Bikepacking: Ultralight Setup & Packlist

The Bike

Frame: Canyon Ultimate CF SL

Drivetrain: Shimano 105 5800, 11-32 casette, 52/34 chainring

Wheelset: Hunt 30 Carbon Aero Disc (sponsored)

Tires: Continental GP5000 TL 28c (running tubeless, had zero punctures)

Saddle: Specialized Power Arc Expert

Everything worked flawlessly mechanically.
The bike fit me very well and I had zero pain or soreness (only some very slight knee pain - to be expected) and sleepy pinky fingers (to be expected).

Would I change anything?
Maybe add some clip-on aero bars and some deeper and more aero wheels - however the low weight of the wheels was very welcome on the steep climbs.

The Bags

Saddle bag: Apidura Backcountry

Frame bag: Deuter Triangle

Bar bag: Blue Force Gear, medium horizontal utility pouch

Bidons: Pas Normal Studios (Tacx)

Would I change anything?
Could have gone with a smaller seat bag, a larger frame bag, removed the bar bag and added a top tube bag instead to keep things more aero but still have snacks close at hand.

The Electronics & Lights

iPhone X

Garmin Edge 530

Anker PowerCore 10000

Front light: Black Diamond Spot headlamp (AAA batteries)

Rear light: Busch & Müller IX-POST (AAA batteries)

Back-up/day lights: Two cheap silicone strap-on lights (CR2032 batteries)

Would I change anything?

No, maybe a better camera than the iPhone, but it works fine unless you are going to make big prints.

The Camp Gear

Sleeping bag: Sea To Summit Spark SP0

Sleeping mat: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Uberlite

Pillow: Sea To Summit Aeros

All fitted in a Sea To Summit UL Drybag

Would I change anything?
It was on the limit with the sleeping bag as it was 7 degrees celcius at night and it was rated to +10c.

The Kit

Bibs: Pas Normal Studios Mechanism bibs

SS Jersey: Pas Normal Studios Solitude Jersey

LS Jersey: Pas Normal Studios Long Sleeve Jersey

Base Layer: Rapha Pro Team

Gilet: Pas Normal Studios Solitude Gilet

Helmet: S-Works Evade

Sunglasses: Oakley EVzero Stride

Shoes: S-Works Sub6

Socks: Pas Normal Studios

A single pair of underwear

Would I change anything?

Yes, because I was freezing at night. I would have exchanged the long sleeve jersey, which is quite thin like an arm warmer, to a warmer jersey made for winter conditions, or brought a long sleeve winter base layer to add underneath or maybe just added rain jacket to take the wind chill. It would also come in handy if it started raining (which I was fortunate that it didn’t do the entire trip). Then I would have enjoyed some leg warmers - I think one of the reasons I got a bit of knee pain is that I was riding with uncovered legs and knees through the cold night. A pair of gloves would have been nice too as both my hands was really cold during the night - so cold that I ended up using my (unworn) underwear and a drybag as gloves. A neck gaiter would have been nice too during the night. It was cold. During the day the kit I had brought was perfectly sufficient and worked flawlessly.

The Tools

Crank Brothers Multitool

Tire levers

Extra tube

Emergency Tire Boot

Tubeless plugs

Would I change anything?

I forgot to bring a quick-link if the chain broke. But it didn’t.

The Hygiene & First-Aid

Steri-strips

Disinfection wipe

Vaseline

Would I change anything?

Yes, I forgot my toothbrush. Not ideal when living of Coke, pastries, and gummies for three days.

One mistake to avoid when buying a camera.

"What camera should I buy?” is a question I get asked quite often. My answer often starts with “It depends…”. But what does it depend on?

As the saying goes: The best camera is the one that you have with you. Portability is the most important factor when buying a new camera. Multiple times people have asked me which of two DSLRs to buy – my answer is usually “Do you really need that?”. A DSLR is probably the most annoying piece of equipment to lug around. It doesn’t fit in your pocket, you must have a specialized bag to carry it in, and it’s heavy.

And then there’s the price. The price of a DSLR often make people look for the entry-level DSLRs which are fine cameras indeed. But I would rather buy a high-level pocket-camera like the Sony RX100 series or Canon G7 series. Both series of cameras are more than enough for the everyday shooter. Another option is to throw the "camera-cash" after a high-end smartphone. The cameras nowadays are great! The only thing is the fixed focal length (zoom) but that might just push your creativity. At the end most can't see a difference in image quality when Instagram compresses the hell out of those files.

There is one factor though that is non-quantifiable. That is the factor of how the camera makes you feel. Simply put: Will the camera make you go out and shoot? Like having a cool bike will make your ride more just because you just love riding it. I love the feel of my DSLR in my hand, the sound of the shutter and looking through the viewfinder.

High-end DSLRs certainly have their place. They have the best image quality - so if you intend to make prints that are larger than A3 it might be the right tool. When you buy a DSLR you also buy into a system of possibilities – lenses. Lenses are like tools and every tool has it place - so you’re basically buying into a potential toolbox (an expensive toolbox).

A DSLR gives you a lot of “firepower” but it comes at the cost of mobility. I often leave my DSLR at home due to it’s too cumbersome to lug around. But the mobility of my smartphone makes me have it in my pocket every day. Thankfully. Smartphone cameras has come a long way and I can’t wait to see what engineering marvels the future will show. More mobility to the people!

So, before you buy your next camera look at what situations you would like to use the camera in and then ask yourself if you would bring it. On a 35km hike in the Alps you’ll be hating the weight of a DSLR, extra lenses and a tripod – trust me. Sitting at a restaurant a DSLR takes up half the table and you don’t want it on the floor. Would you bring it? Ask yourself. Answer honestly and if you’re in doubt then you probably won’t. But sometimes you need a tool for a specific job and then you have to bring the entire toolbox even though it is heavy.
In the end it depends on if you will bring it and if it will do the job at hand - remember the best camera is the one that you have with you!    

All the photos in this article was shot on my phone - an old banged up iPhone 5s.