Why Folding Bike Touring + The 6 Best Folding Bikes For Touring in 2023

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folding bike touring

The Cons and Pros to Help You Decide Whether or Not Folding Bike Touring is For You + the 6 Best Folding Bikes for Touring and bikepacking in 2023


Folding bike touring, or touring on a folding bike is a style of bicycle travel that has never really become popular, despite it’s many advantages.

The best folding bikes for touring though, are getting better and better every year, which shows attention from the foldable bike manufacturers toward this small but promising niche.

Folding bikes for touring allow bike travelers to move their rigs easily into transports – plane, taxi, train, buses… whatever.

Being foldable and compact, they help you get to your starting point much more conveniently than regular touring bikes, but also give you the power to avoid boring or dangerous sections, since you can easily haul them onto a train or hitch a ride, saving your time to explore more interesting areas.

Folding bikes are also much more welcome in hotel rooms, where full size bikes are often banned or frowned upon, and even inside your camping tent if there’s a safety concern.

Plus, with the raise of bikepacking style, more and more compact bags are out in the market that could fit on the smaller frame of a folding bike.

In this article, we are going to go through the good and the bad about touring on a foldable bike, before getting into our picks for the best folding bike for touring and bikepacking.

Check also

> Touring on a Tandem and the best couple adventure rigs
> Gravel Bikes for Touring and Bikepacking? Our Best 5
> Cheap Bikes! The Best Budget Bicycles in All Categories


What is a Folding Bike?

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How we compile our gear guides: during the almost 10 years of cycloscope.net our team personally tested dozens of similar pieces of gear. For what we can't test personally, we involve other people in the cycling community to give their feedback and opinion about gear they have used. Our decade-long experience in bicycle touring enables us to find the key cons and pros of every product we mention.

touring on a folding bike

Folding bikes are differentiated from other bicycles on the market by one defining characteristic: they fold.

The collapsible nature of these bikes means they’re ideal for anyone who wants to ride to a train station and take their bicycle with them for the journey on the other side.

I put together this list of cons and pros to help you decide whether or not folding bike touring is for you.

Pros of folding bike touring

  • Folding bikes are cheap to fly with – The biggest benefit I have found to folding bike touring is that they are cheap to take on a plane. The bike will fly as a regular checked bag with most airlines as long as you can pack the bike down into a package weighing less than 50 lbs (23 kilos) and with dimensions totaling less than 62 linear inches (158 cm). On international flights where one checked bag is included in the fare, checking a folding bike is usually free.
  • You can take them on trains, buses, and in taxis – Even if bicycles are disallowed, you can simply fold up the bike, slip it into a bag, and nobody will know what it is. This gives you the freedom to skip dangerous or boring sections while touring.
  • You can explore more easily with a folding bike – Maybe while you are touring you decide you want to take a budget flight to another country or a nearby island. With a folding bicycle, you can pack it up and fly hassle-free. If you tour on a full-size bike, these side trips will be cost-prohibitive.
  • Folding bikes are allowed in hostel and hotel rooms – Many hotel managers disallow taking bikes into the rooms. Bikes are dirty and take mud and oil into the room. While understandable, most bicycle tourists hate this policy. But because folding bikes can be stored away in a large bag and are much smaller, it is generally less of a problem to bring bicycles into the room.
  • Folding bikes are easier to pack up for travel – You don’t need to go through the pain of finding a full sized bike box, if you’re flying. You can make an appropriately sized box by taping and cutting smaller boxes to size. As for traveling by bus or train, you can just carry a folding bike bag and store the bike inside it. 
  • You don’t have to worry as much about getting stranded – You can haul your folding bike in even the smallest of cars, if there’s a catastrophic failure and you can’t ride it. This is impossible with a full-size bike.
  • You can bring your folding bike into your tent – You can fit the folding bike inside your tent, if you travel with a two-person tent, to protect it from harsh weather or theft. You can store your bike inside while you’re away, if you’re staying at a campground.
  • Folding bikes are a conversation starter – Everyone wants to see how the bike works and learn about it. Meeting people and making friends is easy with a folding bike.

Cons of touring on a folding bike

  • Some components wear out more quickly – In particular, rims, hubs, and touring tires. These parts won’t last long on a folding bike. Because they need to make more revolutions to transport you the same distance as a full-sized bike.
  • Folding bikes have proprietary parts – All folding bikes have at least a few non-standard parts that are brand-specific, although some brands are better about this than others. You’ll have to buy a replacement from the manufacturer if one of the parts wears or breaks out. Third-party options are usually unavailable. You may have trouble finding some parts if your brand goes out of business.
  • Folding bikes are fragile – They just can’t take the beating that a full-sized bike can. The hinges make for a weak spot in the frame, so they’re not as strong as regular touring bikes.
  • Folding bikes are more expensive – The full-sized bike will have much better components, if you compare a folding bike with a full-sized bike of the same price. A similarly specced folding bike will be far more expensive. This is due to the cost of making the bike more portable.  
  • Folding bikes carry far much less weight – Folding bikes have a lower carrying capacity because of the hinge and long seat tube and stem. Most folding bikes can haul about 110 kilos or around 240 pounds. A decent full size touring bike can easily carry 300 pounds, for comparison. Some carry much more. 
  • Folding bikes ride rougher than full sized bikes – Folding bikes don’t roll over potholes and bumps as easily, because of the smaller wheels. This means that folding bikes are less serviceable for gravel and off-road riding.
  • Folding bikes look kind of funny – Riding a tiny bike, you’ll look like a clown to passersby. Some people don’t care one way or the other, but others seem bothered.
  • Because it is so easy to throw the folding bike on a train or bus, you’ll most likely ride less than if you were traveling with a full sized bike. For bicycle touring purists, this is a proper sin.
  • Because of the smaller wheels, folding bikes are less efficient. You will expend more energy to keep the bike rolling.

The 6 Best Folding Bikes For Touring


best folding bikes for touring

Having listed the pros and cons of folding bikes, if you decide it’s for you, then here’s our recommendation on the best folding bikes for bicycle touring.

Few companies make folding bikes that are suitable for touring. They each have weaknesses and strengths.


1. Dahon Mariner D8 

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Dahon is a budget folding bike brand from the US. The Mariner D8, one of the most popular models from US outfit Dahon, sees a Lattice forged hinge with Vicegrip technology and is made from the brand’s Dalloy Sonus Tubeset.

The Dahon Mariner D8 is a 20″ wheel folding bike that boasts a sleek and rust-resistant brushed aluminum finish. It comes equipped with a rear rack, luggage strap, kickstand, and fenders, making it a great option for those who want a folding bike for touring.

In terms of portability, the Mariner D8 is above average. It can be folded compactly and weighs only 26 lbs/12.5 kg. The plastic Snap Lok clip system, unfortunately, may be prone to breaking – you get what you pay for, after all. Despite this, anyway, it does a good-enough job of securing the wheels when the bike is folded.

The Mariner is relatively inexpensive for a quality folding bike and features a Shimano Tourney 7-speed with an 11-32 tooth cassette for a decent variety of gear options. A compact design delivers the job, although the shifting may not be as smooth as high-end 7-speed derailleurs.

Dahon states that the bike can accommodate riders from 4’9″ to 6’3″, making it a suitable option for a wide range of riders, the weight limit is set at 105kg (230 lbs) so it might not be the one for the biggest of you.

A member of our team owns a Mariner and has done some light touring on it, the bike has proven to be durable, able to withstand being placed in a car trunk and checked onto an airplane, as well as being ridden on small, uneven roads.

The Mariner D8 features a lightweight Dalloy Aluminum Sonus Tubeset frame, Hi-Ten Steel Blades fork, and an adjustable Forged Alloy Radius Telescope handlepost.

  • Price: from $749
  • Weight – from 27.69lbs / 12.56kg


2. Brompton M6L

best collapsible bikes for bikepacking
Image by Richard Pope CC02

The Brompton is arguably the most popular folding bike for touring. The reason they’re so popular is that, at just 585 mm X 565mm X 270mm, they have the most compact fold of any folding bike.

Because of the use of small 16-inch wheels as well as the iconic Brompton design, they’re able to achieve an incredibly small fold.

You can slide the Brompton into a bag when folded.  And it becomes a standard piece of luggage. You can take it with you on pretty much any plane, bus, train, and busy public transportation. Nobody will know that you have a bike with you. 

Brompton bikes are high quality. They are handmade London from durable parts. People generally get many years of good use out of their bikes. 

  • Price – $1,644 
  • Weight  – 25.97lbs / 11.78kg.


3. Airnimal Joey

Airnimal Joey folding touring bike

Airnimal Joey is the go-to bike if you’re someone who wants a bike that’s a blast to ride but still takes up little space.

This is a larger wheel folding bike for touring: the Joey sees 24 inches wheels, giving it a road-like ride quality.

To allow for off-road use, tires are available in sizes up to 2 inches. If you prefer, you can stick to skinny 1 inch rubber for quicker rolling on the road. This model uses disc brakes and an 8-speed Shimano Alfine hub gear system.

The large wheel size means that the bike is more cumbersome to transport, when folded, than a 16 inches foldable bike.

  • Price – $NA / £1599
  • Weight – from 29.7 lbs / 13.5kg


4. Tern Verge X11    

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The Verge X11 is a tantalizing option if you’re after something super speedy, and price is no issue. With 22″ wheels, it comes between small-wheeled Bromtpon M6L and large-wheeled Airnimal Joey.

It features a large ratio cassette and SRAM Force 1x drivetrain. That means easy maintenance and gearing that will feel similar to a road bike.

You also get Kinetix Pro X wheels, Schwalbe Durano tires, and a durable adjustable stem.

  • Price: $2,499  
  • Weight – Weight: from 23.83lbs / 10.81kg


5. Bike Friday DIAMOND LLAMA

Why Folding Bike Touring + The 6 Best Folding Bikes For Touring in 2023 5Why Folding Bike Touring + The 6 Best Folding Bikes For Touring in 2023 6

Bike Friday is the company you should be looking at if you’re particularly tall (or heavy). They’re one of few manufacturers that offer different frame sizes. The frames are durable and made of steel. They are able to pack down to fit into a carry-on size suitcase and use 20-inch wheels.

Bike Friday use all of the shelf parts except for folding mechanism and the frame. This is their biggest benefit. There are no other proprietary parts. You will find replacement parts wherever you tour. 

  • Price: $1,875  weight
  • Weight 26.5lbs (saddle and pedal not included)


6. Birdy GT 10SP

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These bikes are of very high build quality and offer full suspension. The frame, lacking a hinge, adds durability and strength.  A wide range of gearing options is available with both internal gear hubs and derailleurs. Birdy bikes are a go-to foldable bike for touring. 

Birdy bikes are about the same as a Dahon and larger than a Brompton, fold wise. When folded, they measure about 80 cm x 62 cm x 34 cm. They fit into a standard airline acceptable case.

Their tire, Schwalbe Black Jack, has the dimension 18×1.9″.

  • Price – $2,330   
  • Weight – 10.3 kg


Final Thoughts on Touring with a Folding Bike


Folding bicycles are all about compromise. The main trade-off is between foldability and cycling performance.

Generally, the smaller or more compact the bike, the less suitable it is for long-distance cycling.

16″ folding bikes have a small fold, but tend to feel tedious on rides over one hour compared to bikes with larger wheels.

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Founder
  1. The way I look at it is that a bike is a way of getting from A to B.
    If you can choose A and B to fit with the fact that you will be on your bike – or that is the whole point of the journey, then get a standard bike. They are cheaper, lighter and there’s way more choice.
    If you can’t choose where A and B are because you don’t yet know – your bike is your way of getting where you need to go, not the other way round, then get a folding bike. As the article points out, you can combine it with other means of transport and take it places which would be difficult or impossible on a standard bike. If you have it with you, it is also less likely to be stolen or damaged. The problem is rarely that would have been impossible with a standard bike. It’s just that you can see it as being a hassle. The outcome is always the same, whether it’s the stairs, friends and family, colleagues at the office or public transport systems that were the problem.
    Also – minor point – not all Bike Fridays are 20″. The Pakit is 16″ – and lighter than the Brompton. The problem is that it’s not self-contained when folded. Also, the fact that anyone designing for folding bikes will be thinking Brompton, not Bike Friday.

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