2022 Bikepacking Gear of the Year

Tailfin Mini Panniers (10L)

The 10L Tailfin Mini Panniers were released in 2021 but became favorites of a couple of our team members this year. They’re not only the perfect size, but they might also be the most well-engineered panniers we’ve used. They feature a really nice cam closure that Tailfin clearly put a lot of time and thought into. It’s both intricate and extremely solid, making them quick to remove and install and completely stable and rattle-free. Find Logan’s thoughts here and Cass’ full review here.

$105 at Tailfin

Old Man Mountain Elkhorn

Released back in the spring, the Old Man Mountain Elkhorn is a cleverly designed and highly versatile rack that can be mounted to the front or rear of nearly any bike using the axle mount kit or rack mounts. Its unique engineering makes the Elkhorn one of the most universal racks available, and it’s a great option as a bag support or a standalone rack for a minimal packing style. The three-pack mounts on each leg are icing on the cake. Find our review here.

$148 at OMM Campfire

Frances Cycles Farfarer Trailer

Trailers magically turn regular bikes into load-hauling machines, helping turn our most imaginative human-powered adventures into reality. Light on the scales and easy on the eyes, the Frances Cycles Farfarer feels almost perfect for its intended uses and resonates especially well with the inherent simplicity of bicycles themselves. There’s little to fail, and handling is as good as it gets for a trailer hauling cargo. Find Cass’ full review here.

$600+ at Frances Cycles

Pipedream A.L.I.C.E.

Back in 2016, the Pipedream A.L.I.C.E. was one of the first drop-bar mountain bikes in what’s now a well-saturated market. We finally got around to testing the latest iteration this year, and we’re glad we did. Not only is this bike a good value, it climbs very well, and it’s stable and grounded, which translates to it being a great descender. It’s clear that Pipedream had a vision with this bike, and with its ability to handle the chunky stuff like mountain bike and still maintain a quick and snappy feel and an all-day comfortable ride, they nailed it. Find the review here.

Chumba Yaupon

The Chumba Yaupon stood out this year amid the growing variety of omniterrain bikes. The Yaupon managed to keep things interesting with its US-made steel frame, clearance for 29 x 2.6″ tires, dropper post routing, sliding dropouts, and slightly more versatile trail-ready geometry relative to many other drop-bar bikes on the market. Find our review here.

Bike Friday All-Packa

Small-wheel folding bikes are great for taking advantage of multimodal transportation options and for storing in cramped spaces. They don’t usually come to mind, though, as bikepacking platforms. Enter Bike Friday’s All-Packa as a decisive rejection of that conventional wisdom. The All-Packa can pack in minutes into a suitcase, but when unfolded, it is undaunted by loose gravel, rugged doubletrack, or even less-than-chunky singletrack. For imaginative adventure possibilities, it’s a game changer. Find an interview with the All-Packa’s designer here and keep an eye out for our comprehensive review.

Wolf Tooth Waveform Pedals

There are a number of solid flat pedal options out there, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. However, Minnesota-based Wolf Tooth Components seems to have nailed it with their in-house machined Waveform pedals. They’re well-built, offer a narrower Q-factor than many other comparable options, and offer best-in-class grip with a unique dual-concave design.

$199 at WolfTooth Jenson

Logos Eudae Wheels

A sub-1600 gram carbon mountain bike wheelset for under $1,250? The new Logos Eudae ticks that box, and being built around the proven and now open standard dual-sprung floating Star Ratchet system, are compatible with internals from the venerated original (non-EXP) DT240/350. We’ve been testing a pair for a few months and have nothing but good things to say. Stay tuned for the full review.

$1,248 at LogosComponents.com

Garbaruk 12-speed Cassette

There are two camps when it comes to 12-speed drivetrains. One good thing about the SRAM Eagle side are the lightweight one-piece cassettes, something that Shimano doesn’t have. Garbaruk has been in the game for a while and released a one-piece Microspline 12-speed cassette to work with the Shimano 12-speed drivetrain. Better yet, it weighs 25 grams less than the X01 option and is $100+ lighter on the wallet. And it shifts beautifully too.

$286 at Garbaruk

Buttercups!

The introduction of Buttercups in the new RockShox Pike Ultimate left a lot of us scratching our heads this past summer. But as gimmicky as it sounds, this little elastomer-based anti-vibration system is 100% noticeable and makes for a pretty impressive benefit. Stay tuned for a review.

$900 at REI Backcountry

Cane Creek eeSilk Stem

Speaking of elastomers, Cane Creek seems to have figured out a pretty neat engineering recipe for their take on a suspension stem. In our experience, many of the other options are a little too flexy. The eeSilk allows you to dial it in between soft and firm settings, which is a nice touch. We’ll publish a review down the road, but so far we’re impressed.

$229 at Jenson Worldwide

Specialized Power with Mirror Saddle

A $300+ 3D-prinded saddle… WTF!? That’s pretty much what we thought. However, we knew that Specialized had something special on their hands with the Mimic saddles, and this lighter-weight 195-gram saddle seemed interesting. In the end, it’s extremely comfortable, and it’s held up incredibly well. Watch for a long-term review in 2023.

$325 at Backcountry

Apidura Frame Pack Hydration Bladder

Apidura’s Frame Pack Hydration Bladder is the first frame bag-specific bladder on the market. It features a roll-top closure to allow refilling the bladder without removing it from the frame pack and has proven itself quite durable. Find the review here.

$51-63 at Apidura

Ass Savers Win Wing

Made in Sweden from primarily recycled plastic, the 71-gram Ass Savers Win Wing is an ultralight clip-on mudguard that’s designed be used on any bike—with or without fender mounts—in the cold and wet conditions of fall and winter. The Win Wing is a new take on a fender that helps minimize the mud and muck on your backside, and we’ve been digging it this fall.

$25 at Bikepacking Store

Kokopelli Rogue R-Deck Packraft

Described as the “quiver killer” by Kokopelli, the Rogue R-Deck has a removable spraydeck that’s there when you want it and zips off when you don’t. It weighs just under 10 pounds, packs down to the size of a large paper towel roll, and the version we’ve been using for the last year has the optional TiZip zipper to store gear inside the packraft for multi-day trips.

$960 at Backcountry

Gossamer Gear The Two

We’ve been testing out the redesigned Gossamer Gear The Two for nearly a year now with great results. It packs down small, offers enough interior space for two friends, weighs around a pound and a half with everything you need, and is competitively priced at $375 (currently on sale for $300!). Gossamer offers an optional pole set for those without trekking poles, and there’s also The One for those traveling solo. Stay tuned for our full review.

$300 at GossamerGear

Decathlon Forclaz Trek 900 50°F Sleeping Bag

You usually need to pay a pretty penny to get a light and packable bag. But with Decathlon’s Forclaz Trek 900, you not only get both, but you also get a bag that’s proven to be durable at a very approachable price point. The Trek 900 is a 1.5-pound, 50°F summer sleeping bag that’s impressed us by providing the decent 2.5-3 season warmth and comfort on a variety of summer mountain trips.

$150 at Decathlon

Mountain Hardwear Nimbus UL1 Tent

The Mountain Hardwear Nimbus UL1 Tent is nothing groundbreaking in terms of structure and function. However, this 770-gram, ultralight, single-door, one-person shelter ticks all the boxes and is made without dyes, PU-coatings, or flame-retardant chemicals. It’s also very light, spacious, and available for a competitive price.

$300 at REI

Wacaco Picopresso

After trying an espresso from the Wacaco Picopresso deep in the Rocky Mountains, it was clear that this pint-sized espresso maker is in a class of its own and unrivaled in its weight-to-quality ratio. Albeit more of a glam-packing item, we definitely recommend giving it a shot if you place a high priority on making quality coffee outside. Find our review here.

$129 at AMZN Wacaco

Snowpeak Insulated Mug

Speaking of quality coffee, one thing that’s always been frustrating about ultralight titanium mugs is the fact that your coffee gets cold so quickly. The Snowpeak Insulated Titanium Mug isn’t new this year, but it’s been a go-to option for us. It seems to double the time coffee stays warm, and it doesn’t come with much of a weight penalty.

$40 at Snow Peak Backcountry

Grayl Ultrapress Ti

The new Grayl Ultrapress Ti features a unique titanium construction, fits in a bottle cage, and filters/stores water for when you’re on the move. We’ve found the push-to-filter design to be reliable and easy to use, and the ability to use it as an emergency pot for boiling water or preparing simple meals is a nice bonus. The standard plastic version costs just $90, which is another solid option.

$199 at Grayl.com

Gore Passion Shorts

The search of a good summer shorts led us to the Gore Passion Short this year. This relatively affordable garment has a double button closure, velcro waist-band, and relatively slim cut that’s a great fit for in-between waist sizes. It’s also super comfortable on the bike, not too heavy for warmer weather, and has a good set of minimal pockets.

$70 at GORE Worldwide

Giro Tracker Shoes

The Giro Tracker is not just another flat-pedal mountain bike shoe. The Tracker was designed to be more minimal and lighter than others, with a highly breathable design for comfort on all-day rides. We’ve put about 1,200 miles on one and have been extremely impressed with its durability. And for fast-paced bikepacking, the BOA dial is an excellent touch for being able to stretch your feet and quickly put on or remove them. They’re pretty grippy, too, and make a great mixed-terrain adventure shoe. Stay tuned for a more in-depth review.

$130 at Jenson

7mesh Chilco Anorak

Part of their WTV (wind, thermal, ventilation) lineup released this year, the 7mesh Chilco Anorak provides the perfect blend of warmth and wind protection for cold mornings or mild winter days. Miles has been wearing his on nearly every ride this fall/winter, and has found it ideal for temps hovering around freezing.

$200 at 7mesh Men’s Women’s

Allied BC40

Released earlier this summer, the Allied BC40 is a made-in-USA carbon full-suspension cross-country bike designed for aggressive riding and and going fast. Its generously sized main triangle and 29 x 2.4″ tire clearance have us thinking it would make a solid platform for lightweight singletrack bikepacking trips and ultra-endurance races. Learn more here.

Cotic Cascade

The new Cotic Cascade is a versatile drop-bar mountain bike built up around a chromoly steel frame, clearance for 29 x 2.6″ tires, and all the mounting points you could ever need. We’re actually testing this bike at the moment, so stay tuned for a full review in 2023. In the meantime, find the press release here.

Omnium Big Bad Jumbo

Omnium, best known for their line of utilitarian cargo bicycles, recently stepped into the world of mountain bikes. Omnium’s Founder, Jimmi “Jumbo” Bargisen concocted this long and relatively progressive hardtail that has some pretty nice lines, and a lot of mounts. We’re hoping to test one soon. Find the press release here.