What to Pack for a Bike Trip in Italy
I’m calling this the packing list for “a” bike trip in Italy but really, it’s the packing list for our specific bike trip in Italy.
If you’re one of the lucky few joining us this year – get excited! And please read on for the items we’d strongly recommend bringing – as we learned through trial and error last year. If you’re not, these items should still be relevant to any multi-day bike tour with support – ie: not bike touring, but when you have the luxury of someone bringing your luggage to your hotel every evening.
And this is more of a packing guide than a mere list. You know I can’t contain myself from going into detail, so I’ve given you my whole philosophy and thought process behind every item. When I’m recommending specific brands, I’ve either used those exact products myself, or I’ve put a lot research into choosing them.
What Not to Pack
There’s nothing major you need to bring that’s not on this list – yes, please, pack your own underwear, toiletries, and other basics.
But no, you don’t need to bring your own helmet, bike, or anything like that. Those items will be provided (and unlike with a lot of bike tours in Italy, there’s no rental fee. Everything you need is included.) You don’t need bike repair gear. (Marco’s got us.)
PIC – Marco fixing a flat?
There’s no camping on the schedule this year, so no need to bring sleeping bags or anything like that, either. And you can leave the fancy spandex cycling jersey at home – unless you really want to wear it. We’re very casual on this trip, so you do you.
The Right Daypack:
I would strongly recommend bringing a decent daypack, like one for hiking – with a supportive hip belt and a mesh back panel to keep it lifted off your sweaty back. Because just like on a hike, the more weight you lift off of your shoulders, the more comfortable you’ll be riding most of the day. Those are definitely the features I’d recommend, but some people on the trip didn’t have this, and they said they were fine.
Bonus points if your day pack has a water bladder (like a Camelback or similar brand) so you easily sip water while you ride. It makes it so much easier to stay hydrated and feeling good. Why? Because it’s surprisingly easy to forget to drink when you stop, just because you’re so immersed in taking in the landscape and snapping photos.
I did a lot of research on this, and if I were in the market, this is the one I would buy. Here’s the men’s version.) Or – a less pricey option – maybe this one.
(And I’d still pack a regular water bottle, also, especially for adding electrolytes to without getting your Camelback all gunky. Any kind of slim bottle will do – a big fat Nalgene won’t fit in your bike’s water bottle holder.
(In places where the tap water isn’t safe to drink, I always back my fancy UV bottle to avoid buying plastic. But on the Italian mainland, it is absolutely fine to drink the tap water, so no worries there.)
Speaking of taking pictures, I’d also recommend making sure your backpack has easily accessible pockets on the hip belt, big enough to fit your phone, if you plan on taking photos with it. I was constantly whipping mine out from my hip pockets to take photos, even while riding. Even if you don’t think you’ll do that, it’s nice to not have to take off your pack to get to your sunscreen lip balm or anything else you’ll use often.
TRIPLE bonus points if your backpack has everything above, and a built-in rain fly (because you never know). If it doesn’t, you could pack a separate universal rain fly. (The pack I recommended includes one, but it doesn’t come with a water bladder.)
Padded bike shorts:
Don’t sleep on this one, please, even if you have a padded saddle for your bike. (Marco will set you up with one, so you don’t have to pack one from home.)
I was on the fence about padded bike shorts, just like I was on the fence about taking the “easy” route with an e-bike, instead of going full mountain bike. I can’t even explain how glad I am that I said yes to both.
The first day, we didn’t use our bike shorts. We were sore at the end of the day, but nothing too bad. But that was just Day One – and one of the shortest days of the entire trip. I used mine every single day after that, and can’t imagine how much less comfortable I would have been without them.
If you’re gross like me, just get one pair and let them air out (inside out) every night. That’s what I did last year. It’s not that long of a trip, and honestly yes, they’re in need of a wash by the last day or two, but what’s a couple of extra days, anyway? If this is a no-go for you, get two pairs.
I still have the very cheap pair that I bought at Decathlon last year and will bringing back this year. Otherwise, I’d probably go for this top-rated style; they come in fun patterns, and have pockets! (There’s a men’s version, too, minus the fun patterns.)
Or these for something longer, on the women’s side. (And you can always wear them underneath a looser pair of shorts if you feel naked in spandex.)
PIC – me in shorts?
Biking Gloves – very optional
Bike gloves have extra padding to keep your hands from getting vibrated too badly, which can actually get annoying. If your hands are sensitive, they might not be a bad idea. I’d look for a breathable, summer-weight pair, like these.
We didn’t pack these last year, and aren’t planning to bring them this year, although we did think about it on some days.
Travel Towel – also very optional
Having one of those super lightweight travel towels in you backpack is not a bad idea IF you think you might be interested in jumping in the river on the day that’s an option (at lunch time), OR if you think you might want something to wipe the sweat off with.
This is the microfiber towel I’ve had for years. It’s affordable and good quality and gets the job done. Or this is a cuter but still ultralight version. Again, just an idea, but not required.
Sunglasses
Great for keeping the sun out of your eyes while gazing out at the beautiful Italian countryside rolling by you, obviously. Also though – very helpful for keeping any stray bugs or chunks of dirt out of your eyes.
Ideally, pack a pair that doesn’t slip down off your nose too easily. I use these – nothing too fancy, but very lightweight and comfortable, which is ideal. (And they’re made by a friend’s company, so I know there are good people behind the brand!)
PIC – me in sunglasses
Tennis shoes or trail runners
You don’t have to get too specific on the shoes you pack for this bike trip. Any light-weight, closed-toe shoes with a decent bit of tread should be fine. You just want enough grip that your feet won’t slip off the pedals easily – so avoid flat-soled sneakers, or anything like that. Running shoes would be fine. Last year, I packed my ultralight Salomon trail-running shoes and they were perfect.
Socks that aren’t too short
Riding your bike most of the day, every day, might cause you to find some new points of shoe friction on your ankles. So I’d definitely recommend not wearing the super-short, no-show socks. Pack something that gives your ankles a little protection.
I’m partial to merino wool blends in this category, too, because they wick moisture away from your skin much better than cotton, keeping your feet more comfortable for long, sweaty days. These are my favorite style, from Darn Tough (made in Vermont!). Here’s the men’s version.
Merino wool t-shirts (not tank tops)
These are, of course, not required for this trip, but they’re definitely my recommendation: If you don’t already have merino wool t-shirts, get yourself two 100% merino wool tops from Unbound Merino. Synthetic fabrics smell after no time at all, and cotton keeps you wet and sweaty all day long.
(I don’t recommend tank tops just to keep your shoulders protected from sun and rubbing backpack straps. But it’s up to you.)
Unbound Merino has become a staple of my wardrobe, and even more so of my travel wardrobe. Their clothes are soft, comfortable, moisture-wicking, well-made, very wrinkle-resistant, and they stay smelling fresh for so many wears.
This is already well documented in my Unbound Merino review, and even in video form, but this bike trip was the ultimate test. We were dripping sweat every day, and I literally wore the same merino t-shirt for four of the five days on the bike. (It’s this top.)
If you want to give them a try, I also have a discount code for Unbound Merino: Use the code TILTEDMAP for 10% off your first order!
Why merino, exactly?
First, I wore it on our travel day from Milan to Fabriano before we started the trip, then I wore it for the first two days biking. (Including the day when we visited a beekeeper, and got fully suited up in the protective bee suits, which turned into our own personal saunas on a late June early afternoon. After an hour looking into bee hives under the sun, I was a literal river of sweat inside that suit.)
I hung the shirt over the back of a chair to let it air out that night, and it didn’t smell at all the next day.
On the third day, I switched to a linen t-shirt, just because I had packed five tops and didn’t want to ignore four of them. But by the end of one day of riding, it already smelled. (And linen is much less smelly than synthetic fabrics like polyester “sports” clothing.)
While my merino t-shirt was still fresh after two days, so I wore it for two more, and by the end of the trip it was starting to be ready for a wash.
I also packed my tank-top from their Unbound Active collection, thinking I’d wear it biking, since it’s designed as workout wear. (It’s a special merino wool that they’ve treated to make particularly moisture-wicking and cooling.) But I realized quickly that sleeveless wasn’t ideal for the sun, or for the backpack straps!
Next time, I’ll probably pack just two merino t-shirts to wear for the biking days, plus a couple more of their tops for dinners. (Details on that below.)
Rain Jacket
You never know. Keep it in the bottom of your daypack.
If you don’t already have one, I’d recommend this one from Patagonia, which is the most sustainable sportwear company by far. I have that jacket and it’s great.
Electrolytes
Consider that every day will be a workout to some extent – lots of sweating! Adding an electrolyte tablet or powder to your bottle of water can help you avoid dehydration and keep you feeling better.
Unfortunately, this is one area where I have not yet found a plastic-free option. If you want to pack a plant-based protein powder, or magnesium (which is good for sore muscles) Wholier has plastic-free options, but I’m afraid that’s all I’ve found so far.
We’ve been using these Sport Hydration tablets, which are less messy than powders, and are about as natural as this kind of product can be. (Beet and spirulina extracts for color, for example, instead of red dye #40.)
You can also order them on Amazon here.
If you’re a person who’s constantly hungry, you might also want to pack some granola bars or other snacks for between meals. (I usually just borrow a piece of fruit from the hotel breakfast every day.)
Sunscreen
I do have a plastic-free option for this one! I’ve been testing several sunscreen options from Attitude. They’re solid products in cardboard tubes that are easy to apply. (The tubes are very sturdy – they don’t get easily squished in a bag, but my only complaint on the packaging is that the lids come off easily, so I’d throw them in a baggie, like these non-plastic ones.)
[Related: Check out my guide to plastic-free toiletries that also make your travels easier! And here are the rest of the mostly plastic-free products I’ve tested. ]
Evening outfits:
Being quite a rural destination overall, the restaurants and hotels we visited in Marche were pretty casual – but Italian casual is different from American casual. You definitely don’t need to feel pressured to dress up… but maybe leave the ratty hoodies, graphic t-shirts, sweatpants at home.
So for guys, a nice polo, or a linen button-down, or just a clean t-shirt will be fine for evenings. Nice shorts or pants – whatever you prefer. We won’t be visiting restaurants that make you feel out of place without a tie or leather shoes, though.
For ladies, casual dresses are great for evening, but by no means necessary. I recommend a comfy pair of sandals. No need for heels, but something a bit nicer than flip flops will fit in well.
Shoe details, if you want them:
Last year, I wore clean Birkenstocks (same ones in the photos below). This year, I’ll be packing my new very comfortable, yet very elegant sandals from Poppy Barley. (They’re one of my favorite sustainable clothing brands, with living-wage manufacturing and quality that will keep you from rotating through products quickly. Last winter, I lived in these comfy boots and will definitely be brining them back come fall!)
Back to clothing:
Personally, I packed two more Unbound Merino tops and alternated between them for evenings. Almost every evening, I wore my white merino v-neck tucked into a favorite pair of jeans, or the lavender tank-top from their Unbound Active collection. (That’s the one I actually packed thinking I’d wear it biking. But it looks great as a normal top, too. And, as I mentioned above, I realized quickly that sleeveless tops weren’t ideal for bike days.)
I’d also recommend a light sweater or jacket, just in case! Some evenings get cool, since you’ll be up in the mountains. I’ll probably bring my very-packable merino zip-up hoodie this time.
Swimsuit
In case there’s anyone who doesn’t automatically always pack a swimsuit everywhere, definitely bring one on this trip! We’ll likely have an opportunity for a dip in a river one day, a few outdoor hotel pools and hot tubs, and at the end – the Mediterranean Sea!
If you don’t already have one, Carve Designs makes my favorite swimsuits, including this design with a super sporty (but cute!) reversible top that doesn’t let your boobs go flying in the wind. (But that’s just me. Again, you do you.)
European Plug Adapters
Don’t forget your EU plug adapters for anything you’ll want to plug in! (Can’t vouch for the brand – it’s Amazon; but they’re well-rated and they’re the right ones.)
(You likely don’t need a voltage converter. While US electronics are 110 volt and European outlets are 220 V, almost any modern equipment has a built-in voltage converter. No need to do anything. If you’re unsure, look to make sure it shows a voltage range, ie: 110-220 V.)
Travel SIM card (if you want to be connected)
Personally, I use Google Fi for cell service, which is great because it means I just have data everywhere I go in the world. Nothing to change or think about. If you travel a lot, a highly recommend it.
Otherwise, if you do want to have data while on the trip, I’d recommend getting a travel e-SIM card before you go. It’s much easier than trying to figure out how to buy a travel SIM once you land (and trying to avoid scams) and there’s no physical SIM card to throw away later!
Travel Insurance
If you haven’t already, don’t forget to buy travel insurance before you leave. The earlier you the buy it, the most options you’ll have – especially for trip cancellation or delay insurance. (Which you can only purchase within a certain number of days of when you first signed up for the trip, or bought flights. The timer starts whenever you first spend money on your trip.)
For basic travel health insurance policies (eg: in case you get the flu while traveling, or fall and break something), you can usually sign up as late as the day before your trip starts.
(Full disclosure: Yes, I do have a history of not buying travel insurance, but no, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.)
The Basics
Everything else is just your basic packing list items – I’m not going to remind you to pack your underwear. Bring your medications. Definitely throw in your passport. And if you have any questions, leave them in the comments below!
For more tips, check out my general advice for packing lighter and my plastic-free, packable toiletries. (Two of the easiest places to start are with these shampoo bars and these toothpaste tablets. They’re personal favorites of mine, and also the brands that most of my friends tend to agree with me on.)
I hope this packing guide has been helpful! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below, or get in touch with me directly.
