1. Hub dynamo vs portable solar: the showdown
Energy is the make-or-break of bikepacking. Two technologies dominate, each with its strengths. The right choice depends on your riding profile.
| Criterion | Hub dynamo | Foldable solar |
|---|---|---|
| Output | 3-6 W continuous | 15-28 W peak |
| Real yield/day | 15-30 Wh (5h pedaling) | 40-80 Wh (6h sun) |
| Weight | 400-500 g (hub) + converter | 500-800 g (foldable panel) |
| Price | 250-500 EUR (SON 28, SP PD-8X) | 60-150 EUR (BigBlue, BioLite) |
| Reliability | Extreme (mechanical) | Good (panel fragility) |
| Works in | Rain, night, forest | Sunlight only |
| Best for | Long daily distances | Extended camp stops |
Azimut AI recommendation
Under 5 days: a solar panel alone is enough (BigBlue 28W + 10,000 mAh power bank). Over 7 days: hub dynamo + a small backup panel. Expedition: SON 28 + Forumula E1 + BioLite 5W backup.
2. Power bank: size it to your profile
Typical consumption per device
| Device | Wh/day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone (GPS active) | 8-12 Wh | Airplane mode + GPS = 5 Wh |
| Garmin Edge GPS | 2-4 Wh | Native runtime 15-20h |
| Lighting (front+rear) | 3-8 Wh | Dynamo = 0 Wh from battery |
| GoPro camera | 6-10 Wh | 2h of recording/day |
| Watch/Inreach | 1-2 Wh | Weekly charge |
| Typical total | 20-36 Wh/day | Without camera: 14-26 Wh/day |
Power bank sizing by profile
| Profile | Duration | Power bank | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend | 2-3 days | 10,000 mAh (37 Wh) | 180 g |
| Week | 5-7 days | 20,000 mAh (74 Wh) + solar | 350 g |
| Expedition | 14+ days | 20,000 mAh + dynamo | 350 g + 500 g |
3. Water filtration: drink safely anywhere
On a bikepacking trip, you cross zones with no drinking water. Filtration is non-negotiable from day 2 onward.
| Filter | Weight | Flow rate | Filtration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawyer Squeeze | 55 g | 1.7 L/min | 0.1 micron | 35 EUR |
| Katadyn BeFree | 59 g | 2 L/min | 0.1 micron | 40 EUR |
| SteriPen Ultra | 75 g | 1 L/90s | UV (viruses) | 90 EUR |
| LifeStraw | 46 g | Suction | 0.2 micron | 20 EUR |
| Micropur tablets | 5 g | 30 min wait | Chemical | 10 EUR |
Recommended bikepacking setup
Europe: Sawyer Squeeze alone (55 g, filters bacteria + protozoa). Tropics / Asia: Sawyer + SteriPen UV (viruses). Backup: always 4 Micropur tablets in reserve.
4. Offline navigation: never get lost
Komoot
Planning + turn-by-turn navigation. Detailed road surfaces (gravel, single-track, cobbles). Offline maps by region (3-5 EUR/region or 30 EUR unlimited).
OsmAnd
Full OpenStreetMap maps offline. Free (7 maps) or 10 EUR (unlimited). Excellent topographic maps. Configurable cycling profile.
Ride with GPS
Community of GPX tracks. Easy GPX import/export. Direct Garmin and Wahoo integration. Premium: 6 EUR/month for offline.
IGN 1:25,000 maps
The ultimate backup: 0 battery. Covers trails, water points, refuges. Essential in the mountains where there is no signal.
GPS battery tip
A smartphone in airplane mode + GPS uses 40-60% less than with the network active. Download all maps over wifi the night before. Lower brightness to 30%. With these settings: 12-16h of runtime on a recent smartphone.
5. Food: calorie density is king
In bikepacking, the kcal-per-gram ratio decides what you carry. Target: 3,000-5,000 kcal/day for 500-800 g of dry food.
| Food | kcal/100g | kcal/g ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macadamia nuts | 718 | 7.2 | Top density, pricey |
| Peanut butter | 588 | 5.9 | Excellent price/kcal ratio |
| 70% dark chocolate | 546 | 5.5 | Melts in the heat |
| Cured sausage | 450 | 4.5 | Protein + salt |
| Rolled oats | 389 | 3.9 | Breakfast base |
| Couscous | 376 | 3.8 | Cooks with hot water alone |
| Freeze-dried meal | 400-500 | 4-5 | 5-10 EUR/meal, convenient |
Sample menu 4,000 kcal / 700 g
- • Morning: 100 g rolled oats + 30 g nuts + 20 g honey = 600 kcal
- • Riding snacks: 4 homemade energy bars (150 g) + 50 g chocolate = 1,000 kcal
- • Lunch: 80 g cured sausage + 50 g cheese + 2 tortillas = 900 kcal
- • Evening: 120 g couscous + 30 g olive oil + dehydrated vegetables = 800 kcal
- • Reserve: 60 g peanut butter = 350 kcal
6. Wild camping in France: what the law says
Bivouacking is distinct from camping. In France, the rules are nuanced depending on the zone.
| Zone | Bivouac | Camping | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private land | With consent | With consent | Ask the owner |
| State forest | Tolerated | Forbidden | Check with local ONF |
| National park (core) | Regulated | Forbidden | 7pm-9am, 1h walk from the edge |
| Regional park | Tolerated | Variable | Check local rules |
| Seafront (100m) | Forbidden | Forbidden | Coastal Law |
| Public roads | Forbidden | Forbidden | Often a municipal bylaw |
Leave No Trace: the 7 principles
- 1. Plan ahead and prepare your trip
- 2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- 3. Dispose of waste properly (pack it all out)
- 4. Leave what you find
- 5. Minimize campfire impacts (stove only)
- 6. Respect wildlife
- 7. Be considerate of other visitors
À retenir
- Energy: the hub dynamo (3-6 W continuous, 15-30 Wh/day) wins over long distances; foldable solar (15-28 W, 40-80 Wh/day) excels at camp stops. The ideal is to combine both.
- Power bank sizing: 10,000 mAh (37 Wh) for a weekend, 20,000 mAh (74 Wh) + solar for the week, 20,000 mAh + dynamo for a 14+ day expedition.
- Water filtration is non-negotiable from day 2: the Sawyer Squeeze (55 g, 0.1 micron, 35 EUR) is the standard; add a SteriPen UV against viruses in the tropics.
- Offline navigation: Komoot, OsmAnd or Ride with GPS, maps downloaded over wifi the night before. A smartphone in airplane mode + GPS uses 40-60 % less (12-16h of runtime).
- Food: aim for 3,000-5,000 kcal/day for 500-800 g, prioritizing calorie density (macadamia nuts 7.2 kcal/g, peanut butter 5.9 kcal/g).
- Bivouacking is tolerated in state forests and regional parks, regulated in the core of national parks, forbidden on the coast (Coastal Law) and on public roads.
Frequently asked questions
Hub dynamo or solar panel for bikepacking?
A hub dynamo (SON 28, SP PD-8X) produces 3-6 W continuously, ideal for long daily distances. Foldable solar (BigBlue 28W) is better for extended camp stops. The ideal is to combine both for maximum autonomy.
Which water filter for bikepacking?
The Sawyer Squeeze (55g, 0.1 micron) is the bikepacking standard: ultra-light, reliable, fast flow. Alternative: Katadyn BeFree (59g) for an even faster flow. Add a SteriPen UV for viruses in the tropics.
How many calories per day in bikepacking?
3,000-5,000 kcal/day depending on effort and elevation gain. Prioritize high calorie-density foods: nuts (6.5 kcal/g), peanut butter (5.9 kcal/g), homemade energy bars (4-5 kcal/g).
Which offline navigation app for cycling?
Komoot (planning + turn-by-turn navigation), OsmAnd (full OSM maps offline), Ride with GPS (community GPX tracks). Download the maps over wifi before you leave.
Is wild camping legal in France by bike?
Bivouacking (tent pitched at dusk, taken down at dawn) is tolerated in France except in national parks (core), nature reserves and private property. In state forests, check with the local ONF.
Related guides
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