Touring - Need advice on good Panniers

I have been commuting for a year now and use the large Topeak rear panniers. However they are too small for touring. I have been looking at Ortliebs and seem the best quality for the price so far.

Take a look at the new Arkel Dolphin panniers. I just bought a set of front and rear Dolphins. They are waterproof ans have enough capacity for my needs. The rear panniers have a zippered pocket at the bottom plus a narrow space between the pocket and main part of the bag.

Check out http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/ botom left, bicycle touring poll, Arkel vs Ortlieb.

Check out http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/ botom left, bicycle touring poll, Arkel vs Ortlieb.

http://www.thetouringstore.com/ORTLIEB/Ort%20Accessories/Ortlieb-Outer-Pockets-2.jpg

Thanks for the link. One thing though you can add external pockets (http://www.thetouringstore.com/ORTLIEB/Ort%20Accessories/ORT%20ACCESSORIES%20PAGE.htm) to Ortliebs - I have them on all my panniers and you can remove them when you don't need them. Also the Bike Packer Plus panniers (http://www.thetouringstore.com/ORTLIEB/Ort%20PANNIERS/BPP/BPP%20PAGE.htm) from Ortlieb have small mesh outer pockets as well. Using the external pockets you can have that extra level of organization [great for keeping stove fuel separate from your luggage] as well as being 100% waterproof.

This page from www.biketouringtips.com has 2 links to discussion threads on pannier brands (http://www.biketouringtips.com/Testing/showTipComments.php?tipID=497).

For what it is worth, most people seem to recommend Ortliebs.

This thread on this forum (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=381430), just a few days ago, goes into two different kinds of Ortliebs (and then veers off into politics).

Ray

Axiom makes a nice set of waterproof panniers in the Typhoon model

http://www.axiomgear.com/product/bags/waterproof_bags/product.php?id=109

The attachment system is the traditional hook which is generally fine for road touring, but certainly not fit for off-road touring if that is in your plans. Price per pair is about $80 (e.g., aebike.com), so these may be an economical and solid build alternative.

I have been commuting for a year now and use the large Topeak rear panniers. However they are too small for touring. I have been looking at Ortliebs and seem the best quality for the price so far.

You should also consider Carradice. However, maybe your Topeak panniers will do the job. How big are they?
You can add a handlebar bag and even a couple of front panniers if you need extra capacity. Have you thought of how many litres you'll be needing?

Don't forget your basic Lone Peaks, made right here in the good ol' US of A.

http://www.thetouringstore.com/LONE%20PEAK/LP%20HOME/TTS%20Lone%20Peak%20Home.htm

(Wayne carries Orliebs too)

OK, just to consider if your on a long trip, particularly on the east coast (and I guess north west though I haven't managed to get to that area) once you get things wet, where do you put them? if you put them in a water tight pannier the moisture will dampen other thngs in the bag. Just something to consider.

I have had many bags, if you want to go with a water tight bag and are on a budget, you might check out the small Nashbar water tight bags, though they would be too small for me, I had one of their larger water tight bags early design from maybe 5 years ago and it's hard to tighten down and take the shake out of even when fully loaded, I would think the small ones would work fine.

I have an older Cyclesmith(now back to MountainSmith if they are still making bags) Apex and Big Bag which have close to 10K on them and they are still going strong I pack my tent inside of the smaller one, with room for stove and a loaf of bread (size wise no I don't pack a loaf of bread) the other, sleeping bag wrapped around camera or computer in the Big Bag. after having my bike with a front pannier stolen 1000 miles into a trip I bought a pair of cheap Nashbar moutain panniers(?) which I found well made and very servicable. Saw someone was selling some of their water tight bags on Fleabag at cheap prices, might be worth checking out.

I'm an oldtimer and lots of people lined their bags with trashbags in the 70's early 80's, the CycleSmiths are water tight enough for me, but I don't typically cycle on schedule, hench don't cycle in the rain.

-Whit
'All who wander are not lost'

I hadn't seen those before. Those dolphins are pretty nice. Now if these Jandds would only fall apart so I could justify the purchase of a new set of panniers...

check out MEC's bags. construction is immpecable, and they won't bust the bank either. easy on/off too.

non-waterproof:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442618244&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302693397&bmUID=1202718591586

waterproof:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442618864&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302693397&bmUID=1202718591585

i use both. 5 thumbs up on both.

what is the total cubic centimeter or cubic inches that some of you have used to cross the country? including all panniers and bags.

Don't forget REI. I bought a set from them - front, rear, and handlebar bag - 15 years ago, have taken them on many tours, and they're still perfectly usable today.

Of course, the models they offer now are different. My point is only that REI usually has good quality stuff. They have to, because their return/replacement policy is so liberal. I'd at least give their current panniers a look.