Touring Packing List: Weights in Grams, Volume in Litres
A packing list is a weight budget. Start from the total you can carry comfortably, then allocate it in grams — the order of packing follows from the arithmetic, not from a checklist someone else wrote for a different trip.
The total load
| Tour type | Total load_kg | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Credit-card, guesthouses | 5–7 kg | 25–35 L |
| Light camping, summer | 11–14 kg | 45–60 L |
| Standard camping, three seasons | 15–18 kg | 60–80 L |
| Cold-weather camping | 18–22 kg | 80–100 L |
Above 20 kg the bike climbs badly and handles slowly. If the list exceeds the budget, remove clothing or cooking equipment before you remove tools.
Volume and bag system
| Bag | Volume | Carries |
|---|---|---|
| Rear panniers (pair) | 40–50 L | Sleep system, clothes, food |
| Front panniers (pair) | 20–25 L | Cooking, electronics, documents |
| Handlebar bag | 5–10 L | Valuables, camera, snacks, map |
| Frame bag | 5–8 L | Tools, water, heavy small items |
| Seat pack | 10–15 L | Light bulky items |
Distribute weight by height: heavy items low in the rear panniers, medium weight in the frame bag, light items up front. A handlebar bag over 4 kg makes the steering feel vague on descents.
Personal kit in grams
| Item | Weight_g | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tent (2-person, 3-season) | 1,800–2,400 | Split the poles between riders |
| Sleeping bag (comfort 5 °C) | 700–1,000 | Down saves 300 g |
| Sleeping mat | 350–600 | Inflatable only |
| Stove and pot | 300–450 | One pot, one burner |
| Tool kit | 300–450 | See below |
| First aid | 150–250 | Minimal and specific |
| Electronics and cables | 400–600 | Phone, lights, charger |
| Clothing, three-season | 2,000–2,800 | Layering system |
| Toiletries | 300–500 | Decant everything |
Weigh your own kit rather than trusting these figures: a “1.5 kg” tent often weighs 1.8 kg with pegs and stuff sack.
Layering system
| Layer | Items | Weight_g |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Two merino or synthetic tops | 300–400 |
| Mid | Fleece or light insulated jacket | 300–450 |
| Shell | Waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers | 400–600 |
| Legs | Two shorts, one long trouser or tights | 400–600 |
| Extremities | Gloves, cap, buff, socks ×3 | 250–350 |
Two base layers, not four. Wash one each evening and it dries overnight in summer; in cold weather carry the third layer as insulation instead.
Tools and spares
| Item | Weight_g | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-tool with chain breaker | 150–200 | Covers most roadside fixes |
| Tyre levers ×2 | 20 | Plastic, not metal |
| Spare tube ×2 | 200–240 | Plus patches |
| Mini pump | 120–180 | Frame-mounted |
| Spare chain link | 5 | Specific to your chain |
| Derailleur hanger | 15 | Unobtainable on tour |
| Tyre boot | 10 | Sidewall cut repair |
| Brake pads | 40 | Wear item |
The hanger is the item that ends tours. It costs $15, weighs 15 g, and is made for one frame model — no shop on route will stock it.
Food and water
| Item | Weight_g | Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Water, 2 × 750 ml bottles | 1,500 | — |
| Emergency food (bars, nuts) | 400 | ~2,000 kcal |
| Stove fuel, 100 g canister | 200 | 3–4 hot meals |
| Coffee or tea kit | 100 | Optional but earned |
Carry 1.5–2 L of water and plan resupply every 40–60 km. In remote areas, add a filter (80–150 g) rather than more bottles.
What to leave at home
| Item | Saving_g |
|---|---|
| Second pair of shoes | 600–900 |
| Camp chair | 700–1,200 |
| Laptop | 1,200–1,800 |
| Full tool chest | 500–800 |
| Fourth cycling kit | 300–400 |
| Hardback book | 400–600 |
The 15% rule: pack, weigh, then remove 15% of the total. Almost everyone carries 2–4 kg of things they never touch, and the removal is easier before departure than on the second morning.
Weighing and trimming
Weigh every item on a kitchen scale and write the number next to it. The list that results is uncomfortable: a “lightweight” fleece at 480 g, a camera at 700 g, a fourth pair of socks at 60 g. The numbers make the decision for you.
Trim in this order: duplicates, then comfort items, then tools you can share. Never trim the hanger, the chain link, or the first aid kit — those are the items that convert a mechanical failure into a ruined tour.
Packing order
Heaviest at the bottom and towards the bike’s centreline, most-used at the top. Roll clothes rather than fold them: it compresses better and shows you everything at once.
Keep one small bag — handlebar or frame — for the items you need every hour: snacks, phone, sun cream, map. Repacking a pannier at the roadside for a snack is how riders lose things.
Where to go next
- Cycle touring guide — load, distance, budget
- Touring bags — panniers and rack systems
- Flying with a bike — cases, fees and assembly
Packing for two riders
Split shared kit by function, not by weight: one carries tent and poles, the other the stove, fuel, and cooking pot. Each rider carries their own clothes, water, and tools — duplicating the multi-tool is cheaper than discovering the only one is in the other pannier.
Agree on a shared repair kit before departure. Two riders carrying two pumps and one chain tool weigh less than two complete kits, and the redundancy that matters is redundancy across riders, not inside one bag.