How to Set Up a Gravel Bike for Your First Bikepacking Trip

Bikepacking sits at the intersection of cycling and backpacking, and your gravel bike is already 80% of the way there. You don't need a dedicated rig to ride into the woods for a night — you need a smart bag setup and a few key tweaks.

The bag system

• Handlebar roll for your sleep system
• Frame bag for heavy, dense items (tools, food, water)
• Seat pack for clothing and light bulk

Keep weight low and centered, and cinch everything down so nothing sways.

Tires and gearing

Run the widest tire your frame allows — 40mm+ smooths out washboard and adds grip on loose climbs. If your bike has a road-oriented cassette, a wider-range option will save your knees on loaded ascents.

The little things

Test-pack at home. Ride around the block loaded. Then go find a quiet dirt road and point the bike down it.