Touring - Deuter panniers - any experience?

Title says it all... A web search brings up lots of retailers in Australia, a couple in Britain, and that's about it... but I figure there are enough Aussies and Brits around here that somebody might have an opinion!

Thanks!

-chris

Nobody? Oh well... I got to look at some Deuter backpacks today, anyway, running around looking for somebody who carried the panniers - may wind up buying a backpack, too!

-chris

Yep, been using them for years. I use them for daily commuting as well as touring. One of my rear panniers was run over by a car last year -- and survived intact. They're pretty robust.

The only thing I'd warn you about is not to rely too much on the "rainproof" cover. The water has a nasty habit of collecting on the inside of the bottom of the cover, soaking everything in the bottom of the pannier unless you use some sturdy waterproof bags (I got some from a camping store) on the inside.

well i have no experience with the panniers, but Deuter makes GREAT products. i have a backpack for hiking/climbing, a TransAlp 30 liter for MTB tours as well as their hydration pack and a 10liter lightweight Race pack. the quality and design is REALLY impressive. their bike-packs are so well desinged with every zipper or strap or whatever in exactly the right place (not like many other packs i have used) so i would expect the panniers are as good.

it is a German company. i have their catalog here and it looks like they have 4 different panniers:
Rack Pack Uni (1450g 36l)
Rack Pack I (1600g, 42l)
Rack Pack II (1950g, 48l)
Rack Pack Super (2200g, 60l)

Great, thanks for the tips! I think I'm going to take a chance on these even though I can't see them in person... I did get to look at the backpacks, and those are great!

-chris

Me too..Ive been using some of the panniers for about 3 years now. Chris is right about the water collecting in the rain-covers, but ive never found it a problem for light to moderate rain. I think they may have changed their mounting methods a little while back, but mine have some elastic straps, I have to resew one of those once, but after that it was fine. Ive also been using one of the racktop bags, they work ok, no hassles with it.

Me too..Ive been using some of the panniers for about 3 years now. Chris is right about the water collecting in the rain-covers, but ive never found it a problem for light to moderate rain. I think they may have changed their mounting methods a little while back, but mine have some elastic straps, I have to resew one of those once, but after that it was fine. Ive also been using one of the racktop bags, they work ok, no hassles with it.


OH..and the most important bit..I can easily fit a carton of beer in each pannier..dont ask me how I know!
:P

I have been using the Rack Pack II panniers for two years and apart from a bit of dirt they are in original condition...very sturdy. I concur with the rain pooling in the bottom of the rain cover...I put a few tiny holes in the bottom of the raincover for it to leak out and that did the trick. I have the older mounting system which just hook on to the rack with a elastic strap to hold it on (Clip to the bottom of the rack) It has been fine for years but the other week when I was riding to work with just the one pannier it did fall off the bike...I didn't notice until a pedestrian yelled out. I have since squashed the upper clips closer so they go tight over the rack plus use a clip to secure the handle to the rack so if it comes off it will still be attached to the bike. The newer mounting system should be better.

I used these panniers plus a deuter handlebar bag on a tour of Europe last year and they were excellent...highly recommended :)