Your New Zealand Great Rides Packing Checklist

Bikepacking is taking off in New Zealand in tandem 😁 with the development of our amazing nationwide cycle trail network, which lets you see the country from top to bottom via dedicated cycle and dual use (bike/hike) trails. There are 23 Great Rides listed on the NZCycle Trail website. The trails range from 2 to 8 days in duration, and you can link them up for even longer time in the saddle. In fact, you can easily bikepack whole length of the country on the Te Araroa Trail which incorporates many of the Great Rides. 

The first thing you’ll need is a bike. Gravel bikes are the most popular for bikepacking, because their tyres are a good compromise between low friction, easy rolling and grip on uneven and loose surfaces. Some rides however like the Old Ghost Road are only really suitable for mountaion bikes due to the rough terrain

Mountain bikes are also great if you like a more upright riding position with less strain on your shoulders and wrists. They tend to be heavier though, but an e-MTB can mitigate that issue. If you choose to use and ebike just make sure your route has convenient charging locations along the way - some do, others don't - so check before you head off.

The modular bikepacking bag systems we stock allow you to carry quite a bit of kit, all well distributed for balance around the bike. You can add or take away bags depending on the duration of your trip and where you'll be overnighting. We’re proud to stock the original bikepacking brand Apidura and well as Aeroe. Both have an excellent range of panniers, bags and mounting accessories so you can build a custom set up that suits you and your adventure plans. 

On some Great Rides there are huts or shelters where you can stay the night undercover. But there are times and places where you’ll want to stay outdoors and need a tent. Because weight is at such a premium on your bike, it’sworth investing in a lightweight, high-quality tent that will go the distance. We stock ideal bikepacking tents from MSR, Nemo, Orson, and The North Face, or Salewa. Tents are one of the items where it’s definitely worth paying for quality.

A good night’s sleep is worth its weight in gold on a Great Ride. Not only will you enjoy the experience more, it’s safer too, as fatigue can result in poor decision making, and balance issues.  

Your sleep system comprises your sleeping mat, sleeping bag, bag liner, and pillow. We have an extensive range of options to suit your tolerance for cold, and weight/volume in your pack. Hack: it’s better to spec your sleep system on how cold it could potentially get, rather than how warm it’s likely to be.

Being able to enjoy hot nutritious food and drinks improves any bike packing adventure and with the amazing range of freeze dried food we have at Outside Sports you can enjoy delicious meals easily – as long as you have packed your stove. 

Our most popular stoves are Jetboil, and MSR, with Gasmate providing a good budget option. Remember to take a backup lighter with you in case the inbuilt igniter fails! 

Because of its special burner system Jetboil tends to use the least fuel so you need to take fewer canisters with you, saving space and weight. 

Freeze-dried and dehydrated foods in sachets are the way to go because they pack a lot of nutrition into a very compact and lightweight package. The range of options we have at Outside Sports is amazing letting you dine in style anywhere. Consider keeping your food separate in your pack in a drybag like this one from Sea To Summit to keep the moisture out.

You'll also need lightweight crocery and cutlery.

If you're heading away from civilisation you never know for sure what’s in the water upstream or in a trail hut’s water supply so you should always purify your water before drinking it. That means boiling your water for at least 5 minutes, or using Aquatabs and a quality water filtration system. 

You will need to drink at least two to three litres of water a day – more if it's hot and you’re biking in hilly terrain, which tbh is most of NZ. Running short of water will ruin your day and could be dangerous to your health, so you must take water with you, regardless of whether or not you expect to find water supplies along the trail. We have a range of lightweight bottles, flasks and reservoirs that keep weight to a minimum. 

In New Zealand you need to be prepared for crazy weather variations throughout the day. You could experience heavy rain, cold wind, and hot sunshine all within a few hours. For that reason experienced bikepackers love merino underwear, base layers and socks because it has natural odor resistance, and it’s self-cleaning to a certain degree. We have New Zealand’s best merino collection with the full bike apparel range from Mons Royale and other leading brands. 

The golden rule is don’t overpack. Choose fabrics that are quick drying and light.

• Helmet 

• Padded bike shorts 

• Two pairs of undies to wear when you’re not biking. 

• Three pairs of merino biking socks

• One short sleeved tee shirt 

• One long sleeved tee shirt (for sun protection) 

• One pair of casual shorts 

• One pair of pants for cold weather and the evening 

• Puffer jacket (essential for NZ even in summer!) 

• Rain jacket 

• Cap or bucket hat 

• Sunglasses 

• Buff 

• Towel 

Coverage is intermittent at best on many of the Great Rides, but you’llprobably still want your phone for taking pictures and video, navigation, reading ebooks etc. Power sources can also be tricky to find so bring an external power bank and your charging cables. Ziplock bags are great for keeping them all organised and dry. A head torch is brilliant for moving around after dark. 

We have most of these items at Outsides Sports in our extensive hiking and camping section, the remainer are easy to find at any supermarket or pharmacy. Keep everything organised and minimise spills with ziplock bags. 

• Baby wipes – great to help you feel fresh and clean 

• Hand sanitiser – for cleaning cuts and blisters, and hand cleaning 

• Toilet paper  

• Toothbrush and paste 

• Paw Paw ointment for chapped lips 

• Anti Chafing balm - we love Butt Butter

• Insect repellent – because sandflies! 

• Sunscreen 

• Ibuprofen  

• Ear plugs – for sleeping in huts 

• Basic first aid kit with sticking plasters, bandages 

• Survival bag 

• Towel 

This is a basic list of the repair and maintenance tools you should have with you and know how to use – even if you only plan on being away a night or two. 

• Bike multi-tool — be sure that it has all the fittings your bike requires 

• Chain breaker — in the event of a broken chain 

• Master link pliers — another essential item for chain repair 

• Leatherman-type multi-tool  

• Chain lube — a small bottle of Muc Off wet chain lube 

• Duct tape — a few winds around your mini-pump for various repairs and patches 

• Cable ties — can come in handy for a variety of repairs to everything from a loose cable to a broken tent eyelet

• Shock pump — for longer trips that take you far from bike shops 

You can either run a tubeless or tubed set up. Tubeless with tyre sealant already in the tyre is a better way to go as small punctures will pretty much look after themselves. The sealant reacts with air to seal the hole. But in case of a big slash or tear, it’s still good insurance to take a few tubes and patches. 

• Mini tyre pump  

• Tyre plugs — a few different sizes 

• Extra sealant  

• Spare tubes if not running a tubeless set up - 1-3 depending on the duration of your trip and surface you’ll be traversing 

• Tyre levers x2  

• Tyre boots – to repair torn sidewalls 

• Super glue — to help secure tyre plugs 

• Patch kit with rubber cement — in case you have to use a tube if a tubeless tyre is badly damaged. 

Master links that match your chain 

• Spare derailleur hanger  

• Brake pads — 1 or 2 sets depending on the length of your trip