Hello @REI-JohnJ, My first bike packing adventure from adventure cycling is coming up in July and I need to be training and equipping and I’m glad to have this trip to focus me to do so.   You’ve always given incredibly informative thoughtful responses to my queries so I’m reaching out and perhaps overreaching with questions about equipment. This trip is low level difficulty and advertise as ideal  for beginners, it’s flat, on the pine creek rail trail in Pennsylvania, 4days 3 nights, all self supported And I think it’s a great way to introduce myself to bike packing finally!. I have never slept in a tent before or in a sleeping bag. I will use my CO-OP adv1.1 bike ( rather than the REI fat bike)  which comes with front and rear racks. I have seen many of the sleeping bags and tents used for bikepacking that one keeps on the handlebars and under the rear seat. So I am considering that option but I also would very much like to consider the option of using the racks on the bike. Can you therefore please recommend panniers  that I could use on these front and rear racks and purchase from REI that would hold the sleeping bag and tent and ground pad and  everything else I need? Or Am I approaching this wrong and do you think I really should go with sleeping bag and tent attached to handlebar and seat? Or is there another way to attach my gear to these racks without using paneers that you think would be better? I’d love to buy the equipment from REI this weekend during their sale and if you give me specific brands and models I will order them based on your recommendation. Stuff that works well, is lightweight, durable, and keeps critters out and rain out are my priorities I am willing to spend to get the best stuff.  I’m really psyched to do this and would love your input taking this bike and racks into consideration And an addendum to my initial query: i’m wondering if the tent and sleeping bag and pad will fit in panniers and i’m also wondering if I would need paneers for the front rack as well as the rear rack or just the rear rack and the tent and sleeping bag mounted somehow to the front rack? best regards Hank ... View more