Bikepacking: 6 parts for micro-adventure happiness

Why travel far and wide when adventure is right on your doorstep?
Microadventures are like little escapes from everyday life - inconspicuous, spontaneous and that's exactly why they are so special. They get us out of the hamster wheel and into the moment. No big plan, no professional equipment - just you, curiosity and action.

Basically, it's about more than just sleeping outside. It's about experiencing, making the most of the day, feeling the summer, letting your body work, giving your mind space to be inspired. For example, on a shared micro-adventure with a mate, a friend, a brother or a sister. Get out now!

That's why the right equipment is so important!

When you spend the night outdoors - be it on a hill, in the forest or by a river - you are exposed to nature. That's what makes it so appealing. But without the right equipment, it can quickly become uncomfortable.

A worn-out sleeping mat, a clammy sleeping bag or a tent that can't withstand the first rain shower can quickly turn an adventure into a lesson in frustration tolerance.

The right equipment not only ensures comfort, but also safety and restful sleep - and this is important if you want to move on the next day or really enjoy the experience. After all, if you are cold, sweaty or sleep badly, you will no longer be aware of your surroundings. And that would be a shame - because overnighting is all about being fully in the moment.

These 6 products have proven their worth and some of them have already been used over 60 nights: headlamp, sleeping mat, bivouac sack, rucksack, sleeping bag and pocket knife in the endurance test. Not just any products are presented here. This stuff has been used at least 25 times, some well over 60.

Forehead sparkle: Petzl Tikka Core

The Tikka by Petzl is the original among the manufacturer's headlamps.
Of course, it has been improved again and again over the years. The Tikka is an easy-to-use headlamp with the most important features that a headlamp must have:

1. Compact: It is nice and small and can be quickly stowed away in a jacket pocket.
2. Rechargeable: It has a rechargeable battery that can be charged via micro USB - batteries are a thing of the past. Make sure you buy the Tikka with a Core battery!
3. Luminosity: It offers various modes and shines with 350 lumens in the brightest mode - which is even enough for trail rides in an emergency.
4. Red light mode: It has a red light (also known as a camouflage light in the military). Red light is much more difficult to recognise in the field and interferes less with night vision.

Product info

• Price: 60 Euro RRP >> e.g. available at a reduced price at Bergzeit
• Luminosity: 350 lumens (ANSI/PLATO FL 1)
• Weight: 94 g
• Light cone: wide
• Operating options: 3 AAA/LR03 batteries (included)
• Operating options: Alkaline batteries, lithium batteries or Ni-MH rechargeable batteries
• Certification(s): CE
• Waterproof: IPX4 (weatherproof)

Conclusion - Petzl Tikka Core

My Petzl Tikka Core has already spent several nights - mostly on overnight trips, but also on a six-day SUP island tour in Greece, completely without recharging. The pack size, battery life and handling of the headlamp are ideal. The price is fair. - Laurin Lehner, BIKE tester

Insulation mat: Therm-a-Rest Neoair (Xlite NXT)

The Therm-a-Rest insulation mat is around ten years old - slightly modified but still available.
Mine has been used for at least 60 nights, probably more. And it's still going strong - well, almost. Once a gust of wind caught it on Menorca and it flew into a thorn bush. Pshhhhhhhh. A patch helped - at least halfway. It still loses a minimal amount of air somewhere, so it lasts about three quarters of a night. So far, I've been too lazy to find the mini-hole - so I blow on it once at night.

The successor mat is said to be five times quieter than the predecessor model. Therm-a-Rest has developed and tested the new NeoAir XLite series with the help of an acoustic laboratory, among other things. It has also become one centimetre thicker - with almost the same weight. Either way, the NeoAir is super light, but unfortunately also super expensive. 250 euros (!)

Product info: (currently available model)

• Price: 250 Euro >> e.g. at Sport-Bitt or Mountain friends available at a reduced price
• Ultralight, low-noise sleeping pad
• Suitable for tours from spring to autumn
• Compact pack size
• Contoured cut
• High lying comfort thanks to 7.6 cm thickness
• 51 cm or 64 cm wide lying surface
• WingLock valve for quick inflation and deflation
• Delivery incl. pump bag (57 g) and packing bag (15 g)
• 25-year manufacturer's warranty (see manufacturer's warranty conditions)
• Scope of delivery: NeoAir XLite NXT, pump bag, pack sack, repair kit

Conclusion - Therm-a-Rest NeoAir

I have to admit: I've had the Therm-a-Rest for so long that I have hardly any experience with other inflatable sleeping mats. All I know is that the NeoAir is great to sleep on, the pack size and weight are premium - just like the price. Unfortunately in a bad way: 250 euros for a sleeping mat is a hell of a lot of money. - Laurin Lehner, BIKE tester

What is your favourite sleeping pad in this category? I would also like a cheaper model - then I would give them a try. I look forward to your feedback: L.Lehner@bike-magazin.de.

Emergency bag: Ortovox Bivy Pro

A bivouac sack is actually designed for emergency scenarios. In other words, you wrap yourself in it when you are far away in the mountains, at the end of your tether and the cold wants to suck the life out of you. The Bivy Pro is windproof and water-repellent thanks to a PU coating. A silver coating on the inside reflects body heat in an emergency. I managed without it for a long time, but I noticed with my overnighting mates that a waterproof "plastic bag" like this is great for protecting the sleeping mat and sleeping bag from moisture. So: an ideal base - especially if you're bivouacking on grass or travelling later in the year when the moisture creeps out of the ground at night.

Product info

• Fixed, compressible pack sack with roll top
• Compact size: suitable for 1 and 2 people
• Lightweight and compact
• Multifunctional uses thanks to numerous loops
• Very robust material in signal colour
• Silver coating inside
• Water and dirt repellent thanks to PU coating
• Windproof
• Size: 120 x 235 cm ; Pack size: 9 x 22 cm (manufacturer's specifications)
• Price: 120 Euro >> at Mountain time or Mountain friends available at a reduced price

Conclusion - Ortovox Bivy Pro

For real adventurers, a bivy sack is a must - for hobby micro-adventurers like me, it's more of a practical gimmick to keep the moisture away from my sleeping mat and sleeping bag at night. The pack size is compact, the weight pleasantly light. The price: not cheap. I have no experience with cheaper bivy sacks. In short: a good gimmick that can even save lives in an emergency - but not an absolute must-have for light activities. - Tester: Laurin Lehner

Cutting, drawing, slicing: Victorinox Ranger

The Swiss Army Knife is a classic and certainly not an insider tip. Brief "useless knowledge": Around 1880, the Swiss army needed a handy tool for its soldiers that combined several functions in one device - for example, for opening tins or dismantling rifles.

In 1891, the company Karl Elsener (founder of the later Victorinox company) was commissioned to produce such a knife. He founded the "Schweizerische Messerschmiedegenossenschaft" (Swiss Knife Makers' Co-operative) to reduce dependence on German imports. In 1897, Karl Elsener developed a more elegant version with additional tools such as a corkscrew - the so-called "Officer's and Sports Knife".

In short, it's great for overnighters, uncorking red wine, slicing cheese and bread or removing splinters. It has a solution for most requirements and is available in several variants.

Product info Victorinox Ranger

• 21 Functions:
  Blade, large / Blade, small / Corkscrew / Can opener / Screwdriver 3 mm / Bottle opener / Screwdriver 6 mm / Wire stripper / Screwdriver 2.5 mm / Reamer / Scissors / Wood saw / Nail file / Nail cleaner / Metal saw / Metal file / Multipurpose hook / Wood chisel 4 mm / Ring / Tweezers / Toothpick
• Dimensions: Height: 23 mm ; Length: 91 mm ; Width: 26 mm ;
• Weight: 118 g
• Price65 Euro >> at Amazon reduced available

Conclusion - Victorinox Ranger

I've had the knife since I was 18 years old - and thanks to a little care after long outings or at the end of the season, it has lasted to this day without any defects. The knife is easy to resharpen if necessary. Classic: At some point the toothpick got lost - but that's not the knife's fault. The price is fair, especially for a Swiss product. - Laurin Lehner, BIKE tester

Sleeping bag: Deuter Exosphere +4°

Down or synthetic fibre? I'm team down. But now I wanted to try out a cheap synthetic fibre sleeping bag because I've read that the synthetic fibre models are supposed to be just as good - and cheaper too. The Exosphere +4° is a summer sleeping bag, the "+4°" already says it all.

The sleeping bag is made from 100 % recycled polyester. I find the elasticated ThermoStretch construction seams comfortable. Apart from that, the sleeping bag has everything my down counterpart has. I found the climate to be slightly sweatier than with a down model. On the other hand, the Exosphere +4° is super light and can be packed very compactly. The price is very reasonable.

Product info

• Weight 790 g + 65 g pack sack
• Volume 5.5 litres
• Dimensions 205 / 68-85 / 43-54 (H / W / D) cm
• Thermo Pro Loft® filling material
• Filling quality + cuin (IDFB)
• Filling weight 410g
• Main material Thermo Pro Loft®
• Length 205 cm
• Shoulder width 68-85 cm
• Height up to 185 cm
• Foot width 43-54 cm
• Pack size ø 15 cm x 31 cm
• Limit temperature +4 degrees
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: 170 Euro >> e.g. available here at a reduced price

Conclusion - Deuter Exosphere +4°

The inexpensive Deuter Exosphere +4° is a pure summer sleeping bag and therefore a good addition because it is light, has a small pack size and is inexpensive. If you only want a single sleeping bag that is also suitable for slightly colder days and higher altitudes, it is better to opt for a 3-season model, such as the Astro Pro 400 (down) from Deuter or a similar model from another manufacturer. - Laurin Lehner, BIKE tester

Packsling: Deuter Trans Alpine 28

A good rucksack is the be-all and end-all. It has to fit well, be comfortable and offer sensible pocket management. The Trans Alpine from Deuter does all of this very well. The Trans Alpine is a multi-day backpack in ideal form: super carrying system, great pocket management, practical lashings and high quality - simply convincing all round.

Product info

• Airstripes system ; flexible aluminium rails ; ergonomically padded shoulder straps ; position adjustment straps ; infinitely adjustable chest strap ; signal whistle ; goggle holder on ; shoulder strap ; supple hip fins ; round arch opening with zip ; device for hydration bladder (up to 3.0 litre) ; front pocket: mesh with buckle ; organisation unit for tools ; SOS label with emergency numbers ; inner compartment for secure storage of valuables ; key clip ; side pocket with zip for air pump ; side smartphone pocket ; removable rain cover ; fastening loops ; removable seat mat ; helmet holder
• Weight 1170 g
• Volume 28 litres
• Dimensions 52 / 27 / 22 (H x W x D) cm
• Price: 160 Euro >> available here

Conclusion - Deuter Trans Alpine 28

The Deuter Trans Alpine 28 has already proven itself, and I haven't come across a better overnight rucksack yet. Pocket management, details and carrying comfort - everything is perfect here. After around 60 overnight trips, the rucksack shows hardly any wear. Only the zip mesh pocket on the hip belt is slightly full of holes because I often put my bunch of keys there. Otherwise top - recommendation goes out! - Laurin Lehner, BIKE tester

Is something missing?

Of course! The six pieces alone will keep you fresh in the evening. You should definitely have these things with you:

• Cap, cotton - can be worth its weight in gold, even when you're sleeping when it gets chilly. No matter what brand. The main thing is that it covers your ears.
• Merino long-sleeved shirt - Sweaty shirt off, merino shirt on. Keeps you warm and ensures a pleasant climate. E.g. the Smartwool-Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer L/S Boxed
• Warm down jacket - The more items of clothing, the less space in the rucksack. That's why it's better to choose a warmer model, so the combination of a merino long-sleeved shirt and jacket is sufficient. You can get expensive ones from Patagonia, Mountain Equipment etc. or cheap ones from Columbia, Jack Wolfskin etc. Inexpensive usually works too, important: a small pack size (!)
• Rain jacket, for all cases! For example, the Trail MTB rain jacket for men from Specialised
• Optional: Do you want to take a tent with you? For around 15 years we have been using the Vaude Hogan UL 2 person ultralight tent. Still available, with minor updates. Lightweight, good handling, long durability.

Fancy more?

• Bikepacking equipment: accessories for small or big adventures
• "What is an adventure, Mr Glowacz?"
• The 10 best mountain bike adventures