The RAGBRAI Packing List was inspired by the BikeIowa.com packing list.

The list is designed to inspire and help riders not forget the essentials. On RAGBRAI, less is more.

Camping

• Sleeping bag (30-40 deg, it can get down to 50 at night)
• Stuff sack
• Sleeping pad
• Small pillow (Inflatable Sea to Summit)
• Tent
• Tent stakes
• Bug spray (make sure to let all the mosquitos in your tent before zipping them in)
• Solar shower (I used this once)
  
• Towel (pack towels are great. This is the most useful thing you can carry.)

Clothes

• Cycling shorts (2-3)
• Hat
• Comfy campground shorts (1-2)
• Flip-flops or comfy sandals
• Extra sportsbras for hanging out and sleeping
  
• Hoody, fleece and pants (can get cold at night and morning)
• SPD cycling sandals
• Sunglasses
• Swim suit
• Tank-tops (3-5)
• T-shirts (2-3)
• Underwear (3-5)
• Rain jacket
• Sport Kilt

Daily on the Bike

• Two water bottles
• Helmet
• All-In-One-Tool
• Front and Rear Lights (sufficient for riding after dark)
• Cash
• Credit/ATM card
• Driver’s license
• Health Insurance ID card
• Patch kit
• Riding gloves
• Riding shoes
• Bike bell or horn (very helpful)
• Spare tubes
• Sunscreen
• Chapstick (spf 15 or more)
• Condoms
• Tire Levers
• Tire pump
• Toilet paper
• Zip Ties
• Bike lock

Technology

• Camera / GoPro
• Phone (it won’t work most of the time)
• Waterproof phone case, or zip lock baggy
• SD Cards
• USB Charger and Cables
• Lightning cable for iPhone
• Battery charger or solar panel for phone
• Bluetooth speaker

Humorous

• BIKE!
• Case of Schlitz to use as bum repellant
• Hill Erasers
• Multiple alibis (just in case)
• Muzzle for Web’s tongue
• Skank repellent
• Slim Jims (dog repellant)

Luxury

• beads, beads, beads
• Koozies!
• chain breaker
• Frisbee / Hacky Sack
  
• Powdered lemonade & vodka
• Super Soaker
  
• Tent fan
• Flask

Misc

• Ear Plugs
• Sleep Mask
• Silk Sheet
• ZipLock Baggies
• Chamois Butt’R – trust me – it will save your ass (literally)
• Chapstick (3 or more)
• routine medication
• bungee cords
• duct tape
  
• fanny pack
• first aid kit
• gum
• lip sun screen
  
• Plastic grocery sacks for bike seat 

Toiletries

• ALEVE or Ibuprofen (Big bottle)
  
• Antacids, zantac, prilosec
• Allergy meds
• Baby powder/gold bond (very helpful) – (Desitin for emergencies)
• Baby wipes or athletic wipes (in case you miss the shower)
• Band aids
• Glasses
• Contact Lenses
• Contact Solution
• Disposable razor
• Eye-drops
• Q-tips
• Shampoo/Conditioner
• Soap
• sports cream
  
• toilet paper
• Tooth brush/paste (Toob rocks)

Stuff Others Thought of!

• $75 cash per day minimum (Ride with me, drink for free) – Rob Johnston
• 2 or 5 mile range FRS radio (walky talky)
• Bandannas
  
• Batteries
  
• AAA Card
• beerslide
  
• Benadryl
• Bible
• Bug spray/repellant
  
• Chain Lube
• duct tape
  
• even more beer
• fig newtons
  
• Flashlight w/new batteries
  
• glasses/contact lenses
  
• Groundcloth for tent
• Gummy Bears & Octopi – Rocket Fuel
• hair de-tangler
• hairbrush and hair ties
  
• heavy tent stakes for winds
  
• Hydrocortozone cream
• kleenex in a ziplock for corn field stops
  
• knee pads
• L.E.D. flashlight (batteries last 100hrs if left on)
• Matches
  
• Name Cards with email address, phone #s/ City, State
  
• Pedialite..great for hangovers
• Petzel head lamp
• Playing cards
• Powered Gatorade
• Preparation H Wipes
• Rain jacket, pants, booties & helmet cover
• Rolling papers
• Butt Ice Wet Wipe
  
• Safety pins
• Shampoo (Travel size)
• Shower caps for bike seat, under helmet if it rains
• Shower shoes or flip flops
• Small notebook
  
• Small Swiss Army Knife
• Super soaker
• Socks
• Soft-sided 12 pack cooler
• Spare contact lenses
  
• Topless Riders (men or women)
  
• tripod stool
  
• Tylenol PM – Great for hangovers (take before bed!)
  
• Nuun Electrolyte Tabs – Great for hangovers (take before bed!)
• use a blow up kind of pillow, it won”t matter if it gets damp
  
• Vaseline
  
• viagra
• Weather radio
• Ziplock Bags