To those of us already deep down the bikepacking rabbit hole, the common beginner question “What’s the best bike for bikepacking?” is actually pretty complicated.
It’s like asking “What’s the best car for a road trip?” and being presented with this list: Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Jetta, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Mustang…
Well, how do you like to drive? What’s your budget? What are your priorities and personal style? How much stuff do you need to carry?
To choose the right bike, you first need to think about what bikepacking looks like to you. Squint into your bikepacking future: do you see looong gravel climbs and descents? Twisty forest singletrack? Chunky desert doubletrack? Fast-and-light, or loaded to the gills? All of the above?
In this post I’ll walk you through some common sub-genres of bikepacking. I’ll show you what each style looks like, feels like, and which type of bike will make it the most fun.
I have a lot of experience with this process! I’ve ridden tens of thousands of loaded miles on both “the right bike” and “the wrong bike” for the terrain. My bikepacking setups span from road touring bike (the one that started it all) to hardtail mountain bike, with a lot of drop bars in between.
So let’s talk bikes and bikepacking. More specifically, let’s talk about what kind of bikepacking captures your imagination and refuses to let go, and what kind of bike would be best to take you there.
Bikepackers: Join me on Patreon for my most current and personal writing, individualized trip prep help, and a community of likeminded supporters.
The bike you have?
It’s popular for experienced bikepackers to answer the newbie question “What’s the best bike for bikepacking?” with a glib “The bike that’s already in your garage.”
Yes, this is exactly what some people need to hear. If you have a bike, any bike, and you’ve never done an overnight trip before, this is the perfect place to start. Here are ideas for your first bike camping overnight. Have fun and come back when you’re done! I’ll wait.
But if you’re a bit further along in your explorations, “any bike” is a frustrating and unhelpful answer. When you’re about to make a serious investment in a new bike, you’re going to want some real guidance! You’re in the right place.
Just Regular Bikes
A quick note: We often talk about “bikepacking bikes,” but most bikes that people bikepack with are just regular bikes – the kind people often ride without days worth of gear and supplies.
Sure, manufacturers are hopping on the bandwagon and marketing certain models as bikepacking-capable. The Salsa Fargo is a classic example. These bikes do have some nice features out of the box like rack mounts, versatile geometry, all-day ergonomics, and low gearing.
But remember: you can ride those bikes without gear and you can put gear on other bikes, especially with all the clever bag and rack solutions available these days.
Matching Bike to Terrain (Infographic)
Let’s start with a handy visualization I made for this article:
That graphic explains that the best bike for bikepacking depends on what kind of bikepacking you want to do. A Jeep Wrangler and a Ford Mustang are both cars, but if someone asks which one they should buy, you should ask them about the kind of driving they want to do.
Bikes are a similar deal. We have road bikes, gravel bikes, and mountain bikes (and countless smaller sub-categories) because each style makes riding that type of terrain more comfortable and fun. Geometry, tire width, suspension, gearing, handlebar shape… The right choices for the terrain can make the difference between having a blast and just bumbling through.
The Less Bike – More Bike Continuum
A big part of choosing a bikepacking bike is dialing in the right amount of bike for your favorite type of terrain.
What the heck does “the right amount of bike” mean?
Cyclists talk about overbiking and underbiking, which is where you have “more bike” or “less bike” than ideal for the terrain, respectively. The infographic above progresses from less bike at the top to more bike at the bottom.
Features that add comfort, capability, and durability on rougher terrain are “more bike.” Examples: suspension, wider and knobbier tires, and wider and more durable rims.
If you try to ride gnarly trails on a gravel bike, you’re lacking most of these features and therefore “underbiking.” It’s possible, and some people like the challenge. But it won’t be as comfy and you may need to get off and walk in places.
On the other hand, “more bike” adds weight and complexity. If you’re just riding smooth pavement you don’t really want suspension weighing you down, dissipating your power, and adding one more part that needs maintenance on a long trip. You’d be “overbiking” to ride a mountain bike on a mostly paved route. You can do it; it’ll just be slower and more work.
Pavement and Light Gravel
In the U.S. we usually use the term “bikepacking” to mean off-pavement adventures. But for some people, bikepacking just means attaching some overnight gear to a bike. So as not to leave these folks out, let’s start with pavement and light gravel. You might also call this bike touring, gravel touring, or dirt road touring.
The Vibe
This style of bikepacking is approachable: just point the bike forward and pedal. You’re never too far from civilization if something goes wrong, which is great for beginners. You’ll usually find more services – motels, restaurants, stores – along these types of routes, so the luxury factor is higher.
The main downside: more motor vehicle traffic. You’ll want to choose your route carefully, but with a little work you can still find some lovely stretches of quiet road (or even better, rail trails) for your bikepacking adventures.
Here’s what this style of bikepacking can look like:
Example Routes
If you get into this style of bikepacking, here are some of the places you could be riding.
- Great Allegheny Passage: Unpaved but well-maintained and traffic-free rail trail.
- Central California Wine Country Loop: Mostly paved with a bit of gravel and one stretch of rougher trail (road bike not recommended)
- Ohio to Erie Trail: Paved and traffic-free, road touring heaven!
- Steens Mountain Loop: Lots of pavement and a little gravel in varying condition.
- Arkansas High Country Route: Half paved and half gravel, hilly, a bit rough in places.
Bikes for Pavement and Light Gravel
Nearly any bike can work for this style of bikepacking, but some will be more efficient and comfy than others. Generally you’re looking for a fully rigid frame and fork, narrower and smoother tires, and usually (but not always) drop handlebars.
Touring Bikes: Sturdy, packed with cargo mounts, and built for long adventures, road touring bikes are a good option especially for heavier loads. They tend to be heavier and less off-road capable than gravel bikes, but they’re strong and comfy and also make excellent commuter bikes.
- Popular touring bikes: Surly Disc Trucker, Salsa Vaya, Trek 520
- Read more: Bikepacking on a Road Bike, Salsa Vaya vs. Fargo
Road Bikes (adventure / endurance focus): For riders who want a little more zip, a regular road bike can be used for touring / bikepacking on pavement and smooth gravel. Look for models focused on endurance instead of speed for a more relaxed riding posture.
- A couple road bike examples: Salsa Warroad (carbon), All-City Zig Zag (steel)
- Read more: Bikepacking on a Road Bike
Gravel Bikes (adventure / endurance focus): Many bikepackers eventually find themselves drawn to more remote riding. A gravel bike leaves room to grow in that direction while still being fairly fast on pavement.
- Examples of gravel bikes that are popular with bikepackers: Kona Rove, Trek Checkpoint, Marin Four Corners, Surly Straggler, Canyon Grizl, Salsa Cutthroat (borders on rigid MTB category),
- Read more: Bikepacking on a Gravel Bike
Hybrid Bikes: Hybrid bikes are more of an entry-level category focused on neighborhood rides, not something I’d recommend buying for this purpose. But if you already have one it can work for light bikepacking thanks to its comfy upright posture, flat bars, and likely rack and fender mounts. Example: Co-op Cycles CTY 1.1
Rough Gravel Roads and Easy Trails
This category includes unpaved roads that aren’t as nicely groomed (as new riders quickly learn, there’s gravel and then there’s gravel). They might be chunky, washboarded, potholed, or rutted, but are still accessible to a normal 2wd car (and more to the point, a gravel bike).
Let’s also throw in smooth chill singletrack, if you can find it, because it’s awesome and you can ride it on a similar bike with similar skills.
The Vibe
This style is a great happy medium between more civilized roads and more rugged trails. You won’t need to master technical riding skills, but you’ll venture further from civilization (and traffic) and explore more remote areas. You’ll have a wide range of routes available and can mix things up with plenty of variety.
Here’s what this style of bikepacking can look like:
Example Routes
If you get into this style of riding, you have many great route options. Here are some routes that fit this vibe:
- Oregon Outback: Dirt and gravel roads, not too remote but occasionally a bit rough, traversing Oregon from north to south.
- Idaho Hot Springs: Dirt and gravel forest service roads through scenic mountains with opportunities for soothing soaks.
- Great Divide Mountain Bike Route: One of the most famous bikepacking routes in the world, this 2700 mile epic falls mostly into the gravel and dirt road category, but also includes pavement and a tiny bit of trail.
- Carretera Austral, Chile: A stunning mostly gravel route (especially the southern half; northern half has more pavement) through scenic Patagonia.
Bikes for Rough Gravel and Easy Trail
For these kinds of rides you’ll want a bike that fits tires at least 45mm wide, ideally 2.2″ or wider. Gearing should be low enough to grind up a steep bumpy climb. Brakes will probably be disc. Most riders won’t find a front suspension worth the extra weight, but it wouldn’t be out of place and would add comfort on long days.
You’ll see a range of handlebar styles in this category, from drop bars (typically wide flared “dirt drops”) to MTB-style flat bars or alt bars.
Here are the bike categories that work best for bikepacking on rougher unpaved roads and smooth trails, arranged from “less bike” to “more bike.”
Gravel Bikes (adventure / endurance focus): Gravel bikes are a good fit for this style of bikepacking; capable enough off-pavement but not overburdened by heavier mountain bike features.
- Here are those gravel bike examples again: Kona Rove, Trek Checkpoint, Marin Four Corners, Surly Straggler, Canyon Grizl, Salsa Cutthroat (borders on rigid MTB category),
- Read more: Bikepacking on a Gravel Bike
Rigid Mountain Bikes: This motley category of bikes is perfect for multiday riding on rugged unpaved roads and light trails. These rigs are generally fully rigid, have either flat bars or wide drop bars, and offer plenty of clearance for MTB tires and lots of mounting points for gear.
- Popular rigid MTBs for bikepacking: Salsa Fargo, Trek 920, Bombtrack Beyond 1, Kona Sutra LTD, Kona Unit X, Surly Ghost Grappler
- Further reading: Rigid Mountain Bikes | Drop Bar Mountain Bikes | Surly Grappler vs. Salsa Fargo
Hardtail Mountain Bikes (endurance / XC focus): A hardtail mountain bike (suspension fork in front, no suspension in rear) is a fine choice for this style of bikepacking, especially if you prioritize comfort over speed or are intrigued by rougher routes.
Look for hardtails focused on endurance riding and cross-country trails as opposed to downhill performance. Downhill geometry is less efficient and comfy for the climbs and flats, of which there are plenty in bikepacking.
- Examples of hardtail bikes that work well for bikepacking: Trek X-Caliber, Marin Pine Mountain, Surly Karate Monkey, Salsa Timberjack, Trek Superfly
- Read more: Bikepacking on a Hardtail
Cyclocross Bikes? Before the category of gravel bikes exploded, people talked about cross bikes being good for bikepacking. Their blend of road and mountain biking features filled a similar niche, but focused more on speed over short distances. These days the gravel category is so extensive that I wouldn’t recommend buying a cross bike specifically for bikepacking. But if you already have one, by all means, load it up and try it out!
On the fence between rigid and hardtail? If you can afford two forks, I’m a big fan of this setup: a 29er mountain bike with two forks I swap between, rigid for trips with more gravel and suspension for trips with more trail and chunk (like the next category). This is what I do with my Stella these days and it’s been working great. Once the initial installs are done, swapping forks is a 10 minute DIY job.
Rough 4×4 Roads and Moderate Singletrack
This engaging style of bikepacking is where many mountain bikers start, and where gravel riders with a thirst for adventure often end up. It includes vast networks of 4×4 roads in various states of disrepair that are perfect for dispersed camping.
The Vibe
This style offers a ton of rewarding route options in beautiful remote places. You’ll need to develop some bike handling skills, but nothing most people can’t pick up with practice (or you can just get off and walk). It often takes focus and is a more dynamic style of riding; don’t expect to just zone out to the rhythm of your pedaling.
Pack light and tight, with plenty of space for food and water. You’ll want to be self-reliant with outdoor skills and bike repair knowledge, because you won’t meet (m)any vehicles on these types of trails and “roads.”
Here’s what this style of bikepacking can look like:
Example Routes
If you’re drawn to bikepacking rough 4×4 roads and moderate trails, here are some routes you’ll enjoy:
- Fools Loop: Chunky dirt roads and singletrack through diverse desert landscapes north of Phoenix, Arizona.
- Tahoe Twirl: Epic loop around Lake Tahoe featuring fire roads and plenty of singletrack, both smooth and rocky.
- Baldy Bruiser: A burly southern California route with plenty of chunky, sandy, and rocky 4×4 roads.
- Grand Staircase Loop: Dramatic and varied ride in southern Utah with mix of smooth gravel and rougher 4×4 trails.
Bikes for Rough 4×4 Roads and Moderate Singletrack
At this point in the less bike – more bike spectrum, we finally have a bikepacking style that justifies a suspension fork, or at least a rigid mountain bike with beefy knobby tires (2.3″ or wider). You’ll absolutely want disc brakes, and many riders like a dropper seat post for rougher descents.
Skilled and persistent riders sometimes underbike these routes on gravel bikes, but it’s not most people’s idea of fun. On the other side of the spectrum a full-suspension mountain bike isn’t out of the question, but it’s not necessary and the limited cargo space can be a challenge.
Here are the bike categories that work best for bikepacking on rough 4×4 roads and moderate singletrack trails.
Rigid Mountain Bikes: This versatile category of bikepacking bike hits the sweet spot for this type of riding. You’ll get many helpful features of a mountain bike (wide tires, nimble geometry, good brakes and gearing) without the extra weight and maintenance of suspension.
- Popular examples: Salsa Fargo, Trek 920, Bombtrack Beyond 1, Kona Sutra LTD, Kona Unit X, Surly Ghost Grappler
- Further reading: Rigid Mountain Bikes | Drop Bar Mountain Bikes | Surly Grappler vs. Salsa Fargo
Hardtail Mountain Bikes (endurance / XC focus): Hardtails are also a great choice for this type of riding. Anyone whose back, butt, or hands need a bit of extra cushion on rough terrain will appreciate the suspension fork.
- Examples of hardtail bikes that are popular for bikepacking, as above: Trek X-Caliber, Marin Pine Mountain, Surly Karate Monkey, Salsa Timberjack, Trek Superfly
- Read more: Bikepacking on a Hardtail
Technical Trails
If this is your preferred style of bikepacking, you already know it. You probably already have a full-suspension bike and spend your free time practicing drops, lifts, and corners.
The Vibe
This is a mountain biker’s style of bikepacking. You’ll enjoy some incredibly rugged and scenic places, but you’ll have to work for the privilege. The riding, and the hike-a-bike, can be physical and burly. This is full-body biking, and you’ll need a light and dialed “shredpacking” setup.
Riding technical trails takes mental focus and a taste for a bit of adrenaline, so don’t expect to space out and listen to audiobooks all day. You’ll need to enjoy the process of improving your bike handling skills. It’s smart to have outdoor experience and bike repair knowledge, because you can find yourself in some very remote and hard-to-reach places where motor vehicles can’t help you.
It’s hard to find long stretches of good technical trail, so riders who enjoy this category tend to also ride plenty of less technical terrain while bikepacking. But generally they’re the ones who, when faced with some rocky singletrack, will be saying “Yeehaw!” instead of “Oh crap.”
Here’s what bikepacking technical trails can look like:
Example Routes
If you’re into bikepacking technical trails, you’ll love routes like these:
- Colorado Trail: Epic and arduous high-elevation ride between Denver and Durango featuring plenty of technical riding and no shortage of hike-a-bike.
- Arizona Trail: Another famous long-distance ride from the Mexico border to the Utah border, mainly on singletrack and often rocky.
- Bones to Blue: Singletrack-heavy double loop around Truckee and Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada including all the bike legal sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail.
Best Bikes for Technical Singletrack
To ride this terrain as smoothly and comfortably as possible, you want a full-suspension mountain bike (and the skills to make the most of it).
Some bikepackers will choose to underbike with a hardtail, mainly for two reasons: full-suspension bikes have very limited space for bikepacking bags (though modern bikepacking racks can help), and on mixed-terrain routes with plenty of non-technical terrain a hardtail might be a good compromise option.
You won’t see gravel bikes out here, and even a rigid mountain bike wouldn’t be very much fun. Almost everyone will want at least front suspension, flat MTB-style handlebars, a dropper seatpost, and 29×2.3″ or wider tires (even wider for 27.5″ diameter).
Consider wearing a backpack to carry some of your gear, both for extra space if suspension limits your cargo capacity and to keep your bike lighter for rough hike-a-bikes.
These are the bikes to consider if you love technical bikepacking:
Hardtail Mountain Bikes: As usual, look for geometry that will be efficient on climbs and flats, not over-optimized for downhill. That said, riders in this category may have a more aggressive riding style, so a more aggressive geometry may be appropriate.
- Examples of hardtails that are good for technical bikepacking: Santa Cruz Chameleon, Marin Pine Mountain, Salsa Timberjack, Trek Superfly
- Read more: Bikepacking on a Hardtail
Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes: If you really love technical mountain biking, especially if you want a bike that does double-duty for bikepacking and day rides, a full-suspension could be right for you. Look for crosscountry or downcountry geometry with relatively short travel, and avoid bikes intended mainly for downhill riding.
- Here are a couple full-squish MTB examples that work for bikepacking: Salsa Spearfish, Santa Cruz Tallboy, Kona Hei Hei, Specialized Epic Evo
- Read more: Full-Suspension Archives at bikepacking.com
Multiple Styles
I can hear you thinking: “I want ALL of that! I don’t want to choose.”
Many bikepackers enjoy multiple styles, either on different trips or during the same mixed-terrain route. Many of the best bikepacking routes span a wide range, linking up sections of fun trail and rough backroads with a bit of pavement where necessary.
If your wild bikepacking spirit can’t be confined to a narrow range of terrain, you have a few options.
More bikes: The classic “n+1 problem” is real. Bikepack for long enough and you may end up with a quiver of more specialized bikes to maximize fun and performance on specific types of terrain. The obvious downside: bikes are expensive.
Compromise bike: This solution looks for the middle of your personal more bike / less bike spectrum. If you want to ride everything from pavement to moderate singletrack, a burly gravel bike or efficient drop bar MTB will suit you well, especially if you can eventually spring for a second wheelset with wider or narrower rims (to expand your tire options).
Majority bike: If you can only have one bike, get one that’s well-suited to the type of riding you do most often (including your day rides). Within that category, err slightly on the side of your next-favorite type of riding. For example, if you ride a lot of pavement for your commute but want to sometimes bikepack on gravel, get a gravel-leaning road or touring bike. If you love to ride trails for fun after work but want to sometimes bikepack on gravel and dirt roads, a hardtail is probably the best choice (and you could consider a second rigid fork to swap in).
Versatile bike and extra parts: Some bikes are designed to be highly adaptable. You might be able to swap between 29 and 27.5″ wheelsets so you can run a wide range of rims and tires; perhaps a narrower 29″ tire for gravel and a wider 27.5″ for trails. A suspension-corrected rigid fork can be swapped out for a suspension fork, making a rigid mountain bike into a hardtail (or vice versa).
Underbike or overbike: Some folks really love their full-suspension MTB and will ride it anywhere. Some insist on shredding singletrack with their gravel bike. It’s a matter of personal style and won’t suit everyone, but it illustrates one of my favorite things about bikepacking: it’s more about the rider and attitude than the bike.
Buy and sell used: Bikes are expensive, but you can manage costs as your interests evolve by looking for deals on used bikes and selling old bikes that no longer meet your needs. Craigslist and eBay are classic go-to’s, but there are also Facebook groups specifically for bikepacking bikes and gear: Bikepacking Swap Meet and Salsa and Surly Trader are good examples.
Final Thoughts
As you dream about your future bikepacking adventures, I hope this post helps you envision a fun and comfortable bike to take you there. Do your best to find a good fit, but don’t get too caught up in analysis paralysis.
Your interests are sure to evolve as you gain experience. Though we all want that magical unicorn forever bike, bikes can be modified and even sold (I know, we don’t like to think about that, but it’s true).
The most important part is to find a bike that suits your current passions, and then get out there and ride it! The rest is all part of the bikepacking adventure.
More Bikepacking Resources
If you’re getting into bikepacking, you might find these helpful:
Or, visit the bikepacking resources page for lots more!
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Alissa, founder of Exploring Wild. I’ve traveled over 20,000 miles by bike and still can’t stop planning my next ride (and helping you plan yours). Pavement and panniers or singletrack and seat bag, I love it all. On my bike I feel free. Learn more about me here.
Bikepackers: Join me on Patreon for my most current and personal writing, individualized trip prep help, and a community of likeminded supporters.
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Great article! I’m afraid I’ve gone down the rabbit hole with bikepacking bikes and now own three!
It happens! :)
As a long time road touring cyclist, now GDMBR bike packer, I have to say this is THE best summary I have read for folks setting out on their first rides. Your chart is ingenious!
Thanks Linda! I had a lot of fun making it.
This is a great article!!! Well done.
Best bike summary I have read yet. Thank you for putting the work in on this.
I just wanted to say — this is probably one of the intro to bikepacking bikes I have ever read. Great job! And Thank you.
Sorry I meant to say “ONE OF THE **BEST** INTRO TO BIKEPACKING BIKES” … oops :-D
Thank you!
As always, I found your article(s) to be useful, inspiring, insightful and for me – timely. I plan to ride the Great Divide this summer and am looking to buy the perfect bike. Thanks for your guidance.
Thanks Chris, have a wonderful ride!
This is awesome, thank you for writing and sharing!
I’m curious – what are your favorite flat bar options (I much prefer an upright position) that are great for both bikepacking, everyday commuting, and are on the lighter/faster side of things?
Hey Ryan, I have the SQLab 30X 16deg alloy bars on my mountain bike and they work well for me. The 16 degree backsweep is nice for a comfy wrist angle, and they have a version with some rise for more upright position. The Salsa Rustler Riser is a similar idea. Both also come in carbon if you’re serious about the lighter/faster thing. These are MTB-style bars.
If you want an especially upright position, you might check out the Jones Loop H-bar. Lots of hand positions, cargo space, and backsweep without compromising too much on stability. Very popular with bikepackers as a flat bar substitute.
Well done update on an already great article!
I’m curious about the Mendocino National Forest photo. I did a loop trip that included going over Mendocino Pass in 2013, but I’m afraid to go back because of the fact that 90% of the National Forest has burned within the past four years. What are your thoughts, and when was that photo taken? Thanks.
Thanks! That photo was taken in Nov 2020. There was certainly fire damage back then, though I still thought it was a very worthwhile trip. There’s a chance I’ll be back this June actually. Feel free to send me an email or comment later in the year and I’ll let you know what I see.
Off the top of my head I’m not sure which areas have burned since then, but 90% does sound very extensive. :( For me it would depend on whether there’s still some unburned forest on the route and how long ago the fires happened. A couple years is enough time for some recovery to take place, but riding through ash and downed trees of very recent burns is no fun.
Great roundup. Thank you!