Every single little thing I’m bringing on the Colorado Section of the Golden Gravel Trail in 2026
Here’s what I’m packing on my Golden 150 three-week cross-Colorado bikepacking trip, as of the week prior. I’ll update it with the finetuning and adjustments I make along the way.
As always, my list is personalized to me and my own balance of weight and comfort. It’s probably both too much and too little, and each person’s set-up will look very different! Hopefully this serves as a reference point for newcomers to bikepacking.
The Bike
Salsa Cutthroat C GRX 610 1x, I got this bike this spring specifically for this ride and similar rides I hope to do later. It’s mostly off-the-shelf with its stock components. Size 54 cm (I’m a leggy 5’5.5”)
- Frame and fork: carbon
- Drivetrain: Shimano TRX X 610 1x (12 speed)
- Tires: Teravail Camrock 29 x 2.2″
- Seatpost: TranszX YSP38 dropper post
- Seat: WTB Rocket Fusion (stock)
- Pedals: Venzo Dual Function for both platform and SPD clipless
- Rear rack: Axiom rack from several years ago, needed the Salsa Post-Lock in order to attach it to the stem.
- Fork racks: Topeak VersaCage adventure cages x2
Bags
- Handlebar bag – Swift Industries Catalyst Pack, 7.5L (I added elastic paracord on the lid)
- Feed bags – right side is a Revelate Designs Mountain Feedbag 1L, left side is a smaller pouch of unknown brand, approx .5 L
- Top tube bags – front is a Revelate Designs Mag-Tank .9L, back is a Topeak Fuel Tank 0.5L
- Fork bags – Sea to Summit Big River Dry Bags x2, 5L each
- Panniers – Arkel Dry-Lites Saddle Bags, 14L each
- Breakaway bag – I stash a ChicoBag to use as a tote while away from the bike
- Organization – I keep clothing and other items organized in mesh produce bags
Sleeping Gear
- Tent – REI Flash Air 2-person, rebagged in a waterproof Sea to Summit bag
- Sleeping bag – Sea to Summit Traveller Down Sleeping Bag Blanket 45 degree
- Pillow – Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight inflatable pillow
- Liner – Sea to Summit Reactor (to use when it’s hot, or add to the blanket bag)
- Sleeping mat – Thermarest Neoair Xlite, size regular
- Foam mat – Mini folding mat for sitting, extra sleep padding, general comfort
Water, Food, & Cooking
- Water bottles – HydraPak Water Bottles 30oz, x2, plus a HydraPak Stow 1L
- Water filter – MSR TrailShot Ultralight squeeze filter, and Aquatabs for redundancy
- Paracord to hang a dry bag as a bear bag
- Stove – MSR PocketRocket 2 Mini Stove Kit, 8oz fuel can, ultralight spork, lighter, tiny bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap, and a scrap of a scrubbing pad
- Electrolytes, caffeine – Tube of 10 Nuun tablets, and Celsius packets for when morning coffee isn’t available
- Snacks and meals – depends on what’s available at resupply stops, but I generally live on restaurant meals and leftovers, gas station burritos, candy, and other high-cal fuel
The Clothing
- On the bike – helmet (always always), sunglasses, cycling gloves, buffs x2, hiking tees x2, chamois shorts x2, sun layer (Pioneer Camp’s hoodie has a ponytail slit!), socks x2, bras x2, clipless shoes
- Off the bike – Swimsuit, lightweight shirt, lightweight shorts, light hiking pants, pjs (Alpine Fit base layer top and super-light leggings), wool socks, underwear, billed cap, Crocs sandals
- Layers – wind layer, rain jacket, puffy jacket, sun sleeves (I love my Farmers Defense pair), leg sleeves, rain pants, shoe covers, glove liners, insulated gloves, light wool beanie
Electronics
- Phone – Pixel 10a
- Computer – Wahoo Elemnt Roam 1 (from 2020, this may be its last rodeo)
- Spot device – Borrowed from Adventure Cycling Association to track my ride here!
- Power bank – INUI 20,000mAh & wall charger/cables
- Watch – Garmin vivoactive 4 because I don’t know how to live without it
- Headlamp – Lepro LED rechargeable
- Tail light- LEZYNE Strip Drive Pro rechargeable, 300 lumens
- Headphones – Shokz OpenRun SE
- Ereader – Kindle Paperwhite because I don’t know how to live without it
Bike Tools
- Multitool – Crakbrothers Multi Tool with chain breaker
- Tires – Tubeless tire repair kit, valve core remover, 2oz sealant, tubolito spare tube, hand pump, tire levers, Shrader to Presta adapter
- Chain – dry lube in an eyedropper bottle, hanky/rag in a pack-pouch, quick link
- Misc – extra zip ties, bolts, and twist ties, needle and thread, safety pins, gear patches, super glue, tweezers, duct tape, extra velcro strap
Hygiene, Self-care, Misc.
- Easily reachable – wet wipes, sanitizer, sunscreen, SPF chapstick, tissues
- First aid kit – stocked with alcohol wipes, bandages, gauze, disinfectant, antihistamine, diphenhydramine, antacid, bismuth, ibuprofen (lots)
- Toiletries – toothbrush, toothpaste, flosser, retainer, mini deodorant, foldable hairbrush, hairbands, snap clip, nail clipper
- Towel – Sea to Summit Drylite Towel
- Poop trowel – Kuvik titanium ultralight trowel
- Pee cloth – reusable pee cloth for wipin’ in the woods
- Wallet/ID – in a minimal elastic wallet band for holding credit card, ID, cash
- Lock – 4’ combination lock
Disclosure: I included links wherever the item is still available to buy online because I genuinely want to help readers find the exact things I’ve listed. All products and brands on this list reflect my unincentivized research and preferences, and nothing has been sponsored or gifted. That said, I also want to break even on this website, so any Amazon links are affiliate (meaning I earn a small percent of any transaction).
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