Originally Posted by
indyfabz
We should focus on something really important, like when is one touring and when is one bikepacking?
I would say bike packing = bags and lashing gear to the frame, fork, handlebar, stem that are not held on with racks. I would think brackets (like a pump with snap in bracket) to hold gear would still be included.
However, I think you can tour with a bikepacking rig just as well as racks + panniers in most cases. I don't think you could separate them at that point other than how you describe the rigs - not what each is doing.
Though, if you are off-road I would think bikepacking would be better - and to go lighter - as panniers held to racks might be an issue with the roughness of being off-road.
There was a tourer that did the GDMBT on a folding bike that I saw. The rider started with panniers and ditched them for the bike packing technique if I recall correctly. I think it was a Bike Friday.