Commuting - Panniers Vs. Backpacks for Commuting

My colleague and I both bike commute, and I've been intrigued that he uses a small, specialized cycling backpack for his clothes and gear. It has a fancy three-point mesh carrying system so the bag is held away from his back. I've also been envious that his mtb commuter seems like it weights half as much as mine.

I've always used a rack and panniers for commuting. About a week ago I had to move the Burley Moose rack off my mtb to my wife's (so she could use the trailer bike), and I couldn't mount one of our Blackburn Expedition rear racks to my MTB right off the bat because I need some connector parts. Ergo, I've been using an old Jansport backpack for commuting for about a week.

The good news is that my mtb feels incredibly light in back without the rack and two panniers. I like how it handles and climbs with the rack gone. The bad part is that the old backpack is really sweaty on my back, and I have enough weight (clothes, thermos, pump, fruit, a few books) to make the shoulder straps almost uncomfortable.

Crusing some bike shops today, I saw two different types of Vaude cycling-specific backpacks with fancy "keep bag off back" mesh frames, and they looked just barely large enough to carry all my gear. Not cheap, though-- $70 to $80. Looking at the Vaude website is almost scary-- they have a range of cycling backpacks by weight, distance and volume:

http://www.vaude.de/hps/client/vaude/public/hxfront/index.hbs

So, what is the forum wisdom on this debate? Are tried and true panniers the way to go for commuting, or is this minimalist cycle pack alternative a better idea? At the moment, I'm tempted to change and not mount a rear rack back on my Trek 6700.

I like the convenience of a backpack, but I was getting neck and shoulder problems so I switched back to a pannier. Before changing to panniers exclusively I used to switch over depending on the season - when it started to get warmer I'd put the pannier on.

One good thing about a backpack is that it's use isn't limited just to cycling.

The other day on my commute..I forgot to take my change of clothes to work in advance. So, with my panniers full, I had to use both. A Backpack along with mostly full panniers.
In similiar threads about this subject, I commented about use of trailers for long road trips. .....That is really it..I do not like the back end of the bike feeling so heavy.The bike handles so differently with full panniers. Almost prefer the weight on my back.
My backpack rests squarely on my back..A Schwinn pack.
But it has some sort of gore tex backing that is supposed to let air reach your back. This does not really work as well as it is supposed to.
So I do not know which I really prefer. When winter is over, I will be able to lighten up the load..Here In So Cal.in the depth of winter, the early mornings are really chilly but the afternoon you only need a windbreaker.
Once the temperature gets more Spring like this question will be muted. Certainly do not need a trailer for a work commute. Have to check out these mesh frames, maybe that is what I would ultimately prefer.

PDX...Have you seen this Vaude system in the flesh. I checked out the Bike Alpin 30, at the Vaude website......Click on the entry, under 'carriage system,' the diagram is in German.
Looks like some sort of hanger to keep it floating above the back..( #3- German word of 'Rahmen.')
Possibly you have a better grasp of how it works... If the German word for #7 'Netzauflage' means a gore tex like wicking material my Schwinn backpack already incorporates some of the same features.
If it actually floats about the back, I would be interested in the product.

One good thing about a backpack is that it's use isn't limited just to cycling.

Neither is a pannier. I've actually used either one of my panniers as a backpack on long bushwalks and so on. The key is to sling the strap closing it over your shoulder.

In answer to the original question - I use panniers exclusively. They're much more comfortable in the climate in these parts, and as related above, they are far less likely to cause back and shoulder problems.

A lot depends on how much stuff you carry. I use panniers all winter because I carry work clothes, extra gloves, sweat shirt, hat, lights, etc with me. I sometimes carry my laptop in them , bring work home(I try to avoid that one), or take my sports bag with my gym stuff in it. In early spring and late fall I need to bring a large amount of stuff too because the weather can be so variable.
On the other hand, it sure feels nice when I take the panniers off and just use the rack bag for my stuff. I'm not a backpack fan, I find it affects my balance and I'm not usually comfortable with one. I have on occasion used a sports bag as a messenger bag and it's ok, but I've found that panniers are the best for me.

I like panniers, I would consider a trailer. But I wouldn't consider commuting on a hybrid if I didn't have to.

I am a pannier man here. Makes it nice if I have to stop at the store on the way home to put groceries in. Lots of room.
Normally I just use one side during the week. Fridays I use both to take all my stuff home.

Pannier(s) or a small rack pack for any journey over a couple of miles (far more comfortable). Courier bag for the shorter journeys.

I commute the same way, a small backpack made by VADE of Germany (www.vaude.com) I like traveling light and fast, but that's me.
This little backpack is well designed and practical, but the most outstanding feature is the mesh and the space between my back and the pack itself making your back non-sweaty at all.
Corsaire

I use a backpack in winter, since the morning coolness I don't get a lot of back & shoulder sweat when getting into work, but going home (in 70 degree temps)... :p

Rack in summer. We'll have 60 degree mornings and if I have a backpack I'll be all sweaty at work. (Don't like to use "wipes")...

I'm a pannier person, I like to let my bike carry the weight instead of me and it also keeps the weight low for balance reasons (especially in the winter with ice and snow).

Wow, lots of different responses.

I agree that getting a sore back or shoulders is a bad idea. This morning I cut down the weight in my pack by leaving the stainless thermos at home (2 lbs filled) and taking ground decaf to brew at the office. It may also be possible for me to take in pants for the week and cut down the load further (I already leave shoes at work).

I just talked with my colleague. He uses a Vaude Siena 30 model. It has a built-in, pull up rain cover, helmet holder for hiking around, and a mesh internal area for a hydration system (and loops for the pipe, etc.). He doesn't use the hydration slot, but he uses the rain cover all the time. The "frame" is a retangular mesh arrangement, with a belt system that he uses all the time. He's used it in the summer with no sweat problems, and the pack can be adjusted tight for off-road riding (no thrashing around to throw off your balance).

He says he likes it becuase the bike is much more responsive and maneuverable without a rack or pannier, and for off-roading this would make a lot of sense. When he's climbing he notices the weight (and it is higher than on a pannier), but not as much as he would with a rack and pannier.

I've always been a pannier person, but this approach seems to make sense, especially if I stretch out my commute as the weather improves to be more like a training ride. So far, I've found his Vaude Siena several places, including here marked down:

http://www.2trails.com/vaudesiena30backpackcloseout.html

And here reviewed:

http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/Water_Carrier/product_23618.shtml

This is about the most hi-tech small pack I've ever seen, and very cycling specific.

I've used rack and backpack at different times over the years. I'm currently using a backpack because I don't have a good rack.

Some people say that a backpack is unsteady on the bike. I don't agree, though I know that whenever I've switched from backpack to rack, or visa-versa, the handling and balance of my bike was totally different, especially if I stood up to pedal. But after a short time, my balance naturally corrected itself and I felt perfectly in control.

With a backpack, there are the issues of sweaty back and possible strap discomfort if the fit or padding is wrong or the weight is too much. But normally, I'm comfortable for an hour at a time. A backpack does have the added value of being able to take it with you after parking your bike.

That pack looks big on your pic, mine is the narrow profile one 1999 model, I'm a minimalist so, it doesn't create off-balance problems for me. I only carry my lunch one pant or shirt to change. At work I wear the same pants, shoes and jacket I ride on. My work atmosphere is casual, and I have a parking space in the whse. So that helps.
Corsaire

If your back and shoulders are an issue, you might want to make sure your pack has a chest or waist strap to help with supporting the weight correctly. I am also a backpack advocate, mostly because I can take it with me easily whenever I am somewhere. But also because I don't have the money right now to set up racks and panniers on my bike. My pack is a $10 job from the local value city store and has tons of space, 5 outside pockets for organizing gear, and a chest strap, and even a strip of reflective fabric built-in to the back side. I have been using it daily for the past 9 months on my commute and it doesn't show any major wear yet. I carry my lunch, clothes for the day, organizer with work files and any other odds and ends for work, multi-tool and tube, raingear, extra light, and I don't find it heavy at all. I haven't found sweating to be an issue with the backpack either. If its hot and humid enough to break a sweat on my commute, I am going to do so whether I have a backpack on or not.

i like panniers.... maybe i don't go fast enuff to worry about handling...

i have a kathmandu cycling pack... which i sometime use for the hydration bladder... but i wouldn't use it just for a commute

I use a back-pack for some short hops of up to 15 mins. Most of the time, I use a single pannier. If you are travelling really light a pack is OK, but for heavier loads it has to be on the rack.
On my first tour, I took a 25l pack, but strapped it to the rack of a rental bike.

"'91 Bridgestone RB-1
'94 REI Novara Randonne
'95 Specialized Allez (carbon fiber, wife's)
'96 Canondale T700 (wife's)
'99 Bruce Gordon BLT
'00 Burley Piccolo (son and daugher)
'01 Trek 6700
'02 Trek 6700 WSD (wife's)
'03 Bike Friday Traveller "Q" (everyone's) "

Hi everyone, my name is pdxcyclist, and I'm a bikeaholic.
Just kidding. Hey, thanks for the link to Vaude, I hadn't heard of them before. Looks like they have some good stuff!

My REI backpack has served me very well, especially considering that my bike commute only gets me to the bus stop. From there, I take the bus to the University and use the backpack all day, only to return by bus to my bike and bike home...

Needless to say, the backpack is the only way...

I have a timbuk2 bag I really like. It is really comfortable all year round. If I had alot of stuff tools etc I think I might use a trailer. But the messenger bag is plenty big enough for most stuff I do at 2000+ cubic in

On Tour,

Okay, so I'm addicted to cycling. Things could be worse... :rolleyes:

The range of replies to this question is interesting-- the different viewpoints show all sorts of different types of commuting, and obviously there's no single answer for them all. Panniers are best for some; backpacks maybe for others.

Last Friday I was taking the family to the beach, and the weather report was so good that I tossed my commuter on the roof of car for the trip (I was being picked up at work, and it was the bike at hand). Wonderful move-- I got in 60 miles of riding over the weekend on the Oregon Coast (Rockaway Beach, Wheeler, Nehalem, Manzanita, and then south from Rockaway to Bar View, Miami River, and Garibaldi). Having the bike set up with no racks and panniers made it an easier choice to take along, and it was easier to ride on the coast tours. I actually used my front shock in Mazanita because the main road was torn to bits.

I ordered the Vaude pack from the link above, and I'm looking forward to trying it out. My main complaint about my old Jansport pack is the sweaty back issue, and I hope the Vaude solves it. Overall, I happy to have a lighter, more responsive commuting ride. (Though if I needed to carry more gear, I'd definitely stay with the panniers.)

A friend of mine once said, "Commuting is like death. It can kill your desire to ride." If things get too fixed and routine on the commute, I think that could happen. Trying new routes and new ideas as time passes can be worthwhile.

I've actually found a sturdy messenger's bag that I strap onto my rack with bungle cords. When I'm off my bike, I use the bag just like any messenger bag. I find this is helpful for security reason since I'm always with my stuff wherever I go.

Of course, it is sort of a hassle with the bungle cords, but I'm too poor to buy real panniers.

Quick follow up:

I received the Vaude noted above this week (black model, no internal hydration system), and I used it on two commutes (20.6 miles roundtrip, and 18.6 miles round trip).

First off, the area inside the bag is much more narrow and taller than my old Jansport, and it entailed a new packing technique for my work clothes. I now need to roll in two narrow bundles and slide them in. There's still plenty of room for back-up rain pants, fruit, cell phone, a magazine or some papers or books.

I like using the external mesh pockets for my short pump, and on both mornings I used the neon yellow rain cover that pulls out of its own lower pocket and covers the bag. This makes me feel safer as well, since the color is quite bright compared to the black bag. Also, I've stopped using plastic bags around my packed clothes, cellphone, etc., because I trust this cover to keep the pack from soaking through with rain.

The frame of the pack is very arched, and overall the pack rides very high on my back. It also has a waist strap (more mid-chest) and a chest strap between the shoulder straps (a little tight). The bag itself has compression straps. Once you cinch down the bag, slide it on, and do the waist and chest straps, the pack is one fixed budle-- you won't feel its weight shifting around on your back.

Most importantly, the mess frame seems to work. The pack itself is held well away from the back, and on my downhills I could actually feel the wind on my back beneath the pack. I haven't had any "sweaty back" problems so far, despite wearing the pack with my goretex rain jacket.

It does have an internal mesh pocket for a hydration pack, and a connenctor and neat exit point on top for the drinking tube. I won't likely use this, unless the temps are significant this summer or I stretch out the commute into a true training ride. The bottle and tube could be easily added later.

Anyway, that's the story. I'm afraid I'm used to the bike being might lighter in back now (no rack and panniers), and on my Trek 6700 that's a good feel. On my previous commuter (Miyata Triplecross) it might not have made that much difference. (My 'cross never arrived from the east coast-- it disappeared in UPS land.)

This pannier / backpack question has been nagging at me for awhile. I prefer panniers to ride with, but hate carrying them around while on campus. I have two possible solutions. Mount a basket onto rear rack (adds a pound of weight) and then bungee backpack into basket. This setup is very convenient as it allows me to use the basket for heavy, awkward loads. The other day i strapped 50 pounds of dog food on it with no problems. The other solution is buy a replacement hook set-up like on the panniers and mount that onto a regular backpack then put it onto the rear rack. That works too but the backpack seems to swing around a little as it is not designed for this. It seems I am always doing this kind of stuff ;) I also have seen a pannier that converts into a backpack. They only hold 18 litres though. Decisions decisions...

This pannier / backpack question has been nagging at me for awhile. I have seen a pannier that converts into a backpack. They only hold 18 litres though. Decisions decisions...

Look at ortlieb paniers. I have a set that is extremely roomy, and has straps for slinging over a shoulder.

i have never used one but what about crumpler shoulder strap bags?

couriers seem to be into them

I have a Camelback pack, and a Jandd briefcase/pannier, and some Trek panniers that I use for groceries. I'd like to pick up a Timbuk2 messenger bag for quick trips, but as it is right now every bike I own has a rack on it and the Jandd has a nice padded strap on it to carry it around after you lock up. Plus it's reasonably small, so if you want to lug it into the coffee shop or something it's not like carrying luggage, but it's expandable to 2000 ci. It's tough as hell and has taken to waterproofing well, too.

I recently purchased Trek pannier II and am pleased with them. I was commuting with a messenger bag. No more sweating with the bag on your back, I can carry alot more. They come off and go on easily. I am glad I got them.

I used to always wear backpacks on bikes until I got knocked off whilst wearing my saxophone on my back in a specialist backpack. Other than the obvious weight, mobility and sweaty back issues that a back pack can cause, the soft tissue damage done to my back, shoulders and neck following my accident took months to resolve. I am finally getting back on a bike after two years of being too scared to cycle and will not be using a back pack again. The big problem is finding a pannier large enough for all my college stuff, but does not look dorky and has straps that can allow it to be carried about easily.

My back hates backpacks. Ergo I use paniers.

My son is very happy with his Vaude backpack, but I like to carry my stuff on the bike. I found the panniers allowed me to carry a lot more than I needed so I now use a trunk bag which restricts me to the essentials.

Five-year-old thread FTW!

I always used to use a backpack but I got tired of sweaty back and sore shoulders. I switched to rack and panniers and thats the best move I made. When I get to a store or restaurant, I unfasten the velcro strap and unclip my pannier. It's kinda like my big man purse.:rolleyes:
Ernest