The best bike for Bikepacking in 2025 is the one you have

It’s a new year, which means it’s the perfect time to start looking into some outdoor resolutions for 2025. Cnoc Outdoors is providing some inspiration with four themed bundles perfect for helping you dive into a new outdoor hobby (or getting more out of an old one!) in the new year - all at a discount. Check out the Bikepacker Bundle on our site now and check back each week for a new bundle and inspiration blog all January. 

Bikepacking can either be seen as a novelty, a fad, or great way to bring things up a notch. When I had kids, going on longer backpacking days was a challenge with smaller legs, so cycling was a great idea! But we didn't want to miss the nights out, so bikepacking it was.

Like everyone else, it was an immediate race to read all the articles, buy all the gear and only then get to try some bikepacking. But guess what, you don't need to - you're probably already set. Bikepacking includes two parts (bike and packing). Let's focus on the second first: packing, as in backpacking.

You probably already have the gear

If you are here, you are most likely a backpacker, maybe even an ultralighter or a thru-hiker. Nights outside are not a problem and you can survive in the outdoors for days on end. You've got the gear and the skills to use it. 

If not, you must have camped once or twice, right? Or maybe have a friend or a family that spends time outdoors? The packing part is easy, whatever you use for your regular nights outside can be used for bikepacking.

You don't even have to use expensive custom bag, although they are nice to look at: dry bags or any sturdy bag with some straps attached to various places on your bike will work. You can even use your backpack or a combination of bags and a backpack - there are no rules here. 

Take the gear you have and use that - it is familiar, comfortable and you already know it works for you.

New activity or new gear?

We all love new gear days (we make it, of course we love it!) and a bike is no different. In fact, a new bike day is as exciting as a new bag or tent day: they are expensive and fun. But are you really ready to drop hundreds (or even thousands) on a new bike when you probably have one laying around? 

Chances are, if you are interested in bikepacking you - at the very least - like to cycle, so you should have bike. If you don't, well, I'm not sure your first foray into biking should be bikepacking. Consider starting with some adventures without an overnight component. 

A gravel or trail bike will be more comfortable, but you can bikepack with most bikes as long as they are sturdy enough. Wider tires are better than skinnier ones, but I definitely rode down gravel roads with skinny road tires - you just have to be more observant where you point your wheels.

Any part of the bike can carry gear with some straps - or even duct tape! On the front fork, in the frame, on the handle bar, on the seat post, and of course: on any rack you might have.

When, where and how

Bikepacking is an excellent shoulder season activity, with autumn considered to be the best time with the ground drier and water crossings lower. But really, if it's not snowing, you can probably ride 10-20 miles down on most public dirt roads and call it a great day of bikepacking.

A bikepacking trip can easily include a variety of surfaces and location since you will likely be able to cover a lot more distance. Combining dirt and gravel roads with secondary scenic routes and some single tracks can make for a very exciting and adventurous trip.

All you really need is to take the bike you have at home, MacGyver some gear on it (and maybe carry a pack) and head out. Doing 10-40 miles as a fit adult is very doable and as long as you stay on public routes and camp where allowed, you should be all set. Just don't forget that cyclists also need to Leave No Trace, no matter where they end up going.

Happy on your local trail? Not the resolution for you? Check out our other blogs and bundles!