Packing your luggage can be a real chore, especially if it’s cold or wet or both! Work out your packing routine before you leave and practice stowing your kit to become familiar with the whole process. I kept a small checklist that told me where to stow each item, it saved time in the first few days until I got used to the packing order.

The main things to consider are:

How much access will I need to any particular item while I am riding?

• It’s pointless keeping your maps in the bottom of a rear pannier for example.

Have I adequately waterproofed the contents of the panniers?

• Thick plastic bags (ruck sack liners) are sold for this very purpose and protect your gear from water ingress. Check them regularly for holes as they do wear after time on the road. Most camping/outdoor shops will have several different sizes available.

• Apply a silicon based water proofing spray to the outside of your panniers

Is my bike balanced once loaded?

• Check that your packing order produces panniers of roughly equal weight

Are my panniers securely fixed to the pannier rack?

• This can be a fiddly job but it would ruin your day if a pannier came off going downhill quickly! There should be no slack which could lead to your panniers bouncing around, eventually something will break!

Pack excess space to avoid items becoming damaged.

• In practice, space is usually at a premium and it’s a struggle to get all your gear in. Delicate items can be wrapped in clothes etc. to avoid any damage.

Check the attachment points of your pannier rack

• Despite using Nutloc and ensuring all the bolts were tight, I still lost one near Preston. It’s worth checking the bolts every other day.

The kit list below is pretty much exhaustive….

Packing Check List