RAGBRAI LII July 19 - 26, 2025

[Video] How to pack for RAGBRAI

  • 21 May, 2010
  • Jared

What do I need to pack to be ready for RAGBRAI?

Dream Team mentor and RAGBRAI veteran John Washburn gives you a brief tutorial on how to pack for your excursion across the state. 


15 Comments

  1. michael keen

    Thanks for the info.I will be riding by myself this year my wife wants to know how we can charge our cell phones?

  2. Lauren Williams

    there are telecom trucks at some rest stops and at the end of the ride of the day that have computers to use, phones and they also have charging stations. Last year when I had dinner at a church, I also plugged in there while I ate. no problem!

  3. adventurecook

    Do I need to pack enough riding gear, shorts, jerseys, etc for 7 days of riding? Or are there either traveling laundry facilities, or coin-op laundrys in each town near the camp areas?

  4. Dave

    Do you pack another bag for your tent? Do you also carry a tarp for placing under your tent?

    Thanks

  5. Lauren Williams

    you are allowed one bag. BUT you can strap your tent to your bag. I got tie things at Dicks Sporting goods – they are the nylon fabric w a buckle, I got two of them putting one into the other for length and another two for the same = two long straps. I went around my bag, through the handle in tent bag and the closed the loop – did on both ends to fasten to my bag. worked like a charm.

    Tonight at Target I found these ZIPLOC brand BIG Bags – 5 HUGE bags for $4.48 to do what the video shows. I STRONGLY recommend since I did get some wetness from water seeping through the seams when a raincloud did go over our bags that was set out for us to pick up – leave jeans at home. HEAVY when they get wet and not needed.

    re. packing clothes for 7 days cycling. I brought 3 shorts, 3-5 tops – I washed out my shorts in the shower when I was in there. Hung to dry – most of times not dry the next day but that is okay since I have another pair. If you are smart you can rotate in/out and wash them daily as you use them. Hand inside tent overnight (dew overnight = wetness in am).

    ANother thing. I used old socks as wash cloths. I would use like a mit in shower and toss after. I know it is not very ‘green’ but they were headed to the garbage anyway since they had holes or lost elasticity – also there are towel rentals for $1 at the showers on the campsite. I sugges this too. Dry towel is nice – use and turn in when done. I also brought a shammy just in case and used once at a school. The $1 towel rental is a good thing.

    Lauren

  6. Lauren Williams

    I did not carry a tarp for under tent. Not there long enough. but considering tarp this year to put over my bike outside for a dry saddle in am – others use plastic bags or shower caps over saddles.

    no coin launderies. we are out in fields often that are mowed for us to camp on.

  7. Charlie

    What about air mattresses?

  8. Lauren Williams

    A cycling partner of mine packed an air mattress last year and this year he is leaving it home and taking a sleeping pad instead. That is what I have. A sleeping pad takes in some air and is perfect, small and easy. Just a suggestion. They are better than air mattress on this venture.

  9. Zach

    I am a memeber of the Dream Team and on our Boone ride some people took air mattress and it took them like forever to get all the air out, i am going to take a cot on RAGBRAI. it’s fast and easy to set up and take down, also get a bag the right size you don’t want one to big or two small. And john stated don’t take anything cotton either mostly take like athletic ware that will dry quickly if it gets wet. Bring extra Zip-loc bags also beacause on the boone trip one got a hole in it and everything inside got wet. also you’ll want to bring a bag for your phone and anyother electronics you might bring.

  10. Emily

    I am a memeber of the Dream Team and on our Boone ride some people took air mattress and it took them like forever to get all the air out, i am going to take a cot on RAGBRAI. it’s fast and easy to set up and take down, also get a bag the right size you don’t want one to big or two small. And john stated don’t take anything cotton either mostly take like athletic ware that will dry quickly if it gets wet. Bring extra Zip-loc bags also beacause on the boone trip one got a hole in it and everything inside got wet. also you’ll want to bring a bag for your phone and anyother electronics you might bring.

  11. Linda

    Tell me about the toilet and shower availability. Is it better to bring our own?

  12. Lauren Williams

    toilet and showers – toilets are very clean – the outhouses are pretty fresh. I would suggest bringing some toilet paper for during day stops, but I had no issues what so ever w the outhouses (toilets).

    showers – they are plenty. I used the traveling trailers that set up at camp for us daily and it was pretty clean too. I wore my flips and no problems. $5 a day to shower & optional $1 towel rental. All good here – I would not bother lugging either of them with you.

  13. Kati Boothe

    Your post is beautifuland practical,I completely agree with the above comment. Thanks for the sharing.Will you share more about it? I just want to know more.You are very talented.I guess, this site would be my farorite one. Thank you again!!!

  14. Troy

    Consider bringing a Shamwow. Great for drying the body or even removing the water that always seems to make it’s way into your tent. Also works to suck extra water out of your bike shorts so they dry faster.

  15. Mike

    That looked like a pretty big duffel bag in the video. Is there a size limit on the bag or just a suggested weight restriction?

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