Packing for a cycle tour is a major event and somewhat stressful simply because there is always that “what if” and “do I really need that” moment.
Yes you can repack again and again and even do various mini tours to help to sort you out. But I’m sure that even the most seasoned tourer will be carrying something that they haven’t used for a while. Great way to figure out what to pack is to talk to people on various online forums, read other people’s tour write-ups and talk with people you meet while touring.
They all will pack differently from you, so what one person is carrying might not be what you need, as we all have different needs. But from that talk you will learn some tricks of the trade and along with doing a few long weekends you will find your comfort zone/needs for your touring.
There are a few questions you can ask yourself which will help you narrow down what you pack.
Where you are going : is it a developing country, mountainous, flat covered in forest?
Time of year : holiday season where you are going, will you be fighting over the campsite with all the other …

The only reason why I ended up trying out this, was from my own stupidity, because I forgot my Exped DownMats on our last mini tour to Wales. So we had to get a mat for me for the last two nights.
We went into PSM Outdoors in Hay On Wye where we had a great service and had a look at what they had. I didn’t want to spend a lot on a mat which I only had to use for 2 days.
So I settled for the Trekmates Mummy camper lite, which weights in at 900g and is 183cm by 51cm and 2cm thick. The mat rolled up is pretty much the same size at the Exped I got and is around 500 or so grams lighter. And also it is smaller than me, but I have become used to that there aren’t many beds that suit me at 194cm (6’4″).
It was very easy to roll out and pump up not that I had to do much since it did the most of that by itself. Since it had been rolled up for a while I let it lay for around 20min before I blew some air …

This is a little list in no particular order of what I have learned while cycle touring and camping, this list will probably be edited and added to as I learn and tour more.
Take lots of plastic bags : Like the ones your get from the supermarket. They just come in useful, they just do. To wrap up your wet closing, food and as a bin bag etc. you name it.
Take zip lock plastic bags : Sometime even the best panniers with let some water in. And you want to keep that mobile, GPS or MP3 player extra dry. Also good to keep bits and bobs in, like extra screws for your bicycle.
Get a groundsheet/footprint for the tent : But make sure that it is not bigger than the tent. Because if it rains it will get wet and that water will run into your tent.
Take a full outfit of dry, loose, non-cycling clothes : Something like boxers and a t-shirt. It is easier to get into than your lycra or wet clothing. To use when you need to use the facilities at night on the campsite. Like merino wool long sleeve and longs to sleep in on that extra …

Description: (From their site) Exped DonwnMats: super comfortable, infinitely warmer and more compact than any other comparable mat of similar weight. Since down compresses so well, Downmats also packs very small. The integrated pump makes inflation easy.
As seen on the blog: Label : Exped DonwnMats
UPDATE : We have now use this on very hard rocky ground in Croatia. and even as a “float” when the campsite we stayed at and turned into a river. And what I can I say, these mats simply works we slept through and on anything didn’t even feel the water running under our tent.end update…
A friend of mine recommended me Exped DownMat 7Pump DLX, “it’s the bee’s knees mate”. Nearly 3 inches thick filled with down, can do down to -24c. And lighter, and smaller packed, than most other mats that are half as thick. Yes it is a bit expensive I think the price on the street is around £120, but it is worth it.
And we decided to give them a go, because the last time either of us when camping we were sleeping on the good old foam mats. Yes for one night they might do the job, but never really get a …