Touring - new panniers - what do I put in them?

just got a pair of Nashbar's Euro compact panniers in prep for my first tour next month. They look huge to me (I think around 1,000 cu in). I can strap my tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag to my Blackburn rack. I have a small front rack and bag that will carry tools and small supplies. The only stuff I have left to pack is sheet, pillow, change of clothes, camp sink, ground cloth, rain gear, and probably a few other things I'm forgetting right now. It seems that all of that could easily fit into a bag half the size of even one of the panniers I have. I don't have to carry any food or cooking gear since that is supplied by the tour. I looked around for smaller panniers but even the compact ones I found are still around 900 cu in. Is there anything out there around 600 cu in or so? Or any other ideas for packing set ups for a short-ish (4 days, 3 nights) tour in central MA (no wilderness or high mountain peaks)? thanks

If you're going on a supported tour, I'd be surprised if they don't carry all your gear for you. Might want to ask.

Otherwise, you'd be surprised how much room clothes etc takes up. Try packing the panniers, and then see how much room you've got left over.

600 cu in panniers are rather worthless, and as such are not common.

By the way, sheets and pillows? Ditch the sheets, and get an air pillow.

I would stick with the size of the panniers you have now; even if you don't fill them you'll likely will on a different trip in the future! Really once you start thinking of everything you'll find the panniers fill up quite quickly! And no big deal to run them half full, it makes it easier if you acquire stuff on your trip or you just want to get lazier about the way you repack everything.

Don't forget clothes for both on the bike and off the bike - long pants are great at camp even if warm evenings to ward off bugs! And for a 4 day trip you're not likely to want to bother with washing anything out so bring enough, a towel for showering (I use one of those microfibre ones since it takes up much less space), spare shoes for camp (if you ride in SPD shoes), toiletries and sunblock. Snacks too as you're likely to want to eat in between tour eating times. Miscellaneous stuff starts eating up space- a hat to wear around camp to keep the sun off, flashlight etc. You'll think of ways to fill them up, and if not google will find you lots of touring packing lists :)

just got a pair of Nashbar's Euro compact panniers in prep for my first tour next month. They look huge to me (I think around 1,000 cu in). I can strap my tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag to my Blackburn rack. I have a small front rack and bag that will carry tools and small supplies. The only stuff I have left to pack is sheet, pillow, change of clothes, camp sink, ground cloth, rain gear, and probably a few other things I'm forgetting right now. It seems that all of that could easily fit into a bag half the size of even one of the panniers I have. I don't have to carry any food or cooking gear since that is supplied by the tour. I looked around for smaller panniers but even the compact ones I found are still around 900 cu in. Is there anything out there around 600 cu in or so? Or any other ideas for packing set ups for a short-ish (4 days, 3 nights) tour in central MA (no wilderness or high mountain peaks)? thanks

I agree with other posts, I'd stick with what you have for the moment, extra room in bags is a good thing to take along on a tour. However, to do this you have to be disciplined about your gear list; it's easy to take useless stuff just because you have the room and you'll end up with an unnecessarily heavy load. If you do more touring you'll get a feel for how you like to tour and what you need. If you then decide that you can use smaller panniers you could look at using some small front panniers on the back of your bike. Something like the Ortlieb and Carradice SuperC front panniers are half the volume of the Nashbar Euro compacts.

Take a look at the gear lists on the forum. After using panniers when I was younger I've gone over to a rather idiosyncratic way of carrying my gear using a big saddlebag, handlebar bag and small racks. With experience you'll adapt the way you carry your gear too.

FYI here's my gear list ands a picture of it all on the bike

CAMPING
Tent, Contrail
Summer down Sleeping quilt and silk liner
Big Agness, Sleeping Pad
mini Trianga stove, pot, cup
Denatured Alcohol
Ti Spork
BIC Lighter
50' Cord

CLOTHES CARRIED
Cycling Shorts
Convertible Long Pants
Wool Long Underwear
Padded cycling Underwear
SmartWool Short Sleeve T-Shirt
Long Sleeve "off bike" Shirt
Microporous Rainsuit
Socks
Boat Shoes
Gloves
Marmot Windshirt
Beanie hat
Cycling cap

TOILETRIES
Mounthwash
Razors
Sunscreen
Microfiber Towel
Shampoo
Toothpaste and Brush
DEET
Dental Floss
Toilet Paper

BIKE STUFF
Bike Cable Lock
Multitool
Leatherman, Juice
2 x Kevlar Spokes
2 x inner tubes
Pump
2 x Patch Kits
Tire boots
2x Powerlink
Brake cable
Gear cable
Brake Pads
Misc Nuts and Bolts
4x AA batteries
Plastic Bags
Duct tape

MISC
Wallet
Map
notebook and pen
First Aid Kit
Sewing kit
small FM radio
Cell phone/camera and charger, (soon to be iphone..;-))

CLOTHERS WORN
Padded cycling underwear
Smartwool Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Cycling Knickers
Socks
Cycling Shoes
Helmet
Bandana

BAGS
Carradice Nelson Longflap saddlebag, Carraddice zipped roll handle bar bag and 2x silnylon compression sacks

FYI here's my gear list ands a picture of it all on the bike

I aspire to reach nun's higher level of existence. You gear list is a template for me. :thumb: