One of the most useful additions to a touring bike is a prop stand. They are so useful if you wish to get off your bike to take a photo, get clothing out etc. yes you could lean the bike up against a wall, fence or a tree, but if you travel in wilderness areas there just aint any to hand and you will be either getting your partner to hold your bikewhile they straddle theirs or end up laying it down on the ground. They also come into there own when you are loading your bike in the middle of a campsite field you don't have to find a tree or fence to prop it up against.

However there are good prop stands and there are bad prop stands. We have had prop stands on our touring bikes since we started touring in 1997 and you only really realise just how useful they are until you break one and are without. I can testify to this as i have broken several in my time.