Bikepacking Gear We’re Testing Right Now
One of the big differences between our annual Editors List and the ubiquitous “Best Of” lists you find all over the internet these days is that we’re not interested in only testing the latest and greatest. Sometimes, the latest isn’t actually the greatest. Not to mention, if you’re only testing this year’s newest gear, by definition you haven’t spent that much time using it. In our minds, the best gear reviews are ones take all available products into account and are based on years of extended use. That said, we also don’t want to be stuffy old-timers, simply using the products that we’ve had forever simply because we’ve had them forever. There’s an important balance recognizing the value of a long-used product and being open to the fact that something could be better.
We began working on our 2027 Editors List pretty much pretty much immediately after finishing our 2026 list. We start these by making an initial, rough list, identifying products that we’ve used that we think should immediately be included, as well as categories where we’re not sure we’ve been using the best. From there, we cast a wide net and begin testing for those categories. We’ve been testing gear for our next list, which will focus on warm weather bikepacking, since the spring. And while we’re not ready to make any judgments—our notes so far are half-baked and incomplete—there are a few items we’re excited to share a little more about.
Ryan: MEC Provincial Bike Bags
Bike bags are complicated, personal, and there’s so much variety among them (we’ve debated how to review them more than probably any other category for this Ed List) so I’ve been testing a few different setups. I initially pegged Canadian retailer MEC’s Provincial Saddle Pack and Handlebar Roll as a simple, budget option without the bells and whistles of other bags, but I was really surprised with their performance during a two-day bikepacking trip in the Cascades. They were very easy to put on and take off the bike (nice for a bike that is also my everyday commuter) and didn’t bounce around at all, even on chunky gravel. They might go beyond just being my budget rec.
Stasia: 7mesh Northwoods Jacket
Just about every wind jacket I’ve ever tried has felt at least a little reminiscent of wearing a trash bag. The Northwoods, however, feels much more like an ultralight softshell—stretchy, soft, and breathable while still providing ample wind protection and water resistance. The fit is versatile enough to be used on or off the bike, but the design is clearly oriented toward being in the saddle. It has a drop hem in the back for additional coverage, and ample room in the chest and shoulders for hunching over the handlebars. But so far, the standout feature for me is its breathability, which is superior to many other wind layers on the market that I’ve used. Plus, it’s light enough and packs small enough to justify bringing it on any ride where I might want more than just a T-shirt or jersey, and has been a staple for early morning rides in the mountains so far this summer.
Sam: Swift Industries Zeitgeist Handlebar Bag
The typical bikepacking handlebar bag is a glorified stuff sack that you strap onto your handlebars. They have only one compartment, but at least they roll down from both sides, right? The Zeitgeist, however, is more like a messenger bag you can strap onto your bars. It has side pockets that buckle closed to store small items, and a large lid that covers the boxy main compartment. Under the lid, there’s a cinch closure that lets you stuff a lot of gear into the main compartment. Admittedly, there are styles of bikepacking where this bag isn’t ideal, but for long rambles down dirt roads with the occasional stretch of singletrack, the Zeitgeist has been great so far.
—The Editors
