Touring - Size of back panniers.

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wolfclan333
01-17-05, 07:34 PM
I am in the market for rear panniers. I am considering lone peaks. They come in 3000 cu in and 2500 cu in. The 3000 seems big to me. What size do you recommend. I will be camping with tent and all cooking gear.
Rob

Oh yeah I will be using front panniers and handlebar bag.

Schumius
01-17-05, 11:42 PM
do you also use front panniers?
Juha
01-18-05, 02:32 AM
It is very much a question of your packing and touring habits. If you have front panniers and the discipline not to fill your panniers to capacity, why not get the bigger pair? Even if it feels like extra space now, it might come handy sometime.

For what it's worth, I have 2x24 liters (a bit less than 3000 cu in) in the rear and 2x13 liters in the front when I tour with a tent and cooking gear. That is a lot of space, and a LOT of weight if packed full. I always try to leave some space as I tour with too much junk as it is. I also like to be able to fit in daily groceries without having to repack everything.

--J

late
01-18-05, 05:54 AM
Hi,
for me, 2500 is a good, general purpose size. It's big enough for
a change of clothes in one, and a bag of groceries in the other. It's
enough for credit card touring. It's big enough for yard sale-ing until you buy a couch :roflmao:

If you want to do loaded touring with a tent, and all that... then go for the 3000,
you may also need front panniers.
cyccommute
01-18-05, 08:34 AM
It is very much a question of your packing and touring habits. If you have front panniers and the discipline not to fill your panniers to capacity, why not get the bigger pair? Even if it feels like extra space now, it might come handy sometime.

For what it's worth, I have 2x24 liters (a bit less than 3000 cu in) in the rear and 2x13 liters in the front when I tour with a tent and cooking gear. That is a lot of space, and a LOT of weight if packed full. I always try to leave some space as I tour with too much junk as it is. I also like to be able to fit in daily groceries without having to repack everything.

--J

I agree. Using a set of 1500 cu in and a set of 2400 cu in bags (front and rear, respectively) is your best bet. I have another set of bags that are in the 4000 cu in range and I never use them.

Spread the load around. 50% front, 50% rear or even 60% front is best.

Stuart Black