Packing for BDR Travel

This section offers suggested guidelines on how and what to pack for an adventure ride. Everyone’s needs and styles are unique – your final list will look different.  Four pieces of advice that we’ve heard from many adventurers:

• Pack as light as you can. You’d be surprised at what you don’t need. Less is more! It’s so much easier to manage stuff when you minimize it. But don’t suffer.

• Pack your items in the same spot so you always know exactly where they are.

• Use the bag-in-a-bag technique. For example, put all your tent items in one duffle bag. Put your sleeping items in a packing cube, and then put that packing cube inside your tent items duffle. When you’re finished riding for the day, just pull that one duffle off your bike.

• Pack tools, and infrequently used items where you don’t have to unpack and then repack them to get to other more frequently used items.

• Make sure to put heavy items down low and lighter items higher up. Always ensure the side bags or panniers are packed with even amount of weight on each side. This will prevent possible high speed wobbles.

The Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDRs) organization put together an excellent sample list for traveling the BDRs . Click here

Note: Everyone has their unique comfort requirements, and if you find yourself continuously wanting something to make the travel more enjoyable, you might consider bringing it along. Just because you’re on an adventure, doesn’t mean you have to suffer.