The full gear list
It is impossible to have just one perfect gear list. Every trip is different, so it would be foolish to say that this list is the best. What kind of bags we use, what clothing we bring, do we carry cooking gear? It all depends on the trip. This is the full list of all the gear that we have and what we set off with when we just started bicycle touring.
Spoiler alert, this list is too long. For every trip we now try to think what we actually need. Are there bike shops around that can help us with spare parts and tools or will we be in remote areas where we have to fix everything ourselves? In South East Asia chances are big you won't be cooking, so you won't need this much cooking gear. For every trip we make we will post a gear list, like this one of the Annapurna Circuit Trek!
Bikes and bags
What kind of bike do you need for a bicycle tour? A sturdy one! We've put our bikes through hell. Threw them on top of busses from which they of course fell off. Stuffed them in boxes for air travel, loaded them on trains and pretty much tried to ride them to the ground. Somehow they survived all this terror. They are a bit squeaky and need some true love and care, but this set-up actually proved to work for us.
SABINA | ROBIN |
Avaghon S28 | Avaghon X29 |
Shimano Deore | Shimano Deore |
TRP Spyre mechanical disc brake | TRP Spyre mechanical disc brake |
Shimano LX disc & dynamo | Shimano LX disc & dynamo |
Ryde Sputnik rim, 36 spokes | Ryde Sputnik rim, 36 spokes |
Schwalbe Marathon Green, 50-622 | Schwalbe G-ONE Allround 29 x 2.25 |
AXA LUXX70 Plus USB | Jones bar H-loop |
Shimano Deore XT SPD pedals T8000 | AXA LUXX70 Plus USB |
Tubus Logo & Tubus Duo Lowrider racks | Shimano Deore XT SPD pedals T8000 |
Brooks Cambium All Weather C19 Carved | Tubus Logo & Tubus Duo Lowrider racks |
Ortlieb ultimate six classic, 7l | Brooks Cambium All Weather C17 Carved |
Apidura backcountry food pouch, 0.8l | Revelate Designs harness + dry bag |
Vaude aqua front, 28l | Revelate Designs egress pocket |
Apidura expedition full frame pack, 7.5l | Apidura Expedition top tube tag, 1l |
Apidura expedition saddle pack, 14l | Ortlieb front roller classic, 25l |
Ortlieb back roller classic, 40l |
Tools & spare parts
A well-thought tool kit can be a true life saver. Figuring out what the necessary tools are can be a difficult task. So here’s a detailed overview of the tools that will help solve most of your issues on the fly during your around the world cycling trip or bikepacking adventure in the backcountry.
Lezyne multi tool | Park Tool TB-2 tire boots |
Swiss Tools allen keys | Schwalbe inner tubes |
Cyclus spoke wrench | Shimano brake cables |
Shimano Hollowtech II tool | Shimano gear cables |
Park Tool FR-5.2G cassette lockring tool | TRP brake pads |
Park Tool MLP 1.2 missing link connector | KMC missing links |
Park Tool CT-5 chain breaker | Sapim spokes and nipples |
Muc-Off chain lube | Bolts and nuts |
Cyclus anti seize lube | Zip-ties |
Lezyne pump | Gorilla Tape |
Lezyne tire levers | Sea To Summit straps |
Park Tool GP-2 patch kit | Bungee cords |
Camping
Being completely off the grid can feel so amazing. Good shelter is key to make sure you get a good nights rest so you can hop on that bike fresh the next day. Our camping set-up isn't very minimal but it sure as hell is comfortable. If you will be camping for months like we did it might be a good idea to invest in some quality materials. Like famous Tour de France winner Joop Zoetemelk said: 'the tour is won in bed'. That goes for a bicycle tour as well!
MSR Hubba Hubba NX2 tent | Sea to Summit 100% Premium Silk liner |
MSR Universal Footprint | Black Diamond Storm head torches |
Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated Regular sleeping mat | Biolite Sitelight Mini lights |
Sea to Summit Spark III sleeping bag (Robin) | MSR Fabric repair kit |
Sea to Summit Flame III sleeping bag (Sabina) | Exped Permanent Home repair kit |
Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Down Regular | Sea to Summit spare valve flaps |
Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme liner |
Kitchen
In South-East Asia we didn't touch our stove once. We only boiled water with the electric heating element to brew some coffee. The food was so cheap, we couldn't be bothered to cook. In Central Asia however, I don't think we would have survived without our well-equipped kitchen. The kitchen gear isn't heavy, it's just really bulky and takes up a lot of storage space.
MSR Whisperlite International stove | AeroPress Go |
MSR Fuel bottle 591 ml/20 fl | Lighter |
Sea to Summit Alpha 2 pot cook set, including mugs and bowls | Sponge |
Sea to Summit Alpha pan | Grip lock bags |
Sea to Summit X-Plate | MSR dish brush/scraper |
Egg box | Sawyer Mini Water filter |
Sea to Summit Alpha light spork and knife | Sawyer Squeeze bags 32 oz |
Opinel knife no. 10 | MSR Dromlite 3L |
Victorinox Swiss Army knife | Camelbak Podium bottles |
Electric heating element |
Clothing
There's only two thing you need to know about a good wardrobe for bicycle touring: good quality padded shorts and merino wool. The padded shorts will save your butt when you spend hours and hours in the saddle. For all other clothes, socks, jerseys, sweaters, see if you can buy it in merino wool. Brands like Icebreaker have amazing stuff and we were surprised by the durability.
SABINA |
ROBIN |
Icebreaker cool-lite solace tank top | 2 x Icebreaker tech-lite short sleeve crewe t-shirt |
Icebreaker cool-lite solace t-shirt | DHB merino base layer |
H&M top | DHB merino short sleeve |
Icebreaker merino 200 oasis long sleeve crewe | Icebreaker quantum long sleeve zip hoodie |
super.natural funnel hoodie | Patagonia better sweater vest |
Icebreaker sprite racerback bra | 2 x Icebreaker merino anatomica boxershorts |
Icebreaker Everyday boy shorts | Fjällräven karl zip-off trousers |
3x H&M hipster briefs [3x] | Helly Hansen thermal pants |
Fjällräven karla zip-off | Smartwool hike medium crew socks |
Icebreaker merino 200 oasis leggings | H&M swim shorts |
Hanwag merino alpin socke | Assos equipe S7 bib shorts |
Banana moon bikini | Rapha Core bib shorts |
Rapha souplesse bib shorts | Castelli padded shorts |
Assos H.LaalalaiShorts S7 bib shorts | Rapha brevet jersey |
Isadore woolight jersey | Rapha brevet long sleeve windblock jersey |
Isadore long sleeve jersey | DHB merino buff |
Isadore merino buff | 2 x GripGrab merino socks |
2 x GripGrab merino lightweight socks [2x] | DHB merino leg warmers |
DHB merino leg warmers | DHB merino arm warmers |
Kask mojito x helmet | ZeroRH+ zy helmet |
Fjällräven abisko pack cap | Rapha cap |
Patagonia down sweater | Patagonia down jacket |
Patagonia torentshell jacket | Patagonia torentshell rain jacket |
Decathlon rain trousers | Decathlon rain trousers |
Icebreaker pocket hat | Icebreaker pocket hat |
Icebreaker quantum gloves | Sealskinz waterproof all weather insulated gloves |
Lake mx 1 wide leather cycling shoes | Mammut gore-tex gloves |
SealSkinz waterproof overshoes | Shimano MW7 waterproof gore-tex spd cycling shoes |
Hanwag tatra II wide gtx hiking shoes | DHB overshoes |
Teva sandals | Hanwag tingri hiking boots |
Teva sandals |
Gadgets
To make our awesome stories, like this one about our first week on the Pamir Highway, we carry a lot of electronics. This is probably what makes our bikes feel like a thousand pounds. We love creating it so we're happy to carry the extra weight, but for most a tablet and maybe even the camera on your phone will probably do.
Fujifilm XT3 | Macbook 12 inch |
Fujifilm XF 18-55 mm F/2.8-4 (lens) | MacBook Pro 13 inch |
Fujifilm X100F | Sandisk card reader |
Lens hood & filters | Apple USB-C adaptor |
4 x Fujifilm batteries | BioLite Charge 40 power bank |
6x Sandisk memory cards | Anker PowerCore+ Quick Charge 3.0 Qualcomm |
Gorillapod | S-Kross Pro Light USB world plug |
GoPro Hero7 Black | iPhone SE & iPhone 8 |
2 x GoPro batteries | iPhone earbuds |
2x LaCie Rugged Mini USB-C 1TB | Wahoo Elemnt |
Spot Gen3 GPS device | Wahoo Elemnt ROAM |
Toiletries & first aid
If you can't shower for days baby wipes are the answer! We're not sure if you really become much cleaner but hey, it gets the muck off if there isn't a shower around. Good hygiene is especially important to prevent saddle sores. We use coconut oil as chamois creme, but also for our face and dry skin. It's anti-bacterial and helps moisturize the skin.
Tooth brush | Glasses |
Tooth paste | Contacts |
Dental sticks | Contact solution |
Toilet paper | Paracetamol |
Wet wipes | Ibuprofen |
Towel | Imodium |
Sea to Summit Wilderness wash | Antibiotics |
Sunscreen | Acetazolamide |
Hand sanitizer | First aid kit |
Sea to Summit Clothesline | Tweezers |
Ear plugs | Nail clippers |
Baby wipes | Coconut oil |
Extra's
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There's alway a bunch of extra stuff that you somehow need to stuff in your already full bags. Make sure that when you pack you always try to keep some room for these extra's and for snacks and food.
Passport | Wallet |
Medical passport | Small padlock |
Passport photos | Kryptonite lock |
Sunglasses | Sea to Summit ultra oil nano day pack |
Notebook | Exped Cloudburst 25 Black daypack |
Pen | Lezine bicycle light |
If you need any advice on what you should or shouldn't bring, shoot us a message on Instagram!