Living Car Free - How long do your panniers last?

I have a set of panniers. Axiom la Salles. Had them for about a year and it looks like they'll last a while. But I don't use them daily, just for 2-3 short trips a week to the grocery store.

My commuting pannier -- daily use in rain, snow, sun, fog, whatever -- is a DIY/backpack affair. I really like taking the pannier off the bike and slinging it on my back. Actually, I'm on my second pannier.. I find they last a year to 18 months. Then they start to disintegrate.

How long do you get out of your panniers?

I use my Ortliebs daily year-round. They are about four years old and they have at least a couple more years left in them. I don't baby them at all. I have had to patch a few small holes that I have put in them with a PVC patch kid.

So far, my cheapie Axiom Seymours have lasted a year. The fabric is starting to show damage, and I'd expect them to last maybe another year or two. They don't see daily use, and I don't beat them up very hard, so I'm not happy with how they're wearing.

My basket is new as of May-ish. There's a bit of wear, but nothing major, and mostly from me banging it around but good. It's been on the bike through all sorts of excitement, including a couple good bangs from 40mph gusts knocking the bike over.

My conclusion is baskets are sturdy, even if you pick a pretty light one.

I have a set (4, fronts & rears) of Novara panniers from REI. I got these over *15* years ago. I have used them regularly for commuting all this time. I use the rear ones mostly, front ones occasionally. They are a bit faded, but otherwise still work perfectly. I see ones like them on ebay from time to time and are tempted to get another set to keep in reserve. They do not make them like these any more. They have a simple hook and spring attachment to go on the bike rack. Easy to take off for carrying. I have not used them for touring.

Otherwise we have 2 full sets (4) of Jandd panniers. My SO uses his Jandds on his commuter bikes. He did send a set back to Jandd because the plastic board broke. They fixed it and sent it back, just fine. I use my 4 Jandds for touring mostly.

I'm happy with the panniers we have. Having a bicycle lifestyle (but not car-free) panniers are an important part of our day :)

My main Arkel utility bag pannier has five years and thousands of miles on it... still looks pretty new to me. I often carry heavy and/or pointy loads in there as well. It's my main grocery getting bag, and it also holds my tripod and monopod when I'm carrying my camera gear. Arkels are expensive bags, but I'd definitely buy another given the build quality.

My Axiom grocery pannier is holding up fine with daily use. I bought it used about a month ago, and I keep it on the bike all the time. No sign of wear. One tiny problem: I get a little heal strike.

I would probably buy a good backpack/pannier like the Arkel bug for commuting, but I have all the hardware to make a DIY pannier from a daypack. I also have another daypack (someone's reject...) when my current commuting daypack dies. It takes me about an hour to move all the fittings over and the hooks works very well on my bike rack. cost $0 for the next pannier. Still... those Arkels would be nice.