Travelling and holidaying by bike has become extremely popular over the last few years. The increase in audaxes, sportives and the recent developments in bikes and luggage designed for bike packing have all contributed to this. A whole new industry has sprung up around “bike packing” with many companies producing bags to fit bike frames and gravel bikes and adventure bikes being designed for this.
Whilst “bike packing” seems just another name for cycle touring there are some subtle differences. Cycle touring is generally considered more road based with the emphasis on distance. Touring bikes have rear and front fork mounted racks to take panniers and strong frames to take the weight of luggage.
Bikepacking generally refers to cycle touring which is more off-road on bikes designed for that purpose. The recent popularity of gravel / adventure bikes has seen alot of interest in bike packing. You dont specifically need a gravel or adventure bike to go bike packing, a normal mountain bike is just as suitable. Much of the bikepacking luggage is designed to fit on any type of bike usually using straps and does not require mounting lugs on the bike frame itself.
The increase in the development of cycle trails and long distance cycling routes has seen a big increase in the popularity cycle touring / bike packing.
