The Gear We Actually Use

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This is the Velo collection of Amazon Prime Day bike discounts actually worth paying attention to. As with all recent guides, the starting point isn’t what happens to be on sale today. Instead, the focus is entirely on quality products worth buying at full price, with the added bonus of passing along a discount when one is available.

Amazon is operating differently this year, meaning advanced lists of deals are not available. To work around that, every item below is gear that has been tested hands-on and is verified to be sold through Amazon. The page will be updated continuously as discounts go live. Prices and inventory change fast, so click through the links to check the current pricing—you might find an active deal even if a discount tag hasn’t been added to the header here yet.

Nutrition

I love featuring nutrition products on every gift guide because it’s a consumable that dedicated cyclists always need more of. There are a lot of options on Amazon in this space, but this is what I actually use.

Skratch Labs Energy Bars

The other thing I always carry with me are these bars from Skratch. It’s a totally different texture, but unlike competing brands, Skratch bars aren’t dry, and they are a bit tart.

Salt Stick Energy Gummies

There’s science behind the idea that cramps come from a hyper-excited motor neuron repeatedly misfiring and locking the muscle up, rather than just dehydration or an electrolyte imbalance, and that it’s possible to make it stop with a shock to the vagus nerve. That shock comes from sour foods, so I also carry sour Salt Stick Energy Gummies with me. To be clear, Salt Stick doesn’t make this claim, and its gummies might not be sour enough. I don’t worry too much though because they still taste delicious and the cramp relief is just a potential bonus. You also get 130 mg of salt per packet, so that helps with cramps too.

Pickle Juice Sports Drink Shots

If cramps are a severe problem, this is what will absolutely stop them immediately. Last weekend I rode in a heat wave, didn’t eat enough salt (I should have had more of the three products listed above, which I had with me), and I had awful cramps. Downing one of these stopped them immediately. I’ve used this for years, and it’s worth having on hand.

Tailwind Endurance Fuel

Like I said, I tend to prefer to drink my calories on the bike, and this is my go-to choice. There’s a decent amount of sodium and a sweet, but not sickly, flavor profile. You can also choose an option with caffeine if that is your preference.

Sunglasses

No one has too many sunglasses. I won’t say too much about these, but if there’s a deal, this is your chance to match your favorite kit.

POC Propel

These are the glasses I wear more than any others. I love the look, but they are also specifically designed to be more aerodynamic than other glasses. I don’t think that actually matters much, but it’s still a great story.

Oakley Meta Vanguard

These are a combo gift. Choose the Prizm Road lenses for the excellent Oakley lens tech, and it comes with great headphones, a good camera, and the best mic on the market. You can read more in my Oakley Meta Vanguard review.

Smith Seeker

This is an option that works on and off the bike, but the Smith Seeker has even more general sports usability. The style calls back to 80s mountaineering glasses, and they work stylistically for hiking, climbing, skiing, and gravel riding. Regular daily use is great too, and they include a neck strap that I love when I move in and out of the sun.

Tools

Amazon carries a wide range of tools, with some being low quality that are likely to leave you with stripped bolt heads. Don’t buy those. Here are some great quality options worth looking for deals on. I am playing a bit fast and loose on what I classify as a tool, but it’s all worth a purchase if you need it.

Feedback Sports Velo Wall Bike Storage Rack

This is something I featured in my how I manage to store bikes article and you can see from the image, I’ve got expensive bikes on it and I’ve used it for years. You do need to be able to drill into a wall but otherwise these are my favorite ways to get a bike on a wall.

Feedback Sports Rakk 2.0 Bike Storage Stand

If you would rather not, or can’t, drill into a wall, use the Rakk 2.0. You can see this in every single bike picture I take here on Velo, and I also have one in the kitchen for whatever bike I’m riding tomorrow morning. These are dead simple, don’t drop bikes, and work well to bring along to a trailhead. There’s an e-bike version also if you want a convenient place to put the charger while you stand your bike up.

Silca Chain Waxing System

I wrote a whole article about the Silca Wax System and why I don’t care about the performance benefits but I love this system anyway.

Silca Ultimate Chain Stripper

Right before Silca came out with the full wax system, the brand had this product to make getting your chain ready for any wax system easy. It continues to be a great choice if you don’t use the full Silca wax system by freeing you from complicated back-and-forth routines to strip a chain down.

Silca Super Secret Chain Lube

When wax is the lube of choice, no matter the brand, you don’t always have to use immersion wax. You can top up between immersion dips with drip wax. I personally use Silca.

Muc-Off Tubeless rim tape: 10% Off

Notice that pink roll of rim tape in the front of that picture? That’s Muc-Off tape which I specifically recommend in my article about how to set up road tubeless tires. I prefer Muc-Off tape because you can see through it, that makes puncturing the valve hole easier, and because it’s got just the right amount of stretch for an easy application. If you are having an issue with tubeless tires holding air it’s always the tape. This is a great consumable that is already showing a 10% discount on the 25mm width that’s perfect for road wheels.

Muc-Off Disc Brake Cleaner

If your disc brakes are making a racket, you have some choices. You could try to figure out why, but assuming they are in good shape, you could also just use this and be done with it. Pull the rotor and the pads, soak it all, and put it back together. In my experience, it fixes the issue 100 percent of the time. There might be cheaper options using generic products, but don’t make your life more difficult than it needs to be.

Muc-Off 8-in-1 Bicycle Cleaning Kit: 10% Off

I have this exact same kit (purchased before it came with the tub) and I use it all the time. The cleaner does a great job dealing with the drivetrain, the bike protector gets wheels looking great again, and the various brushes all have their place. Buying the kit is a great way to start, and the tub is a nice bonus for storage I wish I had.

Silca Elettrico Ultimate Mini Inflator

I’m not really into the idea of bringing an electric pump with me on rides, but this pump has absolutely changed the way I deal with bikes at home. It’s perfectly accurate and much faster to use before a ride. There are others on the market, but the Silca doesn’t heat up, is built like a tank, and makes less of a racket. If you are instead looking for the type of pump to carry with you, the same link has the smaller version from Silca designed for that purpose.

Topeak Joeblow Tubi 2stage: 13% Off

The one thing that electric pumps can’t always handle is seating a tubeless tire. At least not all the time. If an electric pump won’t do it, you need a bunch of air fast, and that typically means a design where you pressurize a canister that you then release. That design is awful. Instead, the Tubi 2stage has a switch, and depending on the position, it flows more than double the volume of other pumps. This is far and away the easiest way to set up tubeless tires and the last non-electric pump you will ever need to purchase. I discuss it further in my article covering “The Right Way to Set Up Tubeless Road Tires.” This one is currently 13% off as an early prime day deal.

Dynaplug Racer Pro

If you are worried about getting stranded after a flat on a ride, Dynaplug is the best system on the market for tire plugs, and the Racer Pro is my preferred system for carrying them. Yes, there are other types of plugs, but in my experience, nothing works as well as Dynaplug. You can read more in my article about what I carry on every ride so I don’t get stranded.

Swiss+Tech ST50022 Stainless Steel 6-in-1 Key Chain Multi Tool

This is another thing I carry on every ride, and not enough people have something similar. It’s not something you think about until you find yourself stuck, but this has saved me a number of times. If you have to use tubless but have to swap in a tube, you need to be able to get the valve stem out. Sometimes it’s impossible with your fingers, and this tiny pair of pliers can save your ride.

Prestacycle TorqRatchet GO Lite

One thing I strongly believe is that most cycling mini tools aren’t quite right. When I wrote about what I bring on every ride to avoid a phone call home, you’ll notice I included a ratchet system. I love it because you can add and delete what you need so it’s tailored to you. Start off with what’s included, and if you need to, you can always remove the tool and bits from the case and switch up what bits you have. This Prestacycle option is my favorite because it also includes a torque wrench solution.

Park Tools Hydraulic Brake Bleed Kit

I recently had to reach for my bleed kit, and I realized how nice it was to have a quality one. You’ll only buy it once, so go for the good stuff and be done with it.

Wera 8000B Zyklop Speed Ratchet 3/8 drive

When I wrote about the best tools to remove a cassette, I discussed how a good ratchet is an important part of the system. In that article, I featured pictures of a DeWalt, but I’ve since upgraded to this Wera. You can change the position of the head depending on what you are trying to do, it feels better in hand, and it has a higher tooth count for fine adjustments.

Feedback Sports Modular T-Handle Kit

I don’t have an article about more general tools, but I absolutely love this kit. There are other t-handle hex wrenches, but this kit is easier to store, and the look and feel makes it a joy to use.

Action Cameras

This is an easy win for Amazon Prime Day. This stuff is always on sale for the event and these are the pieces I’m currently using to produce videos at Velo.

Insta360 x5

This is the easiest way to share video adventures. It’s easy to hold, and it works without needing to plan exactly what it’s going to point at. The audio is also incredible and I use this for every review video. Read more in my full Insta360 X5 review

Insta360 Go Ultra: 16% Off

The Go Ultra is tiny and fits in creative spots. Use the magnet and put it on a jersey, stick to something metal—whatever creative shot you can think of, the Go Ultra can probably pull it off. It’s also a capable still camera if you keep it in the dock. The early Amazon Prime Day deal is offering a package of accessories, including the Mic Air, for a price that’s lower than the camera normally is on its own.Read more in my full Insta360 Go Ultra review.

GoPro Mission 1 Pro

I’ve been testing this for the last few weeks, and I can now confidently say there is no better action camera if image quality is the primary metric. You can use it as a stills camera or, obviously, for video, and the capabilities are beyond what either DJI or Insta360 currently offer. This is a pro-level choice, and I’ll be watching it closely to see if it actually drops in price since it’s so new.

Headphones

I have a whole guide about the best headphones for cycling but I’ve grabbed my favorites here.

Suunto Sonic: $50 Off

When I am on a bike ride, I always have these with me. They don’t impact your ability to hear your surroundings, and I love that they start and stop with a single button. If they are off, they basically disappear and don’t require storing.

Sony WF-1000XM6: 10% Off

The one downside to the Suunto Sonic, and bone conduction in general, is that when not used in a sports setting, they just aren’t very good headphones. If you want a pair of headphones for the bike but also as an everyday carry item, these Sony earbuds are my suggestion. There might be better-sounding headphones out there, but these sound incredible, and they stay put when you are sweaty and riding. On the bike, use one earbud at a time; off the bike, they offer amazing noise cancellation and great integration with smart assistants. I am currently writing this guide while on a plane wearing these headphones. I’m a fan.

Bike computers

Part of the game with Amazon Prime Day is that not every bike thing is available through Amazon. Bike computers often are, and these are the options I found.

Garmin Edge 850: 17% Off

Garmin is starting to get some serious competition, but the brand continues to be a favorite of mine. Great screens paired with excellent training data and good battery life works for my riding. If it works for you too, then the Edge 850 is the smaller computer with both touchscreen and button functionality. For more information, check out the best bike computers buyer’s guide.

Garmin Edge 1050: 14% Off

If the Edge 850 doesn’t have the battery life you need, the Garmin Edge 1050 jumps from 12 hours to 20 hours. More importantly, if you feel like you’ve reached the point where bike computer screens are tough to read, this gets you everything Garmin offers in a more visible package. For more information, check out the best bike computers buyer’s guide.

Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3

The biggest complaint about Garmin tends to be that it’s too complicated. There are a ton of options and data, but it gets difficult to understand. Wahoo simplifies it all, and the Roam is the mid-range option that balances size with battery life and price. Traditionally, Wahoo has suffered from a lack of unpaid options for long-term training info, but that’s fixed now through a partnership with Coros. For more information, check out the best bike computers buyer’s guide.

Wahoo Elemnt Ace: 12% Off

What if you don’t care about easy to use vs. hard, but you want the longest battery life paired with the best features and the biggest screen? Let me introduce you to the Wahoo Elemnt Ace. It is just as easy to use as the Roam series, but Wahoo adds a wind sensor and a big battery. You can also make the text giant if that’s important to you. For more information, check out the best bike computers buyer’s guide.

Hammerhead Karoo

The Hammerhead Karoo is in the buyer’s guide as the best for SRAM bikes, but it’s actually much more than that. The brand was the first to make the screen incredible to look at, and using an Android backend makes for some fun sideloading opportunities. For more information, check out the best bike computers buyer’s guide.