Planning your first bikepacking trip? Start here

These are the questions that show up most often in my inbox from people planning their first self-supported trip. None of them have one right answer, but here's what I tell people who ask.

Do I need a special bike?

No. The bike I used for the Vietnam and Cambodia trip was a secondhand touring frame that cost less than the bags I strapped to it. Fit and reliability matter far more than the label on the frame.

The bike that gets you out the door and finished is always better than the perfect bike still being researched. Start with what you have.

How far is too far, for a first trip?

Shorter than you think. A three-day loop close to home teaches you more about your own gear and pace than any amount of reading does, and it's easy to bail out of if something isn't working.