Gear and Packing

First things first: racks.

Did I mention the longest bikepacking trip we’d ever done before this was two nights? Yeah. That’s it. So the sad little racks we already owned weren’t going to cut it. And if there was one thing we knew we needed to be prepared for in Patagonia, it was rain—which meant waterproof bags were non-negotiable.

This is where Shaun’s bike-gear expertise really took over.

We started small: a saddle bag and a front bag. But once they arrived, it was obvious the saddle bag wasn’t going to work. It barely held anything and felt pointless for a trip this long. We needed real capacity.

So we stopped messing around and went full boujie.

We ordered Tailfin racks. Expensive? Yes. Worth every penny? Also yes.

Our final bike setup ended up being:

·       One 18L bag on the rack

·       Two 10L panniers on the sides

·       Two 5L bags on the front forks

·       1L top tube bag

·       Plus the original handlebar bag

That officially covered the bike setup. Next up: camping gear.

All of mine and Shauns gear combined.

We already owned a solid two-person MSR tent—but it was ten years old. Shaun was a little nervous about how it would hold up in constant rain, especially with the fabric starting to sag over time. We wanted our sleep setup to be primo. After way too much research, we landed right back where we started: the MSR Hubba Hubba 2, just brand new.

Sleeping pads were next. Ours technically worked, but they were thin and uncomfortable. We’d talked about upgrading for years and never pulled the trigger. This felt like the time. We went with NEMO Tensor All-Season Ultralight pads, wide versions—because we both have wide shoulders and actually want to sleep.

We also decided to bring chairs. After riding all day, the idea of sitting on the ground sounded miserable. Helinox chairs earned their place without much debate.

The rest of our sleep and cooking setup was already dialed—sleeping bags, stove, water filter—so those stayed the same. First aid, hygiene, and spare bike parts were also covered, though you’d have to ask Shaun about the bike-specific stuff. I have no idea what half of it does, but I trust him completely.

We also brought our EVOC hydration vests. Between two bottles on the bike and this, That gave us the ability to carry up to three liters of water each and keep snacks easily accessible—a small thing that would make a big difference on long days.

Clothing-wise, we decided wool would be our best friend.

Wool shirts, underwear, socks—and wool bras for me. With multiple days of riding and limited showers, not smelling horrible felt like a reasonable goal. Add in rain jackets, puffy jackets, one pair of chamois (we usually don’t ride with them, but just in case our butts had opinions), two thermals, a vest, hat, buff, pants, and a dedicated sleeping set.

And of course, I packed my art supplies. One travel palette, a mini sketchbook, one brush, one pencil, and one pen. That’s all I need.

Oh—for all you moms out there, yes we brought our Garmin GPS device. With an SOS button.

I’m pretty sure Shaun has lost hours of sleep over the past few months, lying awake and mentally packing and repacking the bikes. And honestly? I’m okay with that. Because he absolutely nailed it. Our first test pack was already solid, but he insisted on doing two more—just for funsies.

Which, to be fair, will probably pay off when we’re jet-lagged in a hotel room, packing bikes for day one and not having to think at all.