Do You Really Need a Bike Fit for Bikepacking? Let’s Break It Down.
If you’ve ever pedaled into miles of gravel with fresh legs… only to end the day with numb hands, a sore back, or burning knees, you’re not alone. Bikepacking is pure freedom, but long days in the saddle can expose even the smallest setup mistakes.
This leads to one big question many riders ask:
Do you actually need a bike fit for bikepacking?
The short answer: you don’t need one, but it can transform your ride.
Here’s why bikepacking + proper biomechanics matter, and how a fit can help you ride farther, pain-free, with more joy and less discomfort.
The Truth: Bikepacking Isn’t Just Cycling. It’s Endurance.
Unlike weekend road rides, bikepacking means hours of continuous pedaling for several days, often under load. Even slight imbalances can multiply into injury over time.
A bike fit helps optimize:
✔ Saddle height & fore-aft position
✔ Handlebar reach & drop
✔ Cleat alignment & foot placement
✔ Weight distribution when carrying gear
A few millimeters can be the difference between comfort and agony at mile 150.
Top Benefits of Getting a Bike Fit for Bikepacking
1. Ride longer with less fatigue
A proper bike fit reduces wasted energy, letting you push further, even with bags, weight, and climb-heavy routes.
2. Reduce pain before it starts
Knee pain, stiff neck, numb toes, most common bikepacking pains are position-related. A fit can prevent them.
3. Less injury, more adventure
Nothing ends a trip quicker than an inflamed tendon. Fit = protection.
4. Better connection to your bike
You’ll feel one with your machine, especially on technical terrain.
But Here’s the Twist… Bike Fit Isn’t Only About the Bike
Most riders obsess over saddle height and handlebar reach, but overlook the foundation of the entire system:
The foot.
How your foot interacts with the pedal determines how force is transferred through your knees, hips, and spine. If your footwear restricts natural toe movement or compresses your arch, discomfort increases as the miles rack up.
This is where foot-friendly footwear matters.
Barefoot-style shoes support healthier movement off the bike, and that’s where recovery begins.
After long hours clipped in, your feet need space to expand, breathe, and move naturally. That’s why many bikepackers choose BERT Shoes as their post-ride recovery shoe, lightweight enough to strap to a bike, easy to slip on at camp, and designed for natural foot function so your body can reset for day two (and day three… and day five).
More than comfort, recovery affects performance.
Free feet → better blood flow → better mobility → better riding tomorrow.
Bike fit handles alignment on the bike,
BERT handles comfort and recovery off it.
Together, they make endurance sustainable.
So, Should You Get a Bike Fit?
If you’re bikepacking more than a night or two, riding technical terrain, or prepping for a multi-day route like the Colorado Trail or Ruta de los Conquistadores…
Yes, it's one of the best investments you can make.
If you're new, just getting started, or experimenting with different bikes, a fit isn't mandatory, but watch your body closely. Listen to pain. Adjust gradually. Your setup should evolve with you.
Final Thought
Bikepacking is freedom, exploration, and the joy of moving through landscapes at human speed. A bike fit won’t replace grit or curiosity, but it opens the door to comfort, performance, and longer‐lasting adventure.
Ride farther. Hurt less. Enjoy more.
