Packing Tiny: Minimal Brompton Overnight Packing List

Written By Justyna Frank

Ultra-minimal packing.

Those two bags in the photo, plus a small fanny pack carried everything I brought on a solo Brompton overnight camping trip from Chicago to Harrington Beach SP in Wisconsin. The trip took place mid-July, with daytime temperatures in upper 80’s, and high 60’s at night, which allowed for minimal clothing and sleeping gear.

Essentials

  • Brompton folding bicycle (mine was an H6R model)

  • Phone & charger

  • CC’s, ID and cash carried in shorts pocket, no wallet

  • Toolkit (fitted inside Brompton frame), spare tube and pump

  • Front and rear rechargeable bike lights

  • Personal items: toothbrush and toothpaste, small bottle of Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap, bug-repellent towlettes, ibuprofen (just in case)

Luggage

My goal was to carry everything as compactly as possible:

  • Front-mounted Brompton Rolltop bag: 9-liter capacity, approx. dimensions 13.75 x 8..5 x 4..5 in

  • Older Ortlieb roll-top seat bag , approx. dimensions 6.3 x 9.1 x 3.9 in
    (I had to hack the attachment system with straps, as the included bracket does not fit on the Brooks saddle. Fortunately, the Ortlieb bag is outfitted with loops and slots for additional straps.)

  • Generic fanny pack big enough for energy bars, phone, sunscreen, etc.

Shelter/Sleeping

  • Hennessy Explorer Deluxe Classic XL hammock with integrated bug net and rainfly

  • Thermarest camping blanket

Cooking/Food

  • Vargo Titanium backpacking woodstove, which folds down to the size of a small saucer.

  • Matches and firestarters made out of cotton facial pads saturated with candle wax, rolled inside several sheets of newspaper

  • 2 Bobo Bars (I should have saved the space, as I did not eat them, and I passed through enough populated areas that getting emergency food would not have been a problem)

  • 1/2 cup precooked rice in a plastic baggie

  • Trader Joe’s lentil curry in a microwaveable pouch

  • GSI Outdoors stainless cup/pot

  • Spork

  • 2 compostable coffee cups stuffed with

    • Foldable coffee filter holder, plus 2 paper filters

    • Ground coffee

    • 4 tea bags
      (I could have gone more minimal with just the tea bags, but —shoot me— I wanted my coffee!)

  • Supplies picked up at the Piggly Wiggly on the way to the campsite, strapped to the top of the front bag:

    • 1/2 pint heavy cream (can’t have coffee without it)

    • Lemon (can’t have ice tea without it)

    • Small boxed wine (shhh….)

Yes, I could have completely dispensed with any of these. But our little luxuries give life meaning…

Clothing

  • Thin stretch cargo shorts

  • Chaco sandals

  • 2 sleeveless cotton shirts

  • 2-piece TYR swimsuit (top worn while riding, bottoms packed in case there was an opportunity to go swimming)

  • Underwear

  • Thin rayon beach scarf rolled super small to be used as table cloth, towel or bug cover-up (I did not bring anything long-sleeved)

  • 1 part of thin merino socks

And that’s all!

Justyna Frank