Liters of Storage / touring

[Franco Rinaldi]

Hi to all!

Curious what general guidelines people follow when planning for storage on touring trips and how much or little that changes when they are credit card touring? Planning for some trips in the not so distant future and lining up some ag options! How many liters do you all plan for? We are talking a couple nights here. Prob staying in hotels. Will do some camping on separate trip.

Thanks!

Franco Rinaldi
c: 646.403.0661

-Pardon any typos, Siri typed this message-

[Minh]

I think the best answer for this is, it depends.  obviously if you are credit card touring then you don't need a tent, sleeping bag, food (this takes up way more space then you realize), you still need clothes, electronics bag, snacks, rain gear (TBD), etc.  but breaking it down the liters will really depend on you packing up your bike and testing it out since how you pack (Bolton bags vs panniers) will change it too.  I would suggest you do a rehearsal ride, even if its just riding out from your house and back at the end of the day.  

I think I could do this with a handlebar bag + frame bag + seat bag, so maybe 20-25 liters, but I bet some could do it under 15L

[Craig Montgomery]

Franco,

If you're just doing moteling it (what I call "gentleman's" touring) for a couple of nights, then all you need (to go classy) is a Carradice Long flap Camper. If you can't get all your stuff in one for just two nights worth of touring then you probably brought too much (a mistake we all make now and then).  Be careful though...if you get one, it'll only last 2 or 3 decades. 

https://www.campfirecycling.com/product/carradice-camper-longflap-saddlebag.html

Craig in Tucson

[Nick Payne]

On Friday, 4 July 2025 at 6:00:23 am UTC+10 Craig Montgomery wrote:

If you're just doing moteling it (what I call "gentleman's" touring) for a couple of nights, then all you need (to go classy) is a Carradice Long flap Camper.

That's my setup as well for a few days motel/hotel touring. Like so:

 

Nick Payne

[Roberta]

Are you concerned, or has it ever happened, that items might fall out when the flap is extended?  It doesn’t look like the inner cinched part is tall enough to hold all your items securely when the flap is extended. I like the idea of only one big expandable bag. (I’ve never been motel/hotel Bike touring (or any touring ) before but would like to try it this summer.)

All these bike setups look so good to me—just beautiful!

Roberta

[Ryan]

And one virtue of credit-card touring (as opposed to back-country) is...if you forget something essential, you'll likely be able to buy it somewhere :)

[Rob McEntarffer]

I finally got to use the Tanglefoot wool bar wrap (https://analogcycles.com/products/tanglefoot-woolen-tape) my wife got me for Christmas. I'm a very inexperienced bar-wrapper, but I like the way it came out. I put a layer of shellac over the wrap and twine (wasn't 100% sure I was supposed to do that with wool bar tape, but it seems to work OK?)

--

Rob McEntarffer, Phd - robert.mc...@doane.edu - he/him - Currently reading: The Sparrow, M.D. Russell,, and Collective Illusions , T. Rose   My Blog: https://robmcentarffer.net/

[nlerner]

I’ve done a fair amount of credit-card touring in the last several years and usually bring a saddle bag and handlebar bag. How much I need to bring depends on time of year, conditions, need for layers/clothing, but those two bags usually suffice. Sometimes I’ll add a handlebar feed bag for convenience. Pic from a 5-day Erie Canal tour last summer.

Neal Lerner

Brookline MA

On Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 6:08:07 PM UTC-4 fmri...@gmail.com wrote:

[J G]

I like to have plenty of room and an even weight distribution for a few days CC touring, so I will run 25 - 35L of capacity depending on whether I am bringing a laptop or not.  If laptop, then mini panniers, if not, then likely just a seatpack.

Outershell 137 basket bag - 13.6L

and

Outershell seatpack - 10.5L

or

2 x RAL EX Loader mini panniers - 2 x 11L

-Justus

Mpls, MN

[Jeffrey Arita]

Franco,

As you plan on CC touring, you won't have a need for shelter, sleep system or mess kit.  The climate will determine how much extra layers you foresee needing.  If your chosen window for your trip forecasts moderate weather, lay out all the clothing you think you will need for the duration of your trip.  In addition consider any other essentials you may need for the environment you will be immersed in (bug spray, sunscreen, bear spray, bear cannisters, etc.).  If you already have wool clothes, you may be able to get away with only 2 sets of clothing, depending upon your duration.  Provide space for snacks and hydration, and you might be pleasantly surprised how little you will really need (vs. want).  Based on everything you plan on taking, your luggage needs can then be determined from there.

We are currently touring right now.  We started in Kalispell, MT, heading west on the Northern Tier route (we are currently camping in Ione, WA).  We plan to eventually make it to Bellingham, WA where we get on ferries to Anchorage and then Skagway before riding in Alaska and Yukon Territory (yes, we are carrying bear cannisters and bear spray).  We finish at Denali before boarding a ship to Japan where we plan on cycletouring there.  Plan to return home before Christmas 2025.

We've e been touring since 2016 and over these years we've finally come to the conclusion that less is more.

Latest photo link:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/uX2Gpb6gvZh6CVQx5

Have fun!!

Jeff & Lori

On Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 3:08:07 PM UTC-7 fmri...@gmail.com wrote:

[Nick Payne]

On Friday, 4 July 2025 at 11:33:44 pm UTC+10 Roberta wrote:

Are you concerned, or has it ever happened, that items might fall out when the flap is extended?

No, that doesn't happen, I've never lost anything out of the bag when carrying so much that the flap needs to be extended. See photo below of stuffing a few towels in to overfill the bag. The nylon top with drawstring extends almost six inches above the main compartment.

Nick Payne

[Will Boericke]

12L for me for a credit-card tour.  I'm a notoriously light packer, though.  One set of everything and do some wash.  4L each handlebar bag, half-frame pack and saddle bag.  Sandals strapped on top of the saddle bag.

Will

[Patrick Moore]

Roberta: I’ve never toured, but I commuted extensively for years using various Carradice saddlebags — Nelson LF, Camper LF, Junior — and surprised myself how often I forgot to strap the flap, extended whether or folded. And many of my Carradice bags were the old-fashioned models without the nylon drawstring neck. I also often forgot to strap the flaps over the side pockets containing my repair kit and my wallet and keys.

I was very relieved to find that I never in 10 years lost anything during 15-16-20 mile 1-way commutes.

IME, Carradice bags are supremely secure even for the careless and clueless.

Patrick “but Sackvilles are even better” Moore