least 35 mm tyres, it works. A gravel bike is ideal for mixed surfaces; a hardtail MTB shines on rougher routes. Don't buy a new bike for trip one — you'll learn what you actually need by riding.

Pick a single-night overnighter: 40-80 km out, camp, ride back. Use Komoot or RideWithGPS to route via gravel roads, rail trails, and quiet pavement. Save the GPX offline. Check sunset, water sources, and where to bail if weather turns.

A bivy or lightweight 1-person tent, a 3-season sleeping bag, and an inflatable pad is plenty for warm-weather trips. Book a campground for your first time so finding a spot isn't part of the adventure.

A loaded bike is heavier and slower-handling — expect 15-25% lower average speed. Climb seated, descend more cautiously, and add 30 minutes of buffer per 50 km. Eat and drink on a timer, not by feel.

After the trip, write down what you didn't use, what you missed, and what hurt. Three trips in, your kit list will be dialed. Each overnighter teaches more than a month of forum reading.