Best Bikepacking Bikes [2024]

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This is a gear review about the Best Bikepacking bikes 2024.

Bikepacking bikes are for those who want a lighter weight and more compact option of traveling by bicycle, in comparison to traditional bike touring.

With the widespread use of bike frame bags, handlebar bags, seat post bags, MTB Backpacks, and more it needed a different style of bicycle allows you to travel the backroads and trails. That is where a Bikepacking bike comes in.

I’ve cycled thousands of miles on single trail, unmaintained roads, backroads, and remote areas, and have a good idea of what makes the best bike for Bikepacking.

In this article, we have put together the Best Bike for Bikepacking that you can get your hands on right now.

How We Tested

All the Bikepacking Bikes in this review have been extensively evaluated and researched by the expert author who has many years of experience in Bike Touring and Bikepacking. The author has been bike touring and bikepacking on 4 continents and cycled more than 30,000 miles. The research, testing, and experience of the author have combined to come up with the best bikes for bikepacking 2024. Read the Review Policy for further details.

Best Bikes for Bikepacking 2024

The Best Bikepacking Bikes 2024 are:

Best Bikepacking Bike – Overall

Surly Karate Monkey

Pros:
> Good value for money
> Front suspension and non-suspension forks available
> Good value components fitted
Cons:
> Could be a bit lighter in weight

The Surly Karate Monkey represents the best balance between a quality bikepacking bike and good value for money. While there are higher-end bikes out there the Karate Monkey is a good buy.

It can be purchased with either suspension forks or solid front forks. If you plan on carrying any weight on the front forks then the non-suspension model is better but I prefer the front suspension option.

The Karate Monkey can be easily loaded up with a good amount of luggage in your handlebar bags, seatpost bag, framebag, and more. Many of these bikes set off on bikepacking trips that last several months or years so it is a proven bike.

Overall, the Surly Karate Monkey could be used on Bikepacking trips around the world, as a Mountain Bike, or as your daily commute bike.

Best Front Suspension Bikepacking Bike

Salsa Timberjack XT 29

Pros:
> Lightweight aluminum frame
> Lots of sizes and adjustability to suit anyone
> Front suspension works well
Cons:
> There isn’t the possibility to add racks to this bike, so its seat bags, frame bags, and handlebar bags

The Salsa Timberjack contains a wide range of bikes in this collection. Yet, all the bikes have similar features, that make these bikes such a good choice for Bikepacking.

You can just buy the Salsa Timberjack frame and personalize the bike to suit you. However, the Salsa Timberjack XT 29 is a very popular choice among Bikepackers.

The frame of this bike allows you to attach your belongings with ease. This is a type of hardtail bike, which means it only has front suspension.

However, Salsa has given you adjustable dropouts, which allows you to fine-tune your ride to your liking.

Overall, if you are looking for a Bikepacking bike with front suspension then the Salsa Timberjack XT 29 is one of the best suspension bikepacking bikes for 2024.

Best Drop Bar Bikepacking Bike

Salsa Fargo Apex 1

Pros:
> Solid frame
> Lots of mounting options for your gear
> Reasonably priced
Cons:
> As this bike uses larger wheels, these are therefore heavier

The Salsa Fargo is a great Bikepacking bike that also works well as a gravel bike that gives its rider a balance of bump absorption and traction. You can take this bike on any terrain or surface, and it won’t let you down.

This bike has a triple-butted Chromoly steel frame, with large tire clearance, which will give you a good ride on uneven roads and trails.

It also has a super-sloping top tube, which allows you to mount and dismount easily, even when your bike is heavily packed up with all your gear.

This bike comes equipped with cargo mounts that allow you to carry enough equipment for days on end without the need to get more supplies along the way.

Overall, the Salsa Fargo is a reliable Bikepacking bike with drop bars for those who prefer this riding style option.

Best Value 29-inch Bikepacking Bike

Surly Krampus

Pros:
> This 29-inch bikepacking bike works well on rough trails
> Front suspension and non-suspension forks available
> Good value for money
Cons:
> A bit heavy but solid

There isn’t much difference between the Surly Karate Monkey 27.5-inch and the Surly Krampus 29-inch. The larger wheels allow the Krampus to feel a bit more stable on rough trails and technical trails and if that is where you spend your time then go for the Krampus.

It can be purchased with either suspension forks or solid front forks. If you plan on carrying any weight on the front forks then the non-suspension model is better but I prefer the front suspension option.

The Krampus can be easily loaded up with a good amount of luggage in your handlebar bags, seatpost bag, framebag, and more. It is built strong and as a result, the Chromoly Steel frame makes this one of the heavier bikes. If you are heading off on a bikepacking trips that last several months and want to spend a lot of time on rough trails then this is a proven bike.

Overall, the Surly Krampus is one of the best 29-inch bikepacking backs that is a proven design and comes in at a good price point.

Best Pinion Gearbox and Gates Carbon Belt Drive Bikepacking Bike

Tout Terrain Outback Xplore II 29

Pros:
> High build quality
> Lightweight
> Pinion Gearbox and Gates Carbon Belt Drive
> There are plenty of options on this bike to attach your gear.
Cons:
> Not cheap

Tout Terrain has gained a lot of popularity with tourers and bikepackers for the quality of their steel bikes. They have always created bikes that have thought about the tiniest details, which has then caused the high price tag.

The Tout Terrain Outback Xplore II 29 comes with a Pinion Gearbox and Gates Carbon Belt Drive which is the best system available on any bikepacking bicycle at the moment. All this top-of-the-range gear comes with significant extra cost but if you want the best, you will need to pay for it.

The Outback Xplore is a high-end Bikepacking bike from this luxurious brand.

This is a customizable bike that is built with a steel frame and large 29-inch wheels. You can choose between suspension forks or carbon forks.

This allows the Outback Xplore that can be ridden on any kind of terrain. You can pack light on this bike, or there is the option to add additional racks for longer journeys.

There is great attention to detail on this bike, as it is made for a very comfortable ride. Yet the price tag can be very off-putting, and the belt is known to squeak once it has gotten dusty.

Overall, the Tout Terrain Outback Xplore II 29 is the best quality with the highest quality of components. But this option comes at a price.

More Bikes for Bikepacking

Trek 1120

Pros:
> The Trek 1120 is supplied with front and rear racks
> 29+ wheels work well
> Front and rear rack systems included
> Heavy-duty aluminum frame.
Cons:
> Not cheap

Trek has a longstanding tradition of making bikes that are ideal for touring and Bikepacking. The Trek Bikes 1120 is made from heavy-duty aluminum with 29+ wheels that have become a staple in Bikepacking bikes.

Once everything is attached, this feels like a very solid and sturdy bike. The forks on this bike don’t absorb all the shocks that you may encounter, but they deal with the majority of them nicely.

The bike comes with an included front and rear rack system. By the time you add the rest of your bags to this bike, it rides quite well and is a good option for extended Bikepacking trips.

Overall, the Trek 1120 Bikepacking Bike is a good option that rides well and has multiple options for how you want to carry all your gear.

Surly Ogre

Pros:
> Performs well on rough terrain, paved roads, and everything in between
> The price is quite reasonable.
> Lots of gear can be attached to this frame, and there is the option to add racks as well for even more gear
Cons:
> Some customers have noted having a slight issue with the rear dropouts when it came to changing their rear wheels.

The Surly Ogre has been around for quite a while. There is tough competition from the other bikes in this review. the Surly Ogre can be ridden as a commuting bike to work, but then it can be ridden on entirely different terrain on the weekend.

This bike will handle and carry a lot of gear on the frame. The idea of adding racks to this bike is a possibility, so then you can carry even more gear with you. For those of you who enjoy long Bikepacking trips, more comfortable handlebars are recommended.

Overall, The Surly Ogre is a comfortable and versatile bike, that you can use on your long Bikepacking journeys and as a bike to travel to work on.

Other Bikepacking Bikes to Consider:

• Bombtrack Beyond+: Yet to be tested and reviewed. Looks good and may be added to the list soon

Bikepacking Bike Comparison Table

Frame

Chrome Moly Steel, Aluminum, and Carbon are the options for frames but due to the setup of these bikes, Carbon is the least popular or common. Both Aluminum and Steel and good options but those traveling overseas may want to stay away from aluminum as if it cracks it will be more difficult to repair.

Gear Mount Options

A bikepacking bike will usually feature some kind of mount, either eyelets or bosses on the frame or fork. This allows you to attach bags, bottles, and cages. 

Most people will set up their Bikepacking bike with a frame bag, handlebar bag, and saddle bag to start with. Other popular ways of carrying their gear such adding cages to the frame and forks to carry water or dry bags.

If you are going for a weekend trip, then it doesn’t matter how much your bike can carry. Although, if you are going for a much longer trip, then the amount your bike can hold is very important. 

Tires

These bikes will also typically have large tires. These tires will help give you a smooth and comfortable ride, while also being sturdy to support the extra weight that you are adding to the bike. Most Bikepacking bikes use wider tires that vary between 2-3 inches, with tubeless being the preferred setup method.

Suspension

Manufacturers have also thought about the riding experience itself and normally there may be a suspension system to help absorb any bumps or shocks you could experience on rough and uneven terrain. Suspension is certainly not needed with a Bikepacking bicycle setup. My preference is to use wide tires and a suspension seat post to absorb the shock.

Conclusion

The Best Bikes for Bikepacking 2024 are:

Frequently Asked Questions

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