How to Organize Your Bags for a Gravel Ride or Bikepacking Adventure

Gravel bike has quickly become one of the most versatile companions for cycling enthusiasts, bikepacking adventurers, and anyone who loves exploring the outdoors. Designed to perform on both paved roads and off-road trails, it appeals to riders seeking freedom, lightweight performance, and self-sufficiency.

Whether you’re planning a weekend gravel ride, a multi-day bikepacking trip, or simply commuting by bike, one question always arises: how can you efficiently carry your gear on a gravel bike?

In this guide, we’ll explore the best ways to equip your bike for bikepacking, how to choose and mount gravel bags, and the optimal locations for distributing your gear. From the frame to the seat and handlebars, you’ll learn how to make the most of every space to improve comfort, balance, and autonomy during your cycling adventures.

The Features of a Gravel Bike and Its Bikepacking Gear

The gravel bike is a true hybrid between a road bike and a mountain bike, combining the sporty geometry and comfort of a road bike with the versatility and durability of a mountain bike. This unique combination makes it the perfect companion for bikepacking adventures, long-distance cycling trips, and explorations on mixed-surface trails.

Designed for outdoor exploration, like G100 bike, gravel bikes feature numerous mounting points on the frame, fork, and sometimes under the top tube. These attachment points make it easy to install frame bags, saddle bags, or handlebar bags, ensuring your gear is organized, secure, and easily accessible.

Thanks to their design, which allows smooth transitions between paved roads, gravel tracks, and forest trails, gravel bikes require stable bag mounting to prevent swinging that could compromise bike control. Quick access to your gear while riding is also crucial for fully enjoying your bikepacking experience—whether grabbing a jacket, a snack, or photography equipment.

At Welt Bikes, we design gravel bikes specifically for bikepacking, combining comfort, stability, and reliability even on the most challenging terrains. Explore our full collection of gravel bikes for adventure cycling at.

Which Bags Should You Choose for a Gravel Bike?

Unlike trekking or traditional touring bikes, most gravel bikes are not designed to accommodate standard rear racks or the classic “panniers” used in bike touring. Their specific geometry and compact frame design often make stable installation of a rear rack impossible: shorter chainstays and the lack of mounting points on the rear triangle significantly limit this option.

Additionally, a loaded rear rack raises the bike’s center of gravity, which can negatively affect handling and stability, especially on rough terrain, gravel tracks, or forest trails. This is why bikepacking enthusiasts prefer lightweight, modular bags designed to attach directly to the frame, handlebars, or seatpost.

These gravel-specific bags allow for balanced weight distribution, improved aerodynamics, and precise bike control, even on the most technical sections. Each bag serves a specific purpose: some are dedicated to sleeping gear, others to food or repair tools, enabling optimal organization for multi-day cycling trips.

For a detailed guide on the different types of bags and their uses, check out this comprehensive bikepacking bag guide.

The Different Types of Bikepacking Bags for Gravel Bikes

Choosing the right gravel bike bags is essential for optimal weight distribution, comfortable pedaling, and efficient organization during your cycling adventures. Each bag has its place and purpose, depending on the type of trip and terrain.

• Frame Bag Mounted inside the bike’s main triangle, the frame bag sits at the center of gravity, making it the ideal spot for heavy and essential items: tools, food, power banks, or a water filter. It’s important to ensure the bag doesn’t interfere with water bottle cages; in such cases, split or shorter models are often preferred.

• Saddle Bag Attached under the seat via the seatpost, the saddle bag is perfect for light but bulky items like a compact sleeping bag, a warm layer, or a sleeping pad. A good saddle bag should be rigid and equipped with a mud- and water-resistant flap, keeping the contents dry and easily accessible.

• Handlebar Bag Ideal for carrying warm clothing, a lightweight tent, or food, handlebar bags are often cylindrical and attach via a rigid platform or soft straps. It’s essential that the bag does not obstruct steering or interfere with brake or derailleur cables.

• Top Tube Bag Mounted on the top tube near the handlebars, the top tube bag is perfect for quick-access items: phone, snacks, documents, or keys. Its main advantage is easy access without dismounting, ideal for short rides or long days of bikepacking.

• Fork Bags Some gravel forks feature external mounting points for 3–5 liter cylindrical bags. These are ideal for carrying stove fuel, water, or lightweight gear. If your fork lacks mounts, special straps can secure the bag around the fork legs.

• Stem or Handlebar Pack This small cylindrical bag attaches directly to the handlebar or stem and is perfect for snacks, a small water bottle, or a spare tube. It’s particularly useful on rides where quick access to gear is needed without stopping.

For a wide selection of bikepacking bags and expert advice on setting up your gravel bike, specialists like Zéfal offer a full range of options and tips for fine-tuning your setup.

Choosing the Right Bikepacking Gear for Your Route and Needs

The distribution of gravel bike bags depends on several factors: the duration of your trip, weather conditions, and the type of terrain. Organizing your gear properly is essential to maximize bike stability, comfort, and performance on both bikepacking adventures and gravel rides.

For a one-day ride, one or two bags are usually sufficient. For example, a top tube bag for small items and a small frame bag for essentials.

For a weekend or short adventure, a combination of a frame bag, saddle bag, and handlebar bag is ideal for carrying all necessary gear while maintaining proper weight balance.

If you’re planning to go on shorter rides, opt for the G80 and G90 gravel bikes. Perfect for beginners, they are designed for comfort and the joy of discovery on two wheels.

For long-distance bikepacking, it’s often necessary to add fork bags, side frame bags, or even an additional bag system for specific gear such as a packraft or tent.

For maximum comfort on long-distance bikepacking adventures, choose our G100 and G110 models. Offering advanced features and thoughtful design, these bikes have won over countless cycling adventurers.

A key principle to remember: the closer the weight is to the center of the bike and the lower it sits, the better the stability and control. Avoid overloading the handlebars or seatpost, especially on rough terrain or steep descents, to maintain maneuverability and safety.

What If You Bought the Wrong Gravel Bags?

Choosing the right gravel gear can be tricky, especially if you focus only on volume or appearance. Yet, a poor selection can affect comfort, handling, and even safety during your rides.

For example, an overly large handlebar bag can limit steering and make the bike less stable, while an ill-fitting frame bag can interfere with water bottle access or rub against your legs. Similarly, weak or poorly secured attachments can cause bags to swing, creating uncomfortable vibrations and increasing the risk of accidents.

To avoid these common mistakes when choosing your bikepacking setup, consider the following tips:

• Test bags on your bike before buying: many bike shops now offer a wide range of bikepacking gear
• Check compatibility with other components: water bottle cages, cables, brakes, and accessories
• Ensure sturdy and stable mounting for every bag type.
• Start with a simple setup and gradually add more bags depending on the trip duration and route.

Choosing the right combination of bags not only optimizes weight distribution but also allows you to adapt your gravel bike to different types of rides - from single-day outings to multi-day bikepacking adventures. The variety of bags - frame, saddle, handlebar, and fork - provides maximum flexibility for organizing your gear and setting off on your next cycling adventure with confidence.