From my pack to yours
What’s in my pack
By Ryan - lifelong rider · Updated 2026-07-16
Ask ten riders what to carry and you’ll get ten lectures. Here’s the eleventh - except this one is just what’s actually in my pack after most of a lifetime of rides, why each thing earned its spot, and what I stopped carrying. Pack weight is like suspension travel: more isn’t better, right is better.
The philosophy: carry for the walk home
Everything in my pack answers one question: what turns a ride-ending problem into a ten-minute stop? Flats, torn sidewalls, dropped chains, loose bolts, bonking, and weather are 95% of what goes wrong on a ride. The other 5% is why the first-aid kit never leaves.
The fix-a-flat kit (non-negotiable)
- Tubeless plug kit - fixes most punctures in 60 seconds without removing the wheel. First thing I reach for.
- Spare tube - for when the plug isn’t enough. Yes, even with tubeless. A torn sidewall doesn’t care about your sealant.
- Tire levers + CO2 (×2) or mini pump - CO2 is faster, a pump never runs out. I carry one cartridge and a tiny pump as backup.
- Tire boot - a cut-up toothpaste tube works; a real boot is $5. Gets a slashed tire home.
Tools that earn their weight
- Multitool with a chain breaker - bolts loosen on washboard trails, and a snapped chain without a breaker is a long walk. Mine also has a spoke key I’ve used exactly twice - both times it saved the ride.
- Quick link (matched to your drivetrain speed) - taped inside the multitool case. Weighs nothing, ends the chain crisis.
- Derailleur hanger - bike-specific, $15-25, and the single most ride-saving part nobody carries. One rock strike and you’ll be glad.
- Zip ties + a strip of duct tape wrapped around the pump. The universal fix-anything kit.
Body fuel and body repair
- Water - bottle for rides under 90 minutes, 2L bladder beyond that. Heat doubles it.
- One more snack than you think - a bar and a gel minimum. Bonking is the most preventable bad day in cycling.
- Mini first-aid kit - gauze, big adhesive pads, tape, antiseptic wipes. MTB crashes are abrasion crashes; build for road rash, not paper cuts.
- Packable wind shell - weighs 90 grams, turns a cold wet descent from dangerous to fine. Mountain weather doesn’t check the forecast.
The phone situation
Phone fully charged, trail map downloaded offline (see our trail apps guide), and - riding alone - location sharing on with someone who knows when to expect you back. That habit costs nothing and it’s the most important item on this page.
What I stopped carrying
The full shock pump (parking lot item), the second spare tube (plugs changed the math), the massive lock (leave the bike home instead), and the 47-function multitool the size of a sandwich. Every season the pack gets slightly lighter and the rides don’t notice.
The starter shopping list
If you’re building from zero, this is the same no-fluff kit we recommend to every new rider - roughly $250-$450 all-in:
| Item | Why it’s in the pack | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail helmet | Non-negotiable. Modern trail helmets cover more of your head than road lids - get one that fits. | $60-150 | Shop → |
| Flat pedals | Most new bikes ship with throwaway pedals. Grippy composite flats transform your control for cheap. | $40-100 | Shop → |
| Flat-pedal shoes | Sticky-rubber MTB shoes lock onto pedals - running shoes slide off mid-descent. | $80-130 | Shop → |
| Gloves | Grip when sweaty, and your palms hit the ground first every single time. | $20-35 | Shop → |
| Mini pump or CO2 | Flats happen miles from the car. Carry air, always. | $25-50 | Shop → |
| Multitool | Bolts loosen on washboard trails. A pocket hex tool saves the ride. | $20-45 | Shop → |
| Tubeless plug kit | If your bike runs tubeless (most do now), a plug fixes a puncture in 60 seconds. | $15-30 | Shop → |
| Knee pads | The first protection upgrade once jumps enter the picture - knees hit first and heal slowest. | $50-100 | Shop → |
| Full-face or convertible helmet | Park laps and real send deserve chin protection. Convertibles climb open, descend closed. | $150-350 | Shop → |
| Goggles | At park speed, glasses stop working - goggles keep roost and dust out of the equation. | $40-80 | Shop → |
| Second charger | One lives at home, one lives in the car. Dead-battery math ruins more e-MTB days than flats do. | $80-150 | Shop → |
| Torque wrench | Motor mounts and e-bike pivot hardware have torque specs that matter - guessing gets expensive. | $30-70 | Shop → |
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