When it comes to bikepacking, there’s a lot to think about. What route will you be taking, how far do you plan to ride each day, what kit are you going to need, and what are the best bikes for bikepacking the adventure you’re going on? 

In this article, I will discuss what I think are the best bikes for bikepacking and why you should consider them if you are in the market for a new bike. We will be discussing everything you need to know by speaking about:

• The Right Bike For The Job
• What Makes A Great Bikepacking Bike?
• Our Recommendations For Bikepacking Bikes
• Where To Invest Your Money On Bikepacking Bikes

The Right Bike For The Job

The first place I want to start is to talk about the right bike for the job. In this article, we will recommend different types of bikes for general bikepacking, but if you are doing something specific, you might require a unique type of bike.

For example, although we highly rate a hardtail mountain bike for bikepacking, it isn’t ideal if you are only on smooth roads and not doing any trials. Sometimes, you have to use the bike with the correct ability over anything else. 

In this article, we are discussing a general bike for many different types of bikepacking!

What Makes A Great Bikepacking Bike?

Before we recommend a certain type of bike, it’s important to discuss what makes a great bikepacking bike. Here are the characteristics that we feel are best suited to a general bikepacking bike. 

Comfort

There’s no denying that comfort is key when it comes to bikepacking. Sitting in the saddle for long periods of time and not feeling like you need to break too much makes all the difference. Comfortable geometry and the right pedals and seat are also very important.

Durability

Next, durability is a very important factor. Bikepacking bikes need to be able to carry a lot of weight and take on challenging roads and trails. Being light and fast is all well and good, but there are risks of epic mechanical failures. 

Carrying Ability

The best bikepacking bikes can carry a lot of gear. This means good frame space, mounting points, and the strength and space to ensure things don’t need to go on bodged. 

Mixed Terrain

Although not everyone will agree, I am a huge believer that a bikepacking bike should be able to easily travel on mixed terrain, provided it needs to. This means you can really open up the adventure to more remote parts and also see things you couldn’t see from a car. 

Low Geared

Then we have low gearing. You would be surprised how wrong companies get it when they put aggressive road groupsets on a bike for bikepacking. It needs to have lots of low range so you can get up hills while carrying a lot of weight easily.

Disc Brakes

Although not essential, we feel disc brakes make a huge difference when it comes to bikepacking. They help you stop faster in poor conditions and are very powerful, making slowing down with heavier loads much easier. 

Our Recommendations For Bikepacking Bikes

Now for the exciting part, let’s start speaking about the types of bikepacking bikes we recommend for general bikepacking. We have chosen these because they tick all the boxes about and feature all the characteristics.

Hardtail Mountain Bike

Firstly, we have the hardtail mountain bike. These have big, chunky off-road tires, flat handlebars, and suspension on the front, and are made incredibly durable. Many people use these for either cross-country racing or just general day-to-day riding.

They are cheap to buy, and even basic models are good enough for a bikepacking trip. The gearing is always very low, and they are incredibly durable. You even get a relaxed geometry, and many come with all the mounting points you need for bikepacking gear. 

Pros

• Perfect for off-road adventures with wide tires.
• Easy to mount bags on and typically lots of frame space.
• Cheap to buy and maintain.
• It is very comfortable to ride, especially with the suspension.

Cons

• Fairly heavy.
• Not great on smooth surfaces.

Gravel Bike

Next, we have a gravel bike. Gravel bikes are essentially road bikes with a more relaxed geometry, wider tires, and lower gearing. Thus, they already have perfect characteristics for bikepacking. 

They are the choice of many riders. I personally believe as a bikepacking bike for mixed terrain riding the gravel bike is one of the best choices if not the best. Even for bike touring it’s an excellent option.

Pros

• Great for bag space and comfortable to ride. 
• Good on and off-road.
• It is very simple to maintain and repair.
• Good geometry for long-distance riding.
• Fast for racing ultra.

Cons

• Can struggle on technical trails and not always comfortable off-road.
• Some gravel bikes can be very expensive. 

Touring Bike

Although touring bikes are associated with large panniers huge round-the-world trips, and generally not seen as often in modern times, they are fantastic for bikepacking. They not only were the original bikepacking bikes, but they offer everything that you need. 

They have low gearing, sometimes with an internal hub, which is incredible. You also have room for larger tires for mixed-terrain riding. They often come with racks but always have bag mounts, and they are made very durable. What’s not to like?

Pros

• They are cheap to buy, and secondhand models offer great value. 
• Often, they come with parts made to last a long time without servicing. 
• All the bag mounts you will ever need.
• There are lots of mounts, and they often come with racks. 
• Great for carrying bikepacking kit.

Cons

• Fairly heavy.
• Come with a classic look.
• It is not always great when it comes to rough terrain, mainly for roads.

Where To Invest Your Money On Bikepacking Bikes

When it comes to buying a bike at a good cost for bikepacking, you are often left with a lot of different choices. What frame material? High-end or low-end components? Wheel sizes? And much more. It can be challenging to know where to invest your money. Here are my recommendations.

• Invest in a good frame, aluminum and steel are perfect, and branded bike quality is going to go a long way.

• Don’t overthink basic components, they might not help you win a race, but if you are bikepacking, they are often ideal.

• Comfort is everything, speed is irrelevant. You will often find yourself very uncomfortable if you think aggressive bikes work when bikepacking.

• Good bags last and are very waterproof, but they are expensive. I recommend starting with cheap bags until you know what setup you want.

• Start with what you have bike-wise, and then think about investing in a bikepacking bike later. There is no point in wasting money on a discipline you might not enjoy.

• When it comes to wheels, it’s important to consider strength over speed. Invest in good wheels that are strong, not as light as possible.

What Is The Best Bike For Bikepacking: A Final Note

Ultimately, the best bike for bikepacking is the one that is perfect for the terrain you are on, will carry all your bags well, and will keep you comfortable. If you were only to pick one type, then I would recommend a gravel bike, mountain bike, or touring bike over anything else.