My Recommended Lightweight Bike Touring Setup

The secret to any successful bicycle tour is having a good bicycle. Click here to learn more about what to look for in a good touring bike.

For this lightweight bike touring setup, you’ll be cycling in the same pair of shoes that you walk around in at the end of the day, so you’ll need a pair of simple flat bike pedals.

Fenders help to protect you and your bicycle from water and debris kicked up by the road surface. They aren’t 100% necessary, but most people who do long-distance bike tours enjoy having them.

You’re going to be drinking lots of water on your bike tour, so you want to mount as many water bottle cages to your bike as possible. Most bikes have mounts for at least two water bottle cages, but quality touring bikes usually have three or more mounts.

Again, you’re going to want to carry a lot of water with you on your bike tours, so don’t forget to pack a few water bottles.

A kickstand isn’t necessary, but it sure is nice. So if you want to make this lightweight bike touring setup even lighter, consider ditching the recommended kickstand.

You’re going to need a rear rack on the back of your bicycle. The rack is what allows you to carry the two large bicycle panniers – which will carry most of your personal belongings while you’re on tour.

The Ortlieb Bike-Packer Plus panniers are my favorite bicycle touring bags. They’re large enough to carry all you gear, completely waterproof, and good looking.

The Ortlieb Ultimate6 Handlebar Bag is a good one for lightweight bicycle touring. You will use it to carry your wallet, smartphone, and various bicycle tools.

A hat is optional, but I like to carry a hat with me at all times, so that at the end of the day, when I take off my helmet, I can immediately cover up my bad helmet hair.

If you’re the journaling type, or even the type that likes to keep track of your daily distances, speed and location, then it’s a good idea to pack a journal and pen.

Sunglasses are a must for any bicycle tour. The sunglasses case, however, is optional. Only pack it if you think you’ll need it.

Paper street maps are optional nowadays (as many bicycle tourists are navigating entirely with their smartphones), but if you’re the paper map type, then be sure to pack your maps.

For mapping out your route, listening to music/podcasts, learning foreign languages and simply entertaining yourself, your smartphone may just be your most-used bicycle touring instrument.

You’re going to want to have a small, bright bike light that can be mounted to the front of your bicycle when riding at night or through dark tunnels. 

Having a rear light on your bicycle is a must. The light (like you front light) can also be used at night when working in your tent or around camp.

A bicycle computer like the Blackburn Atom SL 4.0 bicycle computer is not 100% necessary, but it’s a nice tool to have if you want to track your daily distances, average speed and other important stats.

If you’re traveling internationally, you’ll need your passport. Otherwise, you can probably leave this item at home. 

When putting together your lightweight bike tour packing list, don’t forget your wallet. I like to use a zippered wallet, so I don’t have to worry about my cash, credit cards or ID falling out while I’m on the road.

A lightweight titanium spork is, in my opinion, the only kitchen utensil you absolutely need – besides your knife.

This small folding knife is carried in your handlebar bag and can be accessed quickly if need be. But the main purpose for this knife is for food preparation.

If you get a flat tire, you can usually repair the flat with a basic repair kit and two additional plastic tire levers.

You want to purchase the smallest, lightest multi-tool you can find that at the same time contains all the Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, and tools you need for your specific bicycle.

You can probably leave the matches at home, but at least carry a small lighter with you. This comes in handy for cooking over the same stove at the end of the day of creating a well-deserved campfire.

If you’re going on a short bike tour close to home, you can probably leave your spoke wrench at home. But if you’re planning a long-distance bike tour, then packing a spoke wrench is a good idea.

If you know you’re going to be traveling with a smartphone and you won’ be near a power outlet for several days on end, then you might want to consider carrying a small solar charger, like the popular Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt solar charger.

You’ll use this short bungee cord to carry your solar charger, sleeping bag, tent, or any other items you might pick up along the way) on the top of your rear bicycle rack.

You’re going to want to use the smallest and lightest, high-quality sleeping pad you can fund. The Vaude Sove is, by far, the best sleeping pad I’ve ever used. It’s perfect for summer bike touring, but not ideal for winter cycling expeditions.

While not 100% necessary on every bike tour, it’s usually a good idea to carry a cable lock of some kind, so you can secure your bicycle whenever you step away from the bike for any length of time.

The Lezyne Sport Drive HV hand pump is an inexpensive bicycle pump, but it’s compact, lightweight and easy to use.

In order to pack light, you are going to want to purchase the smallest and lightest tent you can find – like the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL, which comes highly recommended!

You’re going to want a small, lightweight sleeping bag is ideal for a summertime bicycle touring expeditions. Something like the Marmot Always Summer sleeping bag is perfect for the cooler nights of spring, summer and fall.

In order to maintain your bicycle, you’ll need to pack a small, lightweight bottle of chain lube.

While not 100% necessary, it might be a good idea to pack at least one spare brake and one spare derailleur cable on your bike tour – especially if you are planning a longer ride in more remote corners of the globe.

A pedal wrench is only really necessary if you are having to assemble or reassemble your bicycle at the start of your tour. If you’re biking close to home, you can probably leave the pedal wrench there as well.

Once again, on shorter bike tours, you probably won’t need to pack a set of spare brake pads, but on longer bike tours it’s a good idea.

A half-roll of electrical tape can come in handy – for minor repairs to your bicycle… or for re-wrapping your handlebar tape should it come undone at some point during your ride.

A helmet isn’t 100% necessary (some people don’t like to cycle in a helmet and that’s okay), but a helmet is required by law in many countries around the world, so do your research before you leave home.

For this lightweight bike tour packing list, you’ll be wearing just a single pair of shoes – to bth cycle in and walk around in at the end of the day. Make sure you pick a shoe with a firm, but comfortable sole.

You can choose to wear any number of different types of cycling shorts. Whether you want tight lycra shorts of loose mountain bike style shorts – the choice is up to you.

You’re going to want at least one lightweight cycling jersey for your bike tour. This is going to be the jersey that you use exclusively for cycling in each day.

If it gets cold, you’ll be glad you packed a small, compact and lightweight fleece jacket – which can be worn alone or underneath your waterproof rain jacket.

You can carry all of your toiletries inside a single lightweight toiletry case. In addition to the obvious toiletries you might need, you might also choose to carry a lightweight camp towel.

I recommend carrying at least a half-roll of toilet paper – just in case. You never know when nature is going to call… or if there will be any toilet paper in the vicinity, so it’s best to be prepared.

I recommend packing socks that you can wear both on and off your bicycle. This will reduce your overall weight, as you are eliminating the need for two different types of socks. Three or more pairs of socks is a good idea.

In the event of a flat tire, you should always have at least one spare bike tube on you at all times.

Cycling gloves are not at all necessary during most summertime bike tours, but in cold weather a lightweight pair of gloves can really come in handy.

If you’re traveling with a smartphone or any other electronics in a foreign country, you may need to carry an international power adapter, such as the Travel Smart All-in-One Power Adapter pictured here.

Bicycle touring with a camp stove isn’t always necessary, but having the ability to cook your own food certainly comes in handy in certain parts of the world. You’re going to want to smallest and lightest camp stove you can find.

Nothing special here. At the end of the day you will want to change out of your smelly cycling jersey and into something a little more comfortable.

You’ll want to rotate between the two or more pairs of underwear that you’ll be carrying.

While not 100% necessary, I’ve found it to be nice to have a pair of lightweight fleece pants to sleep in at night. This pair of pants is especially nice if you are going to be camping in cooler conditions.

Off the bike, you’re going to want a pair of pants that can be worn around town – potentially in both formal and informal environments. A pair of lightweight black jeans is a good option, in my opinion.

I’ve got a basic set of North Face rain pants that I highly recommend. They’re waterproof, weigh almost nothing, and pack down to an incredibly small size.

Finally, you’re going to want a small, lightweight rain jacket that is 100% waterproof and can be worn in the worst of weather conditions. This jacket does not have to be a dedicated cycling jacket. I, for example, have recently been using the REI Rhyolite rain jacket, and I really, really like it.