Autumn is a great time to embark on cycling adventures through colorful forests along chilly paths! Cycling is a way to cover a lot of ground quickly, or to just play a different way. Here at Backpackers, a number of our gear testers and staff are passionate cyclists, and a handful enjoy bikepacking, mountain biking and general exploration via bicycle. And we know a lot of you also love riding bikes, which is why we’re bringing you a rundown of our favorite bike gear of 2024!
The world of peddle-powered adventure is as vast as the world of foot-powered adventure. So below you’ll find an array of gear that can be used in all kinds of cycling day trips, overnights and multi-day endeavors. Love cycling? Let us know in the comments! And if you have a piece of cycling gear you are head-over-heels about, we’d love for you to tell us about it!
Check out our favorite bike gear of 2024 below!
Smith Bobcat ChromaPop Sunglasses
The Bobcat ChromaPop Sunglasses from Smith are our gear tester Jon’s favorite sunglasses for biking though forests. He loves the full coverage eye protection and nonslip grip these offer. These sunglasses have great venting that increases airflow for less fogging and maximum clarity. You’re also able to change out the lenses to ensure you can see the best for any adventure you wear them on.
In autumn the wind can be pretty brutal against your eyes, especially if you’re riding fast. These sunglasses transition from clear to shaded, so that no matter what you’re eyes are protected from harsh winds. At their darkest, the ChromaPop black lenses block out 89% of light, making them an ideal lens for pretty much any outdoor pursuit.
See the Smith Bobcat ChromaPop Sunglasses
Knog Blinder X 2300 Front Bike Light
Good lights for cycling are so incredibly important. They allow you to see where you’re wheeling and help others see where you’re biking. Which is key to safely biking where cars might be! At Backpackers we’ve become big fans of Knog for their reliable and high quality bike lights. Our favorite from them is the Blinder X 2300 Front Bike Light. This 2300 lumen light is not only super bright, it’s built well and is reliable.
The Blinder X 2300 Front Bike Light can mount on your bike’s handle bars or your helmet. It has six light modes and is 100% waterproof! At its brightest, this light lasts for about two hours. At its lowest steady beam, it will last about 15 hours. It charges via USB and comes complete with a two year warranty.
See the Knog Blinder X 2300 Front Bike Light
Smith Engage Helmet
Of course we are going to include a helmet in our favorite bike gear of 2024! Because we all wear helmets every time we hop on our bikes! These days there are a ton of helmet options, but hands down our favorite is Smith’s Engage Helmet. This is a true do-it-all helmet that features Zonal Koroyd® and Mips® Brain Protection System for energy-absorbing impact protection in the event of a crash. Mips® is the gold standard in cycling helmets and Smith kicks it up a notch, which we love.
Other great features of this helmet are plentiful! It is lightweight at 12 ounces. It has a nice sun visor to help keep your vision unobstructed. And it has exceptional ventilation that works well as a place to stash your Smith Bobcat ChromaPop Sunglasses! The Engage Helmet is available in sizes Small through Extra Large and comes in a whole lot of nice color options.
Crankbrothers M19 Multi-Tool
A good multi-tool is essential for good bike adventures. Being able to handle small hiccups and to make small adjustments to your bike makes a huge difference in the amount of exploration you can handle. Crankbrothers makes the perfect multi-tool for most peddle-powered play with their M19 Multi-Tool. This is a lightweight multi-tool at 195 grams and it’s made from stainless steel. The M19 Multi-Tool features 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm hex wrenches, two Philips and two flathead screwdrivers, a chainbreaker and four sizes of spoke wrenches. It includes 8mm and 10mm open wrenches, and a Torx T25 for disc brakes.
This multi-tool has pretty everything you’d ever need to stay on top of your on-the-go bike maintenance. And everything you’d need to get yourself out of a jam while exploring. It comes in at a very low price and is built tough enough for years and year of use!
See the Crankbrothers M19 Multi-Tool
Road Runner Bags Bikepacking Bags
Whether you are looking to have a nice bike ride down a trail, or a multi-day bikepacking adventure, bike bags are a key component to getting out and exploring via bike. From stashing important tools, to keeping your jacket and water on hand, a good set of bike bags makes a huge difference in how comfortable you can be while cycling. Recently I was able to pick up a nice set of bags from Road Runner Bags and I am so happy with them that I can hardly stand it!
These handmade bike bags are durable and practical. They’re rugged and look great. From classic handlebar bags, top tube bags and stem bags, to more bikepacking specific bags like saddlebags and panniers, Road Runner Bags makes pretty much every biking bag you could ever need! They make all their gear in the USA and are based in California.
See the Road Runner Bags Bikepacking Bags
Kryptonite Evolution Mini U-Lock With Flex Cable
Bike theft has become pretty rampant over the years, so it’s a good idea to peddle with a solid bike lock in tow. Kryptonite’s Evolution Mini U-Lock With Flex Cable covers all the bases a good lock should. Its steel shackle resists bolt cutters and leverage attacks and it features a double deadbolt design. It also has disc-style cylinders that are pick and drill resistant. The U-Lock goes around the bike’s frame, while the Flex Cable keeps the front wheel secure.
This hefty bike lock is small enough to throw in a bike bag, and strong enough to compete with much bigger locking systems on the market. Kryptonite gear comes with a lifetime guarantee and you can have new keys issues for this lock if you happen to lose them; all you need to do for that is register your lock when you buy it.
See the Kryptonite Evolution Mini U-Lock With Flex Cable
CamelBak Podium Chill Insulated Water Bottle
With tons of water bottle options available, we really like a classic water bottle for bike adventures. CamelBak’s Podium Chill Insulated Water Bottle is a nice one! This water bottle is easy to grab while your pedaling and it’s very easy to drink from with just a squeeze. The insulation works well with ice and is super lightweight.
This bottle is BPA free, leak-proof and is easy to wash by hand or in a dishwasher. It holds 21 ounces of water and comes in at a reasonable price. A lot of our bike-loving reviewers have used this bottle for years and years, so the quality of the Podium Chill also seems to be solid!
See the CamelBak Podium Chill Insulated Water Bottle
Topeak JoeBlow Sport III Bike Floor Pump
Even if you plan to bring your bike in to a shop for most of its maintenance, you cannot avoid inflating your bike tires here and there! In fact, you’ll likely be giving them some air before each and every bike adventure! Topeak’s JoeBlow Sport III Bike Floor Pump makes this task easy!
This pump works with Presta, Schrader and Dunlop valves. Each pump with the JoeBlow Sport III delivers 317.5 cc of air volume, so inflation takes just moments. This is a great quality pump that will last many for many years. It’s a standard pump size, which can stay at home or easily be tossed into your car if you plan to bring your bike to a trailhead.
See the Topeak JoeBlow Sport III Bike Floor Pump
Yakima OnRamp LX Bike Rack
Most folks who head out on cycling adventures need a bike rack. And with the popularity of e-bikes, this can be a tricky piece of gear to get just right. E-bikes are heavy and typically quite a lot bigger than a standard bike. Yakima’s OnRamp LX Bike Rack solves every issue you could come across where a bike rack for all styles of bikes are concerned. This hitch rack makes it simple to haul your bikes with its integrated ramp, adjustable trays and conforming frame clamps.
This rack is approved to 80 pounds per bike with the 2 inch hitch version or 70 pounds per bike with the 1.25 inch hitch. The rack also drops to allow trunk access with bikes loaded, and folds flat against your car when the bikes are unloaded. Overall the OnRamp LX Bike Rack might be the most versatile and thoughtful bike rack on the market.
See the Yakima OnRamp LX Bike Rack
Burly Encore X Bike Trailer
Got kiddos that are too small to adventure the days away on their owns bikes? No problem! All you need to get them out is a bike trailer. And Burly’s Encore X Bike Trailer is just the ticket. Not only is it a bike trailer, it can be transformed quite easily into a running stroller. It has excellent suspension to keep your kiddos safe and comfortable too! It’s wind and rain resistant and has a sunshade to help block out harmful UV rays.
This trailer is e-bike friendly and simple to attach to any bike. It also folds down nice and small so it’s no problem to haul it along to a trailhead or to bring it on a camping trip. Burly has made this bike trailer a great experience for the kiddo riding in it and the cyclist hauling it.
See the Burly Encore X Bike Trailer
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