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MTB EDC | What We Actually Ride With in 2026 [Video]

Let’s be honest: nobody buys a $6,000 mountain bike because they really, really enjoy long, contemplative walks through the woods with their bike. Yet, every weekend, thousands of unsuspecting riders turn an epic singletrack session into an accidental 8-mile hike-a-bike because they forgot a $2 Quick-Link or a tire plug.

To save you from becoming a trail statistic (or worse, hiking back like Jeff), Jared, Liam, and Tydeman break down the ultimate trail ride essentials, the best frame attachment options, and the gear we actually pack when we head out into the dirt.

Liam's Ride Wallet

I literally do not get on a bike without this thing. It comes with me on every ride, whether I’m doing a quick morning spin, shuttle laps, bike park days, or a bigger pedal. The only time it changes much is for races, and even then, I’m mostly just moving a couple of things around so I can get to a tire plug or CO2 faster.

For a full breakdown of Liam's ride wallet and strategy behind his essentials, check out his full blog here.

Topo Designs Mountain Accessory Bag
Daysaver Tools: The Essential 8 and Coworking 6
Dynaplug Racer Pro
WTB TCS Rocket Tire Plug Kit
Lezyne CO2 Head
20g CO2
AXS Battery
Chapstick

Liam's On-Bike Essentials

WTB TPU Tube
Zip Ties
Master Link
CR2032 Battery
Tire Boots

Jared's Ride Wallet

It feels like I've tried every single option when it comes to on the bike tools and essentials, and I found that it became frustrating when keeping track of what spares and tools are on which bike. In my experience, I've found it makes sense to have your bike specific spares (and maybe some tools) live on the bike and others in the ride wallet that you can bring from bike to bike and ensure you won't be stranded when you're in the middle of nowhere. I have been looking for a nice little bag that would fit these essentials, and once I saw Liam's Topo Designs bag I had to copy him and get a similar one.

Jared's On-Bike Essentials

Wolf Tooth Encase Pump & Multi Tool
WTB TPU Tube
Tire Lever
Zip Ties
Master Link
CR2032 Battery
Tire Boots

Tydeman's Ride Wallet

SRAM Multi Tool
Dynaplug Racer Pro
20g CO2
CO2 Head

Tydeman's On-Bike Essentials

WTB TPU Tube
Tire Lever
Zip Ties
Valve Cores
Master Link
Lucky Duct Tape Strips
Tire Boots

1. Frame Attachment & Storage Options

If you hate riding with a heavy hydration pack bouncing off the back of your neck like a angry toddler, mounting your gear directly to the bike is the way to go. Here are the top ways to turn your frame into a Swiss Army Knife:

BOA / Cam Straps: The classic frame strap got a massive upgrade. Liam highlights OEM frame straps featuring a BOA dial. Instead of wrestling with crusty Velcro covered in dried mud, you just pop the dial, slap it on another bike, and crank it tight.
Wolf Tooth B-Rad System: If your bike has accessory mounts (those extra bottle cage bosses under the top tube or down tube), the B-Rad system is legendary. It uses modular baseplates, straps, or waterproof dry bags to hold spare layers, pumps, or tools without scratching your frame.
Friend and Fiend Accessory Bags: Handmade up in Bellingham, WA, these compact bags bolt directly to accessory mounts. They keep your TPU tubes, CO2, and multi-tools shielded from mud, grit, and power washers way better than open straps.
In-Frame Down-Tube Cavities: Got a modern frame with a trap door in the down tube? Lucky you! Pro-Tip from the Shop: Down-tube storage hatches are not 100% watertight. After a wet ride or a bike wash, pull your storage pouch out to dry. Otherwise, you’re creating a mini steam room for your gear, and nobody wants a rusty multi-tool.

2. Multi-Tools & Pumps That Don't Suck

A multi-tool is useless if it rounds out your bolts or doesn't give you enough leverage to actually fix anything. Here’s what we trust:

OneUp EDC System: The gold standard of stealth storage. You can hide a multi-tool, chain breaker, CO2 inflator, and tire plug tool right inside your fork's steerer tube or inside a dedicated OneUp pump handle.
Wolf Tooth EnCase & 8-Bit Backcountry Kit: This is our go-to for remote backcountry epics. It features lockable handles, a chain breaker, tire plug storage, a utility blade, and a tire lever with an integrated rim-dent puller. Most importantly, it includes an 8mm high-torque hex adapter—an absolute requirement for tightening pedals or modern SRAM Transmission derailleurs that demand high torque values to stay put.

3. The Portable "Ride Wallet" Strategy

If you own more than one bike (or test new bikes as often as we do), bolting permanent tools onto every single frame gets expensive fast. Enter: The Ride Wallet Strategy.

Rather than duplicating gear across three bikes, keep one compact zippered pouch (from Topo Designs, High Above, or Roadrunner) packed with your essentials. Throw it in your jersey pocket or hip pack, and you're good to go on whatever bike you throw a leg over that day.

What's Inside Our Ride Wallets?

Multi-Tool: Daysaver, Wolf Tooth 8-bit
Tire Repair: Dynaplug (metal-tipped plugs for fast fixes), WTB anchor plugs, or Stan's Darts.
Flat Repair & Air: CO2 cartridges, inflator head, ultra-light TPU inner tube, tire levers, and tire casing boots.
Emergency Drivetrain: Drivetrain-specific Quick/Master links (SRAM/Shimano), spare CR2032 or AXS batteries, and zip ties.
Personal Essentials: Chapstick, a shop rag (for wiping sealant off your hands before eating snacks), and maybe a emergency tin of trail sardines.

4. Tydeman’s Backcountry Pro-Tips & Emergency Hacks

When you’re miles deep into the backcountry, standard repairs aren't always enough. Here are Tydeman’s battle-tested hacks:

The Ziploc Bag Trick: Ultra-light TPU inner tubes are amazing because they pack down to the size of a deck of cards. But they are fragile when stowed. If left loose in a bag or strap, frame friction and grit will wear a hole in the tube before you ever use it. Always seal your TPU tube, zip ties, and small parts inside a Ziploc bag.
Pre-Cut Duct Tape: Wrap strips of high-tack duct tape (like Lucky Duck tape) around your pump handle or stick them to wax paper. It takes up zero space and fixes everything from ripped shoes to torn sidewalls.
Old Tire Casing Boots: Don't throw away your old worn-out tires! Cut out a 2x3 section of the thick casing and keep it in your kit. If you slash a sidewall on a sharp rock, slide the casing boot inside the tire before putting in a tube to stop the tube from bulging out.
Spare Valve Cores: A bent or clogged tubeless valve core can ruin your day. Pack a valve core tool and two spare cores. They weigh virtually nothing.
First Aid Essentials: Don't forget your body! Carry a compact first aid pouch with gauze, gloves, medical tape, Band-Aids, and Benadryl. If you get swarmed by wasps deep in the woods, an antihistamine can be a literal lifesaver.