Gravel Bike Essentials. Pack for the Far End.

What goes in the bag before a remote gravel ride?

Pack a way to fix a flat that sealant cannot close, a tool that fits every bolt on your bike, enough water for the gaps between towns, and a way to call for help where your phone has no bars. Everything else on the list makes the day better, but those four are what get you home.

We filmed this video in October 2020 for riders getting into gravel or eyeing a long ride on remote roads. The gear in it is from that season, and a fair bit of it has been replaced since. We kept the video because it is part of our history, and we rewrote the page around it in October 2026 so the checklist matches what you can actually buy today.

The checklist

1. Tubeless sealant, topped upSealant does not last forever inside a tire, so check it before a big day. We carry Orange Seal Endurance and the rest of the range under tubeless sealant.
2. Plugs for the holes sealant cannot closeThe Genuine Innovations Side of Bacon pack is 20 rope plugs made of vulcanized butyl rubber. Genuine Innovations says to set them with one of its own tubeless tools. More options live in tubeless flat repair.
3. A tube and a tire bootThese are for the cut that is too big to plug, and we explain why below. We carry Park Tool emergency tire boots.
4. A multi-tool that fits your bikeCheck it against every bolt you might need on the road, before the ride. Browse multi-tools, or read our multi-tool post.
5. Water for the long gapsRemote gravel means fewer stores, and a hydration pack adds water on top of what your bottle cages hold. See hydration packs.
6. A way to call for helpCarry a satellite messenger, or a phone that can text by satellite. We cover the details in the next section.
7. Tires you trust on your roadsThe video description names Donnelly, Maxxis and Continental. On our site today you will find the Continental Terra Speed, Continental Terra Trail, the Maxxis Rambler, and the full gravel tire lineup.
8. Comfort and eyesChamois cream like Chamois Butt'r Original, and glasses. A photochromic lens like the one on the 100% S2 darkens in sun and lightens in shade, which suits roads that dip in and out of trees. We wrote more on photochromic glasses.

Calling for help where there is no signal

Remote gravel is the whole appeal, but it is also where a phone call stops being an option. Two tools cover that gap.

A Garmin inReach is a satellite communicator. Garmin lists two-way text messaging and an SOS trigger, and notes that texting needs a satellite subscription. If you ride an iPhone 14 or later, Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite lets you text emergency services when you have no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Apple says you need to be outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon for it to connect.

Know which one you have, and try it at home before you need it on a ridge.

Why a tubeless rider still carries a tube

You hear a hiss, then the spray of sealant, and it does not stop. Sealant is good at small holes and a plug is made for a puncture, but a long slice in the casing is a different problem.

What surprises people is that the fix for a big cut in a tubeless tire is to stop being tubeless for the rest of the ride. Pull the valve, put a tube in, and cover the cut from the inside with a boot so the tube cannot push out through it. Park Tool is clear that its boot is made for tires with an inner tube, not for tubeless setups, and that it is a temporary fix, so replace the tire once you are home.

Use sealant for the small stuff, a plug for the hole, and a tube and a boot for the cut.Carry all three and almost any flat becomes a stop instead of a walk.

For the full roadside routine, see our flat protocols post.

The rest of the 2020 essentials series

1. Mountain biking essentials, for the trail kit that saves your bacon.
2. Indoor cycling, for picking a trainer, accessories and an app.
3. Road bike essentials, from the basics to radar.

Every tubeless flat repair tool we carry is on one page, and we ship nationwide. Questions about what to carry for your tires? Ask us.

Shop flat repair

Check the sealant before you check the weather.