Touring - Looking to buy a full set of panniers

Hey everyone, I am looking to spend around $500 on a FULL set(2 rear/2front/handlebar and rack pack) of panniers and the best I come up with is Lone Peak with rain covers coming in at a little under said amount. http://www.thetouringstore.com/LONE%20PEAK/LP%20Matched%20Sets/LP%20MATCHED%20SETS%20PAGE.htm set #LP-10. But I can't find enough info on them to seal the deal. Any info on quality, versatility or suggestions on any other maker I should check out? I plan on moving from Wisconsin to Arizona by bike, if that helps any. Thanks to anyone with any helpful info!!

I'm a fan of jandd personally. they don't waste their time and your money trying to make their products look "flashy", they make a product that works. great quality. you should be able to outfit your bike with a good set in your price range.

I have some Lone Peak P99 front panniers and I like them. I wouldn't bother with a rack pack, no matter what brand you choose - better to leave that space for strapping on your tent and other bulky items.

Quickly did the counting for you in some online bicycle gear shop in Europe:
the complete Ortlieb Classic set comes down to 247.80 euro or 358 USD. (including taxes)
That would be a world proof, water proof set and you'd still have plenty of money left to buy a nice Tubus rear rack fe.

I have some Lone Peak P99 front panniers and I like them. I wouldn't bother with a rack pack, no matter what brand you choose - better to leave that space for strapping on your tent and other bulky items.
I agree on the rack pack (trunk bag). I'd skip it.

FWIW: I have been pretty happy with the size, design, and quality of Nashbar or Performance panniers. I like the waterproof single compartment ones pretty well. They seem to always be on sale and front and rear panniers, plus large handlebar bag are something like $135 for the lot. Mine have been on the Trans America and a few other longish tours and are holding up well.

Some people like lots of pockets, but I prefer to organize with ziplocs rather than pockets when carrying 4 panniers. I think the preference for or against lots of pockets is one of the key choices. To me too many pockets become a handicap when looking for stuff. I am taking panniers with two pockets on my Pacific coast tour since I am only taking two panniers I figure that I can deal.

I don't have any personal experience with them but if touringstore sells them they must be ok. I'm with valygrl, don't bother with a rear rack pack, that acreage is good for piling long items on. Likewise the front handlebar pack. I'd be more inclined to utilize a lowrider/platform combo(for 700c wheels) and pile a drybag/compression sack on top of the rack with a small handlebar bag above that. I just don't like big handlebar bags, I'd rather drop all that weight down onto the top of a rack and back near the head tube instead of cantilevered way up high and forward.

ps. do you need the large ones? You might have enough room with two pair of P-150

I'm a fan of jandd personally. they don't waste their time and your money trying to make their products look "flashy", they make a product that works. great quality. you should be able to outfit your bike with a good set in your price range.


I like Jandd panniers also. I got mine with an employee discount when the bf worked at a bike shop several years ago. Not sure about retail price. They are simple, basic, bombproof. Mine still look brand new after a few short tours. Bf uses his daily on two of his commuter bikes. Not waterproof but a trash bag liner works fine.

http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/46379/2354304700046505395S600x600Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2354304700046505395hHwLVD)

I'm not using a Beckman world tour, any more, set of 4, for bruce gordon racks lowrider front.

Custom rain covers etc..

I found best price on Ortlieb (if you want waterproof but no extra outside pockets) from Wiggle dot com and from ProBikeKit dot com. I have purchased from both, shipped to USA. Wiggle used better packaging, ProBikeKit was a bit cheaper.

215019

If you want pockets, you should rely on advice from others instead of me.

Mountain Equipment Co-op has carried some amazing waterproof rear panniers in the past. These were discontinued, but I've been told by the powers that be at MEC that they will be bringing them back in September. Look for the Aquanot panniers.

I've used these rear panniers for the past six or seven years. They haven't let me down. They're a bit cheaper than Ortliebs.

Check out Arkel bags. I came across them at the Shenandoah Bike Shop in Harrisonburg, VA when I was down there this week. They ran about $100/bag and had excellent design and construction.

http://www.arkel-od.com/

If weight matters to you, do look at the specifications. Arkel bags tend to be pretty heavy. If you want bullet proof that may be good, but if packing light a major portion of the load could be the panniers.

Like anything there are two ways to look at it. On one hand you can say that your grand children will be using these bags on the other you can say that lugging the extra weight is a life sentence.

I don't have any personal experience with them but if touringstore sells them they must be ok.

You will defintiely get good customer service from Wayne at TTS. I bought a set of Ortlieb Bike Packer Plus panniers from him over the winter. He spent some time with me on the phone giving me tips on how to get the most secure attachment based on my racks, etc. During their second use, one of the compression straps came off at the seam. Sent a photo to Wayne. He ackowedged that it had been improperly attached at the factory. He sent me a new one and a UPS shipping label to send the defective one back free of charge.

Pacific Outdoor Equipment have been very good:
http://pacoutdoor.com/bike-gear/view/ltw-rear-pannier

Waterproof, easy on and off.

Check out Arkel bags.

+1. Love my Arkels.

+1. Love my Arkels.

+2 -- very nice Canadian made bags and they have styles that would fit within your budget easily.

-1, dislike my Arkels, they are ridiculously overweight. Wish I'd bought Lone Peaks.

I'll second the TouringStore.com recommendation. Wayne's service is second to none.

Also if you forgo the Rack pack, you can get Ortlieb sets for well within your budget.

Including the Rack pack, you can still buy the Ortlieb set for less than 500 USD in Europe.
The prices I checked were from www.bike-components.de, they ship to the USA for 30 euros. Total price including shipping (and 19% German VAT) would be 280 euros or 400 US dollars. Are they much more expensive in the US?

I agree with other comments to skip the rack-pack. Leaving the top of the rack free seems more versatile - I can strap temporary items (groceries, firewood, tourist purchases, etc.) on there when desired or take a few bulky items (sl. bag, tent, pad) out of the panniers and put them on top of the rack to free up room.

Ortliebs, Lone Peak, Jandd, etc. seem fine if you're determined to have a set of panniers that will last for decades of extensive touring. But I've found the discount Nashbar panniers to hold up well for numerous tours and at a low enough price that I won't feel bad about wanting to get some other panniers with different features sometime in the future.

I think you could buy Carradice Super C front and rear Panniers for your budget, and they'll last a lifetime. Plus they're handmade in England from canvas and leather. And they smell great, if that matters. LOL

Thank you all for the input and insight. I have studied all mentioned and after reading and watching reviews and comparing and contrasting I think my mind is made up. Thanks to all!!