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Bikepacking is what happens when you want to go somewhere interesting but you’re not interested in following tarmac roads or carrying a traditional pannier setup. Adventure bikes designed for bikepacking thread a fascinating needle between gravel bikes and touring bikes — capable enough off-road for forest tracks and mountain passes, comfortable enough for consecutive days in the saddle, and designed to work with frame bags, saddlebags, and handlebar rolls rather than rack-mounted panniers.
Our Top Picks
Surly Straggler
The Surly Straggler is the bikepacking-focused cousin of the Long Haul Trucker, designed around the assumption that your route will include both tarmac and trail. The chromoly steel frame handles bikepacking bags beautifully — the triangle is large enough for a substantial frame bag — and the geometry finds the balance between loaded touring stability and unloaded agility that adventure cyclists need. Wide tyre clearance means you can run proper adventure rubber when conditions demand.
Ritchey Outback
Tom Ritchey, one of mountain biking’s founding figures, brought his experience to the adventure bike category with the Outback — a bike that feels as comfortable on a challenging trail as on a smooth road. The steel frame is beautifully made and accepts tyres up to 42mm wide. The geometry is adventure-specific rather than borrowed from a road bike, which shows immediately in how stable and confidence-inspiring the Outback feels with a loaded saddlebag swinging behind you.
Kona Rove AL
Kona’s gravel and adventure credentials are well-established, and the Rove AL demonstrates their understanding of what adventure cyclists actually need rather than what the spec sheet suggests. The aluminium frame is thoughtfully designed for bikepacking bag compatibility, the wide tyre clearance handles mixed terrain, and the Shimano drivetrain gives you the range to climb with a loaded bike. The geometry is stable without being sluggish — a difficult balance that Kona has calibrated well.
Buying Guide
Bikepacking bikes need internal space for a frame bag, and this means paying attention to the frame geometry and triangle dimensions, not just the stated tyre clearance. A bike with a short top tube leaves little room for a meaningful frame bag — check the actual interior dimensions before committing. Tyre clearance of at least 40mm is important; 2.1-inch mountain bike tyres are preferable for multi-day off-road adventures.
Conclusion: Research your specific needs, prioritise fit and quality over brand names, and buy from a reputable UK retailer who can support you after purchase. The right bike is the one you’ll actually ride.