Meaghan Hackinen’s Packing Guide

When it comes to covering big distances on two wheels, Meaghan Hackinen knows what it takes to stay fast, efficient, and prepared. A decorated ultra-endurance athlete and the 2024 Tour Divide women’s winner, Meaghan has tackled everything from self-supported races to long-haul bikepacking expeditions. In this article, she shares her top packing tips and go-to gear picks for both ultra racing and bikepacking—offering hard-earned advice to help you ride lighter, smarter, and more confidently into your next big adventure.

Meaghan's Packing Philosophy

"Whether I’m gearing up for a race or bikepacking trip, I view packing as an opportunity to optimize my kit choices and select the best pieces of gear for the challenge ahead. I’ve come to appreciate a minimalist approach: everything must have its purpose. I never waste space on things that I maybe-might use. There’s only so much space on a size small bike frame, and I want to be able to find what I’m looking for without rummaging through heaps of useless stuff. Plus, I prefer the feel of a lighter bike—especially if there’s ample climbing or hike-a-bike involved—and find the overall riding experience more enjoyable when I can free myself of the unnecessary possessions that clutter my home.

No matter where I’m headed, there are some things that always make it into my bags, including a rain jacket, first aid and repair kit, earbuds, and emergency communication device. In packing, I group “like” items together, and ensure that the things I reach for regularly are easier to access. Uncertain weather or lack of familiarity with a region can make gear choices difficult: if the forecast predicts a chance of showers, should I bring a tarp to protect my bivy, opt for a tent, or commit to seeking shelter if I get caught in a storm with only a flimsy bivy? 

Unfortunately, organization is not my strong suit. To ensure I don’t forget anything during those hectic final days of preparation, I always make a packing checklist. Omissions still happen—on the Arkansas High Country Race last October, I forgot to pack an entire dynamo wheel—but having a list to go off reduces stress, and gives me confidence in my packing decisions.

So here's a look at what I pack for ultra races and bikepacking adventures—along with my best advice for anyone looking to dial in their own kit.

Top Tips for Ultra Racing

Here's my list of things I pack when preparing for an ultra race:

Apparel

Tops:

Atlas Jersey:

The Atlas stands up to huge swings in temperature and multi-day wear, making it the perfect race jersey. It’s soft against my skin, and the dual-section, zippered Anything pocket system provides ample stow space.

S2S Vest:

For chilly mornings, blowy days, and night riding, nothing beats the S2S vest. The dual-way zipper makes it easy to ventilate on the climbs, and access my back jersey pockets The reflective detailing increases visibility, plus it’s small enough to tuck into a jersey pocket when temperatures kick up.

Mission Jacket or Skypilot Jacket:

As mentioned, I never leave home without a rain jacket. I’ve knocked on too many farm doors seeking refuge after being caught without in a storm to that mistake ever again again. I opt for the lighter and racier Mission Jacket if the chance of precipitation is low. In unfavourable weather conditions, the more robust Skypilot is my go-to, which includes features like a helmet-friendly hood, zippered pockets, and larger fit to accommodate additional layers. Both the Mission and Skypilot are breathable, and stand up to long days (or nights) of wear.

Bottoms:

WK2 Shorts:

There’s nothing more personal than chamois choice for ultra-racers. Not being a fan of bib-straps, I like to keep things simple with the W2K shorts, my no-fuss go-to for training and racing alike. 

Hollyburn Tights:

I’ve never loved leg warmers, so when I discovered 7mesh’s Hollyburn—a pocket-packable water repellent tight that slips on over an existing chamois—I was delighted. The downside is that layering on/off takes a beat longer than slipping on leg warmers, but for an improved fit, it’s a trade I’ll happily make. 

Accessories:

Colorado Arm Warmers:

along with my S2S vest, arm warmers are an essential kit item because they help me easily adapt to fluctuating temperatures. 

Desperado Neck Warmer:

ultra-packable and versatile, the Desperado Neck Warmers always makes it onto my kit list. I’ve used it to cover my ears in the wind, protect my neck in the rain, and wipe up messy spills in my bags.

Ashlu Merino Socks:

Nothing beats the comfort of these luminous 85% merino socks, which also stand up to multi-day wear.

For Colder or Wetter Weather:

I add a merino cap as well as a long-sleeve base layer like the Horizon. Because my extremities get cold easily, I take care to bring full-fingered gloves as well as waterproof gloves to layer over top. In wet or cold weather, I add shoe covers and bring a pair of waterproof socks. 

My apparel choices don’t change much for longer, more remote events. Aside from sprint distance 24-48 hour events in favourable conditions where I could potentially leave the puffy jacket and tights at home, I tend to bring—and use—the same clothing items regardless of distance. I take care to wash my chamois whenever convenient, but generally let the rest of my apparel accumulate filth until I reach the finish.

Sleep Setup Tips

Confession: I absolutely love sleeping under the night sky. Unless I’m in dire need of a shower or the weather is truly atrocious, I prefer tucking down in my bivy. My current sleep setup balances comfort and weight, and prioritizes efficiency: I pair a Rab Mythic Ultra sleeping bag rated to 0 C / 32 F with an Emergency SOL bivy bag; to provide some cushioning and keep the cold from infiltrating from the ground, I use a tiny homemade sleeping pad. Though the foam pad is bulkier than I’d prefer, unlike blow up mattresses it doesn’t risk puncture or require inflation. On colder nights, I bundle up in long johns, a merino base layer, puffy jacket, and warmer socks. In warmer environments, I opt for light cotton shorts and just the merino base layer on top. 

My current setup does have its limitations: the SOL bivy doesn’t breath and punctures easily, so I generally invest in a new one every few years—when the holes get too numerous to continue taping up. While I can sleep comfortably below freezing, the flimsy bivy doesn’t hold up well well in exposed environments—if the forecast calls for precipitation I have to push on until I find a suitable shelter, or hotel room. Because of this, I’m going to assemble a more substantial setup for the more remote and high elevation terrain of the upcoming Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan, which requires a sleep setup capable of withstanding temperatures down to -15 C / 5 F.

Food / Water Tips

Food is fuel, and carrying enough easy-to-consume calories onboard is always a priority. For my earlier road ultras, I simply stuffed as much as I could into my back jersey pockets and hoped for the best. As you can probably guess, I bonked hard when stocks ran out before I made it to the next gas station resupply. Over time, I added space to carry more food.

Since transitioning to mixed surface/gravel/mountain races in more remote locations, it has become even more critical to study the resupply options, and increase carrying capacity for food and water. Generally, I stuff a couple of 1 L feed sacks with Haribos, Twizzlers, fruit bars, and granola bars. When doing resupply, the carry anything pocket of my Atlas jersey is perfect for bulkier items. I use Apidura’s ultra-light packable backpack when I have a big day end resupply, or need to carry a more substantial haul. For water, I use a 2.5 L hydration bag fitted inside my full frame back, and bring on an extra bottle in a feed sack if I’m traversing hotter or more remote terrain. I also carry chlorine tablets in case I need to treat the water.

Top Tips for Bikepacking Adventures

Here's my list of things that I pack when preparing for bikepacking adventures:

Apparel

In comparison to racing, I carry slightly more when I’m exploring, though I still believe that every item must remain useful. Big training rides and bikepacking trips are also where I test run a new kit and decide what is going to work for me in competition. While I tend to stick to the same basic clothing: Atlas Jersey, S2S Vest, WK2 Shorts, Hollyburn Tights, Colorado Arm Warmers, Ashlu Merino Socks, and a Desperado Neck Warmer—I also add a complete off-the-bike outfit, like the Glidepath Pants or Shorts paired with a well-loved t-shirt. Instead of wearing the same shorts every day, I alternate with the Foundation Brief under a pair of baggies or the Hollyburn Tights. Other items that usually make it on my multi-day non-race pack list include a swimsuit, micro towel, spare pair of socks, and my BERT’s other shoe. 

In terms of my setup, I usually add a front roll or fork bags to accommodate any additional sleep kit, a stove, and kitchen set up. When I went onto tour a portion of Route of the Caravans after the Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco, I added a backpack so that I could pack my laptop and continue to meet work obligations while I was on the road.

Sleep Setup Tips

Depending on where I’m headed, I swap out the SOL bivy for a more breathable bivy with a bug screen, single person tent, or two-person tent if I’m accompanied by someone else. I’ve made the mistake of hoping for the best and not packing warm enough sleep kit on tour, so now I err on the side of caution, and nearly always travel with the same Rab Mythic sleeping back that I race with. Because I’m spending nearly half of my time at camp, comfort becomes more important. If the weather looks wet, I pack a tarp—which makes cooking outdoors more enjoyable as well. I also put more energy in finding those five-star camp spots, even if it means diverging from the GPX track or clamouring up a rocky hill to get a better view of the sunset. People keep telling me to try an inflatable pillow, but I find that bundling my clothes into a stuff sack works well enough.

Food / Water 

In shifting into a touring mindset, I’m naturally drawn to the little opportunities that I pass by while racing, like pulling over to pick berries, eat a waffle cone, or cool off in a creek bed. 

If I’m exploring more remote locations, for instance the logging roads on northern Vancouver Island in the Caves and Coves Tough Tour, I’ll bring a stove. I’m by no means a Michelin star chef, so I rely on simple meals like loaded instant oatsl for breakfast, cream cheese bagels for lunch, and Sidekicks or instant noodles enhanced with extra veggies for dinner. I enjoy the creative decision making when shopping for meal ingredients at the one-stop general store in a small town. A basic spice kit can also go a long way to enhancing flavour. Additionally, I always pack some protein powder and TVP (texturized vegetable protein) to facilitate muscle recovery. 

While camping near freshwater is preferable, I travel with an extra collapsible 2 L hydration bag, in addition to my 2.5 litre bag, to ensure I have enough water for end-of-the-day cooking, and just as important: coffee in the morning. Since I’m not as concerned about space, I bring my flexible .6 L BeFree water filter to conveniently fill up in creeks or non-potable sources without ruining the taste with chlorine tablets.