When it comes to bikepacking and ultra cycling, I am a firm believer in weight matters. Not only does it affect how quickly you can get up a hill, but also it changes the way the bike feels to ride, and a lighter bike can add value to the right bikepacking experience. How can you reduce your bikepacking bike weight?

I come from a background of not just bikepacking but also ultra cycling. This has helped me understand what weight means and how to reduce it heavily. In this article, I will give you 10 ways to reduce the weight of your bikepacking setup! We will be discussing:

• Ways To Lighten Your Bikepacking Bike Weight
• Does Bikepacking Bike Weight Matter?
• A Final Note: Bikepacking Bike Weight

Ways To Lighten Your Bikepacking Bike Weight

Now for the exciting part. Let’s start by telling you how to reduce weight on your bikepacking bike. Here’s what you need to know!

Carry Less Kit

The first option is to carry less kit. Over many years of helping train athletes in long-distance cycling, I can easily pick apart someone’s kit. You will often find people take things they really don’t need.

If you find yourself returning from a trip and not using unnecessary kit like extra clothes or jackets, then there’s a strong chance you never needed them in your bikepacking kit in the first place. 

Use Lighter Kit

There’s a lot you need to take on a bikepacking adventure, and you can end up taking heavier items than needed. On my first trip, I took a lock that weighed 3 kilograms. I wish I were joking about this. Instead, I now use a smaller cafe lock, which weighs 90 grams. 

Although it might not have as much safety, as long as I don’t leave my bike too far from where I can see it, I rarely have any problems. Another interesting thought is that when you have a bike on a smaller lock, people expect you back sooner.

Think about the kit you are using, and if there’s a lightweight small option you can take, it’s worth considering. The common upgrades I tell people to make are lighter tools and spares, locks, and even power banks. 

Carbon Fiber Parts

If you want to make your bike lighter, you could swap out some of your components, such as forks and handlebars, for carbon options. Although it only makes a small difference, it does make you much lighter. The biggest upgrade you could make is the frame and forks.

There’s a misconception in cycling that carbon fiber is much weaker than other materials when this isn’t always true in modern times. It can be lighter and stronger if it’s looked after well and not stressed in a way it shouldn’t be. Aluminum is often prone to snapping more. 

Reduce The Amount Of Bags

Another route you can take is to reduce the number of bags you carry. I often see bikepackers with a saddlebag, handlebar bag, top tube bag, fork bags, and even a tool carrier on the bottom of the frame. This all adds up and you would be surprised. 

I used to do this, but after a while, I found if you pack well, then you would be surprised at how much you can fit in a full-frame bag and either a handlebar bag or a larger rear saddle bag. Many people choose a drawstring bag for carrying extra food and water and opt for smaller bags for riding with.

Bladder Over Bottles

Hydration bladders are a great way to save weight and also get more water on the bike. I used to aim for three liters for remote trips, that’s four 750ml bottles and four cages. This weighs 400 to 500 grams without the liquid. 

A good hydration bladder comes in around 150g and can do a whole three liters. You can slot it into your frame bag or handlebar bag, and you save a decent amount of weight going down this route. Apidura makes an excellent bikepacking hydration bladder. 

Go Tubeless

There have always been good reasons to use both tubeless and inner tubes. One of the best reasons to swap to tubeless is that fact it is so much lighter. It also can self-heal, which is amazing and very good for off-road riding.

Not only are tires generally lighter, but sealant is too, and using this kind of system means you can carry much fewer spares on the bike when it comes to inner tubes, patching kits, etc. If you haven’t tried tubeless you must! It’s excellent!

2X To 1X

This is a route I went down, and it really helped with my bikepacking. Going from a 2X drivetrain to a 1X does offer some great advantages. It’s typically around 300 grams lighter, easier to use, and simpler to fix. 

You do lose some gears for descending, but when bikepacking, it’s very rare you are going to be racing down a hill at super speed. I am a huge fan of a 1X setup, and if possible, I often choose it for my bikepacking adventures. 

Bivvy Over A Tent

If you want to save a decent amount of weight on your bikepacking setup, consider going from a tent to a bivvy. With tents weighing from 500 grams to 2 kilograms, you could shave a lot of weight off here. 

It is important to mention that although a bivvy is fantastic, it doesn’t offer the level of sleep you are going to get from a tent. I would really only recommend a bivvy for short tours or racing. For longer tours, a tent is much better. 

Frame Bags Over Panniers

Panniers are fantastic and can store a lot of gear, but there’s no denying they are very heavy. Not only do they require a rack to work, but due to their size, you have to take so much more material as well. 

If you can get away with using bikepacking bags and are not taking as much gear, this is not just a big weight saving but a huge saving on aerodynamics. Since going to bikepacking bags, I much prefer them, but on a worldwide tour, they wouldn’t be amazing.

Don’t Take Cookware

Cookware can weigh a lot, and I have seen many bikepackers on a trip taking a small kitchen, including a coffee maker. There is nothing wrong with that, but it adds a lot of weight to set up your setup. 

Using garages and restaurants is a great way to go for many who might be on shorter trips. It’s important to understand it’s a much more expensive route to go down also. If you are bikepacking on a budget, I recommend taking cookware. If you are in a rush, buy on the way. 

Does Bikepacking Bike Weight Matter?

Bikepacking weight doesn’t always matter, in my opinion. If you are not in a rush and are just going at your own pace, then why not carry more to make yourself more comfortable? The difference one or two kilograms makes is actually very small. It’s not an hour a day. It’s often minutes.

If you are trying to be very quick and going into ultra races while bikepacking, every bit of weight you can take off, especially on a hilly course, matters. Again, this is only a small difference, but it could be a win or a loss in a race. 

It’s important to remember that the less you take, the more comfort that you often sacrifice when on a bikepacking trip. Don’t take cookware. You must be in a restaurant for warm food and can’t easily get a coffee in the morning. Less clothes, less clothing options.

A Final Note: Bikepacking Bike Weight

These are all good ways to help lighten up your bikepacking setup, but they come at a cost. If you are going for enjoyment, take everything you need and have the best bikepacking trip ever. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this article. If you enjoyed this you might like Strength Training For Cyclists, The Ultimate Bikepacking Kit List, and The Repairs You Need To Learn Before A Bikepacking Trip.