Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

How to make Grocery Panniers for $4

Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

How to make Grocery Panniers for $4

Old 09-15-08, 07:35 PM
  #1  
Hey, that's me!
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 23
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
How to make Grocery Panniers for $4

I had this idea for inexpensive, functional grocery panniers for my bike. I just got done constructing them and they seem to be holding up really well!

It seems like every grocery store is now offering those reusable grocery bags. Turns out they can be easily reconfigured into some panniers!





The materials are really simple:
  • 2 reusable grocery bags
  • 1/4" thick 2'x4' piece of masonite (or "hardboard" at Home Depot; same stuff used for clipboards)
  • 1 bungee cord

I got my bags from Kroger. Other possible places include Target, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Meijer, Walmart, Publix, and Ikea. They also make insulated ones which would be great for refrigerated items.



Tip: You can get a piece of the wood deeply discounted if you look for one that's damaged. This one was $2, normally $3.75.



Cut some of the wood to fit into the bags:



I stapled the wood inside the bags to keep them in place.



Then cut two of the handles in the middle:



Sew the bags together:



Then, throw them over your bike rack!



Use a bungee to keep them in place, and voila! You have lightweight panniers that fold down flat and that you can take into the store with you!



I loaded up the panniers with random items to test them out and they work great! I'll go do some shopping tomorrow so I can use them for real! Sure beats paying $50+ for ones from the bike shop.

Enjoy!
trevorbikes is offline  
Old 09-15-08, 07:56 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
poopisnotfood's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 253
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I like, great idea, let us know how they hold up.
poopisnotfood is offline  
Old 09-15-08, 08:12 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Throwmeabone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 239
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That's an awesome idea, thanks for the tutorial. There are also similar reusable bags made of plastic that may hold up better.
Throwmeabone is offline  
Old 09-15-08, 08:25 PM
  #4  
An Army of Fred
 
harleyfrog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Lost South of Nowhere East of Edan On the Waterfront Far from the Madding Crowd (Biloxi, MS)
Posts: 1,003

Bikes: 1992 Specialized Crossroads Trail

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
SaaaWEEEETTT!!!!! I'll have to try that out.
harleyfrog is offline  
Old 09-15-08, 08:29 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
neilfein's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Highland Park, NJ, USA
Posts: 3,798

Bikes: "Hildy", a Novara Randonee touring bike; a 16-speed Bike Friday Tikit; and a Specialized Stumpjumper frame-based built-up MTB, now serving as the kid-carrier, grocery-getter.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Throwmeabone
That's an awesome idea, thanks for the tutorial. There are also similar reusable bags made of plastic that may hold up better.
Hmm. You could use the plastic ones as an outer lining over the canvas bags, and it'd be light and reasonably waterproof.
__________________
Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix

My bands:
neilfein is offline  
Old 09-15-08, 10:24 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Buglady's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 2,383

Bikes: 2018 Ghost Square Trekking B2.8 e-bike; 2015 MEC Cote gravel/touring bike; 1985 Boyes-Rosser tourer, now outfitted as Winter Trundle-bike

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Liked 22 Times in 16 Posts
Hey, I LIKE those! Our local Co-op grocery has exactly that style of bag...
Buglady is offline  
Old 09-15-08, 10:32 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
amckimmey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 522

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
It just need a little reflective tape around the corners or something, then it would actually look like it was made that way.

That's a great idea.
amckimmey is offline  
Old 09-15-08, 11:02 PM
  #8  
stringbreaker
 
stringbreaker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: wa. State
Posts: 4,463

Bikes: specialized crossroads hybrid 2006 Raleigh Cadent 2 1971 Schwinn Varsity, 1972 Schwinn Continental, 1977 Schwinn Volare (frame)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
The genuis of the bike forum never fails to amaze. Great idea.
__________________
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
stringbreaker is offline  
Old 09-15-08, 11:13 PM
  #9  
Slowpoach
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Melbourne, AU
Posts: 1,091

Bikes: Cannondale T800, Northwood tandem, 1970s Gitane fixxed 45x16

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Great stuff! I've often wished for an easy way to attach that type of bag to the bike, I love what you've done with them!

I might try a variation on this:

I'm theeenking... it might be easier in the shop to carry them one-at-a-time rather than permanently stitched together - maybe instead of cutting the straps, stitching a loop into each and attaching them with a carabiner or keyring or something.
Cave is offline  
Old 09-15-08, 11:14 PM
  #10  
Slowpoach
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Melbourne, AU
Posts: 1,091

Bikes: Cannondale T800, Northwood tandem, 1970s Gitane fixxed 45x16

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Oh yeah - let us know if the back corners of the bags stray into the line of the spokes. My 1st set of panniers did this, they used to wear out at the back corner because of it.
Cave is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 12:01 AM
  #11  
So Cal North County Rider
 
ZombieButcher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: North County San Diego
Posts: 170

Bikes: 2008 Giant OCR2

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Awesome Idea I will have to try this, But i think the carabiner might work better for me since I have to get everything up stairs to my Apt.
ZombieButcher is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 12:04 AM
  #12  
It's easy being green.
 
recumelectric's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: in the desert
Posts: 932

Bikes: Trek Beach Cruiser, Sun X-2 AX (bent)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Nice work. I've been mentally obsessing about how to do the laundry bucket panniers, but this looks easier. Plus you can kind of fold them in, I assume, when not in use.
recumelectric is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 01:14 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 222

Bikes: '86 Koga Miyata Randonneur

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Cave
Great stuff! I've often wished for an easy way to attach that type of bag to the bike, I love what you've done with them!

I might try a variation on this:

I'm theeenking... it might be easier in the shop to carry them one-at-a-time rather than permanently stitched together - maybe instead of cutting the straps, stitching a loop into each and attaching them with a carabiner or keyring or something.
Try velcro. :-) And no need to cut the top of the strap, either. That way, you could have two separate ones with carry handles. Although, something else to give the velcro extra strength would be advisable--maybe something to wrap the tops of the two velcroed handles together.

another thing I would consider is using some kind of spray adhesive to hold the masonite to the bag--or maybe even better, bolts through, and on the outside, some kind of metal strap to keep the fabric from tearing. But maybe that's going a bit over the top. ;-)

-Jon
joninkrakow is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 05:00 AM
  #14  
cyclist
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: vermont
Posts: 352

Bikes: road bike, mountain bike, touring bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
First off, that is a completely cool idea. What's next is completly constructive criticism.
However, as someone who sews backpacks, panniers, etc... For about 10-20 dollars that same design could be done better. I have serious doubts that the materials will hold up. Its just too cheap and lightweight (hence the reason they are sold for a dolar a bag). If the bags were made out of packcloth and the straps out of nylon webbing, it would hold up much better. I would worry the most about the handles ripping out of the bags.
Are you going to tie the remaining handles together to help it keep shape?
I'm brainstorming ideas to make my own now, thanks for the inspiration.
Scott
ncscott is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 05:12 AM
  #15  
cyclist
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: vermont
Posts: 352

Bikes: road bike, mountain bike, touring bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Oh hay... another idea. Replace the cheapo plastic bottom with the masonite. Possibly tie a cord between the two at a 45 degree angle to make a shelf.
ncscott is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 05:22 AM
  #16  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
If you take a bungi cord, cut one end off of it and staple it in the middle (vertically) of the Masonite with the hook at the bottom, you can use it to hook to your rack and keep the bag from flapping. This is how my store bought panniers are attached.

I wish I had pictures...
sprzepiora is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 05:38 AM
  #17  
rebmeM
 
olafub's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 59
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by stringbreaker
The genuis of the bike forum never fails to amaze. Great idea.
+1
olafub is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 06:21 AM
  #18  
ROM 6:23
 
flipped4bikes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Coastal Maine
Posts: 1,713

Bikes: Specialized Tricross Comp, Lemond Tourmalet, Bridgestone MB-5

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Sweet.
flipped4bikes is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 08:22 AM
  #19  
Hey, that's me!
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 23
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Everyone's posting some great ideas to make them better! I'll definitely incorporate a lot of them into Version 2.0.

I'm glad I gave some of you the inspiration to make some.
trevorbikes is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 08:37 AM
  #20  
Twilight Requiem
 
AdrianFly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lonely Mountain
Posts: 461

Bikes: TrekFX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Fred strikes again!

Absolutely brilliant!
AdrianFly is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 11:21 AM
  #21  
ride for a change
 
modernjess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 2,221

Bikes: Surly Cross-check & Moonlander, Pivot Mach 429, Ted Wojcik Sof-Trac, Ridley Orion. Santa Cruz Stigmata

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I'm not going to try it, I already have 2 grocery bag panniers.

But I gotta hand it to you. Really great idea and execution.
modernjess is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 11:24 AM
  #22  
Spelling Snob
 
Hobartlemagne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Plano, Texas
Posts: 2,862

Bikes: Panasonic DX4000, Bianchi Pista

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Will the masonite swell if it gets wet?
__________________

The first rule of flats is You don't talk about flats!
Hobartlemagne is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 11:31 AM
  #23  
Biker, Lover, Fighter
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 414

Bikes: My own hand built frames

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
This is awesome. I'm sure these aren't as durable as a more expensive store-bought pannier solution would be. But who cares. At this price you could make many sets of these as they wear out and still be cheaper than a set of panniers.
AdamD is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 11:32 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Lalato's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Bay Area and Sacramento
Posts: 1,253

Bikes: Dahon Curl i8

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by Hobartlemagne
Will the masonite swell if it gets wet?
I believe so, but the beauty of it is that it's cheap... so who cares.

--sam
Lalato is offline  
Old 09-16-08, 11:38 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 78
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The masonite would probably die entirely after a few rains, but since he's only using it there and back (it appears) I doubt it's an issue. Right now I'm thinking about a shelf I could fold up when not in use that would hold a bag like those. Coroplast would be waterproof and light, wire shelves might be heavier but stronger and would not cause the funky handling in the breeze.
gotcha640 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.