In June 2023, five friends embarked on a 4000km bikepacking trip from Brisbane to Darwin over 46 days. Wild Earth ambassador Reid Marshall shares the gear that got them through it and what you need for your next bikepacking adventure!
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STORAGE
For storage, I used the waterproof Ortlieb pannier bags as my main storage containers for this trip. They hold up in bad weather and are super easy to put on/take off my rack. For more accessible storage, I used a top tube bag big enough to fit my snacks and my toilet paper. Water was tricky to come by in some places on this trip, so I grabbed a few extra bottle cages, and a big 5L container attached to the top of my rear bike rack. I stored any additional water in a 2L CNOC bladder and 1L Nalgenes in my pannier bags. I also purchased a small storage bag for underneath my saddle that is perfect for keeping spare tubes and bike repair gear, including tyre levers, tube patches, multi-tool, spare chain links, and zip ties. I popped my phone on a Quadlock on my handlebars which made it easy to listen to music and audiobooks and check directions too.
ACCESSORIES
A helmet, sunglasses, a bell, and bike lights were essential accessories for my bikepacking trip. I also took along my Aftershok headphones as they are great at not blocking out environmental sounds like traffic and birdlife.
ULTRALIGHT 3-SEASON TENT
I went with the Big Agnes Copper Spur Bikepacking Tent. This one is perfect for bikepacking because it clipped right on my handlebars, negating the need for a handlebar bag or similar. It's super light and it fit the three non-snoring members of our group. The other two members used the designated snoring tent, which is my MSR Tent - another epic lightweight 3-season tent.
SLEEPING MAT
It's hard to go wrong with a Sea to Summit sleeping mat. Lightweight, good R values, and is great value for money. The bag is genius as it doubles as a pump sack so you don't have to get lightheaded while trying to inflate your mat.
PILLOW
Though not essential, a pillow can significantly improve your sleep quality, especially over such a long trip. Pairing Sea to Summit mat with my Sea to Summit Aeros pillow was great too, because of the new pillow lock technology.
SLEEPING BAG
I used the Sea to Summit Spark IV sleeping bag which is outlandishly versatile and perhaps a little overkill. We were anticipating cold temps on our trip to Darwin, with lows getting down to the zero-degree mark. This bag was both crazy light and warm enough for me to not have to worry at night.
CAMP CLOTHES
I have a set of thermals that have accompanied me on almost every trip since 2019. These will be my main camp clothes, but I will pad myself out with an insulated jacket, warm camp socks, beanie, and gloves. I’ll take one spare pair of undies too. My lightweight Sea to Summit towel was great for showering at campgrounds and some waterholes along the way.
CYCLING CLOTHES
I picked up a perfectly fitting padded bike bib at an op shop a few months ago, and have never looked back. I’m going to pair this with a long-sleeved breathable top for sun protection and added warmth for the cold mornings ahead. I also had a lightweight rain/wind jacket handy to chuck on for extra warmth or in case of bad weather.
CAMP FOOD
As we were resupplying our food from small towns along the way, options were limited and didn't encounter many Backcountry Cuisines along the way. Noodles and cous cous were the foundation of my evening meals. A classic porridge for breakfast was nicely improved with some golden syrup. Lunch generally consisted of wraps or bread with peanut butter or vegemite. I almost forgot about my stove because it is so tiny! I used my stove and a titanium pot for cooking, which also doubles as my bowl. I eat with my Sea to Summit Delta Spoon (although I have broken a few of these trying to scoop frozen peanut butter on my last winter trip, but that’s mainly on me). We collectively had two more stoves that were used with more commonly found fuel sources (unleaded/metho) along the way, which were the Trangia and the MSR Whisperlite, now multi-generational artefacts of our group
SPARES AND BIKE REPAIR
Most of us were rocking 700C tyres, which was quite handy. We collectively took a spare foldable tyre, about ten spare tubes, and two bike pumps (one with a pressure gauge. Some members were running tubeless setups (fancy) and are taking sealant, tyre plugs and CO2 canisters.
29 авг 2023
