Best Thule Products for BikePacking Trips  

Question:

Helpful Expert Reply:

Bikepacking is a great adventure, and somewhat easy to get prepared for.

To get a good kit going, you'll need a rear and front cargo option, plus a few other accessories that could be nice to give the trip some extra comfort. Additionally, you'll want to keep the total weight in mind, as you don't want to overload the bike and have to move slower because of the increased load.

For carriers, I recommend Thule's Yepp rack, which comes in a 26 inch bike version, part # TH12020945 or 28 inch version, part # TH12020947. This rack is rated to carry up to 75 pounds on your bike, and has a flip down support that can be used for a little extra luggage or as a rear brace for your cargo.

This rack is compatible with the 24 liter Thule Pack n' Pedal Shield pannier, part # TH100063 that is able to adapt to the Yepp's larger crossbeams. You can equip these to the bike on either side, and are able to be removed and used with the included shoulder strap to carry it into town on a supply run or after the ride is over.

For the front, you'll want to equip Thule's Tour Rack, part # TH100090, which will allow you to add an additional 25 pounds to the front of the bike. This would be better for lighter items, like a tarp or smaller clothing items or food.

A smaller set of specially designed panniers for the front is the Thule Shield bags, part # TH100067, these will attach with the same features as the larger Pannier, but are much smaller at 14 liters.

I've included video reviews of most of these parts so you can get an idea of their features and performance from our demo team.

expert reply by: Jacob W

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