There is also a fourth option if you have the time/ want. Make your own gear! A lot of people in the bikepacking community like to make their own bags because usually the designs are pretty simple and you can custom make them to suit your needs like water proofing. Sewing machines aren't too expensive and it's a really useful skill to have.
THIS!! I made saddlebags with dog food bags, duct tape and straps from an old backpack. They were absolutely waterproof and served me well for 2 trips through Patagonia. With a sewing machine that I bought for 50 dollars I sewed a framebag made with fabric and zippers from 2 old shoulderbags, I've been using it for 5 years. With leftover vinyl canvas (the kind used to cover loads in trucks) and cyanoacrylate, I made an 8-liter waterproof bag for the rear luggage rack. I've been using it for years. I only had to stick a couple of patches on it where it rubbed against the frame. With straps from the old backpack I made a harness for the handlebars that works perfectly. They are not the lightest or most elegant materials, but they fulfill their function perfectly, and they have not prevented me from traveling wherever I want.
I got a sewing machine this last winter and did just that. There is a learning curve, but, what fun! Now I make all my own stuff with no hesitation. I also like seeing this video for implementing pre-made stuff. It's all about creativity. All good! Enjoy!
If it does not rain, your idea is okay. Itˋs still pretty heavy and there is no attachment system in them anyway. So, why not get a simple dry bag and strap it onto your bike? Would be waterproof and light and cheap.
Fantastic video. Other places to look: people selling lightly used gear on private Facebook groups for bike packing or biketouring. Also bike co-ops or Bike thrift shops for cheap racks and baskets. For the bike itself, almost any used bike touring or 90s hybrid or 90s MTB with rack mounts can do the job. Every Trek 520 ever made, for example. On a used bike, look for a steel frame, tire clearance (more than 35mm), rack mount points, and a comfortable rider position that is not 100% upright. Almost everything else can be tweaked or upgraded w used parts or a few careful purchases.
There's additional options: 1. Cheap 2. Bespoke 3. Branded (Ortlieb, Arkel, etc) 4. Military Surplus 5. Jandd pannier kit or bag/backpack conversion (DIY). Even children's backpacks are viable as pannier or top rack/handlebar bags with some modification, plus they tend to come in bright or interesting designs and minimalist in terms of design/pockets which is typically ideal. It's pretty easy to sew on some nylon webbing with box stitches and add hook and loop material or work in some Jandd hooks. Get'em doggos!
I feel like an idiot. I wish I had seen this and thought this way a year ago. I got lost in the hype of stuff. But as things wear out I'll definitely be looking into alternatives like this. Thanks so much for the video.
I appreciate your perspective. For my first 350 mile bike camping ride at the age of 16 I had a used 10 speed from the early 196y0's I used home made panniers made out of canvas. I cut the parts and told my mom where to sew. Probably the best time I ever had with mom. I am not quite sure she really knew where I was going with those bags.
Here to boost the algo after this vid got put back up 💪💪💪 in case anyone didn't know, some soyboy from bikepacking tried abusing the copyright system to take this vid down over a product image shown for a few seconds in the video
I use a MOLLE II Waist pack for a handlebar bag. Carry a One Wind Tent Footprint (for a tarp), an inexpensive hammock, some titanium cook kit and alcohol stove, or a Stanley stainless steel cook kit w/ a brass alcohol stove (with a nesting cup, or a collapsable/folding cup), a fuel bottle, lighter, and a Ramen or 2, instant coffees sticks, etc. Great use for the sustainment pouches. Had never thought of that. Thank you !!! Keep up the great work !!!
I would mention that unless one needs a specific type of bag, with a specific function, you can literally pack everything inside 4-6 medium sized roll top drybags and strap them to your bike. Yes it's nice to have a custom frame bag or front/rear rack (which can be inexpensive), but shorter non-touring-around-the-world outings are very doable with minimal expense.
Thanks for the video! Been touring off and on since I was a teenager. As a now 65 year old man I look back in awe of what I used to do. I remember back in the day there used to be wire racks that fit over your handlebar to hold a font touring bag. I really liked the idea, but they were super expensive to me and I thought they were heavy. Anyway I made my own and used some sort of big bag I got from the toiletries department to strap on. Today that would be considered too low class to sport around. Well maybe not? The pinnacle of bike is to DIY and adapt things. Over the years I have bought so much stuff. And you know what? Even the expensive nice stuff falls apart. Heck a friend recently got a new new Tailfin set-up just so he could go bike packing and fishing. Some ideal sort of thing. Well on the first trip the little screw on doodads that you hook up the fancy expensive mini panniers unscrewed while he was riding and the bags fell off and got scuffed and slightly punctures (no biggie) lucky it wasn't worse. Well I sctstched my head. I hadn't seen them in person before and thought they would be better than that. Turns out I said hey loctite would fix that from happening, lucky we found them in the dirt and grass. Sure enough the company told him to use loctite. I suppose he skipped reading the manual. But, Tailfin light to have applied loctite to the assembly before shipping!Oral of the story, I guess, is in the end it's up to us. I'm going back to flaps and straps! Also, another thing I noticed isn't he trend to encapsulate everything in a bag. You can often just strap stuff into your bike directly and don't need all this fancy stuff. Less bags; less weight.
It may work until there is a rainstorm. The surplus stuff you showed is cheap, but also mostly not water tight. One hour in the rain and everything is soaked. You can use plastic bags inside, but than you have to make sure the bags are fully closed and not damaged. I love my two Ortlieb bags I bought over 11 years back, used for 50 bugs, hassle-free, waterproof and reliable.
I was going to give a shout out to Ortlieb as well. I wouldn't bother with their newer "bikepacking" smaller bags, but for big, tough, waterproof panniers they're great. Had mine for over 10 years also, over half of which included daily commuting, the food shop as well as touring.
Thank you for this video. I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before. Military surplus is not as big in Aus but they are around. For those in Aus who don't know. Start at Aussie Disposals Thanks again.
Thank you so much. While I fall in the middle of the Venn diagram I never thought to connect the dots. Now I know what to look for with the examples you provided. Thank you again
I’ve utilized a lot of alternatives to outfit the pair of Surly ECRs my wife and I have used for many dozens of long bikepacking trips including GDMBR in 2018. Usually I didn’t find a bikepacking specific product that fit our needs, or our bikes, or what I thought was reasonable to spend. So I found alternatives, always at a much lower price, and utilized skill, tools, and repurposed materials to make the kit fit. I judge my success by never having wet gear, and never having any abrasion wear on bags or anything. Although I’m very satisfied with my lower cost custom kitting I do understand the appeal of kitting a bike with off the shelf bags and attachment hardware. If there is something immediately available at a reasonable price, that fits your bike and your methods then it is nice to unbox and install and be done. I always started by trying to buy off the shelf bike specific kit. Maybe some of the off the shelf stuff is better now. I don’t know because our improvised stuff has worked so well that at 7 years and many thousands of miles I’ve not needed to explore replacements.
excellent job. You honor the intention of the sales crew and the specialization impulse at several points, while pointing out the unnecessary and even absurd aspect of the industry. This video may have converted me (and I just spent a pretty penny on matching bags for a sweet rig)
I ordered Coyote brown premium material from Sailrite, busted out my 1946 Kenmore sewing machine & sewed up my panniers with molle straps. Attached Filbe sustainment pouches to the panniers & mounted the panniers with Arkel Hardware. Voila, instant(not really) custom panniers at a fraction of the cost. Got all the webbing & buckles from online. Also made some matching rain covers. Ready to use nice panniers are ridiculously expensive. Oh yeah, my handmade bags smelled nice when I first made them.😊
Been using military surplus MOLLE gear for some time now. Learned real quick that you might want to consider spraying them down with water repellent once or three times. Also, if you decide you can't get enough into those sustainment pouches the small (25 - 30L) MOLLE packs work well, also. A bit more expensive, yes. But, again, they work.
I have a Moostreks frame bag, the 12L version, and it's been great for 6+ years on several bikes. I think that brand hits the sweet spot between price and performance. Defintely a great value for the money. It's stupid how much some companies charge. The Kada/Defiance Seatpack is another quality value-for-your-dollar bikepacking product. I've had that piece for just as long and used it on several bikes as well. You don't have to spend a bunch of money on this hobby to have a good time. Thanks for point all of this out. Great information about the Army Surplus stuff. EDIT: Bushwhacker Bags are another value-priced, quality bike bag company. I own a full set of front & rear panniers + a trunk bag and a handlebar bag from them. All of which havee been used countless times the last 8+ years. I had the handlebar bag installed year-round on one particular bike for 4+ years and it's only a little bit faded on top. Still plenty serviceable. I would get Lone Peak bags if I was going to upgrade to larger panniers.
Spot on! There's lots of great gear out there for really low prices. For example, it's hard to beat a British Army surplus GoreTex bivvy bag and a tarp, compared to a dedicated bikepacking tent at hundreds of bucks. Cheers
Totally agree with the general sentiment. A lot of the "surplus" nowadays is sadly in reality very cheaply made stuff produced directly for the military aficionado market. There is genuinely well made gear though. A lot of it is heavy and a bit overbuilt, but there are gems amongst it. Here in Europe we have Decathlon and other large consumer brands targeting cyclists. They still sell overpriced stuff, but often also have cheap options that work really well. The feed bags/water bottle holders they sell are less than 10 Euros a piece for instance. I exclusively use bags that weren't purpose built for bike packing and it works great, especially if you have racks.
great video- the sustainment pouch is really a great idea, and milsurp in general seems like a great idea for finding modular bags that can strap onto eachother
subbed. Also military cycle infantry like Bersaglieri in Italy used to be supplied bike specific packing gear. Like frame bags. Now I guess only people into restorations and antiques have them.
Definitely a good idea and option 👍🏻My Surly is on the heavy side so lighter bags were what i wanted…using revelate nano on the rear with roll bag that i hand stitched myself on the bars resting on a front rack for support…. I’ve a few other revelate bags but also have thrift store bottle bags i’ve converted and some i’ve made myself…feed bags are super easy to stitch using mostly anything ….🙂👍🏻
I think you seem to be only looking at influencers posing in photos and look at me types , when I cycled for six months across France I seen everything from old milk crates and plastic Jerry cans to Turkish suitcases strapped to the back of bikes .
I’ve been using 4 sustainment pouches on $20 racks for years, Alice butt pack( more space that stays attached through the ride) or molle butt/waist pack as handlebar bags (if I need a bag that is removable and don’t need as much space) or the third option a paratroopers Italian rubberized bag if I need a big bag, all of which cost around $10-15.
Great video & yes I didn't think about using army surplus bags but I think they look better than standard panniers. I'm actually just thinking of strapping a backpack on luggage rack & get a front bag too. I'm right at the very start of getting into this hobby. I've got a mountain bike that I'm kitting up & very excited.
I've seen some cool containers made out of square 40 pound cat litter or laundry detergent containers. The lids are just about totally water proof. They are super strong.
Exactly! Your final point, those websites don’t make money unless they are showing advertising (which are often the articles and gear lists and bike reviews)
Good stuff man, you're right on the money. I've built up a collection of expensive bikepacking specific gear over many years or so of doing this stuff so I guess I sold out to the trends eventually, but my early years of traveling by bike were made possible by milsurp bags and camp gear, worn out bungee cords, and beater 10-speeds. Wasn't pretty, and I have to admit there was a lot more fucking around trying to keep things attached to the bike, but I had a blast...kinda miss those days. There's a lot of consumerism in this scene, and I think a lot of people are driven off by the idea that it's gotta cost thousands of dollars to play the game. But if you're willing to get creative and not worry about what Instagram says you need to have....you can def do this dirt cheap and have a great time.
MOST people don’t want to have to think critically to find a way that isn’t already paved. People want the plug and play option. Thanks for the tip! I’ve been galled by the price of on bike carrying and was resorting to learning to sow my own custom bags. My wife is a seamstress so I’ve had a good teacher but this option is a literal 100hour time saver. (I also LOVE military surplus.
Anyone remember Ken Kifer's web page? I was inspired by him and drew up patterns and learned to sew just to make my own full set of bags for touring. Sized the rear bags so my feet wouldn't hit them and they'd be the right size to fit my stuff. Used them for years until I wore them out at the zippers. Bags with just flaps and buckles will last longer. That and I probably could have sewn them in better.
In America… it’s all about esthetics. If it’s “ugly” people don’t want it. It’s an ignorant and sometimes stupid way of looking at the world. Function and quality is what it’s all about! THANK YOU for sharing this.
Never heard of it! By the way, saying you got into bikepacking by doing the Tour Divide sounds like: "I got into swimming by joining the olympics" haha
Great video, never heard of sustainment pouches. Just to be devil's advocate, I bought some Nashbar waterproof panniers 20 years ago and still have them. Don't tour much, but last time my buddy had canvas bags and all his stuff got wet.
I use a mix of stuff, all 4 panniers i bought were good quality and under £40/£50. I got the drinks pouches up front £6 each. I have 4. A day back of 30 litres cost £7 on eBay and I took off the straps to make a bag on top on the rear rack and up front on the bars, another bargain that was a utility belt pack with mollie and zip pockets each end held to the bars with a bungy cord. 2 Bar bags to finish off that hold bike tools and bathroom gear in one and navigation and gps phone on the other. I'm 220 miles in so far not counting local jaunts.
My pannier 'racks' are old oven grill racks on swivelling clamps set off a seatpost rack. I also use Plce pouches as pannier bags and mounted a gas stove onto the main rack for fast brewups but in camp the rack comes off and becomes a kitchenette kinda thing with either or all fire/twin gas stove/gasifier/actual fire/suspended actual fire/gasifier options, Ey am how you say? Nyot nyormall. 😂
Thank you for this. Bike specific bags are expensive, there are chinese options that are good but the zippers and stitching are not eliable in the long term. Thank you for this option.
These are more expensive in the EU but not crazily expensive either, and I never would have thought of this. To be fair, they also don't look as waterproof as Vaude/Ortlieb bags, but if you don't know if you'll bikepack for the next 20 years, going cheap is the way to start.
In the beginning there was biketouring then someone needed to carry his bike on his back, maybe crossing a river or up a steep trail or on a race so he started using smaller bags that did not pertrude or interfered with his carrying his bike and he called this bikepacking, copied from backpacking. Then for some reason this got to be hip and everyone started using the same type of bags, no matter how inconvenient to carry stuff, even though they toured mainly on pavement and never had the intention of carrying their bicycles on their backs. In short, everyone now is a bikepacker when in reality they're just tourists/adventurers travelling by bicycle with smaller bags. Having said this I do agree there are many ways to acquire panniers, not just the flashy brands. Army surplus seems to be one cheap way, thanks for the tip, but it is not the only one. There are hundreds of companies, in China, US or Europe that make cheaper, good quality panniers. I have one such pair, made in England and they've lasted me many years, €100/pair. One last thing, just about every product we consume, good or bad quality, is made in China. One should not associate only bad quality with China.
Im doing my first ‘bikepacking’ trip soon and my plan is to strap a milkcrate to my rear rack. Guess I’ll find out if there is a reason why I can’t find anyone else doing it this way.
I always look in the military surplus places for gear and such, yet in my area, the surplus stores are expensive, too. Several years ago I got a swiss army doctor's coat in perfect condition for 35 bucks, US. A similar coat now is over 200. bucks CA. 2nd hand goods flippers are getting in the midst and screwing us over, here. Maybe trying online surplus would be better.
While I do believe in quality of these brands, especially for very long rides and their level of protection against rain etc, their pricing is through the roof. I bought knock-off water bottle pouches from china, 3 for less than $10, european brands sell each for over $30. Now even the chinese brands are increasing the prices. I am glad to have discovered your video about surplus options! :) I'll explore local options, they probably have more interesting items inside the shop.
It funny i have many bikepacking bag some a expensive as 300$ custom made was looking for a soloution for carrying more gear for remote no resupple point ie 14 days .. 8 months ago i decide on a 18$ old miltary backpack fits perfect works brillant
Sustainment pouches weigh less than most panniers I researched. Obviously weight is going to be a factor, as is environmental conditions. When putting together a bike setup, definitely take everything into consideration.
Climbers chalk bags can also be a cheaper alternative than a 40-50 quid stem bag. Another alternative to all those bags, get with the cool kids and try rack packing, cheap dry bags and strap all your sh!t to a front basket arrangement. Baskets from the store work great and no it's not stealing it's reappropriation of wealth 😂
You got any experience with these bags in very rainy conditions? I assume if this is military stuff it should hold up in the rain. It’s not like soldiers can stay inside whenever the weather disagrees with them. I find myself bikepacking in some pretty horrible weather more often then I would like so that would be great to know.
Sustainment pouches hold up but won't keep your stuff super dry unless you treat them with Scotch guard. But they have a rivet hole for drainage at the bottom.
All the bike specific ones use velcro one wrap, not these snap buttons. One wrap is cheap enough. You could use OneWrap instead of the snap buttons. Maybe even cut em off for weight savings. Honestly though, the Chinese gear is pretty good. There are a lot of cyclists in Asia, and they do it in inclement weather too. The biggest bike factories in the world are in Taiwan.
Love this! It's such an underrated method, using this since a while as well haha But I gotta ask.... The money you saved, went to Maxxis tires, didn't it? ;p
As someone who made and sold about 10bags last year I feel personally attacked 😂 I hope I can find 10 people who didn't watch this video this year to justify my huge industrial sewing machine and the workshop I have to rent to house it😅
interesting approach, thanks for the video. Off topic: was that wonky installed insulation in your garage mandatory in the region where you live? I mean why is it not covered with some layer to stay put, and what’s the general purpose esp while that large garage gate is not at all insulated? looks like a large waste of resources to me.
There is also a fourth option if you have the time/ want. Make your own gear! A lot of people in the bikepacking community like to make their own bags because usually the designs are pretty simple and you can custom make them to suit your needs like water proofing. Sewing machines aren't too expensive and it's a really useful skill to have.
Definitely a useful skill! One I'm not very good at whatsoever.
THIS!! I made saddlebags with dog food bags, duct tape and straps from an old backpack. They were absolutely waterproof and served me well for 2 trips through Patagonia.
With a sewing machine that I bought for 50 dollars I sewed a framebag made with fabric and zippers from 2 old shoulderbags, I've been using it for 5 years.
With leftover vinyl canvas (the kind used to cover loads in trucks) and cyanoacrylate, I made an 8-liter waterproof bag for the rear luggage rack. I've been using it for years. I only had to stick a couple of patches on it where it rubbed against the frame.
With straps from the old backpack I made a harness for the handlebars that works perfectly.
They are not the lightest or most elegant materials, but they fulfill their function perfectly, and they have not prevented me from traveling wherever I want.
Yep! i’ve made a few front roll bags in wax canvas and many feed bags all hand stitched zero machines! they are on my surly take a look 🙂👍🏻
I got a sewing machine this last winter and did just that. There is a learning curve, but, what fun! Now I make all my own stuff with no hesitation. I also like seeing this video for implementing pre-made stuff. It's all about creativity. All good! Enjoy!
If it does not rain, your idea is okay. Itˋs still pretty heavy and there is no attachment system in them anyway. So, why not get a simple dry bag and strap it onto your bike? Would be waterproof and light and cheap.
Loved that mate, people forget it aint about the gear, never was.
Fantastic video. Other places to look: people selling lightly used gear on private Facebook groups for bike packing or biketouring. Also bike co-ops or Bike thrift shops for cheap racks and baskets. For the bike itself, almost any used bike touring or 90s hybrid or 90s MTB with rack mounts can do the job. Every Trek 520 ever made, for example. On a used bike, look for a steel frame, tire clearance (more than 35mm), rack mount points, and a comfortable rider position that is not 100% upright. Almost everything else can be tweaked or upgraded w used parts or a few careful purchases.
Subed! Im glad I'm not the only one to finally figure this out
... AND put it out to the world on YT with complete information. Thank you!
There's additional options:
1. Cheap
2. Bespoke
3. Branded (Ortlieb, Arkel, etc)
4. Military Surplus
5. Jandd pannier kit or bag/backpack conversion (DIY).
Even children's backpacks are viable as pannier or top rack/handlebar bags with some modification, plus they tend to come in bright or interesting designs and minimalist in terms of design/pockets which is typically ideal. It's pretty easy to sew on some nylon webbing with box stitches and add hook and loop material or work in some Jandd hooks.
Get'em doggos!
I feel like an idiot. I wish I had seen this and thought this way a year ago. I got lost in the hype of stuff. But as things wear out I'll definitely be looking into alternatives like this. Thanks so much for the video.
I appreciate your perspective. For my first 350 mile bike camping ride at the age of 16 I had a used 10 speed from the early 196y0's I used home made panniers made out of canvas. I cut the parts and told my mom where to sew. Probably the best time I ever had with mom. I am not quite sure she really knew where I was going with those bags.
Here to boost the algo after this vid got put back up 💪💪💪 in case anyone didn't know, some soyboy from bikepacking tried abusing the copyright system to take this vid down over a product image shown for a few seconds in the video
Wow
I use a MOLLE II Waist pack for a handlebar bag.
Carry a One Wind Tent Footprint (for a tarp), an inexpensive hammock, some titanium cook kit and alcohol stove, or a Stanley stainless steel cook kit w/ a brass alcohol stove (with a nesting cup, or a collapsable/folding cup), a fuel bottle, lighter, and a Ramen or 2, instant coffees sticks, etc.
Great use for the sustainment pouches.
Had never thought of that.
Thank you !!!
Keep up the great work !!!
I would mention that unless one needs a specific type of bag, with a specific function, you can literally pack everything inside 4-6 medium sized roll top drybags and strap them to your bike. Yes it's nice to have a custom frame bag or front/rear rack (which can be inexpensive), but shorter non-touring-around-the-world outings are very doable with minimal expense.
50 years ago my father and I toured New England with panniers and front bags we made from Army Surplus gear. Worked a charm. I rode a Schwinn Varsity.
Thanks for the video! Been touring off and on since I was a teenager. As a now 65 year old man I look back in awe of what I used to do. I remember back in the day there used to be wire racks that fit over your handlebar to hold a font touring bag. I really liked the idea, but they were super expensive to me and I thought they were heavy. Anyway I made my own and used some sort of big bag I got from the toiletries department to strap on. Today that would be considered too low class to sport around. Well maybe not? The pinnacle of bike is to DIY and adapt things. Over the years I have bought so much stuff. And you know what? Even the expensive nice stuff falls apart. Heck a friend recently got a new new Tailfin set-up just so he could go bike packing and fishing. Some ideal sort of thing. Well on the first trip the little screw on doodads that you hook up the fancy expensive mini panniers unscrewed while he was riding and the bags fell off and got scuffed and slightly punctures (no biggie) lucky it wasn't worse. Well I sctstched my head. I hadn't seen them in person before and thought they would be better than that. Turns out I said hey loctite would fix that from happening, lucky we found them in the dirt and grass. Sure enough the company told him to use loctite. I suppose he skipped reading the manual. But, Tailfin light to have applied loctite to the assembly before shipping!Oral of the story, I guess, is in the end it's up to us. I'm going back to flaps and straps! Also, another thing I noticed isn't he trend to encapsulate everything in a bag. You can often just strap stuff into your bike directly and don't need all this fancy stuff. Less bags; less weight.
It may work until there is a rainstorm. The surplus stuff you showed is cheap, but also mostly not water tight. One hour in the rain and everything is soaked. You can use plastic bags inside, but than you have to make sure the bags are fully closed and not damaged. I love my two Ortlieb bags I bought over 11 years back, used for 50 bugs, hassle-free, waterproof and reliable.
I was going to give a shout out to Ortlieb as well. I wouldn't bother with their newer "bikepacking" smaller bags, but for big, tough, waterproof panniers they're great. Had mine for over 10 years also, over half of which included daily commuting, the food shop as well as touring.
Instructions unclear, attached bike to an ALICE frame and am now carrying it on my back.
You're ready for the Grand canyon portage section of the Arizona trail race, then!
"In Soviet Russia, bike ride you."
Thank you for this video. I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before. Military surplus is not as big in Aus but they are around. For those in Aus who don't know. Start at Aussie Disposals
Thanks again.
Super 3rd 'Option'!!! Thanks for 'sharing'!! Never even thought of Military...surplus gear!! Cheers from Canada!
Thank you for showing me this path to bikepacking :) cheers buddy!
Thank you so much. While I fall in the middle of the Venn diagram I never thought to connect the dots. Now I know what to look for with the examples you provided. Thank you again
I’ve utilized a lot of alternatives to outfit the pair of Surly ECRs my wife and I have used for many dozens of long bikepacking trips including GDMBR in 2018. Usually I didn’t find a bikepacking specific product that fit our needs, or our bikes, or what I thought was reasonable to spend. So I found alternatives, always at a much lower price, and utilized skill, tools, and repurposed materials to make the kit fit. I judge my success by never having wet gear, and never having any abrasion wear on bags or anything. Although I’m very satisfied with my lower cost custom kitting I do understand the appeal of kitting a bike with off the shelf bags and attachment hardware. If there is something immediately available at a reasonable price, that fits your bike and your methods then it is nice to unbox and install and be done. I always started by trying to buy off the shelf bike specific kit. Maybe some of the off the shelf stuff is better now. I don’t know because our improvised stuff has worked so well that at 7 years and many thousands of miles I’ve not needed to explore replacements.
excellent job. You honor the intention of the sales crew and the specialization impulse at several points, while pointing out the unnecessary and even absurd aspect of the industry. This video may have converted me (and I just spent a pretty penny on matching bags for a sweet rig)
Glad it's back up!
I ordered Coyote brown premium material from Sailrite, busted out my 1946 Kenmore sewing machine & sewed up my panniers with molle straps. Attached Filbe sustainment pouches to the panniers & mounted the panniers with Arkel Hardware. Voila, instant(not really) custom panniers at a fraction of the cost. Got all the webbing & buckles from online. Also made some matching rain covers. Ready to use nice panniers are ridiculously expensive. Oh yeah, my handmade bags smelled nice when I first made them.😊
Been using military surplus MOLLE gear for some time now. Learned real quick that you might want to consider spraying them down with water repellent once or three times. Also, if you decide you can't get enough into those sustainment pouches the small (25 - 30L) MOLLE packs work well, also. A bit more expensive, yes. But, again, they work.
I have a Moostreks frame bag, the 12L version, and it's been great for 6+ years on several bikes. I think that brand hits the sweet spot between price and performance. Defintely a great value for the money. It's stupid how much some companies charge. The Kada/Defiance Seatpack is another quality value-for-your-dollar bikepacking product. I've had that piece for just as long and used it on several bikes as well. You don't have to spend a bunch of money on this hobby to have a good time.
Thanks for point all of this out. Great information about the Army Surplus stuff.
EDIT: Bushwhacker Bags are another value-priced, quality bike bag company. I own a full set of front & rear panniers + a trunk bag and a handlebar bag from them. All of which havee been used countless times the last 8+ years. I had the handlebar bag installed year-round on one particular bike for 4+ years and it's only a little bit faded on top. Still plenty serviceable. I would get Lone Peak bags if I was going to upgrade to larger panniers.
Cheap amazon handlebar extension and a dry bag means you can buy those voile straps and have almost half of the rig for under £50.
Spot on! There's lots of great gear out there for really low prices.
For example, it's hard to beat a British Army surplus GoreTex bivvy bag and a tarp, compared to a dedicated bikepacking tent at hundreds of bucks.
Cheers
Genius. I can't wait to visit my surplus store. What a great idea. This is so fun. I bet you could stitch a label on them and sell them as bespoke 😅
Now you're giving me dangerous ideas! I know people who modify surplus jackets, so it's not outside the realm of possibility.
Thank you for the video! To give back I found a funny - get the large rucksack for $15 and it comes with 2 sustainment pouches.
I use these exact same surplus bags on my rig. So cheap and get the job done.
Totally agree with the general sentiment.
A lot of the "surplus" nowadays is sadly in reality very cheaply made stuff produced directly for the military aficionado market.
There is genuinely well made gear though. A lot of it is heavy and a bit overbuilt, but there are gems amongst it.
Here in Europe we have Decathlon and other large consumer brands targeting cyclists. They still sell overpriced stuff, but often also have cheap options that work really well. The feed bags/water bottle holders they sell are less than 10 Euros a piece for instance.
I exclusively use bags that weren't purpose built for bike packing and it works great, especially if you have racks.
Not sure of European distributers. But there are a ton of different websites available in the US to get genuine surplus. Very interesting perspective.
I have always been a fan of the mil surplus as an ex soldier..i use surplus bags for both my setups
I’ve been running two surplus canvas map bags as painters on my grocery/commuter bike for years. They work great! Plus they look awesome
great video- the sustainment pouch is really a great idea, and milsurp in general seems like a great idea for finding modular bags that can strap onto eachother
Same for rucksack/ bergans, waterproofs, boots etc. fishing gear
Military surplus is the secret sauce. It's the toughest gear out there hands down
subbed. Also military cycle infantry like Bersaglieri in Italy used to be supplied bike specific packing gear. Like frame bags. Now I guess only people into restorations and antiques have them.
Definitely a good idea and option 👍🏻My Surly is on the heavy side so lighter bags were what i wanted…using revelate nano on the rear with roll bag that i hand stitched myself on the bars resting on a front rack for support….
I’ve a few other revelate bags but also have thrift store bottle bags i’ve converted and some i’ve made myself…feed bags are super easy to stitch using mostly anything ….🙂👍🏻
great video thank you for the info. I already knew about military surplus but ive never thought about what I can actually get with it
I think you seem to be only looking at influencers posing in photos and look at me types , when I cycled for six months across France I seen everything from old milk crates and plastic Jerry cans to Turkish suitcases strapped to the back of bikes .
Exactly my gear philosophy. I just converted 2 east German assault back (like 10€ / piece) into panniers. They are the perfect size
I’ve been using 4 sustainment pouches on $20 racks for years, Alice butt pack( more space that stays attached through the ride) or molle butt/waist pack as handlebar bags (if I need a bag that is removable and don’t need as much space) or the third option a paratroopers Italian rubberized bag if I need a big bag, all of which cost around $10-15.
Great video & yes I didn't think about using army surplus bags but I think they look better than standard panniers. I'm actually just thinking of strapping a backpack on luggage rack & get a front bag too. I'm right at the very start of getting into this hobby. I've got a mountain bike that I'm kitting up & very excited.
Good start then. Just a mountain bike and a destination, everything else is whatever you want it to be.
It's all just bike camping! Glad to see you getting out!
Exactly!
The ALICE butt bags are great for saddle bags, if you don't want to run a rack. I'm definitely picking up some of those sustainment pouches.
Also, Ikea bags in a basket on a front rack are super waterproof and $1.
I've seen some cool containers made out of square 40 pound cat litter or laundry detergent containers. The lids are just about totally water proof. They are super strong.
Exactly! Your final point, those websites don’t make money unless they are showing advertising (which are often the articles and gear lists and bike reviews)
Thanks, I actually already tried some of my military bags but you made me think that I even have some side pouches of my dutch backback lying around.
Good stuff man, you're right on the money. I've built up a collection of expensive bikepacking specific gear over many years or so of doing this stuff so I guess I sold out to the trends eventually, but my early years of traveling by bike were made possible by milsurp bags and camp gear, worn out bungee cords, and beater 10-speeds. Wasn't pretty, and I have to admit there was a lot more fucking around trying to keep things attached to the bike, but I had a blast...kinda miss those days.
There's a lot of consumerism in this scene, and I think a lot of people are driven off by the idea that it's gotta cost thousands of dollars to play the game. But if you're willing to get creative and not worry about what Instagram says you need to have....you can def do this dirt cheap and have a great time.
So true! Should have thought about it before spending 600-800 USD on bikepacking gear.
MOST people don’t want to have to think critically to find a way that isn’t already paved. People want the plug and play option.
Thanks for the tip! I’ve been galled by the price of on bike carrying and was resorting to learning to sow my own custom bags. My wife is a seamstress so I’ve had a good teacher but this option is a literal 100hour time saver. (I also LOVE military surplus.
Anyone remember Ken Kifer's web page? I was inspired by him and drew up patterns and learned to sew just to make my own full set of bags for touring. Sized the rear bags so my feet wouldn't hit them and they'd be the right size to fit my stuff. Used them for years until I wore them out at the zippers. Bags with just flaps and buckles will last longer. That and I probably could have sewn them in better.
In America… it’s all about esthetics. If it’s “ugly” people don’t want it. It’s an ignorant and sometimes stupid way of looking at the world. Function and quality is what it’s all about! THANK YOU for sharing this.
Never heard of it! By the way, saying you got into bikepacking by doing the Tour Divide sounds like: "I got into swimming by joining the olympics" haha
Thanx for this, super helpful indeed! Your best line: "salty crap that's got blood on it".
Great video, never heard of sustainment pouches. Just to be devil's advocate, I bought some Nashbar waterproof panniers 20 years ago and still have them. Don't tour much, but last time my buddy had canvas bags and all his stuff got wet.
I bought a ton from Nashbar back in the day too!
I use a mix of stuff, all 4 panniers i bought were good quality and under £40/£50. I got the drinks pouches up front £6 each. I have 4. A day back of 30 litres cost £7 on eBay and I took off the straps to make a bag on top on the rear rack and up front on the bars, another bargain that was a utility belt pack with mollie and zip pockets each end held to the bars with a bungy cord. 2 Bar bags to finish off that hold bike tools and bathroom gear in one and navigation and gps phone on the other. I'm 220 miles in so far not counting local jaunts.
My pannier 'racks' are old oven grill racks on swivelling clamps set off a seatpost rack.
I also use Plce pouches as pannier bags and mounted a gas stove onto the main rack for fast brewups but in camp the rack comes off and becomes a kitchenette kinda thing with either or all fire/twin gas stove/gasifier/actual fire/suspended actual fire/gasifier options,
Ey am how you say?
Nyot nyormall.
😂
Holy molle, this is a great idea!
Thank you for this. Bike specific bags are expensive, there are chinese options that are good but the zippers and stitching are not eliable in the long term. Thank you for this option.
These are more expensive in the EU but not crazily expensive either, and I never would have thought of this. To be fair, they also don't look as waterproof as Vaude/Ortlieb bags, but if you don't know if you'll bikepack for the next 20 years, going cheap is the way to start.
You gave me an idea for a basket bag. Have long wanted to get one but they're absurdly overpriced. Great dogs!
In the beginning there was biketouring then someone needed to carry his bike on his back, maybe crossing a river or up a steep trail or on a race so he started using smaller bags that did not pertrude or interfered with his carrying his bike and he called this bikepacking, copied from backpacking. Then for some reason this got to be hip and everyone started using the same type of bags, no matter how inconvenient to carry stuff, even though they toured mainly on pavement and never had the intention of carrying their bicycles on their backs. In short, everyone now is a bikepacker when in reality they're just tourists/adventurers travelling by bicycle with smaller bags. Having said this I do agree there are many ways to acquire panniers, not just the flashy brands. Army surplus seems to be one cheap way, thanks for the tip, but it is not the only one. There are hundreds of companies, in China, US or Europe that make cheaper, good quality panniers. I have one such pair, made in England and they've lasted me many years, €100/pair. One last thing, just about every product we consume, good or bad quality, is made in China. One should not associate only bad quality with China.
Im doing my first ‘bikepacking’ trip soon and my plan is to strap a milkcrate to my rear rack. Guess I’ll find out if there is a reason why I can’t find anyone else doing it this way.
Some of us do - it's where the dog sits :-)
Thanks cobba for the enlightenment
Love the part of the clip where all the dogs enter the picture 😂
Brilliant. “But what about the waterproofing?!?” I can hear them say it. Would it be too cold to post a link to 2gallon freezer bags?
I always look in the military surplus places for gear and such, yet in my area, the surplus stores are expensive, too. Several years ago I got a swiss army doctor's coat in perfect condition for 35 bucks, US. A similar coat now is over 200. bucks CA. 2nd hand goods flippers are getting in the midst and screwing us over, here. Maybe trying online surplus would be better.
While I do believe in quality of these brands, especially for very long rides and their level of protection against rain etc, their pricing is through the roof. I bought knock-off water bottle pouches from china, 3 for less than $10, european brands sell each for over $30. Now even the chinese brands are increasing the prices. I am glad to have discovered your video about surplus options! :) I'll explore local options, they probably have more interesting items inside the shop.
It funny i have many bikepacking bag some a expensive as 300$ custom made was looking for a soloution for carrying more gear for remote no resupple point ie 14 days .. 8 months ago i decide on a 18$ old miltary backpack fits perfect works brillant
That had not occurred to us, dude. Nice video.
The plane has crashed into the mountain?
Great video
Sounds great! And they would match my bike better than everything baggy with clown's colors. Thanks!
Another place to check out flea markets thrift stores I found some really nice bags at places like that
Thank you so much for this video!
czech guy here.. 5:27 i knew that bag was familiar :-)
Thanks man I really needed to hear this 😂
Brilliant! I’ll be raiding the local military surplus store soon.
And those gear layout pictures definitely are the worst 😂😂
Check The Sportsman's Guide. Their website is a great source of surplus from all over. That's where I snagged most of the pictures and examples.
great idea
how do you strap to your rack snuggly? the back straps look like they can't be cinched down and would bounce around in gnarly trails.
I think people may be going for the lightweight and waterproof stuff. How does Army surplus do in those areas? I'd gladly go in that direction! Thanks
Sustainment pouches weigh less than most panniers I researched. Obviously weight is going to be a factor, as is environmental conditions. When putting together a bike setup, definitely take everything into consideration.
They're great videos on the tube that show how to waterproof fabric for very little outlay.
"Fanny packs" from thrift stores also strap all over a bike.
Climbers chalk bags can also be a cheaper alternative than a 40-50 quid stem bag. Another alternative to all those bags, get with the cool kids and try rack packing, cheap dry bags and strap all your sh!t to a front basket arrangement. Baskets from the store work great and no it's not stealing it's reappropriation of wealth 😂
these surplus bags are not waterproof though, correct?
Excellent, tous ces mecs avec leur '' matos'' commencent à me donner la nausée, bien dit mon gars !
They aren't waterproof, are they? How do you deal with that, if at all?
You got any experience with these bags in very rainy conditions? I assume if this is military stuff it should hold up in the rain. It’s not like soldiers can stay inside whenever the weather disagrees with them. I find myself bikepacking in some pretty horrible weather more often then I would like so that would be great to know.
Sustainment pouches hold up but won't keep your stuff super dry unless you treat them with Scotch guard. But they have a rivet hole for drainage at the bottom.
I had one of those MOLLY bottle pouches and it fell off the bike as soon as I hit a big bump.
All the bike specific ones use velcro one wrap, not these snap buttons. One wrap is cheap enough. You could use OneWrap instead of the snap buttons. Maybe even cut em off for weight savings.
Honestly though, the Chinese gear is pretty good. There are a lot of cyclists in Asia, and they do it in inclement weather too. The biggest bike factories in the world are in Taiwan.
Buen video, mi loco.
Smart guy, thanks.
Love this!
It's such an underrated method, using this since a while as well haha
But I gotta ask.... The money you saved, went to Maxxis tires, didn't it? ;p
They're two-season old XC tires. This bike basically only gets hand-me-downs! Gotta save it where you can!
The lesson here is waterproof gear costs more.
5:25 That backpack is done in the style of British, WWII webbing, buckles and material. Mine says Made in China!
This one's definitely czech canvas. British WW2 webbing gear is neat though. I think I have a few pouches for their old no4mk1 stripper clips .
Brilliant thanks!
organic vegan bike bag makers hate his man
As someone who made and sold about 10bags last year I feel personally attacked 😂
I hope I can find 10 people who didn't watch this video this year to justify my huge industrial sewing machine and the workshop I have to rent to house it😅
thanks for sharing
Are any of these mil-surp canvas bags waterproof?
Resistant with a drain hole. But some scotch guard on them does wonders.
Heyy are those waterproof?
@@mufa.7646 not waterproof. Drain rivets are stitched into the fabric, and using a little wax or scotch guard makes them pretty resistant.
I'm pausing at 3:07 to guess "military surplus"
Ding ding ding!
Nice video mate 🫡
interesting approach, thanks for the video.
Off topic: was that wonky installed insulation in your garage mandatory in the region where you live? I mean why is it not covered with some layer to stay put, and what’s the general purpose esp while that large garage gate is not at all insulated? looks like a large waste of resources to me.
Not sure! Bought this place a few years ago. I'll likely cover it, but just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Another weirdo here, cheers! 🤟😝