Can I bikepack on a groad bike, or should I get a dedicated bikepacking bike?

Groad bikes are excellent bikepacking platforms and are often the preferred choice for off-road bikepacking routes. Their long chainstays provide frame bag clearance, abundant mounting points accept any bag configuration, and stable geometry remains composed under load. The main difference from a dedicated bikepacking bike is that groad bikes prioritize off-road capability over maximum load capacity. If your bikepacking involves technical terrain (like the Arizona Trail or Colorado Trail), a groad bike is actually the better choice.