SeatPost Rack Opinions

[kaparzo]

First off, does anyone go superlight and only carry a backpack.  My plan is to use a Talon 22 and was wondering just putting everything in the backpack would be better.  Then again, the ability to get the sleeping bag, some clothes, etc off the back seems like it would be worth it.  What are the best seatpost racks out there, and the best methods for attaching stuff?  thanks for any help.

[Moondoggy]

I`m going on my first bikepacking trip tomorrow in the Chequewamegon National Forest in Northern WI. I'm using an Old Man Mountain Sherpa Rack on my Niner and putting a Medium Granite Gear stuff sack with my clothes, tent , sleeping bag, pad, stove, and cooking stuff in there. It weighs 9 lbs. The food bag and  some odds and ends are going into Talon 22 with lots of water. Going to be 90 degrees and extra humid this week I would have a hard time putting all of it in the Talon. I can see the benefits of purchasing a seat bag in the future.

[Rob]

Those seatpost racks themselves weigh a lot. 

My recommendation, get a compression bag and lash it under the handlebars.  That will carry at least the sleeping bag.

In this pic, the front compression bag is holding my solo tent (minus the poles) and my 40 deg down bag.

[AZTtripper]

I have one of the Epic seat post bags but surely you could get by just strapping the bag under the seat. And put some weight on the bars as well for a balanced set up.

I have used post racks but as mentioned they tend to add a lot of weight by themselves.

[Slim]

First off, does anyone go superlight and only carry a backpack?

There was an article in a print issue of BPL a while back that had a story about bikepacking a Oregon trail. It was 6 guys in 2 or tree shelters and a 5 of them only carried a backpack.

Personally I'd rather put some weight on the bike: That get's your center of gravity lower and reduces saddle and hand pressure. Also bigger backpacks tend to hit you in the back of the head when you brake on a descent.

[bigbrown]

I just did my first bikepacking trip this weekend and I'm already trying to figure out how I can go backpackless. I already have a seat bag, which carried most of my gear but I had to carry most of my water in a camelback. I have 2 water bottle cages on my bike.   Overall my camelback wasn't that heavy, but I think I'd enjoy it more without a camelback on.   

Tiffany

[DaveC]

I don't (yet) own a seatbag, so have made due without on past trips.  I've strapped a stuffsack with a pad and food under the seat on one trip (with the sleeping bag in my pack), and attached my compression sack under the seat on another.  Both worked fine. 

Having some flexibility with moving weight between the bike and your back is very nice.  I intensely dislike having much weight on the bars, and try to avoid putting stuff there.