Stuff we like
For the list of "Stuff we like", there was only one simple criteria :
"If the product breaks down or gets lost, we would without any hesitation replace it with exactly the same or an updated version of the same."
We are not doing detailed reviews as there is already enough of it on many websites and social media.
Unfortunately, a growing number of wannabees, copycats and opportunists are promoting products and services, not making it easier for you to make up your mind.
Our simple suggestion is not to ask others what products to buy, but ask what is important for them. From this feedback you can make up your own requirements and try to stick to it when making a decision.
Specifications and functionalities are much more important than the brand name.
The below is as such our preference only and may not be the ideal choice for you.
If you need more info on anything specific, feel free to send us an email.
At least once a year, we are reviewing the "Stuff we like" list. (last review October 2025)
As our travel habits and requirements are changing from time to time and we also discover new products, some items will be removed or may even re-appear again.
As an example, the list used to mention our Santos 2.9 Travel Masters. They are still in perfect condition and we now use them daily for our shopping or local commutes. As we started to do more offroad trips, we now travel with our Santos Adventure bikes. We would as such not buy a 2.9TM again and would rather replace them in the future with an E-bike.
A few years ago, when we bought out Big Agnes adventure tent, we removed our superlight basic tent from the list as it was only 1 kilo lighter. Now that we have dramatically reduced our packing on the gravel bikes, the 1.25 kg Vargo 2 person tent is back in the list.
Check list
For years, we have not bothered making a check list. A couple of days before we left on a trip, we just started putting all the stuff in the living room and that has been working fine.
But ..... , sometimes, we did forget to do or take some small things and we decided to at least create a Check list, allowing us to do a quick check before leaving the house.
It just lists up all the stuff we may consider taking with us and things to check before the trip. Final choice will depend on the type of trip, season, duration, etc..
On the list is some overlap and common names (like "tent"), so there are still a lot of decisions to be made.
This will always be work in progress and we'll review it after each trip (if we do not forget to use it).
Cycling stuff
Gravel Bikes
Our gravel bikes are our lightest bikes and are used for sporty rides and light packed travel.
They're both steel frame, carbon wheels, tubeless tires, drop handlebar, derailleur and chain.
Dirk's bike :
Fairlight Secan 3.0 with Shimano GRX Di2-12 speed
Build by: Falco Cycling, Halle, Belgium
Linda's bike:
Brother Mehteh with SRAM Force 1X11
Build by: Velofixer, Brussels, Belgium
Adventure bicycles
Adventure bikes for long trips on all road types, paved, gravel or forest path.
Maintenance free during the trip with internal gears and drive belt.
We change the type of tire depending what we expect to ride on during the majority of the trip.
We have: Santos Adventure Lite with Pinion P1.18 gears.
Bought in 2019 as a 4.29 Santos mountain bike with Lauf suspension fork, MTB handlebar and no lights or dynamo, the bikes were converted in 2024 to the current Adventure bike model. With the additional and similar features as our 2.9 Santos Travel masters, they now became our main travel bike. We use a combination of panniers and dry bags to carry all our stuff. This will vary in size a lot depending on our intentions to mainly camp or book other types of accommodations, cooking or eating out.
Foldable Bicycles
Foldable bike, the ideal companion when going somewhere by car or train.
We have: Brompton C-line with 6 gears (15% reduced)
Bikepacking Bags
When we started planning for our first bikepacking trip with our gravel bikes, it became clear that except for Dirk's Restrap handlebar bag which he bought 6 years ago (photo on the left), we needed different types of bags than what we had used before. We compared a few brands we had used already and decided that the Restrap set of bikepacking bags were most suitable for us.
They are all locally made in their workshop in Leeds, UK and when we visited, we also saw them repairing old bags under their lifetime warranty.
Our set up consists of the following Restrap bags:
- Holster Bar bag plus (14L + 4L)
- Frame bag (Dirk 4.5L / Linda 3.5L)
- 2 X Switch pannier (2 X 5L)
- Saddle bag (14L)
- Downtube bag (1.2L)
We also used our old stem/food bags.
Water Bottles
We have finally found the water bottle which we were hoping for and did not know it already existed several years.
We've always liked the functionalities of a plastic squeezable bottle with a nozzle but had a problem with the taste of the water, especially when it warms up in the plastic.
We've also tried the hard metallic bottles as they keep the water taste neutral but they are just not as handy. They also tend to rattle when they're a little loose in the holders.
Via Instagram, we got an advertisement of KEEGO, a squeezable bottle, titanium inside, plastic outside.
We've tried them on our last trip and we're just in love.
A companion for years to come.
Locks
ART approved locks, locking the bike and securing it to a fixed object. For overnight securing, we always use 2 locks. For securing the bike when in eyesight, we use a simple lightweight numberlock.
We have: tex-lock Eyelet with X-lock
Helmets
Do your family and friends a favour by buying good helmets for yourself, certainly if you care about saving your brain.
The Helmet Lab of the Virginia Tech publishes an independent review on helmets evaluating the helmet's ability to reduce linear acceleration and rotational velocity.
We have: Sweet Protection Aero Falconer with MIPS
Straps
Straps to bind or attach anything to your bike. Straps replace the old fashioned elastic binders, are adjustable in lenght and can be extended by using multiple straps. Available in different colours.
We have: Fixplus+
E-Pump
A battery operated pump with integrated pressure meter is the ideal if your only other alternative during a trip is a small hand pump.
It's available from different brands and in different sizes depending how many tires and up to how much bar or PSI you want to use it for.
The pump heats up when inflating multiple tires in one go so make sure it comes with an extention hose.
We are having a Cycplus AS2 Pro Max but would certainly check what is available in the market when it needs to be replaced.
The build-in pressure meter automatically stops the pump when the desired PSI/Bar has been reached. When using with tubeless tires, this can become tricky when there is sealant in the valve as this creates a false reading and stops the pumping prematurely. We are solving this by setting a higher required pressure and stopping it manually to check the real pressure by wiggling the extention hose a bit.
Cycle Sandals
Sandals with cleats as an alternative for clipless cycling shoes, ideal for non competitive cycling during the summer months.
Dirk has: Shimano sandals
Handlebar Mounts
For our telephones, we use a Peak Design Everyday protective case with build in magnetic locking technology.
On our gravel bikes, we have installed the Peak Design handlebar mount with for Dirks bike, an additional extention for the action camera.
On all other bikes, we have B-size RAM mount balls for attaching all accessories with accessory specific connectors for the phone, action camera and even the drone controller.
Cargo Trailer
A lightweight cargo trailer, for more bulky shopping or trips to the containerpark.
We have: Burley flatbed cargo trailer
Camping stuff
Touring tent
A lightweight tent with a sleeping compartment and a seperate vestibule area, providing enough space to spend time and cook during bad weather.
Mountable in bad weather without affecting the inside.
We have: Hilleberg Nallo 3GT (3.20kg)
Adventure tent
A freestanding tent which can be mounted without having to use pegs and can also be used without the outer shell in warm weather or covered areas.
Having less space inside but also offering protection for bags under the outer shell only.
We have: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 Bikepack (2.25 kg)
Basic tent
Our smallest and most basic tent, a little smaller that the adventure tent, a combination of single wall for the main dome with mesh at the sides and an integrated rain fly for storing your bags.
Has carbon poles and can be used freestanding if used inside or without too much wind.
We have: Vargo No-Fly 2P (1.25 kg)
Sleeping pads, bags and accessories
Comfortable inflatable sleeping pad and pillow.
Down sleeping bag and inner liner.
Suitable for the climate you will be travelling in and this will mainly depend on your own preferences.
We have a set for summer (above outside temp of +10 celcius) and a set for colder periods (minimum outside temp of -10 celcius).
We have: Thermarest pads, Cumulus down sleeping bags, Sea to Summit liners
Summer weight 1.2kg / Other period weight 2.2kg
Cooking
Finally, we bought a Trangia stove, of which the basic model already exists since 1951.
Trangia stove 25-2 HA, Hardanodized aluminium with both a Gas and a Spirit burner.
Multidisc MD25 which can be used as a colander or cutting board.
Alu Trangia plates and Sea to Summit titanium cutlery.
For trips on which we only need to warm up a little of water for coffee or tea, a Trangia triangle with pan stand and T-cup
Coffee brewing
Hario smart grinder - SeaToSummit Ultralight kitchen sink - Bo-camp explorer pot - Aeropress coffee brewer
MSR PocketRocket burner - Stanley Classic Legendary bottle 75cl
Other stuff
Toiletry
Foldable toilet and soap bags and an ultra small and light towel (72gr)
We have: bags from Matador, towels from Sea to Summit
Tripods
A small tripod, for bikepacking or hiking trips
We have: Leofoto MBH-19 with a Leofoto DC-50 Arca clamp
(330 gr)
A big one for biketouring trips or when by car
We have : Peakdesign Carbon Travel tripod (1300 gr)
Backpacks and hippacks
Foldable so that you can stow them away when not in use
We have: Matador and Osprey
Multitool & knife
As multitool, we have a Leatherman Charge.
Dirks knife is a Buck 110 folding hunter knife. The one in the photo belonged to his dad and was about 65 years old when he lost it while on our 2024 trip from Lisbon back to Belgium. Somewhere on the Camino del Norte, he left it on a bench where we had lunch and he noticed it when we were already 25 km's further. No point to go back as it was on a busy walkway and this would have been taken already. Fortunately, exactly the same knife was still produced by Buck and that's what we are carrying now.
