Seeking Recommendations: Rear Rack + Shoulder Bag

[5555624]

@rcannon100 36563 wrote:

So what does the peanut gallery think? What bags you got? What do you like, what not.

I can’t recall why I did not go with Ortlieb, but I pickecd up a pair of Serratus panniers from MEC more than 13 years ago. They have been excellent — roomy and very waterproof. They’ve been replaced by the MEC Aqua‑Not 3 46L Panniers. If you don’t mind that sahde of blue, that clearance price a great deal.

[thucydides]

@rcannon100 36563 wrote:

Rootchopper recommended Ortlieb – and seems pretty good. They seem VERY water proof. And they seem simple to get on and off the bike – altho its hard to see exactly how that works. But it seems like simply one big bag – which is causing me to hesitate a little. Seems like keys or camera or multi tool will just sink to the bottom of my clothes, making it hard to fish things out on the trail. It is nice to have a few separate compartments.

So what does the peanut gallery think? What bags you got? What do you like, what not.

I’ve been quite happy with my Ortlieb bags. They’re big,they’re orange, they are indeed quite waterproof. Plus they are easy to clean. Yesterday I just wiped them down once I got home. They are easy to get on and off (there is a strap that when you pull it releases the rack clamps). Another great thing about them is that they are easy to adjust for different racks. However, as other haves noted, the interior lacks compartments. That’s not been an issue for me. Mine can really hold a lot as I daily bring in clothes, lunch box, thermos, various papers, and often a laptop as well.

[DismalScientist]

@Arlingtonrider 36566 wrote:

I just put my things in a couple of plastic bags, fold over the tops of the bags and slide them into my regular panniers. For more compartments, more plastic bags. See-through ziplocks are great for small things, even when not needed for rain protection.

This seems too simple. There must be disadvantages that I haven’t thought of or problems I haven’t experienced yet.

Back when I toured, we simply lined the panniers with trash bags.

[vvill]

I just use backpacks, sorry. I had a rack on my hybrid for a bit and some small LG panniers but I found I never used them enough.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Vital question: how do y’all prefer to pronounce “panniers”? Pan-yers, or puh-neers? Something else?

[Tim Kelley]

@ShawnoftheDread 36605 wrote:

Vital question: how do y’all prefer to pronounce “panniers”? Pan-yers, or puh-neers? Something else?

“Pan-years.”

[culimerc]

I went with Ortleib panniers as well. They’re easy on, and easy off. Absolutely waterproof. They’re not light, but whose counting grams at this point. I routinely carry; Lunch, thermos, Laptop, work clothes, shoes and couple extra pieces of fruit. And if I dont have my laptop and/or shoes, that usually goes in one pannier. The biggest drawback that I can see is that there is so much room you end up hauling around 20lbs of stuff you dont actually need. Back up flat kit, spare jacket, rain suit if there’s a chance of rain, etc etc etc.

[DaveK]

I have these – http://www.seattlesportsco.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=369&idcategory=91

No complaints, a set of two holds plenty for an average grocery run and I only need to use one during the week for clothes and lunch (I don’t wear suits to work, I can fold my work clothes). They also have a small inner pocket to keep my spare tube, multitool, and other such things separate from my clothes or food. Only one real test of the waterproofing thus far and they passed with flying colors. They’re a good budget option relative to the Ortleibs.

[jopamora]

I’ve been using the Seattle Sports Titan panniers for almost 2 years now. My only quibble is that a laptop don’t fit quite right since it tapers towards the bottom.

[mstone]

My ortleibs have a thin internal pocket, which can help with really small items.

In general, there are two pannier camps: the waterproof camp and the rain cover camp. The rain cover camp argues that it’s easier/cheaper to replace a torn cover than a torn pannier, and that waterproof bags get funkier than breathable bags. The other camp just wants something that’s waterproof. Touring, I generally split the difference, with waterproof bags for stuff I really want to keep dry, and breathable bags for everything else. Commuting, I use a breathable bag. I’m not going to be out in the rain for hours like I would touring, and if anything gets wet I wouldn’t care much anyway (I don’t carry a laptop). If you can keep your bag empty most of the day, the swamp bag argument won’t much matter. If you leave your bike clothes in the bag during the day, I definitely wouldn’t get a waterproof one. If your main concern is a laptop, you could get a separate dry bag for it.

[rcannon100]

mstone: That is tremendously helpful. Thanks. My Transit were breathable, with a rain cover. Nothing every got wet…. but importantly nothing ever got funky! As a commuter bag, I think that is a criteria that just tilted it – breathable is a key feature.

Thank you wise representative of the peanut gallery.

[Dirt]

Ortlieb panneirs are wonderful. My favorite is the Bike Shopper. http://www.ortliebusa.com/prod-35.htm It is dead simple. It is like the world’s most durable ziplock bag with Ortlieb’s amazing mounting system attached to the back. They’re expensive ($100 each… sold individually) but worth every penny in my eyes. Mine have been completely submerged and come through without any hint of leak.

Yes, I know I always come up with really expensive solutions.

There are LOTS Of good panniers out there. The best suggestion that I can give is to go to a shop that stocks them and try a few. Riding with panniers is easy and pretty much the same experience regardless of brand. The thing to test out is what they’re like to attach and remove from the bike. You can read about capacity pretty easily, but seeing exactly how big they are is sooooo much more useful.

Arkel makes some very nice panniers and their attachment system is a little more fiddly than the Ortlieb, but it works very nicely.

Both brands have many different price points for panniers.

As for packs… now that my shoulders are both relatively functional, I like using a backpack over messenger bag. If I’m dancing with commuter buses, I like a little extra security of having two shoulder straps. Inexpensive packs work. Getting a really good one will make it last longer and help with waterproofing. Ortlieb, Osprey and Thule make my favorites. I have a few of each that I use for different purposes at different times. Lots depends on what you want to carry.

Keep visibility in mind. If the pack you choose isn’t reflective, get some stickers, tape and/or flashy light to make it much easier to be seen. I’ve also used a reflective vest over the pack to be visible.

Good luck!

Pete

[TwoWheelsDC]

@mstone 36654 wrote:

My ortleibs have a thin internal pocket, which can help with really small items.

In general, there are two pannier camps: the waterproof camp and the rain cover camp. The rain cover camp argues that it’s easier/cheaper to replace a torn cover than a torn pannier, and that waterproof bags get funkier than breathable bags. The other camp just wants something that’s waterproof. Touring, I generally split the difference, with waterproof bags for stuff I really want to keep dry, and breathable bags for everything else. Commuting, I use a breathable bag. I’m not going to be out in the rain for hours like I would touring, and if anything gets wet I wouldn’t care much anyway (I don’t carry a laptop). If you can keep your bag empty most of the day, the swamp bag argument won’t much matter. If you leave your bike clothes in the bag during the day, I definitely wouldn’t get a waterproof one. If your main concern is a laptop, you could get a separate dry bag for it.

Breathable bags are easier to decorate…

[ShawnoftheDread]

@TwoWheelsDC 36662 wrote:

Breathable bags are easier to decorate…

How are you calculating the 9/10 of a cent it takes you to ride?

[aflapr]

@Dirt 36658 wrote:

…

As for packs… now that my shoulders are both relatively functional, I like using a backpack over messenger bag. If I’m dancing with commuter buses, I like a little extra security of having two shoulder straps. Inexpensive packs work. Getting a really good one will make it last longer and help with waterproofing. Ortlieb, Osprey and Thule make my favorites. I have a few of each that I use for different purposes at different times. Lots depends on what you want to carry.

Keep visibility in mind. If the pack you choose isn’t reflective, get some stickers, tape and/or flashy light to make it much easier to be seen. I’ve also used a reflective vest over the pack to be visible.

I’m lucky because I generally don’t have to transport my work clothes nor do I have a laptop, but I’ve been using a Camelbak similar to the 2012 Alpine Explorer. It should be big enough for a normal laptop (though I would put the laptop in a sleeve for added protection), it is waterproof, and I like that it makes it easier for me to grab a drink plus it has an easy to reach compartment for my phone. (I don’t listen to music, but I do use MapMyRide and I like being able to turn it on and drop it in.

I second the recommendation for added visibility. The pak has slots to slide on a rear blinker and I’ve used zip ties to add on a reflective red Ampelmann for visibility and flair…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampelm%C3%A4nnchen

I didn’t like the waist straps on the pak, so I cut them off. Also, I the bag is big enough for me to carry food (breakfast and lunch), skivvies, etc in the AM and it holds all the cold weather gear I don’t need in the afternoon.

If you don’t like weight on your back – the pannier is the way to go.

[Author]

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