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