Touring - Two bags of groceries!

I've searched the forum for a topic on panniers, but nothing as specific as I need. I'm looking for panniers large enough to carry two bags of groceries, one on each side. (I'm tired of taking the car for a 5 mile trip; even more now that gas is so high here in California. Well, you get what I'm saying.) They must be waterproof and very durable. Do they come with a carry strap or are they like saddle bags with a handle in the middle? Brand, price, etc? Thanks for the tips to come.

Urbanmonk

http://www.cobbworks.com/

1 word... Oysterbuckets.

You'll love 'em!

I met an Australian in Humboldt, Ca touring with those. That guy was carrying so much gear I couldn't believe it. It was really impressive. Anyway I use Arkels T-42's for my grocery hauling and I'm real pleased with the room I have.

I use my Deuter panniers that I've used on touring for grocery hauling. Of course, another alternative is to make more frequent trips, which will generally end up being faster because smaller loads allow you to use the express checkouts.

I've built "hardshell" panniers out of the giant cat litter tubs. They function like the Cobbworks ones, but have the advantage of being virtually free and adding to that demented look that I so covet!

Paul

I picked up a pair of these Nashbar ones for my GF to hit the Trader Joes. I looked around quite a bit but got these as the price seemed right, $20 ea on sale.
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=66&subcategory=1004&brand=&sku=8641&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
They work but if you fill it with alot of heavy items, it looks like they're gonna pull apart, not rip but fold up. They fit the paper bag well but arent very tall so if its a full bag it'll stick out on top a bit. They also come with a rain cover for the top but it doesnt cover the whole bag. They do come with hand straps, not shoulder.

We'll still use them but if we plan to get alot of jars or beer, I'll bring out my set of Maddens.
Check out the ones from Trek.

Has anyone tried the Arkel utility basket?

Just another option.

I've seen at some LBSes some folding metal baskets - the unit attaches to the rear rack and folds in flat against the rack when not used - unfold them and you can put one paper grocery bag on each side.

http://www.cobbworks.com/

1 word... Oysterbuckets.

You'll love 'em!

I recently contacted them about some buckets. They are 2 to 3 months behind on production.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=3700&Store=Bike

or

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=18210&Store=Bike


I have never used either. I just pack two 40L Schwinn panniers and lash them to my rack with sleeping bag straps because the elastic and hook thingies are useless. Each holds about 25-30lbs of groceries add about the same in my backpack and I can get a weeks groceries in one trip (except for a few incidentals).

Dan

For waterproof, Ortleib is good.
I like Carradice bags, the flap top has plenty of expansion, the material is tough , resistant to sharp-edged tins, they have an optional shoulder strap and the clip-on system is quick and secure.
We have supermarket trolleys which are small and shallow, ideal for wheeling shopping + panniers around the store.
For groceries, its all in the packing, you cant just dump a carrier bag into the panniers, or stuff gets squashed. It's tins at the base, spaghetti in the corner, rice and cereals in the centre, then squashables on top. Dont bury your repair kit under the beer.
Big, light items such as toilet rolls can be strapped to the rack with elastic bunji chords.
In a hilly town, altitude can become just as important as price for shopping.

In a hilly town, altitude can become just as important as price for shopping.


LOL!

Also those frozen concentrated orange juice tubes start to look like a better deal than gallons (or liters) of liquid juice.

Dan

Has anyone tried the Arkel utility basket?

Just another option.

I have an Arkel Utility Basket and it's fantastic. When I want to stock up at the liquor store, I put one of my smaller Arkel mountain panniers in the Utility Basket, strap it tight and away I go. I can fit EASILY two 12 packs of PBR (it's a subculture thing) and three bottles of booze in the two bags. It's scary how easily it manages a load. Very impressive.

By the way the Utility "Basket" isn't a basket at all but a top loading, single compartment bag with a drawstring. It only fits on the left hand side of the rear rack because the mounts are angled for foot room. I highly recommend it.

Chuck

You can carry lots of groceries in a BOB trailer.

A pannier that IMO doesn't get enough attention is Serratus, out of Vancouver, B.C. They only sell them from their co-op, but it's definitely worth it. You can get them on-line, and even with the extra customs fee they are still a great deal. The ones I got recently are 56L, enough to carry pretty much anything you need. The locking mechanism is far superior to many panniers I've seen. They are made out of Cordura, which may not be completely waterproof for monsoon like adventures, but are durable enough to keep your stuff dry from the market to your home. (Believe me I've put them to the test- I live in rainy Oregon, U.S.A.) I paid I think $130 or so for them American, which is less than the similar Arkel panniers that are available. They are more than big enough for 2 bags of groceriies. They also have 40L panniers, which would also be big enough to carry a good load of groceries home in, and at $139 Canadian, that makes them pretty reasonable in American dollars.

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=669717&bmUID=1082771331155

Another good option for grocery shopping or garage sale-ing is going with a BOB trailer or a Burley type trailer, as supcom pointed out. I use a Burley delux for hauling larger weighted loads from garage sales and such.

I've searched the forum for a topic on panniers, Do they come with a carry strap or are they like saddle bags with a handle in the middle? Brand, price, etc?

Urbanmonk

REI 'Round Town Panniers (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=13110387&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1)

Here is a nice set of round town paniers, which means they don't have a top and can be easily folded.

I got a pair in REI store in Monrovia, they were on sale and cost only $30 but they definitely worth 50 as well.

They have spring on the bottom and can be taken off in a second. fabric was durable and the bags handled of up to 10 lbs in each.

Good luck.

Hi Chuck:
With regards to the utility basket.....do you use the shoulder strap? and if so, do you find that the metal clips get in the way? Thanks,
Roo

By the way the Utility "Basket" isn't a basket at all but a top loading, single compartment bag with a drawstring. It only fits on the left hand side of the rear rack because the mounts are angled for foot room. I highly recommend it.

Chuck
I have a Utility Basket as well and I can mount it on either side. The mounts are dead flat, they are not angled at all. I bought mine about a year ago. I wonder if the angleing is old or new? How old is yours?

Not so long time ago in the US, folks used to have steel wire baskets mounted to their bikes for errands. I had a nice pair of collapsible baskets on the old schwinn, they were the size of small panniers but i think they'd hold a std. grocery sack. I bet Wald still makes them. I've seen them on ebay too.

http://www.waldllc.com/catalog.html

Trailers excel with heavy loads. A burley nomad would make a super grocery hauler. Or a bob with a plastic bin in place of the std. sack.

My front, Ortieb Classics work fine for hauling groceries. Just pull each pannier's strap to disengage. Waterproof. About $119.00.

Jannd makes waterproof grocery panniers.

I use Orlieb classic roller panniers on the rear on my bike when shopping. I can fit 3-4 bags of groceries in each one. I have a set of REI shopping panniers that fold flat and then pop into an open topped basket, but I hardly use them as I usually take recycling with me to the grocery store and I need the closed panniers to keep stuff from flying out.

I have been using the Arkel Utility basket for shopping for the last three years. This is the original model with the canted mounting for heel clearance. It gobbles up loads of groceries and lots of laundry too. Quality materials nice design and excellent sewing. Solid and stable mounting with their lockable turnbuckle. I understand that there is a second generation model but I have not seen it yet to comment.

I suggest you to bring with you a basket any kinds but if you think it doesn't come handy switch for the tote bags instead. Buy the high quality one as it last longer. That's a good habit, you are not only saving landfills from piling plastic bags, neither saving energy by riding the bus. i would do it some time too.

I use a cheaper and less hardcore version of this old-school design.
http://www.mammoet.nl/store/catalog/images/products/Accessoires/Bags/City%20and%20Trendy/17271zw.jpg
Straps somewhat permanently to the bike, The load is taken by the bridge material rather than failure-prone clips and snaps.
Looks a bit awful, so theft risk is low.

Found it. This is what I use. Fairly cheap, but very very strong. Could use a stiffer backboard, mind you.
http://www.fastrider.nl/images/25052.jpg

Wald folding baskets

http://waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald582rearfoldingbasket.html

Got them when I bought my back last spring and they've gotten lots of use.

There are a gazzillon kinds of bags and baskets that will do that. Here are...................wait for it................................:)
..............................................grocery bag panniers.........................lots of different bag makers offer them.

http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FGBP

I have a pair, but I prefer to use large touring panniers with a top on them. Each one can fit more than one bag in it. Having a top is more practical for all around use.

I would suggest the Burley nomad trailer
Fits in shopping cart.

If you want two bags of grocery look at what your buying and plan it out.
I will mix it up so I can buy small stuff with the large to maximize (packing). Or light stuff with the heavy.
This creates an overstock of items which then you just keep adding to the stock.