Today we're sharing a brand new planning tool, the Fat Bike Winter Ultra Global Race Calendar . We're including every fat bike winter ultra race in the world (that we know of) along with a searchable map and event listing. If you're new to fat bike winter ultras or are curious about taking on this kind of challenge, we're also including a 101 learning series on this page. To start exploring the global map and going down the rabbit hole, head to the new page HERE .

Last week we announced our first " Dangle Mug Midnighter ", a June bikepacking overnighter challenge for everyone up north. In order to celebrate the loving companion that is our dangle mugs , we wrote a poem to all the dangle mugs out there. Dangle on, friends. To join us, check out the Dangle Mug Midnighter . In the realm where adventure rides, Midst bikepacking trails and countryside, There hangs a mug, clipped with care, Dangle mug, on journeys we share. Pedals spin, wheels whir and hum, As landscapes change, our spirits thrum, The mug, a companion, steadfast and true, Swinging with us, a view brand new. Morning sun or twilight's embrace, Dangle mug brings warmth and grace, Clipped to the bike, it takes a role, Savoring moments, stirring the soul. Brewing tales of the open road, Caffeine-infused, a traveler's ode, With each sip, a story unwinds, In the wilderness, where freedom finds. Dangle mug, a symbol of wanderlust, On handlebars, it quietly thrusts, A reminder of joy, a simple pleasure, As we pedal onward, beyond measure. So let it dangle, this spirited mug, On bikepacking journeys, a cozy hug, Through trails unknown, our spirits soar, Dangle mug, companion we adore.

The Itasca Lakenights is a new yet-to-be-published bikepacking route in Minnesota. The Nxrth scouted it with some friends this summer and will be publishing it exclusively for Patrons soon. Here we're highlighting Josh Kowaleski's bike and gear setup to highlight some awesome gear that worked well on this forthcoming route. Josh Kowaleski's Lux-Packed Dingle Speed Salsa Bike: 2015 Salsa Blackborow DS set up with 29X3.0 WTB Rangers Gearing: 30x16 High Range and 26X20 Low Range Rack: Salsa Alternator Rack for Fat-Bike Packs: Cedaero Frame Pack, Tank Top LD, and Custom Panniers I feel like I had the perfect bike for this loop! I'm a huge fan of singlespeeds with big tires. The 29x3.0 Rangers roll fast on the gravel and floated extremely well in the very loose sand that we encountered. The simplified drivetrain left me worry-free as we rolled through some of the tall grass on the ATV trails. I packed a luxurious, vacation-minded setup for this scouting loop and brought all of the creature comforts. With that in mind, I feel like this loop should be rolled that way! Pack the fun stuff and relax by the lake! Some of those luxuries are, a cribbage board and cards, a fly rod and flies, a full cutting board, and a variety of snacks. Perhaps next time I'd add in a frisbee or maybe even split up a slackline set up with someone. I typically bring more down to add into a layering system, with the temps we had this trip I'd lighten the load and cut the bulk a bit by leaving some of those pieces that I didn't use at home. Itasca Lakenights Available Exclusively to Patrons Oct 2023 Join Patreon to Get Access

The Winston County Gravel Cup is coming up in one week on Sept 23. This full-flavor race is a great fall Driftless adventure and today we're sharing some of the ride highlights. We caught up race coordinators Paul Reardon and Jake Ellefsen and they share some reasons to join the adventure. To learn more, or get registered visit Winston County Gravel Cup . 1. Driftless Charm Visit the Driftless region for incredible gravel and amazing scenery. This area has amazing hero gravel and from the hill tops you have incredible 360-degree views of south eastern Minnesota for miles! 2. Race it or Take Your Time: Everyone Gets Beer & Tacos We offer something for every rider! Official timing for those that want to race or set a PR. Fun and laid back culture for those that prefer a more casual approach to their rides. At the finish, beer and tacos for everyone. 3. Prizes We have incredible prizes for registered riders and for those who will and have bought a raffle tickets. From sick shades, tires, and multi-tools to the possibility of a full custom bike for the 2024 Winston! 4. New 25-Miler Option Not everyone wants to ride 100, 60, or even 40 miles. For 2023 we are offering a shorter, beginner friendly 25-mile route. We are offering this route with complete signage and a couple support stations to make sure you enjoy every mile. 5. Awesome Causes Every rider can take pride knowing that they are raising money for two worthy Houston area causes. Our rotating beneficiary for 2023 is assisting to paying off the student lunch debt for the Houston area school district. The current deficit for families sits at $14,000 and remains after the approval of free meals for Minnesota schools. Additionally, the Houston Nature Center is a local cornerstone that sits at the beginning of the Root River Trail and offer incredible amenities for cyclists. The Nature Center is the hub for the Winston County Gravel Cup. The center receives no state funding and is completely dependent on donations.

The 2023 St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra took place overnight on January 14-15. The race has fatbikers start in their bivy sack at 10pm, boil water mid-ride, and wrap up the 40 mile event by 10am Sunday morning. Raven Dewitt recently completed it as her first winter ultra and shares her story here. Registration for next year's 2024 race will open in August. For race details visit the St. Croix 40 website . Interested in trying your first winter ultra? Check out our series: 3-Part Intro to Winter Fatbike Ultras . All Photos by Scott Rokis . Used with permission. Story by Raven Dewitt: As I’m riding through the frigid temperatures, the ice, and the snow I am often confronted with the thought “I never could have imagined that I’d be here.” In 2020 I moved from Alabama to Minnesota, on a whim, without ever having experienced a real winter. As a dedicated bike commuter in the south, I’ve had to deal with all kinds of weather extremes, and in my mind, weather is weather. So a little snow couldn’t hurt, right? To my surprise, the most difficult part about winter riding was getting the layers right–I kept overdressing and thus overheating on my short work commutes. In 2021 I joined a local racing team, Corpsewhale Racing, and learned that several of my teammates participated in these things called “Winter Ultras''. So I followed their dots, read their race reports, and my interest was undeniably piqued. It seemed so insane, so intense, but also so rewarding. At the encouragement of teammates I signed up for my first winter fat bike ultra , The St. Croix 40. The St. Croix 40 is meant to be a bite-sized version of other winter ultras, which can be much too intimidating for a first-timer like myself. Forty miles in the cold and snow is much different than a short work commute, or forty miles in summertime. I realized that it was going to be a challenge, but it was one I was willing to tackle. So, I waited for the temps to drop, and the snow to fall, and got to practicing. Training for this race transformed my relationship with winter–before I merely tolerated it, but now I am in love with the season. Race Day I was nervous on the night of the race. The St. Croix 40 has you start out in your bivy sack and sleeping bag (at 10 pm!), and you must quickly pack up your things before getting on your bike and beginning the race. Once I was off on the trail it became very clear that the snow was EXTREMELY soft. Less than a mile in I was already working very hard, had to shed a layer, and was beginning to wonder if I was up to this task. Never have I felt so discouraged so early into an endeavor. The benefit of exerting myself was that I never got cold, save at the checkpoint when I stopped riding for about thirty minutes. The difficulty of the soft trail conditions changed everything. The expectations I had were completely obliterated. I began to realize that because I was going so slow, and fighting like hell for every single mile covered, that it was going to be a very long and arduous journey, IF I was able to make it. Your mind can go into some pretty difficult places when it’s the wee hours of the morning, dark, you are totally alone on a section of the trail and you feel like your body is trying to give up. I kept asking myself why I was doing this. If I was strong enough to finish. Many variations of “am I crazy?” kept bouncing around in my head. I do not usually listen to music when I’m riding, but I honestly think that music helped me get through the difficult parts. Shout out to Kate Bush and Carly Rae Jepsen for helping me power through some of the dark thoughts I was having before I got to the checkpoint. Finally, I reach the checkpoint, the halfway mark around 2 a.m. I struggled to boil water (another aspect of this race is that you have to prove you can actually use your gear) despite having practiced many times. It was windy, my lighter got cold (pro tip, do not set your lighter in the snow!) and I was starting to feel deliriously exhausted. There was a fire at the checkpoint that I didn’t dare stand next to, lest the temptation to quit grow even larger in my mind. I pushed those thoughts aside, got back onto my bike and rode, once again, into the night. From about mile twenty-six onward, I was actually beginning to feel delirious. Getting calories in at this point felt impossible. Thank goodness I had an insulated bottle of miso soup and hot chocolate since solid food had become totally unpalatable. My mind was fatigued from being laser focused on keeping my balance in the “mashed potato” snow, so at this point I actually started losing my balance quite a bit. Once I fell into a deep snowbank off the side of the trail. Somehow, though, I kept getting back up, and getting back onto my bike and going forward. This was when I started breaking down my remaining distance into smaller increments, “Just two more miles, and two more after that!” Somehow these mind games I was playing with myself helped my last ten miles be more bearable. At 6:29 a.m., after one of the most difficult nights of my life, I crossed the finish line. It took so much longer than I’d originally imagined, and was way harder than I thought it would be. I wanted to quit, but I didn’t. I was truly in disbelief that I was able to power through something that was so mentally and physically strenuous–but I did it! If you had asked me during this night if I would commit to another winter ultra I might very well have given you an emphatic “heck no!” but now that I have some distance from the race I really want to do another one. The winter ultra community is so special. Every single person who I passed or who passed me on trail never failed to say a kind word or something encouraging. That really meant the world to me when I was having some tough times out there. The volunteers were so kind and helpful despite it being the middle of the night. I cannot really put into words how accomplished I feel–finishing a task that feels impossible in the moment is incredibly empowering. I owe so much to my friends and teammates who lent me gear, gave me advice, worked on my bike, and believed in my ability to conquer this task. It was a learning experience in so many different ways, and I’ll definitely be back.

Jamison Swift only found his love for ultras in the last decade. Now he's a regular racer, photographer, and founder of his own winter ultra. In this interview we talk about what fuels his passion to do tough stuff and how he's helping build the community he loves. Learn about Jamison Swift's race, the St. Croix Ultra on his race website or see more of his photos on Instagram or his portfolio page . Photos: @jamisonswift You're an ultra athlete, ultra photographer, and ultra race director. How did this become such an important part of your life? Interestingly I wasn’t always athletic. I didn’t start running until 2010 and didn’t get into trail running until 2015 when my wife Lisa turned me on to the sport. What I found in the trail running world (and it’s very similar to what I’m finding in the gravel world as well) is a small community of people who support each other and cheer each other on through tough stuff. I’ve made incredible life-long friends in this community and the focus is rarely on becoming faster and faster. It’s about experiencing the natural world around us and overcoming our limits to do hard things. We encourage each other, support each other, and try to build a place where everyone is encouraged to accomplish their goals. It doesn’t matter if someone is attempting their first 10 mile or 100 mile trail race. Or if they’re attempting a multi-day solo bikepacking trip. It’s all about encouraging people to try the things they’ve always wanted to try. Heck, you started your own ultra race, the "St. Croix 40". How does that fit into the ultra race landscape? St Croix 40 is a unique beast. In the winter ultra world of the upper midwest there are two big events, Tuscobia 80/160 and the Arrowhead 135. Both of these events are incredibly difficult and success for beginners can be hard to find. In many cases there were folks who were curious about winter ultras races but didn’t feel ready to step up to the 80 mile distance at Tuscobia (Tuscobia did offer a 35 mile race for a few years but it wasn’t a good fit for them). "We created St Croix 40 specifically to be a place for folks to come and learn if this sport is really for them." We’re unique in that we’re a short-course, overnight, race but we still require similar gear as Arrowhead, and we force people to use it. At SC40 racers start in their bivy sacks and sleeping bags and when I say “GO” they jump out, pack up, and hit the trail. Then at the only checkpoint at mile 24 we require them to pull out their stoves and boil 12oz of water. Many people never need to do this at races like Arrowhead or Tuscobia, but if you end up in an emergency situation these are the skills that will save your life. SC40 has built up a reputation as a place where people can go to test the waters in a safe environment, and we’ve had a lot of success. There are many people who don’t finish SC40 and realize that winter ultras just aren’t for them. If we keep people from jumping into bigger races and putting themselves in danger, we’ve done our job. Ultras are inspiring, but somewhat intimidating. What would you say to someone contemplating an ultra? I would encourage people who are “winter ultra curious” to start watching videos about Arrowhead and Tuscobia, or even the Iditarod Trail Invitational. Look at the suffering those people are going through and think about if that’s something you want to overcome. Then commit to spending time outside in the winter and learning to be comfortable in the cold. Practice your layering techniques, figure out what works for sweat mitigation in different temperatures. I also encourage people to try sleeping in a bivy sack and winter sleeping bag in their backyard while it’s freezing outside. These are great ways to learn about how you react to the cold and how you can strategize how to overcome issues. Get used to riding slow on a loaded fat bike. Many people only average 5-6mph on these races and for some folks that can be very discouraging. You just need to push through the mental expectations and realize that this isn’t a crit race. Oh, and of course make sure your bike is tuned up for winter with the correct grease in the hubs. Finally, I’d encourage people who are serious to sign up for St Croix 40. Registration opens in August (and fills fast) and there’s no better way to figure out if this is for you than trying it out. You also photograph ultra races. Why does your shooting tend to focus on people doing hard things and portraits of pain? This is such a cool question. I guess I don’t see most of my work as portraits of pain, but as a window into watching people overcome adversity. Every single person that I photograph in these ultra races has struggled and fought to get to the starting line. As I capture them along the trail they’re continuing to overcome with every step or pedal stroke they take. I love watching people do hard things because it means that they’re pushing their limits and living life to the fullest. No one gets 20 miles into an ultra endurance event without fighting and struggling and succeeding in that struggle. "Sometimes folks don’t make it to the end, but every moment that they’re out there is a moment of victory." I love capturing these moments so that people can remind themselves that they did something incredible. No matter how far they made it, they experienced a part of life that very few people get to experience. They might be miserable when they’re done, sweaty and in pain, but they dared to try. I want my photos to be reminders that they should be proud of their effort, and help them remember the beauty of being outdoors, doing something amazing, and testing how much they’re truly capable of. What do you shoot races with? I’ve been a photographer for the majority of my life, starting as an assistant with a wedding photography company when I was 13 years old. Over that time I’ve shot everything from point-and-shoots to medium format Hasselblads. Now that we’ve all gone digital my brand of choice is Sony and for many years I was shooting with a Sony a6000. I’ve recently upgraded to full-frame with a Sony a7c and really love it. As for lenses I am a huge fan of ‘portrait’ lenses, specifically 85mm. Most of my race photos are shot on a Sony 85mm f/1.8, though if I’m perched on a hill with a good view I’ll sometimes use a 24mm and go for a nice wide shot with the landscape dominating the shot. The most challenging aspect of shooting races in the woods is often controlling the light. Over the course of a long day the light can change dramatically and force me to change positions and angles multiple times. It’s a fun challenge and keeps you on your toes. Tell me about your winter ultra bike. My fat bike ride is a 2021 Surly Ice Cream Truck (Buttermint Green colorway). There were VERY few of these produced at the time due to the supply chain crunch and I was incredibly lucky to score one. Despite being a race director of a winter ultra I’ve never successfully completed one myself. However, in my most recent Tuscobia 80 attempt I outfitted the bike with a rack and panniers on the back and a set of Salsa Anything Cages on the front. I really like the Anything Cages since they allow you to balance a lot of weight up front without taking up all your cockpit space. In the cockpit I usually have two bottle holders for quick water and snacks, and if I need it I’ll strap a small drybag to the handlebars. One thing that is somewhat unique is that I use thinner Barmitts pogies instead of big insulated ones (like from 45NRTH). This forces me to wear basic gloves which makes it much safer for my hands when I have to stop and do things. In my opinion there’s nothing worse than pulling a hot sweaty bare hand out of a pogie into -10°F temps and having it instantly freeze. This past year at Tuscobia the temps got very, very cold, but my hands were fine the whole time.

Chad Weberg has done the Tuscobia 80-mile race on foot five times. Recently he got more into biking and entered the 160-mile bike event for the first time. In this story and video, Chad discusses his preparation, race day, and what he learned that ultimately lead to his DNF. Author: Chad Weberg I’m not a rookie to the Tuscobia Winter Ultra but this year I was a rookie to the bike discipline. I’ve ran the 80 mile race on foot 5 times. In the past 2 years I have gotten into biking and bikepacking. This coming June I’ll be biking in the Tour Divide event from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. So, to keep the wheels turning this winter I jumped into the fat tire bike world, and what better event to enter than the Tuscobia Winter Ultra. Some asked: “Why not start with the 80 mile distance?” Well, I don’t like to do anything that I think is easy. So, signing up for the 160 miler winter fat bike ultra race was the only choice. So late summer I started my search for a fat tire bike and like anything right now the supply chain has put a damper on finding something you really want or need. But I was lucky enough to find a very gently used bike in Missouri. Took a day trip from Wisconsin and picked it up. Even while living in Wisconsin the real life training for this race is very short as we had a fairly dry and not terribly cold November and December. I put in lots of miles but wasn’t able to test all my gear I’d use for the race much. In past years controlling body temperature was critical. I like the cold, so staying warm wasn’t an issue but that isn’t a good thing if you get too warm in extreme cold temperatures. So now doing this on a bike I knew it would be something I had to really keep under control. I bought all new bike clothes: base layers, thermal layers, and outer shell. They worked great! Not once during the first half of the race was I ever too warm and I was completely dry………. Except my feet. Oops….. I didn’t give enough attention to footwear. I mean I ran the 80 miler with up to 36 hours of time out on the trail in just trail running shoes and never had an issue keeping them warm. I acquired a pair of used Fall/Spring riding shoes. During training I used a favorite pair of wool socks and some neoprene shoe covers. This worked well but the conditions were not extreme. Temperatures were in the teens to 30’s for the most part. Training rides were also only 6 hours or less. So, come race day the forecast was -6 at the start and highs on Saturday only reaching zero. By the time I got to mile 78 just shy of half way in the race my feet and specifically my big toes were struggling at temperatures back into the sub-zero readings. I had stopped at mile 50 to do a complete sock change and warm them up as they were never really warm the entire race. Getting back out there they felt good for the first hour but as the sun went down the temps dropped again. While biking, blood circulation in your feet is not the same as walking. So, I got off the bike and walked a few hills and even flat sections to try and warm them up to no avail. As the pain increased my motivation sank to a dark place. I stopped and took my shoes off to inspect the damage. The big toes were starting to turn grey/black, early stage of frostbite. This was when I threw in the towel versus risking further damage. My race ended after 78 miles and just over 15 hours. Every DNF is heartbreaking, but we need to learn from our failures and improve for the next challenge. Of course I’m now shopping for new “winter” cycling boots but also looking at other lessons learned. I carried too much gear. While it was less gear than I pulled in my sled during previous events, it was too much gear for the bike. Looking back I had no need for half the gear I carried. I could have dropped that weight and still had emergency gear for those situations if they would have arose. Live and Learn! Enjoy the video! A passion I have is to capture the experiences I encounter while doing events like Tuscobia. My hopes are to motivate others to get outside and get them out of their comfort zone doing something new! To learn more about the Tuscobia Winter Ultra, visit their race website . More of Chad Weberg's videos can be found on his YouTube channel .

Today's Reader's Route comes from reader Jack Durand. The Sunshine Summerhouse Beauty Lake Road route is near the Brainerd, Minnesota area and rolls through the Pillsbury State Forest with a mid-ride food and drink stop. Submission from Jack Durand: This is probably one of our best Thursday night group rides. It’s just the right amount of challenge for a beginner or an experience rider. At the end, you can head into the Sunshine Summerhouse for some carnitas tacos and a good craft beer. Add Your Name to The Map SUBMIT YOUR READER'S ROUTE All Reader's Routes So Far

Bikepacking straps are an essential part of a gear kit both for securing random things to random places as well as using for emergency repairs. There are now a crap ton of strap materials, lengths, styles, and features. Here we compile a complete list of options as well as some considerations for strapping stuff. What makes a strap a good bikepacking strap? Just got to hardware store and you'll find entire walls full of straps and cords. But are they all good for bikepacking? Probably not. Here are a few things we would consider non-negotiable for a great bikepacking strap that will last a long time and do their job of carrying things without a fear of failing. Non-marring materials that won't damage metal contact points Non-slip buckles that won't budge even after bouncing on janky trails for days on end. Variable length adjustment to lengthen or shorten the straps on the fly Micro stretching for secure grip is a big plus. Non-elastic materials that are anti-fatiguing What straps we left out In general, we left out generic webbing straps sewn to a generic metal buckle. Not because they're not worthy. They work great, but there are countless versions of them and this list is for straps that are either purpose-made for biking or have features that make them stand out of from traditional straps. We also left out a ton of straps that are identical to Voile. Many of them are probably similar quality and probably function similarly. But Voile Straps were the original and have become trusted by bikepackers around the world so we're going not going to get into all the Amazon and Home Depot brands that identically mimic Voile Straps. What About Bungees, Are They Good for Bikepacking? When you first start strapping things to your bike, it's normal to dig through the junk drawer in your garage start cobbling together some bungee cords. To be clear, I've used bungee on many trips and they can certainly do the job. But there a lot of reasons why they're a pretty awful solution especially when there are tons of inexpensive that straps that function way better and won't leave you stranded or constantly stopping to adjust bungees. 5 Reasons bungee chords are bad for bikepacking: Most of t hem don't have variable lengths. All they do is stretch which means if the strap is too long, you have to find really random ways to tie up the slack and this usually compromises their effectiveness. They have too much stretch and not enough tension. You have to bungees really tight to get enough tension on them to not lose your seat bag on bumpy trails and by that point, some of the elastic strands are prone to breaking. They depend on additional places to hook. Since they don't have variable lengths, you have to find places on your frame to hook them and you'll finish your trip with the pleasant surprise that your paint is gone on your frame. Elastic fatigues with time. The longer you own elastic straps, they more likely they are to lose their tension and just keep getting longer. The metal hooks will scratch your frame. 1. Voile Straps Voile Straps have a pretty good history for being the most popular bikepacking straps for a long time, and for good reasons. Their standard straps come in 5+ lengths and they're also available in XL (wider) versions as well as Nano (tiny and narrow) versions. Plus they come with nylon non-marring buckles and also make Rack Straps specifically designed for lashing gear to front and rear racks. In recent years, several companies like Tailfin, Restrap, Salsa, and Sea to Summit and have made some pretty clear improvements over the traditional Voile strap. But Voile straps continue to be ubiquitous in bikepacking circles and usually the first strap to come to mind for bikepacking solutions. Learn more at Voile Straps . Why Voile Straps Are the Best They've been making straps since before you were born and have unmatched length, width, and color options. 2. Tailfin Cargo Straps There are many Voile strap copycats and the Tailfin Cargo Strap might initially look like one of those but there are several differences than actually separate these entirely from Voile straps. First, the holes go further on the buckle end and the loose end which makes the useful cargo diameter reach larger and smaller than Voile straps. Next, the the buckle connection is more secure than Voile and less likely (or impossible) to slip under load like a Voile strap can. Lastly, the buckle is curved because these were specifically made for bikepacking and hence they fit perfectly up against curved frame tubes and Nalgene bottles. Tailfin's products are also notoriously monochromatic which means you can get these straps in any color that you like, as long as it's black. Learn More at Tailfin . Why Tailfin Cargo Straps Are the Best They're designed 100% for bikepacking with durability and function that outperforms traditional rubber straps. 3. Restrap Fast Straps These are the the lowest profile straps on this list. They're incredible strong and nearly as thin as paper. Coming in two colors (black and orange), they lock down with a cam buckle rather than using a pin and hole like Voile Straps. Under heavy stress, they can slip a little so they may not be the first choice for strapping large heavy bags. But they're perfect for small and medium-sized loads and probably the very best pick for bringing extra straps for emergencies and just-in-case scenarios because they take up less than 25% of the space of Voile straps. Learn more at Restrap . Why Fast Straps Are the Best Fast Straps are extremely durable but only take up 25% the space of a Voile strap. 4. Sea to Summit Stretch-Loc TPU Straps Sea to Summit makes a lot of excellent camping gear and their Stretch-Loc straps have have a fan base of bikepackers who just want the straps to stay put. Stretch-Loc TPU Straps are the only straps that have a Keeper Strap that holds the straps firmly in place when when you take your gear out. Every other strap frustratingly falls off when not in use but these just lock in place. They come in six lengths with two width options and three color choices. Why Stretch-Loc TPU Straps Are the Best They are the only strap that stays in place even when you take out the cargo. 5. Salsa EXP Series Rubber Straps Salsa's take on a bikepacking straps puts the durability and function of other straps into one integrated piece. Every other strap has a separate buckle and strap piece that is susceptible to slipping or tearing. With these straps, slipping is impossible and tearing can only happen if the entire strap simply snaps. Apart from that, these are made similarly to other traditional rubber straps. Learn more at Salsa Cycles . Why Salsa EXP Series Rubber Straps Are the Best They're the only one-piece rubber strap that can't slip or tear 6. Titan Straps Okay, I said I wasn't going to include Voile Strap exact copies, but here we are.Titan Straps are a pretty player in the field of bikepacking straps despite not having any significant differences from Voile Straps. They come in three styles, Industrial, Utility, and MIni. Industrial straps are wider than thicker than Utility Straps and then the Mini ones are lighter duty version for smaller applications. Why Titan Straps Are the Best These are really heavy duty straps with multiple weight options and they function like the Voile Straps we're all used to. 7. Rivendell John's Strap Rivendell has been making John's Strap for a long time. Rivendell is known for vintage-y bikes and gear that look and function beautifully without caring about the endless marginal gains of incremental innovation. From their own product description they say this, "There are dozens of other general purpose straps out there, and most of them are slightly easier to use than this one. But this one is easy enough to use, and the goal isn't maximum ease of use, once a certain ease of use has been attained. Got it?" Enough said. Learn more at Rivendell . Why Rivendell John's Strap is the Best They're made in Sweden, have a nice looking stripe, and will probably still be working fine when you're nice and old. 8. Austere Manufacturing Cams and Cam Straps For starters, Austere is known for their cam buckles and you can either sew your own strap onto them or buy a strap that they've sewn on. These are concretely the most expensive strap buckle of it's kind you may ever see and they have a cult following. They're CNC machined from billet aluminum to deliver the ultimate in simple, lightweight, and elegant utility and sometimes, well, you just want the very nicest thing in a given category and this is probably it. They make them in lovely colors and if you've got access to a sewing machine, you can easily make your own strap. Learn more at Austere Manufacturing . Why Austere Cam Buckles Are the Best They feel fabulous in your hand, have been lovingly engineered by a boutique maker, and are impressively strong and light. 9. Surly Junk Strap If you think these just look like pretty long toe straps, you wouldn't be alone. But they say "Surly" on them and sometimes if it aint broken, don't fix it. Surly generously offers a couple of ideas for how to use these straps which include securing small dogs to your child as well as holding a splint in place while you drag your friend out of the woods after he breaks his leg. Learn more at Surly Bikes . Why Surly Junk Straps Are the the Best I'm not sure what to say here. They are probably just fine if you love things that are just fine. 10. All Mountain Style OS Strap This is a one-piece strap with no metal and comes in the highly fashionable color of black. It's not quite a copy cat of Voile Straps although at a quick glance, you might think it is. Here's why it's not: nubbins. Three nubbins to be exact. These go through the main loop then unlike traditional rubber straps that fold back in order to secure on the hook, they continue right through the loop and secure on a nubbin that sticks out right on the strap itself. But the nubbin advantage doesn't end there. There are two more nubbins on the side of the strap that keeps the strap keep from sliding off. It drives me nuts when strap strap keepers slide off so I love this feature. Why All Mountain Style OS Straps Are the Best They've got three nubbins that secure straps without folding them backwards plus two more nubbins that hold the strap keepers in place.

The Itasca Lakenights is a new yet-to-be-published bikepacking route in Itasca County, Minnesota. The Nxrth scouted it with some friends this summer and will be publishing it exclusively for Patrons soon. Here we're highlighting Josh Rizzo's bike and gear setup to highlight some awesome gear that worked well on this forthcoming route. Photos by Josh Kowaleski @pointed_north Josh Rizzo's Kona Rove ST Bike: 2019 Steel Kona Rove ST with Wren Sports Perseverance Adventure Dropbars Gearing: 1x11 Sram Rival 1 Rack: Tailfin Aeropack Packs: Cedaero Tank Top filled with Embark Maple Syrup and Cedaero Devil's Draw. Homemade half frame bag. Oveja Negra Chuckbucket. I told our group this is a scouting trip. The route was made almost entirely via Google satellite imagery and Ride With GPS heatmaps and zero reports from actual humans who rode here. I wanted to be prepared for possible major reroutes, surprise flooded sections, and sandy hikeabikes if the satellite images that looked like gravel turned out to be sand. That being said, I wanted to pack lightly . I utilized Dave Schlabowke's bikepacking lending library in Seeley, WI so that I could use much lighter gear than I have in my own gear bin. I got an awesome Enlightened Equipment quilt, Big Agnes bikepacking tent, and Exped mummy air mattress. Bike My Kona Rove ST was my first gravel/bikepacking bike and still the only one I've owned. It's everything I need in a Northwoods explorer: steel frame, generous mounting options, 1x Sram Rival drivetrain, and wide tire clearance. I added some Teravail Washburn tires and a Wren Perseverance Dropbar to the mix which felt perfect on 90% of the ride. There were a few sandy roads and ATV rocky sections where beefier tires would be nice but most of the route was hero gravel. Bags & Rack For bags I brought a homemade half frame bag using my favorite Xpac X11 cotton duck fabric. In my cockpit, I stuffed a Cedaero Tank Top bag with Embark Maple as well as a Cedaero Devil's Draw full of beef jerky and gummy bears. My handlebar roll was another home sewn stuff sack that held my sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Lastly, this ride was the maiden voyage on my new Tailfin Aeropack which was an amazing system with the cargo cages and cage packs. Gear Highlights I love love love my Wren Perseverance Adventure Dropbar . I was never an aerobar guy nor did I ever use wide bars. But on long loaded gravel rides, this bar is killer. I spend so much time in the aero position and have so much confidence in the hoods with the added width, I'd have a hard time ever going back to 'normal' drops. Another non-negotiable is my Big Agnes Skyline UL chair . It isn't the absolute lightest on the market but the butt bucket is just perfect and it's nearly as light as the Helinox Chair Zero. I don't think I'll go bikepacking without a camp chair again. Lastly, I gotta give a shoutout to my dangle Crocs . I try to always bring a more comfortable camp footwear option after riding and it's tough to beat a pair of Crocs. They're impossibly light and more comfortable than clouds.

Strapping things securely to your bike is an important park of bikepacking. Voile Straps have always been the go-to original and today we look at some of the innovative improvements from Tailfin Cargo Straps in this side by side comparison. Voile Strap & Tailfin Cargo Strap Side by Side Comparison Gear straps, like Voile Straps , are a favorite accessory for bikepacking. They can be used for tons of purposes, they're dependable, and are generally great for attaching things to your bike and bags. Now, I'm fully aware that I think about bikepacking straps more than the average bikepacker but I'm really impressed with the innovation that Tailfin as made in their Cargo Straps . To get a better idea of how they compare to Voile Straps and to see if they're a worthy Voile Strap alternative, I tested them both head-to-head and here are my observations along with my own person opinion of who wins in a few different categories. 1. Voile vs Tailfin: Versatility & Variety Voile Straps Voile Straps gives you tons of option. Their standard straps are available in 5 sizes with aluminum or nylon buckles (we always use nylon so it doesn't scratch the bike frame). Then you can get XL straps which are even thicker and wider than their traditional straps or the Nano series which are narrower and as short as 6 inches. They also come in Rack Straps which are specifically for hooking onto bike racks. Then top it all off with the fact that several of their straps are available in as many as 12 different color options so you can match your bike however you'd like. Tailfin Cargo Straps Tailfin Cargo Straps are essentially one strap in three metric sizes: ~15inches, ~20inches, and ~25inches. With gray branding on black straps, they're clean and extremely sharp looking. They look smart and like everything Tailfin makes, they're 100% designed intentionally for bikepacking. WINNER: Voile Straps Voile Straps wins this round. Everyone has their own personal style and some will prefer the look of one over the other, but Voile Straps has 20+ strap options with a large catalog of color, length, width, and material choices. 2. Voile vs Tailfin: Strength & Durability Voile Straps I've been using the nylon buckle Voile Straps for several years and I have had the strap connection occasional slip right through the buckle. The end of the strap isn't very thick and if you pull really hard, you can pull the buckle right off. It hardly ever happens but it is a weak point in the design. Beyond that, the straps are polyurethane with a UV resistant additive to increase their lifespan. Trusted since 1984, they're absurdly durable. Due to my own errors, I've had metal cut the edges of the strap and they still won't even begin to tear in the slightest. Tailfin Cargo Straps Tailfin Cargo Straps are thermoplastic polyurethane. They claim to be virtually indestructible with videos of them trying to unsuccessfully smash the buckles with a hammer. The connection where the strap meets the buckle is more than twice as large as the Voile strap's connection. I couldn't get them to slip at all and I believe it's probably pretty close to impossible. WINNER: Tailfin Cargo Straps I haven't had a problem with the actual strap on either options and they both feel and act similarly under pressure. But the buckle/strap connection is engineered to be significantly stronger on Tailfin Cargo Straps. I use these straps for a lot purposes and I need to know that I can put a massive amount of pressure on these and they won't slip. Tailfin is suited better to do that whereas Voile Straps (at least with the non- marring nylon buckle) are visibly less secure and I've had mine slip. 3. Voile vs Tailfin: Design for Bikepacking Voile Straps Voile Straps are a general-purpose alternative to bungee cords and duct tape. They do an incredible job being easily the most versatile tool in my garage and that obviously includes bike purposes. I tend to collect them and love having different sizes and styles for different needs. Voile Straps are not necessarily built for bikepacking and with a little innovation, this is where I think Tailfin Cargo Straps edges them. One thing that always bugs me, for example, is the hole coverage. The holes stop a little before the end of the strap on one end and way before the buckle on the other end. This means I can't always get them to work even if they're long enough. Tailfin Cargo Straps This is where Tailfin shines and really pulls ahead of Voile Straps. The details really matter and Tailfin got them all perfect. First, there are holes all the way to the end of the strap which means I can carry bigger loads and DIY more randomly attached bags. Second, the buckle profile is offset and rounded. They hug bike frames, Nalgene bottles, bags, and car racks beautifully and look great doing it. The strap keepers are also a nice touch. They keep the straps looking very clean even when the strap is much longer than needed. But regarding the strap keeper, I have almost lost them about 20 times since getting them so I'm not getting too attached to them and know they're almost certain to fall off and not get noticed. WINNER: Tailfin Cargo Straps Tailfin's tagline is Technical Bikepacking Equipment and from my perspective, they're really the best company to have innovated on the Voile Strap concept. They certainly don't have as many varieties, but they're designed to function perfectly for bikepacking and they're basically bombproof. I've always liked adding a splash of color to my bikes with the bright orange Voile Straps, but the Tailfin Cargo Straps are actually really sharp and I love the way they accent a bike and gear setup. A Voile Strap Alternative Both Voile Straps and Tailfin Cargo Straps are excellent tools for adventuring on bike. Bikepackers are known for cobbling gear together and always looking for new ways to attach a pack to a random part of the bike and that's why these are indispensable for me. Bikepacking Straps: Securing Your Adventures & Gear The thing I especially love about great straps is that they minimize the need for expensive bikepacking-specific bags. Seat packs, frame bags, and direct-mount fork packs can get really expensive when you add it all up. I've always just strapped a dry-bag to my seat and homemade rolltop bags to my forks using little more than Voile Straps and inexpensive mounts like Problem Solvers Bowtie Anchors . Don't get me wrong, I also love bikepacking specific gear but these straps give you the option to experiment and minimize. To add some straps to your own toolset, learn more at Voile Straps or Tailfin .

Today's Reader's Route comes from Jeff Frane. The Country Style 50 Mile takes you on a tour through the River Bottoms area in the Twin Cities. For a rowdy mixed surface adventure, check out this reader submitted route. Submission from Jeff Frane: Come tour the fabulous River Bottoms. Gravel, pavement, bike path, two track and single track. Any off road bike will work great, and none are a bad choice, gravel bike, mountain bike, or fat bike will all work great for this course. I'd recommend at least a 38c tire with a 42c being about optimal. This is also a great chance to put some big miles on a vintage MTB if you're into that sort of thing. Expect to be out there about five hours and there is a gas station at mile 30 and several bars / restaurants at mile 40 in Mendota. Bring snacks! Add Your Name to The Map SUBMIT YOUR READER'S ROUTE All Reader's Routes So Far