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Bikepacking with a Brompton G Line: A comprehensive guide

19 June 2025

Bikepacking with a Brompton G Line is awesome fun, and there’s never been a better time to plan a trip. Bikepacking has become more and more popular in recent years and it’s easy to see the appeal of simply packing a few bags and going off on an adventure without booking flights or hotels. 

If you’re just starting to think about bikepacking, the G Line is the perfect bike. Not only is it compact and portable, so that you can take it with you anywhere you like, the G Line’s 20” wheels and gravel-ready tyres are designed to take on a variety of surfaces, meaning you aren’t limited to the beaten track.

Combined with Brompton’s line-up of bags, the G Line can carry whatever you need, no matter which type of bikepacking adventure you choose to embark on.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about bikepacking, from the different kinds of bikepacking to the gear you’ll need and everything in-between. We’ll also give you some of our favourite bikepacking routes to get you started. 

Read on to gear up for your next big adventure.

What is bikepacking?

Before we get any further, what exactly do we mean when we say bikepacking? While there are many ways to do it, bikepacking is typically a mix of off-road cycling and backpacking. 

Generally, you travel light and carry only the essentials, though whether you camp or stay in hotels is entirely up to you. 

Bikepacking is a fun and unique way to explore the outdoors with your bike. The joy of bikepacking partially comes from how versatile and accessible it is. No matter how much experience you have, how much gear you own or what type of bike you ride, you can go bikepacking! While there are a few things you need (we’ll cover those later), the adventure can be whatever you make it.

What is the difference between bikepacking and bike touring? 

Bicycle touring has existed in some form or another for almost as long as the bicycle itself. It’s tricky to define, because it’s an umbrella term that has been used for over a century, but means different things to different people. 

The demure, respectful Victorians were big fans of cycle touring, but so too were the rugged eccentrics of the Rough Stuff Fellowship in the 1950s and ‘60s. 

Bikepacking, on the other hand, is a newer term. It’s often associated with off-road adventures and a minimalist approach.  

Though there are many ways to go bikepacking, your set-up will usually be on the streamlined side. The goal when planning your kit for a bikepacking trip is usually to be as light as possible, so that your adventures aren’t bogged down by a lot of unnecessary cargo. 

On the other hand, bike touring has more of an ‘everything and the kitchen sink’ approach to packing. No sawing your toothbrush in half here, there’s plenty of room for everything. 

Part of this comes from touring’s slightly more laid-back approach, though the beauty of bikepacking is that there is no rulebook. You decide how long your days are (and how long your toothbrush is). 

No matter which way you choose to go, whether you’re planning a lightweight bikepacking trip or a fully loaded tour, the Brompton G Line can do both.

Different ways to go bikepacking on your Brompton G Line

We’ve mentioned the many different ways that you can go bikepacking, but what do these different styles of bikepacking look like in practice and how can you use your Brompton G Line for each of them? 

Breaking down each one would take more time than we have, but here’s a quick overview of a few different ways that you can go adventuring with your Brompton G Line. 

Urban micro-adventures 

For people who live in bigger cities and more urban areas, an urban micro-adventure is a great way to get a taste of bikepacking bliss, without having to go too far afield. These small trips often involve staying in hotels or rentals, shorter distances with plenty of stops and packing as little or as much as you like. 

You could also consider riding from your place of work at the end of a working day, staying overnight somewhere beyond the city limits, before riding back to your office the next morning. 

Weekend escapes

Weekend escapes are the perfect way to get started with your bikepacking journey. As the name suggests, these relatively short bikepacking trips just need a free weekend and a cool destination. A weekend escape is typically a moderate distance, with enough gear to set up a comfortable camp. 

Multi-modal touring

This is where the Brompton G Line has a clear advantage over other bikes. Multi-modal touring incorporates other methods of transportation into your tour, whether that’s putting your bike into your car or catching a train. 

Because the G Line easily folds down, it’s perfect for taking elsewhere to ride that route you’ve been dreaming of. 

Ultra-light gravel riding

If you’re into travelling big distances as light as possible, then ultra-light gravel riding will be right up your alley. This type of bikepacking is known for its minimal set-up and the long distances that you can cover on these trips. Most of your route will likely be off-road, on well-maintained gravel trails or gravel roads. 

Credit card touring

And last but not least, credit card touring. This type of bikepacking is appealing to many because of its simplicity: pack as little as possible, stay mainly in hotels or other accommodations and put anything else you might need on your credit card. If you aren’t sure about bikepacking and don’t want the commitment of buying gear to get started, credit card touring is a great place to start.

Getting your G Line ready for bikepacking

Before you head out on your bikepacking adventure, you’ll want to make sure that your Brompton G Line is ready to roll. A few quick checks before you head out can make sure everything’s in order. You might also enjoy our guide to folding bike maintenance, which goes into greater detail on the points below.

Essential bikepacking gear – what to take on a folding bike tour

So, what do you need to have a successful bikepacking adventure? The amount of kit you’ll need depends on what type of trip you’re planning, but here is a basic list of essentials to carry with you on the road.

Lastly, make sure that you have a way to know where you’re headed. This can be done in a few ways, with your phone, a bike computer or even paper maps. The easier ways are with a phone or bike computer that you can mount on your handlebars. 

Make and download your route ahead of time, but be sure to also have a downloaded or hard copy of a map of the general area, in case of detours. 

Whatever you’ll be using for your navigation, make sure that you have a way to charge all of your electronics, including your phone, bike computer and lights. 

For lighter weight set-ups, bring one or more power banks with plenty of cords and plug-ins for all of your devices. If you’re planning to stay in hotels, just be sure that you have enough plugs to charge everything at once.

What bikepacking bags do I need for a Brompton G Line?

For bikepacking on a Brompton G Line, a front bag will be the easiest way to get most of your gear on your bike. The Brompton Borough bag is a great choice for bikepacking because of its large carrying capacity. The Borough comes in three sizes and is available in a waterproof option.

If your Brompton G Line has a roller rack, you can get some added carrying capacity on the back of your bike with a Borough Roller Rack bag. If not, a saddle bag or a frame bag will add extra space on your bike to carry more of the essentials (or the non-essentials).

Where to go bikepacking with your G Line?

So, now that you’re all ready to go, where should you take your Brompton G Line on your first adventure? There are a ton of great bikepacking routes out there, and many more waiting to be discovered. Here’s a few recommendations in the UK to get you started. 

Easy urban getaways

For a quick and easy introduction to bikepacking, the London Olympic Gravel Overnighter is an urban getaway that starts from London’s Olympic velodrome and takes you on a tour of the Lee Valley and Epping Forest. The route is only 50 miles and takes two days to ride, perfect for a quick trip or people who are short on time.

Scenic rail-to-trail routes

For a longer but easy introduction to the world of bikepacking, the Rebellion Way bikepacking route around Norfolk is a great adventure to get you started. It combines byways and backroads with sections of former railway converted into trail. 

The 232-mile route is mostly flat and winds through Norfolk’s towns and villages so that you have plenty of places to stop, refuel and sightsee. The route takes between four and six days to ride, though there is the option to split the loop into two smaller ones.

Weekend adventure loops

For a quiet but stunning loop around East Kent, the Cantii Way bikepacking route is a great way to get away for a weekend. The 147-mile route can be ridden in three to four days, though more experienced riders on a time crunch can tackle the route in two days. 

There are plenty of stops along the way for eating or sightseeing and the route can easily be made into a longer trip by connecting your route with the North Downs Way.

G Line bikepacking tips for beginners

Bikepacking is a very versatile hobby that you can make your own. After a trip or two you’ll figure out what’s most important to you, which bits of kit are worth their weight in gold and which are simply weighing you down.

Here are a handful of tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of those first trips. 

• When packing for your trip, go on a test ride with the set-up you’re planning to use. It doesn’t have to be long, but it will let you know if there are any adjustments you need to make to save weight, rejig the balance of your baggage, or if you actually have more capacity than you thought. 

• When you pack your bags, make sure that anything you’ll need more than once a day (sun cream, your map etc.) is easily accessible on the top. Items that you’ll only need at camp can be kept at the bottom of your bags. 

• It’s a good idea to have your repair kit and any spare tubes easy to access, so that you can get back on the trail as soon as possible after a puncture. 

• On that note, practicing how to change a tube before you set out on your adventures is always a good plan. Having the practice behind you will give you more confidence if you do get a flat tyre. 

• While you’re on the road, keeping your tyres pumped up will help to avoid most flats, so be sure to check your tyre pressure before you get started in the mornings. Checking to make sure your chain is properly lubed at the same time is good practice and will keep you riding smoothly. 

• If you aren’t riding a pre-established route and are creating your own, be sure to do your research so that you’ll have enough places to stop and refuel along the way. When planning out each day’s itinerary, you should consider both distance and elevation, so that you aren’t too tired at the end of each day. 

• Finally, always ride with bike lights and be courteous to other users when on the trails.

Where will you explore further with your G Line?

Now you have all of the information you need to take on your first bikepacking adventure, where will you explore first? 

If you’re looking for some practical inspo, check out Joshua Adeyemi’s recent adventure to the bothies of Scotland with his G Line. If your wanderlust extends beyond the shores of the UK, explore the 5 best lakeside camping spots in Europe.

The Brompton G Line is a versatile bike that can take you on all sorts of adventures, whether you want to stay close to home or explore part of the country you’ve never seen before. And if you’re looking to get into bikepacking but don’t have a G Line yet, check out the bike on our website.