Touring - Lone Peak Panniers?

I am looking to upgrade Panniers on my touring bike. I have looked at Arkel . . . Awesome, but a set front and rear retails for more than a lot of touring bikes . . Madden seems to be very popular and not priced too bad . . But Lone Peak has recently caught my eye . . These appear to be designed really well, and aren't priced too high, and has a very simple hook system that locks unto the top of the rack. The rear panniers main compartment is waterproof, but the other pockets are not. The panniers I currently have are super old cannondale panniers. They have been loyal, even with their limitations, I have used them for years, and they are still functional. But I need a larger pannier for multiday touring. Waterproof is not a necessary, since I always pack everything in zip lock bags anyway. Specifically, I am looking at the P-500 (3200 Cubic Inches Pair) The P-100 (2000 Cubic Inches Pair) and the H-100 (660 Cubic Inches) Has anyone had any experience with Lone Peak Panniers? I would like to hear from you, if you have. Or your experiences with your current Panniers.
Below is a link to Lone Peak:
http://www.lonepeakpacks.com/panniers.html
Where I stumbled upon them . .
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=56198&item=3666253237&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V

Has anyone had any experience with Lone Peak Panniers?

Lone Peak are ok. I had a set for a couple of years. I did a few tours with them.

I wouldn't recommend them over the better sets. If you're serious about touring a good set like Arkel is worth the money. If your price range is definitely in the Lone Peak range, though, they're not bad. They certainly aren't a rip-off. There isn't some fatal flaw that will have you moaning as soon as you use them. They're bags, they'll work well for a while, and there you are.

Lone Peak have three problems compared to more expensive panniers:

(1) The mounting system is too insecure to risk a lot on it,

(2) The seams will wear over time, and

(3) The zippers are ok, but you can't pack the panniers the way you can with thicker guage zippers.

The mounting system are plastic hooks each with a thumb-closable "lock" beside it. There's a bungy loop with a hook to provide some tension from the lower part of the rack. The upper hooks will fit on the smaller diameter-tubed racks, but not very well on the larger ones. One of my Lone Peak bags came off of a thicker tubed front rack and went into my front wheel. A disaster. Not a mistake anyone will make twice, I guarantee you.

As I said, though, I used the bags on a longer tour, with the right sort of rack. The bags stayed on pretty well, as I recall. After the one episode, though, I won't use bags, especially on the front, that don't *really* lock. Ever.

Arkel sells their mounting hardware for 15-20 bucks U.S., though, so you can always get the Lone Peak bags and upgrade the mounting hardware. Do this! Don't risk an accident for the sake of a few tens of dollars.

Over time, the Lone Peak seams will tear, especially if you keep items of any weight in the bags. This won't happen right away, but it will happen sooner or later. You can mend the tears, but you're going to have to do this.

The zippers are reasonably durable, but I got them close to busting a couple of times packing a sweatshirt or whatever into the pannier.

So, overall they're not an awful buy for the money, but mark my words: replace the mounting system.

I use Arkel, and they are nice bags. However, I am thinking about getting Ortleib- those are completely waterproof, and I don't like to have to stop and cover up my bags like I have to do with the Arkels when it starts really raining. I like Arkels, but I think I will get the Ortleibs and just go back and forth between the two sets of bags when I tour.

L

Wow! I can't believe someone actually has anything bad to say about LPs! 6 years ago when I got set to do my first tour, I bought JANDD panniers because that's all my bike shop knew. I'm an anal retentive person and needed the sectional type, so when I found out about other companies, I ended up buying from 3 different companies - Cannondale, LP and another I can't remember. The latter sucked and it was obvious that it wouldn't last. I used the LP rear panniers but sent back the handlebar bag. I used the CAnnondale handlebar bag - Both the LP and Cann. handlebar bags are made of exactly the same material. I have heard over the years tho that CAnnondale panniers are poorly made (tho you seem to have had good luck w/them). Anyway, after 4 tours and 12,000 miles, I am still using all the panniers and when I replace them, they will be w/Lone Peak again! :)

Stillrockin, I'm in a similar situation. I've toured with Cannondale, Performance, and the bags Specialized put on their Expedition in '82. I liked the Cannondale bags because of the side load. They were a little thin and I did end up wearing them out through the bottom. The Performance bags are top load and I had trouble getting into the rear panniers with my tent and sleeping bag on top. I have looked at a few out there and will probably bite the valve and get the Arkel front and rear touring series panniers. I like the side load over top load. They are pricey, I know. Someone told me something I agree with: "get the best (bike, panniers, sleeping bag, etc.) you can afford. Even if it takes a little longer to save for. You won't be dissapointed." I agree with that statement. Good luck!

Thanks for all the input guys! I did end up going with the Lone Peak Panniers! Since I just spent money on a new touring bike, I really didn't have the extra to go for the Arkels . . With a big trip planned starting this weekend, it came down to the Arkels and not going on a 3 week trip, or Lone Peak and GOING on a three week trip! So I think you can see why I went with what I did. Then there is the one weeker, I have planned in September, and then Christmas comes, and maybe if I am good, Arkel's are under the Tree and the Lone Peaks are back on EBAY????? (Fat chance but I can hope)

I took them, fully loaded on a 15 mile test ride yesterday, and hope for about 40 this afternoon. My initial impressions are much like the posts above. They are a good functional pannier for the $$$. Not the best, or the most ideal, but if on a budget, certainly worth a look. And they have given me much more storage ability than what I had with the older Cannondales.

And by the Way, Merriweather, I did get the 10 mm AND the 8 mm hooking system. The 10's fit my new racks and the 8's fit my older blackburn racks on my commuter bike. By getting both sets of mounting hooks I can use on all my racks with a proper fit. Thanks for that most valuable heads up!