Luggage for ultra-lightweight touring

tomisitt

Hi. I'm looking to do a three-week, 1500-mile tour of France next year and want to do it using minimal luggage, preferring cheap hotels and B&Bs to camping.

So I'm looking at large(ish) seat-packs up to around 14 litres and handlebar packs up to around 8 litres. I'll be using lightweight drypacks with them, so waterproofing isn't vital. And I definitely don't want panniers and racks.

So far I reckon the Apidura compact handlebar pack looks good, but am having trouble deciding on a seatpack. Does anyone have any experience of these:

Alpkit Koala, Revelate Viscacha, Apidura Saddlepack (mid-size)

They all look pretty good, but would love to hear from anyone with any experience of these, particularly with regard compression, stability, and ease-of-packing.

Cheers

canamdad

Take a look at this review: http://www.bikepacking.com/gear/bikepacking-seat-pack-evolution/

tomisitt

Thanks, will take a look

pdstsp

Hi Tomisitt

I did both LEJOG and Dunkirk-Perpignan using a Carradice Barley with a support on the back and a topeak tourguide bar bag. I would recommend both.

Paul

ror3h

I have the apidura saddlepack (med size) and it's great. I sometimes notice it touching the back of my legs, as I have a lot of saddle setback, and it sways a little when out of the saddle, but it sounds perfect for what you need. It has a large opening too so you can fit tonnes in there.

tomisitt

Thanks, people. I'm leaning towards the Apidura kit at the moment, unless anyone else has any suggestions.

Cheers

bigjim

I'm satring to wonder how much lightweight matters in the scheme of things. I've never been a big fan of the four pannier look. This year I took this outfit to France for two weeks B&B and I think I pounded along in great comfort. All I needed, but the bike felt light enough and I didn't really feel any different than on my lightweight bikes.

culverwood

I favour the four front pannier set-up myself, but I ride a steel 26" wheel tourer.