Gear

Our gear list has changed since starting our trip. To view our initial list, please click here.

You'll notice that we carry neither a stove nor sleeping bags, two of the "essentials" of camping. For how we eat well without a stove, check out Going Stoveless. For how we stay warm without sleeping bags, read about the Snuggle Zone here.

Currently we have a setup rather unique in the cycling world. We have ditched the basic essential, panniers, but we also haven't gone totally rackless.

At the top of a pass in Peru

Here are the details:

Our bikes each have a handlebar bag, a frame bag, a small under-seat bag, and a backpack strapped onto the back rack. Water is carried on the front fork and under the down tube. 

Pros:
1) Weight: It forces you to cut down on unnecessary gear and makes for a lightweight ride. Much appreciated in the mountains.
2) Ease of conversion: If we need to carry our bikes or put them in a vehicle, or if we want to leave the bikes and go backpacking, it's easy to take off the gear—just unstrap the backpack.
3) Weight distribution: The weight is relatively well-distributed around the bike, making for decent handling in technical terrain.
4) Shape: Our bikes have a more streamlined shape, reducing the effect of headwinds to some extent and making them compatible for any road we want to ride, including narrow singletrack. We can also squeeze through tight spaces between cars, people, donkeys, or whatever else might be blocking the road.
5) Flexibility: Need to carry something extra? Perhaps a warm sweater, extra water, or a ukulele? Strap it to the side of the rack in a dry bag. Or, if need be, we can carry panniers or any other bag made for a rack.

Cons:
1) Space: Some people like to take their house with them. In that case, panniers and trailers allow for much more space.
2) Packing: Because our frame bags are homemade and don't fit perfectly, and because our backpacks are not really made for bike touring, we have to pack everything with care.
3) Bike carrying: The frame bag inhibits grasp of the top tube, making the bike more difficult to carry.
4) Waterproofing: our homemade frame bags don't have the waterproofing of heavy-duty panniers (though that's the fault of their construction, not the setup), and the backpacks tend to get somewhat waterlogged with numerous days of rain. Mold was only a problem once in the jungle when it rained for days straight with astronomical humidity, but fortunately we were able to dry everything before the smell took over.

What's in our bags differed slightly in Central America, where we had no need for warm clothes. Specific brands are noted where we know them.

Tamara's setup:
Handlebar bag: Sea to Summit 13L dry bag attached with a strap from a hardware store.
ThermaRest NeoAir sleeping pad
Fleece blanket (with bike pattern)
Warm, waterproof Black Diamond mittens

Frame bag: homemade from 200-denier heat-sealable nylon packcloth.
Food
Collapsible bowl
Prescription sunglasses

Seat bag: homemade from leftover frame bag fabric.
Spare tire
Tire levers
Patch kits
3 spare tubes
Cleaning cloth

Backpack: 50L Osprey Aura with a 30L dry bag inside and the "brain" removed.
2 pairs of bike shorts
1 long sleeve Columbia shirt with UV protection
1 quick dry t-shirt
1 pair hiking shorts
2 pairs underwear
2 bras
1 pair long underwear
1 fleece
1 Rab down jacket with hood
1 pair rain pants
1 LL Bean rain jacket
2 pairs wool socks, one light, one heavy
1 bandana
(Of course, I'll be wearing some of these things)
Small bag with: toiletries, paints, kindle, pen and journal, and headlamp.
Tent poles and stakes
Small woven bag for grocery shopping
Collapsible platypus water bottle
Bike pump
2 Spoons


Danny's setup:
Handlebar bag: Ortlieb Classic 6 reinforced with cardboard
Nikon D3100 camera with 18-55mm lens
Wool cap (my camera case while riding)
Nikon 55-200mm lens
iPhone
Battery chargers and electronics cables
Pen
Eyeglasses/prescription sunglasses
Leatherman Wingman multitool
Paracord
Chapstick
Bike multitool (plus size 3, 4, and 5 hex wrenches)
Patch kit
Black Diamond Cosmo headlamp

Frame bag: homemade from 200-denier heat-sealable nylon packcloth.
Food
Sunscreen

Seat bag: 10L Sea to Summit dry bag.
Spare tire
2 spare tubes
Chain oil and rag
Spare bike parts (screws, cables, etc)
First-aid kit
Tenacious Tape
Sewing kit
Bug spray

Backpack: GoLite Jam 50L with 35L Sea to Summit dry bag
Bike pump
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss
Spot device
2 lightweight synthetic shirts, one short-sleeve, one Columbia long-sleeve
2 pairs of socks, one light polyester and the other heavy wool
2 pairs of synthetic REI boxers
2 pairs of lightweight synthetic shorts, 1 cargo-style, the other athletic-style
1 pair of REI long underwear
1 pair of REI rain pants
Fleece jacket
Big Agnes Shovelhead down jacket
Outdoor Research Maximus rain jacket
Mosquito head net (in pocket of rain jacket)
Waterproof mittens (in pocket of rain jacket)
Handkerchief/bandana
MSR microfiber towel
Jacks'R'Better Down Quilt
ThermaRest NeoAir Sleeping Pad
Lightweight polyester sheet
Paper maps
Compass
Photos of our family and journey to show to people we meet
Kindle eReader
Small notepad
SteriPen Classic
Zhumell 10x42 binoculars

I usually ride wearing my long sleeve shirt, cargo-style shorts, lightweight socks, and sunglasses.

Strapped to my rack is our tent, a Big Agnes Seedhouse 3, in a 13L dry bag, and my ukulele.

Note: although we haven't tried it, we believe that a bear can could work with this setup as well. Simply keep the bear can and food in the backpack, and clothes in the frame bag.

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