You’re not bikepacking. You’re bike touring. That means panniers, pastries, and sometimes questionable campsite neighbors.
Multi-day touring is the sweet spot between backpacking and van life, without the comforts of a van. It’s part adventure, part logistics puzzle, and all-in on saddle time. Whether you’re pedaling coastlines, rail trails, or backroads dotted with diners. This list keeps your gear dialed and your morals high.
Tobias’ Multi-Day Bike Touring Checklist Essentials
Comprehensive and built for trips ranging from 3 days to 3 months (just scale up your underwear and route in pit stops for grocery top-ups). Pick what’s important to you and know you’re set for a successful bike tour.
Bike & On-the-Road Essentials
- ✅ Touring bike (or sturdy ride w/ racks + bags)
- ✅ Helmet
- ✅ Sunglasses / clear glasses (bugs = real)
- ✅ Handlebar mirror (safety flex)
- ✅ Front + rear lights
- ✅ Repair kit:
- Spare tubes (2+), levers, mini pump
- Chain lube + rag
- Multi-tool w/ chain breaker
- Tire boot, patches, zip ties
- Duct tape wrapped around seatpost
- Extra bolts, spoke wrench
- ✅ Lock (U-lock for city stops, cable for quickies)
- ✅ GPS or phone mount + backup power
- ✅ Offline maps (RideWithGPS / Komoot / paper)
Shelter & Sleeping Kit
- ✅ Tent, rainfly, stakes
- ✅ Groundsheet
- ✅ Sleeping bag (3-season recommended)
- ✅ Sleeping pad
- ✅ Camp pillow or stuff sack full of laundry
- ✅ Headlamp + batteries
Camp Kitchen & Food
- ✅ Stove + fuel
- ✅ Lighter + matches
- ✅ Pot/pan + utensils
- ✅ Mug
- ✅ Bowl/plate (Can be skipped if you’re a minimalist)
- ✅ Dish soap + sponge + small towel
- ✅ Dry bag or food sack
- ✅ Instant Coffee (Tobias’ Must-haves)
- ✅ Snacks (bars, trail mix, jerky, chocolate)
- ✅ Instant meals or real groceries if resupplying often
- ✅ Water filter or purification tabs
- ✅ Bottles + hydration bladder (3-5L total)
Personal Items
- ✅ Toothbrush/paste
- ✅ Towel
- ✅ Wet wipes
- ✅ Soap/shampoo (solely biodegradable stuff!)
- ✅ Toilet paper + trowel
- ✅ Sunscreen
- ✅ Bug spray
- ✅ Chamois cream
- ✅ First aid kit + any meds
- ✅ Lip balm
- ✅ Nail clippers or mini scissors (not just great for personal hygien reasons)
- ✅ Trash bags or ziplocs (leave no trace)
Clothing (adjust for season/region)
- ✅ 2–3 riding kits
- ✅ Off-bike clothes (shorts, tee, hoodie)
- ✅ Rain jacket / windbreaker
- ✅ Insulating layer (fleece/puffy)
- ✅ Sleepwear
- ✅ Buff / neck gaiter
- ✅ Warm hat (even in summer)
- ✅ Riding gloves + camp gloves
- ✅ Extra socks + undies
- ✅ Camp shoes or sandals
Extras / Useful Stuff
- ☐ Power bank/Solar charging (Tobias recommends highly)
- ☐ Charging cables + wall plug
- ☐ Journal + pen
- ☐ Book or Kindle
- ☐ Earplugs (campground savior)
- ☐ Sunglasses case
- ☐ Zip ties / paracord / mini bungees
- ☐ Safety pins or sewing kit
- ☐ Flag or visibility vest if roadside touring
- ☐ Reflective tape or stickers
- ☐ Maps / guidebook / print itinerary
Get the Multi-Day Bike Touring Checklist Printable PDF
If you want a digital copy or print out of the list. Just sign up below and we’ll have the multi-day bike touring checklist sent straight over to your e-mail in a matter of seconds.
Touring Rule #1: Your bags will never be fully light, but your heart probably will.
Find a nice pace, keep on peddling and I’ll see you out there on the long winding roads,
— Tobias