~ Gear reviews ~
Giant ToughRoad 2 gravel bike review
After getting bitten by the bikepacking bug back in 2018, I decided I should invest in an entry-level gravel bike to see how interesting it really is (I love it is the short answer!).
The Giant ToughRoad 2 is a rugged and versatile gravel bike designed for off-road adventures and cycle touring. It is built around a hydroformed aluminium frame (referred to Aluxx technology). The bike is equipped with 700c wheels, which offer a balance of speed and stability, and it has a wide range of gears (16 in a 2 x 8 setup), making it suitable for steep inclines, descents, and on the flat.
Yamaha Tenere 660 XTZ adventure motorbike review
The Yamaha Tenere 660 XTZ is my first adventure motorbike after several years riding super bikes, café racers, and others – and I really love it, it’s robust, rugged, doesn’t need much maintenance, and starts every time (so far!). In 2022, I rode it over 1000 miles from the UK to Estonia, via the Netherlands, Germany, Lithuania, and Latvia, on my first transcontinental expedition, and it’s given me loads of confidence to go further, and more remote.
Sealskinz waterproof socks review
When I rowed across the Atlantic in 2017, I wore these with the Vivobarefoot Ultra III aqua shoes listed below and had nice, dry feet even when it’s cold (and it does get cold at night when you first start in Europe).
Nowadays, I still use the same pair for mountain biking, riding my motorbike (to keep my feet dry), but not for hiking as they cause my feet to sweat excessively when walking in them (they’re really good at retaining warmth but not very breathable given they’re designed to keep your feet dry).
Topeak Versacage (bottle cage for carrying expedition gear)
The Versacage set come with 3 of Topeak’s excellent versamounts to attach to the frame or forks to hold the cage in place, and as you can see – it holds a 1.5-litre water bottle without any problems. I’ve cycled over 500 miles across Estonia in 2022 without any problems from either one of them
Fix Plus straps
I’ve been using Fixplus straps since I started bikepacking in 2022 and now swear by them!
They come in many sizes and can be used to secure all kinds of items to the bike, or for holding heavy things together.
They work by having a small amount of stretch in the belt (but nowhere near enough to make it snap), which then pulls back against what you’re holding once you’ve found the correct hole for the belt.
Anker PowerCore 10,000mAh Power bank
This power bank is relatively lightweight (for its size to storage ratio), is robust and packs a good few phone and bike light charges in on one single charge! It’s compatible with current models of iPhone, carries 10,000 Milliamp Hours of charge and is quite light at around 180 grams.
Aeropress Portable Travel Coffee Press
It’s not easy making coffee when you’re out on an adventure, but the other team members will be your best friends if you do so, or it’ll enhance your enjoyment of a solo endeavour.
JBL tune 115BT wireless headphones
They’re not waterproof and don’t claim to be, however they handle my sweaty heads for many months without complaint.
They’re highly affordable, coming in at under £40 (especially when compared to big brand name wireless in-ear headphones) and the sound quality is superb. I particularly like listening to podcasts and audio books when I head out on the gravel bike after a long day on the computer.
Whether you're a seasoned climber seeking new mountains to conquer, an endurance runner craving the rush of Marathon des Sables, or a bikepacker in search of the perfect mult-day route, we've got you covered.
Check out our curated collection of articles, categorised to ensure you find the gear that speaks to the adventure you’re seeking to complete: