Our friend Darwin from the “Darwin onthetrail” YouTube channel recently released a video sharing his thoughts on why bikepacking is better than backpacking. Watch it here…

Nic “Darwin” Rakestraw is undoubtedly a lifelong backpacker. After more than a decade spent hiking over 15,000 miles and building a career around backpacking, he argues that traveling by bike opens the door to a different type of adventure—one that prioritizes flexibility, self-reliance, solitude, and reduced physical strain. Darwin’s latest video is less an attack on backpacking and more a case for why bikepacking has gradually become his preferred way to travel. As he prepares for future events and rides, including the Tour Divide, Darwin frames bikepacking not as a replacement for backpacking, but as an activity that may better suit some folks for a variety of reasons. Watch the video below and scroll down for a summary of each reason.

1. Bikepacking is More Adventurous

Darwin’s first argument centers on freedom and route flexibility. Unlike backpacking, which often follows a defined trail corridor from point A to point B, bikepacking allows riders to cover greater distances and adapt their route as they go. Because riders can routinely travel 40–100 miles in a day, detours, side quests, abandoned roads, and spontaneous route changes become easier to accommodate without dramatically altering logistics. He also argues that the ability to pass through small towns more frequently adds another layer of cultural exploration, unpredictability, and interest, especially when it comes to food.

2. The Gear is More Fun

As someone clearly interested in gear, Darwin explains that bikepacking offers all the tinkering and toys of backpacking, with an entire bicycle and its accessories added to the mix. The same tents, cooking systems, and sleeping gear still apply, but bikepackers also have to consider bag placement, weight distribution, bike maintenance, and component choices. Bad for the wallet but good for folks who love gear planning, obsession, and optimization. At the same time, because the bike carries the load, there’s less fixation around ultralight packing, allowing riders to bring more comfort items without worrying as much about every gram.

3. It’s More Remote

While many backpackers seek solitude, Darwin argues that bikepacking often delivers it more reliably. Because routes can incorporate gravel roads, forest service roads, pavement, singletrack, and countless combinations of terrain, riders naturally spread out across a larger landscape. He reflects on his experience riding more than 200 miles on the Arizona Trail. Seeing only one other person on that trip was evidence that bikepacking can offer a deeper sense of remoteness and isolation than crowded hiking corridors or popular long-distance trails. More routes enable people to spread out, as evidenced by our Bikepacking Routes library of over 550 routes spanning some 150,000 miles across the globe.

4. It’s Easier on Your Body

Darwin’s final point is practical: bikepacking simply places less strain on the body. Pedaling a loaded bike uphill is still difficult, but since the bike carries the weight rather than your joints, shoulders, and back, it can have less of an impact on certain common issues. For someone dealing with aging knees and accumulated wear from years of abuse, I get it. I had to step back from trail running last year. Cycling is more forgiving, and as Darwin points out, bikepacking is a more sustainable way to continue pursuing multi-day adventures while reducing repetitive impact and joint stress. For riders dealing with similar limitations, he sees this as one of bikepacking’s biggest advantages.

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