Best Bikepacking Bikes of 2025: Our Top Picks

Choosing the right bike for bikepacking can make or break your adventure. The best bikepacking bikes blend comfort, durability, and versatility—letting you tackle anything from gravel roads to remote singletrack. In this roundup, we highlight our top picks for 2025, covering different riding styles and budgets. And yes—we're proud to feature Surly Bikes, known for their rugged, ride-anywhere reputation.

Why the Right Bike Matters

Bikepacking isn’t just about the gear you carry—it’s about how your bike handles loaded miles over mixed terrain. The best bikepacking bikes share a few key traits:

  • Wide tire clearance

  • Mounting points for racks and bags

  • Durable steel or alloy frames

  • Comfortable geometry for long days in the saddle

Top Bikepacking Bikes of 2025

1. Surly Ogre – The Go-Anywhere Tank

Best For: Riders who want to explore singletrack, dirt roads, and remote wilderness
Frame Material: Chromoly Steel
Wheel Size: 29"
Mounting Points: Tons – front, rear, fork, triple bosses, you name it

The Surly Ogre is the Swiss Army knife of bikepacking. Built for durability and simplicity, it's fully rigid, so fewer moving parts to fail when you’re off-grid. With space for wide tires and racks galore, it can haul heavy gear and keep rolling over the rough stuff.

Pros:

  • Bombproof construction

  • Insane number of mounting options

  • Excellent tire clearance

Cons:

  • Heavier than carbon or alloy builds

  • Not as nimble as lighter gravel rigs

2. Surly Straggler – Gravel-Ready Classic

Best For: Mixed-surface riders, light tourers, commuters
Frame Material: Chromoly Steel
Wheel Size: 700c or 650b

The Straggler blends old-school steel strength with modern gravel capability. With clearance for 41mm+ tires and disc brakes, it’s perfect for smoother bikepacking routes, rail trails, and long-distance touring. It's a sleeper hit for riders who want comfort and flexibility.

Pros:

  • Classic steel feel

  • Great as a multi-use bike (commuting, touring)

  • Rack- and fender-friendly

Cons:

  • Less suitable for aggressive off-road trails

  • More “gravel-plus” than full-on adventure

3. Surly ECR – Expedition-Grade Beast

Best For: Long-haul, off-grid bikepackers
Frame Material: Chromoly Steel
Wheel Size: 29+ or 27.5+

The ECR (short for "Escape Comfortably and Ride") is made for true adventure. It’s got space for massive 3" tires, designed to absorb shock and glide over chunky terrain. If you’re crossing continents, this is your rig.

Pros:

  • Ultra-stable with big tires

  • Insanely comfortable on rough ground

  • Endless mounts and gear options

Cons:

  • Overkill for short/light trips

  • Very heavy when fully loaded

4. Surly Bridge Club – Budget-Friendly & Versatile

Best For: Entry-level bikepackers or short adventures
Frame Material: Chromoly Steel
Wheel Size: 27.5" or 700c

The Bridge Club is Surly’s most accessible adventure bike. It's simple, versatile, and designed to do it all. Whether you're bikepacking the backroads or commuting, this bike is ready to go with just the basics.

Pros:

  • Affordable entry point into Surly lineup

  • Compatible with racks, bags, and fenders

  • Smooth and stable on most surfaces

Cons:

  • Not built for extreme terrain

  • Fewer advanced features than the Ogre or ECR

5. Surly Midnight Special – Road-Comfort Gravel Cruiser

Best For: Road-to-trail transitions, lightweight bikepacking
Frame Material: Chromoly Steel
Wheel Size: 650b with 2.35" clearance

The Midnight Special is made for riders who like to mix tarmac with light gravel. It's fast and comfy thanks to wide 650b tires that smooth out chatter. Ideal for ultra-light packing and weekend escapes.

Pros:

  • Road-bike speed with gravel capability

  • Clean lines and good looks

  • Fun and fast on mixed terrain

Cons:

  • Limited on rough, technical trails

  • Lower load capacity than touring-specific models

How to Choose Your Surly

Consider your priorities:

  • Terrain: More road = Straggler or Midnight Special. More trail = Ogre or ECR.

  • Trip length: Overnight = Bridge Club. Multi-week = ECR or Ogre.

  • Budget: Bridge Club is best value; ECR is the premium choice.

Final Thoughts

Surly bikes dominate the bikepacking world for good reason: they’re built to last, ready for anything, and endlessly customisable. Whether you’re riding to the edge of town or the edge of the world, there’s a Surly that’ll get you there.

Browse our full Surly range here and get your setup ready for adventure in 2025.