Here’s my take on a bikepacking rig

Got a lot of inspiration from here building this bike so I thought I'd return the favor!

My goal was to build a true all-rounder: able to go fast on the flats, be okay on light mtb trails and carry enough gear to be somewhat self-sufficient (minimalist camping and cooking).After covering around 1200 km between Belgium and Switzerland on all kinds of terrain I can say that overall I'm really happy with the configuration.

I got small size panniers (14L each) to have some good usable space while trying not to hurt ground clearance and aerodynamics too much. One side contained all my clothes and the other cooking gear, food and a few random items I need during the day. This all fit with room to spare. The drybag on the rack held light but bulky nighttime stuff and in the front roll I put the tent.

Top 3:

1. Hydraulic disc brakes: coming from rim brakes on previous bikes I was impressed with the stopping power, wet or dry
2. Flat pedals: comfortable, rock solid and fast to put a foot on the ground
3. Dry bag on rack: offered loads of space (20L), didn't move around at all and the webbing was super convenient to dry and air stuff on the go

Flop 3:

1. Electronics: used my phone for navigation and was managing a low battery all time. Really annoying how powerbanks are so slow to charge. No overnight charging on campsites!
2. Flat-soled sneakers: really comfortable but not enough grip for pushing the bike up slippery slopes and don't dry out overnight
3. Chain lock in a bidon: too fiddly to get in and out

Can't wait to take it out on the next trip!