cg1985

Personally, I don't carry much. Just my clothes, cell phone, wallet, Keys, and access card for work. It fits in a messenger bag with much room to spare. I got a messenger bag on sale for 10 bucks. It's well woven Nylon with a water resistant shell on the inside, like a tim-buk2 bag, it has a cross strap, and a wide shoulder strap, I later bough a little strap pad made by timbuk2 for 5 dollars more than the bag cost.

The reason I chose it? Simple. Versatile. I would carry a messenger bag for lots of uses. Overnight bag, day trip bag, Carry on bag on a plane, bag to carry my school books, and for cycling. I would use Panniers for only one of these purposes. So what then, is more practical? The Messenger bag. The same thing can be said for back packs, but for me, I chose a messenger bag because it's more aesthetically appealing then a standard back-pack, and for 90% of it's use, it carries a light enough load to where the stress on one shoulder is nullified.

Regarding the bike itself, I like the fact that I don't have a somewhat permanent fixture on my bike, referring to a Rack. I don't like a lot of things on my bike. If I want to go on a nice long recreational ride, I don't want a rack, or panniers, or a bag or anything. I want the bike, and thats it. A messenger bag isn't part of the bike, it's multi-purpose.

The downside to a messenger bag is that when you sweat, the bag turns your back to a nice wet rag of clothing. But I tend to sweat regardless Not enough to soak my shirt the way the bag will anyway, but enough to where I will want to change when I get to work, so the added sweat doesn't factor in much. About the only time I get annoyed is days where it's like 60 Degrees, where I wouldn't sweat much without anything on me, but the bag makes me sweat more.

Now, If I had a dedicated commuter bike, which I don't have now, I might reconsider. For one, That solves the problem of sweat on the few days it would matter, and it is attached to the bike, so things that I wouldn't carry with me to a friends house, or on an airplane, but would carry on a bike can stay there. I don't have to unpack what I am not taking with me. Since I have a seatbag that carries my tube/tool/patch and a Frame mounted pump this isn't a factor most times, but the point stands. And since I won't be using this for recreation It would mean my other bike would be free to be rackless.

So strictly speaking, for commuting, I think panniers are not un-cool, or cool, they simply are what they are, and most people don't give a flip. and in Most cases are nicer for commuting. But for overall use, a Messenger bag fits the bill for me.

Lamplight

Am I the only one who also likes to have bags for a recreational ride as well? At the very least I like to have my handlebar bag on my Univega even if I'm just riding for fun, and I can use the rear rack to strap down extra layers as the day warms up (although right now it's all warm!)

cg1985

I think it depends on the ride. My recreational rides aren't super long, 30 to 40 miles is on the higher end of recreational riding. Usually it's in the early afternoon, which is generally a steady temperature.

Now if I was going on ride at 7 in the morning for 75 miles, sure, I might want a bag/pannier to store layers i don't need as the day warms up, but for most "recreational" rides, I don't need anything but the bike.

gronk40

I use a rack pack on my bike - smaller than a pannier but almost always big enough for what I am carrying. It is also more streamlined than panniers and more balanced than a single pannier. My rackpack comes off and converts to a light daypack for the dash from the gym to the office.

When I have too much for the rack pack I carry a pack. It is rare enough that I have not purchased panniers, but I would if I carried more.

jgrof2000

I used those plastic clips made for mounting those wire shelving units inside closets to mount my cat litter bucket panniers. They snap on/off in seconds, the yellow color makes the more visible. If you get Tidy Cat brand buckets, they have a hinged lid that works out nice.

pgoat

I bought a delta pannier that has a nice strap for carrying off the bike...I only lock up on street once or twice per week, but that's still enough of a pita for me, having to unvelcro and reinstall...i know, whine whine whine.

I can't say panniers suck, bags are great or vice versa - each has it ups and downs. Right now I'm loving the bags. We'll see if the rack comes back. I suspect it may next summer when things get hot.

Lamplight

My recreational rides are rarely more than 20 miles, but I still want to be able to take my pump, spare tube(s), multi tool, tire lever, wallet, keys, cell phone, etc with me just in case I need any of those things. Of course, I rarely take recreational rides and half the time I wind up stopping at the store or similar on the way home anyway, so a bag comes in really handy then.

HiYoSilver

I don't care if hip or not, but I don't consider panniers because I don't like the offerings. What I'ld want:

1. capacity between 1200 and 1400 ci
2. small aero profile, thus should be more long and short vs current narrow and long. Ideal would be tappered on front and rear
3. smooth surface area, hard or semi hard shell
4. quick mount & release

I thought the topeak would work, but the bag is smallish, only about 550ci and gets larger only with drop down panniers.

Best I have found so far is trek, but not convinced yet.

Even more ideal would be something like a timbuktu bag, with hard/semi-hard shell, quick release mount so don't have to messenger bag it.

BA Commuter

Hip means to be keenly aware of or knowledgeable about the latest trends or developments.

Panniers are hip and practical to me. If someone else things otherwise, F'em!

whatbrakes

I think it comes down to age. First of all, using the word, "hip" means you are not 18 years old anymore. lol Wtbs-Bikes are used many different ways so what is right for one rider, is different for another. One must not forget that all bikes are not hip to some. Panniers rocks!!!

elTwitcho

I'm kinda surprised at the attitudes from some people here that chosing one or the other is based purely on perception of coolness for some folks... Practicality never occured to some of you guys?

Panniers - Carry way more stuff, more comfortably.

Backpacks/mess bags - More aerodynamic, keep the weight off your bike which keeps the bike light and manueverable, keeps the bike narrow for squeezing between traffic, lets you easily bring your stuff with you if you lock your bike outside


For my purposes a backpack makes way more sense, especially in an urban environment. Nothing hip or unhip about that decision

ZombieButcher

I have 2 bikes my big 22" MTB that I use for commuting which has the Panniers and or trunk attached at any given time. and then I have my Roadie which unless my MTB goes down doesn't get the pannier treatment, But it does have a seat wedge that i can store my wallet, keys, cell and extra tube levers and small tool kit.

I think panniers are cool and all but completely impractical when you are going for longer 20+ recreational rides. But I have found them to be mandatory for my dailt commute.

tanguy frame

Seems to me that when applying words like hip and cool, you are allowing other's opinions to weigh more than your own. Why would anyone want to give that much power to complete strangers?

tanguy frame

that said, I use paniers on my dedicated mtb commuter, and I use a removable rack and trunk bag on my road bike.

Booger1

I give...WHAT?

LesterOfPuppets

In my opinion, panniers are killer for multi-day long distance rides. For one day rides, I just use my backpack. The backpacks these days with the load suspended offa the back with an aluminum frame and mesh just plain RULE! Having a little airflow between your pack and your back is AMAZING! This is the pack I use for my commute. When I get off my bike, I have everything with me! Still love my panniers when needed, but...

https://www.usoutdoorstore.com/outlet...r-daypack.html

LetDiceFly

If I put on a 30lb backpack and ride across town am acutely aware of it. I can load the same in a pannier and I will forget it's there.

I have had people comment on how cool my panniers are.

I sometimes think I support the entire bag manufacturing industry. I have a different bag for every purpose. Bike bags, computer bags, backpacking bags, day bags, camelback bags, camera bags, fanny bags, and I can't forget the all purpose plastic bag.

rongarcia

Panniers... just ROCK!!

mechanicalron

They look old school cool if you ask me and I have what I need when I need it. In Mi, you cant let a sunny day fool you as the weather can chainge at the drop of a hat!

SSfreak

Panniers aren't hip??? Ohhh crap.

I didn't read thru all the postings but here goes.

I don't really give a rats ass what is hip and what isn't for biking. Were all doing the same thing, were pedaling. If you want to be hip, go listen to hip-hop.

mechanicalron

Or you can trade the panniers for a messenger bag and act like a messenger in front of a coffee shop so you don't have to listen to bad music That's if you want to be hip that is.

chicbicyclist

You just haven't found the right panniers, or you haven';t been exposed to anything other than black/sporty panniers

The said black, sporty/syntehtic ones are mostly unhip(sorry!). The leather/canvas/combo of both panniers, however, are the pinnacle of cool. Think Berthoud, Acorn, Ostrich, even Brooks.

mechanicalron

And they are weather proof

chicbicyclist

Now you need to tell me what those are!

mechanicalron

Canvas, brass, leather and a little copper! I make them.