What is the difference between bike packing and cycle touring?

[tyred]

Forgive my ignorance here. I like to tour, and I use a bicycle for doing so. I would describe myself as a cycle tourist.

Yet for the past week, most of the people I met in the Hebrides that I spoke to said they were bike packing.

Am I just out of touch with terminology, or is there a difference?

 

[raleighnut]

Forgive my ignorance here. I like to tour, and I use a bicycle for doing so. I would describe myself as a cycle tourist.

Yet for the past week, most of the people I met in the Hebrides that I spoke to said they were bike packing.

Am I just out of touch with terminology, or is there a difference?

As I understand it 'Bikepacking' tends to be lighter and shorter whereas cycle touring involves carrying more kit and is for a week or more, I could be wrong but I described my short 'overnighters' to Monyash with the little Bikamper tent as bikepacking but longer trips as cycle touring but I'm carrying more food, kettle. stove etc.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

My understanding which may be wrong is it almost comes down to volume of kit you carry.

Cycle touring maybe for longer maybe more independent (so maybe a stove, maybe camping gear, etc).

Bike packing lighter, probably with credit card (they are small and lightweight). Probably staying hotels, AirB&B, basically sleeping in a bed. Food, drinks, etc. purchased and consumed quickly (generally not carrying eg food for tomorrow).

But I'll be interested to see if my impressions are wrong. I place myself in "Cycle Touring" with two rear, two front panniers, bar vag incl. tent, stove, etc. trip typically 2 months.

 

[tyred]

I wasn't carrying a tent on this occasion, but did have enough to be completely self-sufficient, clothes, tools and food.