Gear: carrying your fears
When it comes to the outdoors, whether it’s hiking, biking, bikepacking, or any activity that demands specialized gear, there’s an old saying: You carry your fears. It means you can spot an inexperienced traveler by the sheer volume of gear they’re hauling. With time, you learn what’s truly essential, what you can leave behind, and what, if things go wrong, you can improvise on the road. I don’t have much bikepacking experience yet, so my setup isn’t exactly lightweight, but I’m naive enough that I’ve probably left behind a few things I’ll come to regret. I’ll let you know how that goes.
The first part of the trip is going to be cold, so I’m carrying a thicker sleeping bag that I’ll switch for a lighter quilt after 2,300 km. The heaviest item in my setup, without a doubt, is all the camera gear. Part of me wants to do this trip without taking a single photo, just focusing on the road ahead, but I know I’d regret it the moment I stand at the cliffs of North Cape, sometimes called the edge of the world. The nickname alone makes it worth photographing.
I’ve followed so many people who’ve gone on big bikepacking trips, and one of my favorite things to see is the slow transformation from novice to master, becoming one with the setup and its inanimate objects. Over time, you watch them tinker, remove, add, and finally perfect the bike for their needs. The same evolution happens in their outfits and bodies, which gradually roughen up, grow scruffy, and mold into the perfect form for their purpose. Hopefully, I’ll go through the same journey.
I’m not much of a gear-head, but it’s tempting to fall into the rabbit hole of online forums, comparing grams and specs of different setups. The biggest problem with obsessing over gear is that you can start believing you need the gear to do the thing. Most of the time, these are nice-to-haves, not essentials, especially when it comes to lightweight gear.
In a brand-obsessed culture, I’ve tried my best to detach from the idea that I need a specific jacket, bag, or bike to do this trip. (I failed a little.) This wasn’t the case with shoes, though. I was convinced my normally cold feet would risk frostbite without proper Gore-Tex, welded-seam boots. After much deliberation, I finally settled on a pair found in most outdoor stores.
Here’s a list of what I’m bringing if you want to dig a little deeper:
Bike and Navigation
Bike (obviously)
Front & Rear Racks
2 Panniers
4 Dry Bags
Helmet
Multi-tool & Repair Kit
Pump
2x Inner tubes
Lock
Bike Computer
Printed Map
Camping
Tent
Camping Pillow
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bag liner
Sleeping Pad
Stove and Fuel
Cooking Gear and Utensils
Hydration and Food
Water Bottles
Water Filter Bottle
Food / Snacks
Clothing
Waterproof Jacket
Waterproof Pants
Gloves
Buff
Base Layer
Socks & Underwear
Waterproof Footwear
Sandals
2 Pairs of Bike Pants
A Couple of T-Shirts
Long Sleeves
Down Jacket
Electronics
Camera
Drone
Power Banks (2)
Batteries and Memory Cards
Extra Camera Battery
Charging Hub
Kindle
Tripod
Safety
First Aid Kit
Headlamp
Personal and Miscellaneous
Sun Protection
Pen
Journal
Kindle