Blackburn’s New Gear Makes Bikepacking Simple
It’s 4:30 in the morning. I’ve been listening to the wind howl for a while now. Owls are softly calling and a chorus of coyotes announces that the pack must have just snagged something for an early breakfast. It’s still hot; even though the tent flaps are open and my head is sticking out so I can see more stars than I’ve glimpsed in a while, I’m still warm enough that I don’t need the Big Agnes sleeping bag I carried in.
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If all this doesn’t sound like the typical night in Las Vegas, it’s because its not. Blackburn Design asked five of us to take a trip to try out some new gear. Call the excursion bikepacking if you will—but whether you think of it as bikepacking, touring, or just plain camping, the bags Blackburn provided us are designed to hold plenty of stuff while standing up to the elements. Outfitted with Niner’s RLT model, a full complement of Blackburn gear, and Big Agnes tents and sleep pads, we rolled off into the desert.
The idea for our trip was minimalist: Carry as little as possible in the most efficient way for the overnight trip. Of course, if you want to go bigger, Blackburn still offers a full line of racks, with the option to add traditional style panniers.
Among the items we tried was the Outpost handlebar roll ($75). Designed for both straight and drop bars (though Blackburn cautions against use with carbon bars), it comes with a stuff sack that attaches to the inner part of the roll with Velcro, and mounts with a quick release to make taking it with you easy. There are plenty of tie down and lash points to add extra gear. A removable length of compression webbing doubles as a carry strap for when you’re off the bike. Weight is a claimed 604 grams.
The Outpost seat bag ($100) is an extra-large pack that attaches with two Velcro straps to any seatpost and a double lash point to the rails of your saddle. We stuffed them with a small one-person Big Agnes tent and sleeping pad. Both easily fit inside, and though I figured there would be a bit of wiggle once underway, the bag stayed wobble-free and secure the whole journey. Access was easy: Two Fastex-type buckles allow the rear portion of the bag to open fully, providing easy access to anything you've stashed. The Outpost comes with a water- and weather-resistant stuff sack, but works with standard dry bags, too. Weight on this one is 516 grams.
Like the rest of the line, the Outpost frame pack is water resistant. It attaches easily to the bike via Velcro straps that can be fastened to multiple lash points. These lash points are sewn into the bag, accommodating different frame sizes as well as water bottle locations. The bottom of the bag is expandable, thanks to a wrap-around zipper for extra carrying capacity. The inside has a small divider that sticks in place with Velcro and holds the sides of the bag close together, keeping it from rubbing feet while pedaling. There is a port for a hydration bladder hose near the front of the bag, making it ideal as a water carrier. Two flat external pockets complete the carrying capacity and are large enough to stuff a folded map or billfold into. It comes in two sizes—medium ($60) and large ($65)—and will be available in the spring of 2016.
We rolled into camp just as the light was failing, and while there was just enough light to see by, the Central 700 light ($100) strapped to the bars was helpful while navigating the washboard road we were dropping in on. As the name implies, the Central 700 puts out 700 lumens, a claim backed up by the FL-1 standard, long used by the flashlight industry to measure true light output. A waterproof button acts as a power gauge and controls three levels of light output, plus strobe and flash modes. A button lit green shows full charge; orange indicates 75 percent remaining; and when you dip into the red, you have 25-percent charge left. A small replaceable lithium-ion battery powers the light. Memory built into the switch turns the light on at the same setting at which it was turned off—a smart little detail. Batteries are included, though not covered by a lifetime warranty. Blackburn also offers battery replacements for $15—and it might be smart to have a few extra if you’re heading into the outback. Charging is via micro USB, and weight is a reasonable 172 grams. The clamp is compatible with GoPro mounts and swivels 360 degrees to make shining the light where you need it simple.
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