My Packing List for the 2024 Tour Divide
A detailed look at my kit for 2,700 miles of self supported bikepack racing
In one week I will be off, pedaling south from Banff in Canada along the Continental Divide towards the border of Mexico in this year’s edition of the ultra-endurance bikepacking race known as the Tour Divide. I’ve spent countless hours over the last 6 months preparing for this journey, and am finalizing the finishing touches on the gear.
I thought I’d share what I’m bringing as I have found resources like this invaluable in my own planning process. For anyone considering embarking on a long distance bikepacking trip or ultra race, my hope is this may prove useful, if not entertaining for the bike nerds out there.
It’s a lot, and each of these items have been mindfully chosen to serve a purpose. Is it the perfect setup? Probably not, but that’s one of the best parts of these adventures. The nonstop tinkering and thinking about optimization while also recognizing that a lot can and will go wrong - so preparation is essential to managing those challenges. What works for one person may not work for another, and each race or trip presents its own unique considerations. I am very much a rookie and thus bound to make mistakes and learn a few lessons along the way.
For a video look at my bike setup, check this out:
So without further ado, here’s what I’m bringing on the 2024 Tour Divide:
The Bike
This route features everything from long gravel roads, chunky two-track forest roads, singletrack, pavement, and the potential for snow and mud crossings, so I felt a mountain bike would be the most comfortable and versatile for the Divide. I pretty much replaced everything on the bike in the last week to start fresh, as I’ll be doing about 3 months worth of miles in the span of 3 weeks!
Frame: Specialized Chisel
Drivetrain: 12-speed SRAM Eagle XX1 AXS
Front chainring: 34T
Cassette: SRAM Eagle 10-52
Suspension: FOX 32 Factory 100mm front fork
Wheels: Roval Control carbon
Tires: Vittoria Mezcal 29x2.25”
Contact points: Truvativ carbon handlebar, Ergon SM Pro saddle, Ergon GS2 grips, SQLabs innerbarends, Profile Designs aerobars w/ AXS shifter blip buttons, Shimano XTR pedals.
Bags
I meticulously agonized over what bags to fit onto the bike, as this makes or breaks any bikepacking trip. I’m lucky in that I’m not beholden to any one company and was able to put much of my Be Good scholarship dollars towards this aspect of the kit.
My setup includes a custom dyneema framebag from Rockgeist which holds a 3L bladder, Katadyn BeFree water filter, and snacks + daily clothes. The idea here is to have a good chunk of the weight and water capacity centrally located that shrinks as I drink to maximize the space of the main triangle of the bike.
On the back, a Tailfin carbon rack holds my sleep kit in a dyneema stuffsack by Hyperlite. In here I’ll also have a bag of Momentous plant-based protein powder, greens powder, and instant coffee packets to keep some semblance of good nutrition out there. Two 5L mini panniers attached to the rack will hold my rain gear, which includes rain pants, heavy-duty rain jacket, waterproof socks, and waterproof overmitts, as well as my first aid kit, self-care kit, and additional space for extra food/water.
An Apidura top tube bag, feed bags, and downtube bag will be for more snacks, electronics, bear spray, and other quickly accessible daily necessities. The aero bar mounted bag by Restrap will hold spare kit, gloves, and my puffy jacket.
I’ll also be running a Salomon running vest for additional water and storage capacity.
Detailed Breakdown
Sleep System
The sleep setup question is a big one for any ultra race, as space, weight, and ease of packability are of the essence. I have stressed over and debated my sleep kit for this race for months, but in the end have decided to opt for a more robust kit than a lot of racers go for. Superlight bivys and skipping sleeping bags are commonplace in these types of events, but for my first attempt at such a long race I decided I’m happy to take the penalty for more comfort in an effort to maximize recovery and practicality when sleeping out.
Tarptent Aeon Li 1-person tent
Feathered Friends ~30deg down sleeping bag
Sea to Summit ultralight full length sleeping pad
Sea to Summit ultralight inflatable pillow
Clothing
It’s a challenge to be prepared but not over-encumbered on such a journey that spans everything from high elevations and unpredictable mountain weather in the north to the desert heat down south. I’m confident in the clothing choices I’ve settled on as they cover a lot of the bases I’ll be likely to face out on the Divide.
2 sets of bib shorts
Rapha short sleeve jersey
Long sleeve merino jersey
sleeveless base layer
Senchi Designs Polartec Alpha base layer
lightweight vest
Gore-Tex rain jacket
Gore-Tex rain pants
Gorewear shield arm and leg warmers
Velocio short finger gloves
Showers Pass waterproof merino knit gloves
Outdoor Research waterproof overmitts
Patagonia synthetic nanopuff puffy
Showers Pass waterproof socks
2x riding socks
Buff
Fleece lined headband
Fizik Terra Ergolace shoes
Giant helmet
Smith Optics Wildcat sunglasses
Tool/Repair Kit
This ride is completely self-supported so the goal is to have everything needed to fix problems that arise on the bike, or at least get you to the nearest bike shop if sh*t hits the fan.
spare tubes x2
Dynaplug racer pro + extra plugs
CO2
Needle and thread for tire repair
Spare set of cleats
Spare derailleur hanger
Wolf Tooth chain pliers + SRAM quicklinks
Chain lube and rag
Multi tool
Tire patch kit
Variety of spare bolts
Spare set of metallic brake pads
Spare valve
Spare tire sealant
Gerber Dime multitool
Zip ties
MSR pot scraper for chain/mud cleaning
Spare voile strap
Spare spokes & nipples
Electronics
With lighting, navigation, and filming a documentary comes a lot of electronics. Unfortunately this is a very heavy part of my kit! I will need to be able to charge on the go and when stopped at hotels and restaurants to keep my shifting, camera, phone, and GPS units topped up.
Power banks x3 (capacity for 40,000 mAh)
Lots of cables
Charging block
3x AXS batteries + charger
Insta360 action camera + batteries, tripod + mouth mount
2x Fenix BC26R Lights + spare batteries
Backup headlamp
Wahoo ROAM for data and navigation
Garmin eTrex for backup navigation
Garmin InReach Messenger for satellite tracking and SOS
Spare shifter battery
Spare AA batteries
Headphones
Rear red blinky light
Toiletries and Self-Care
A key to success on such an expedition is taking care of your body. Comfort is speed, so ensuring proper self-care will help to save energy and avoid debilitating issues.
Basic first aid kit
Hand sanitizer
Butt kit:
chamois cream
Avene cicalfate
Hydrocortizone cream
Wet wipes
Caffeine gum
Toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash
Sunscreen
Bear Spray
Sunscreen chapstick
Earplugs and eye mask
Stash of Maurten high-carb drink mix
Multivitamin capsules
Protein powder sachets
Greens powder sachets
Electrolyte powder
Instant coffee packets
Water
There will be plenty of water available on the route, but with the high altitude exposure, dry climate, and heat having enough water available is essential. I am packing the ability to hold up to 5 liters of water at any given time, plus the option of carrying extra water as needed.
Apidura 3L frame bag bladder
Salomon running vest w/ 2x 500mL soft flasks
1L Katadyn BeFree water filter
Aquatabs water purification tablets
Phew. That’s a lotta stuff. It’s going to take some adjustment hauling all of this for nearly a month over mountain passes. But it’s also incredibly freeing to know I’ll have everything I need to cover the length of the country and be totally self-sufficient. None of this is 100% set in stone and the photos don’t show every single item. I’m sure I’ll continue tinkering until the very last minute, but I feel ready, excited, and a little terrified.
The race starts June 14th from Banff. You can follow the race progress on trackleaders.com/tourdivide24 once it begins and be sure to stay tuned to my Instagram feed where I’ll be sharing some media from the adventure.
We’re also nearly at our goal for our Kickstarter to fund our documentary on the race! If you’d like to help support us as well as the Be Good Foundation and Love Like Ky, please consider a small donation here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dividing-lines/dividing-lines-a-great-divide-film
-jackson
Good luck, also I recommend packing spare gear cables.
Thanks for sharing and best of luck out there!