Bikepacking is an interesting combination of off-road cycling and backpacking where the rider provides their own support. It conjures up images of the liberty of multi-day backwoods hiking and travelling off the beaten road, but with the range and excitement of riding an agile bicycle instead of a foot-powered vehicle. It is about going further into less visited areas, both nearby and further away, by travelling on singletrack paths, gravel, and neglected dirt roads. All while carrying only the gear that is absolutely necessary and not much else.
There is a popular misconception that in order to properly enjoy bikepacking, one must first spend a significant amount of money on the ideal bike, unique packs, and the most cutting-edge camping equipment currently available. Although making investments in high-quality equipment is never a bad idea, doing so is in no way required for you to get started in this endeavour. To get started, make use of what you already have and choose a nearby overnight route that is between 20 and 50 kilometres in length. Learn via your own experience about what it is that you truly require.
You can conduct a brief overnighter with just a few simple items of gear that you probably already own even if you don’t want to spend money on bags. For a decent barebones strategy, you should begin with a comfortable daypack and secure dry bags to both your handlebars and seat post. This is a good way to start. Despite this, bike-specific soft bags are beneficial because they are lightweight, do not make any rattling noises, and are designed to fit modern mountain bikes. They will maximize the weight that your bike is capable of carrying without considerably increasing its weight or altering the way that it rides or handles.