Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Living Car Free
Reload this Page >

Tell us about your bags...

Notices
Living Car Free Do you live car free or car light? Do you prefer to use alternative transportation (bicycles, walking, other human-powered or public transportation) for everyday activities whenever possible? Discuss your lifestyle here.

Tell us about your bags...

Old 10-25-14, 06:49 AM
  #1  
In the right lane
Thread Starter
 
gerv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 9,565

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Tell us about your bags...

Am I wrong about this?

As we ride more and drive less, I'm thinking everyone carries a favorite pannier or backpack. Personally I have both. I use a backpack when my bike doesn't have a rack, but I really prefer to travel with a pannier.

I commute with one every day and am in a strange ritual of packing it every morning with clothing, food (for lunch..) and other things.

Even though it slows me down on weekend rides (the drag is noticeable too...), I often bring one without much in it. Then as I return, I'll stop at a shop on the way and fill it up.

My pannier is almost part of my uniform. Some of my friends tease me that it's my purse...
gerv is offline  
Old 10-25-14, 07:11 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
bikemig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times in 2,066 Posts
I like using a pannier and a messenger bag. I use the pannier for whatever I need for the bike ride (everything from tools to xtra clothes, rain gear) and things such as lunch, clothes for work, etc. The messenger bag is simply my briefcase and I put whatever I need for work into it.
bikemig is offline  
Old 10-25-14, 11:26 PM
  #3  
Pedaled too far.
 
Artkansas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: La Petite Roche
Posts: 12,851
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts
My panniers are SunLite grocery getters, inexpensive and tough. Each one carries a grocery bag full. I almost always have them on the bike. But lately I've been using my JanSport Big Student backpack to carry my laptop. I prefer to carry the laptop in a backpack because I can limit the road shock.
__________________
"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London

Originally Posted by Bjforrestal
I don't care if you are on a unicycle, as long as you're not using a motor to get places you get props from me. We're here to support each other. Share ideas, and motivate one another to actually keep doing it.
Artkansas is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 10:15 AM
  #4  
Thunder Whisperer
 
no1mad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NE OK
Posts: 8,847

Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 2 Posts
I have an assortment of bags- messenger bag, backpack(s)*, a sling, and grocery panniers- and I use whatever based upon the job at hand. Though if pressed, I'd say the sling is my favorite (despite the small capacity) due to all of the reflective material.

*I currently have 2 that I claim as mine, an Ogio and a Dakine, but the Dakine is on loan to my son. He's the third child to use it. Part of the reason it is continually on loan is because it is better built than the cheap $10-15 packs my wife keeps buying every year.
__________________
Community guidelines
no1mad is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 10:20 AM
  #5  
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
These get a lot of use... and a lot of looks.



My trusty old MEC panniers (rear) have been serving me well for the last 8 years without fail.

Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 10:52 AM
  #6  
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times in 1,286 Posts
I prefer to use a backpack or messenger bag for carrying my personal belongings such as clothing, spare tubes and tools. I only use panniers and trunk bags for doing grocery shopping. Many times when I only have a small grocery load I just stuff everything into my messenger bag.
wolfchild is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 11:40 AM
  #7  
In the right lane
Thread Starter
 
gerv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 9,565

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by wolfchild
I prefer to use a backpack or messenger bag for carrying my personal belongings such as clothing, spare tubes and tools. I only use panniers and trunk bags for doing grocery shopping. Many times when I only have a small grocery load I just stuff everything into my messenger bag.
I've been thinking about trying some commutes with backpack on a bike that doesn't have a rack.

My only reservation is that my pannier load is 12 pounds, including a stout lunch. That seems quite a load on your back.
gerv is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 01:12 PM
  #8  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 861 Posts
Brompton, The Ortlieb O bag is perfect for the winter , when it rains a lot. I have 3 more pairs
1, is a strapped together pair on my Bike Friday, front rack ..

the other 2 pr are used for grocery shopping runs on my Trekking
the food goes in them, then they go back on the racks on The bike.
fietsbob is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 03:15 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Ekdog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Seville, Spain
Posts: 4,403

Bikes: Brompton M6R, mountain bikes, Circe Omnis+ tandem

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 146 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by fietsbob
Brompton, The Ortlieb O bag is perfect for the winter , when it rains a lot. I have 3 more pairs
1, is a strapped together pair on my Bike Friday, front rack ..

the other 2 pr are used for grocery shopping runs on my Trekking
the food goes in them, then they go back on the racks on The bike.
Most days I use my O Bag. I carry a small, stuffable backpack inside it in case I pop in to do some unexpected shopping. I also have a T-Bag, which I use on those days when I have to carry a lot of books and papers and for touring.

I also have a full set of Carradice Super C panniers and a pair of Ortlieb Front-Roller Plus, Greenpeace line front panniers for my mountain bikes.
Ekdog is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 06:05 PM
  #10  
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times in 1,286 Posts
Originally Posted by gerv
I've been thinking about trying some commutes with backpack on a bike that doesn't have a rack.

My only reservation is that my pannier load is 12 pounds, including a stout lunch. That seems quite a load on your back.
I've been using various types of backpacks all my life, not only for cycling but also for hiking.
My back and shoulders are used to it and I never get any pain or discomfort. Also not all backpacks are created equal, some are more comfortable then others, there are cycling specific backpacks which offer a little more comfort but they are not necessary, as a good hiking pack will also provide comfort. One thing which you can not avoid when using backpacks is sweaty back, it's just something that you will need to live with and get used to it.
Messenger bags are not as comfortable as backpacks but I like using them for doing short grocery runs, I can stuff a lot of groceries inside a large messenger bag.
wolfchild is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 09:33 PM
  #11  
Two H's!!! TWO!!!!!
 
chephy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 4,267
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 8 Posts
A lesson I (finally -- I am slow!) learned about bags is that they must be waterproof or I ain't going to bother with them at all.

Ortlieb Backroller Classics are.
chephy is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 10:08 PM
  #12  
Sophomoric Member
 
Roody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dancing in Lansing
Posts: 24,221
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 711 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 13 Posts
I use only a backpack, since I've never had to buy groceries for more than myself. Sometimes I have a lot in my backpack, but I've never had any problems with back aches. I think the decent ones are pretty well designed to avoid strain on the back.

Actually, I feel naked when I don't have a backpack on. I tell car driving friends that it's my purse, my glove compartment, and even my car trunk.
__________________

"Think Outside the Cage"
Roody is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 10:09 PM
  #13  
Sophomoric Member
 
Roody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dancing in Lansing
Posts: 24,221
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 711 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by chephy
A lesson I (finally -- I am slow!) learned about bags is that they must be waterproof or I ain't going to bother with them at all.

Ortlieb Backroller Classics are.
Most waterproof bags I've seen are pretty heavy and not very convnient.
__________________

"Think Outside the Cage"
Roody is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 10:53 PM
  #14  
Fahrradfahrer
 
jwarner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 367

Bikes: n+1

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
It really depends on what bike I'm on, and what my mission for the day is.

For my daily work commute, two Ortlieb pannier (backroller classics), unless I get a wild hair and ride my fixed bike, then an ancient XXL Timbuk2 messenger (which had carried everything from work clothes and my lunch, to a Stihl 30" chain saw with bar oil and a small can of premix, to Mungo -- my friend's 8-year old child -- he loved it). I also use the messenger if I'm going to be locking up in a sketch place -- much easier to carry around with me, and my 'beater bike' doesn't have a rack anyway.

If I'm just headed to town for breakfast and a ride up our coastal trail -- worth checking out if you find yourself in Anchorage -- a medium Jannd messenger has been my go to, but it was recently replaced with a Patagonia Black Hole messenger (jury is still out on this one, but the Jannd kept breaking buckles.

In the past, I've also regularly cycled with my ski pack (a Backcountry Access), complete with skis, poles, and everything I needed to patrol for the day while wearing plastic telemark ski boots. It's a little awkward until one gets used to it.
jwarner is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 11:14 PM
  #15  
In Real Life
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Originally Posted by Roody
Most waterproof bags I've seen are pretty heavy and not very convnient.
I've been quite pleasantly surprised how light and easy to use our new waterproof Ortlieb handlebar bags are. Definitely no heavier than any of my other handlebar bags. They are roomy ... I can get quite a lot in there. And easy to open and shut, but of course, not too easy ...
Machka is offline  
Old 10-26-14, 11:37 PM
  #16  
Sophomoric Member
 
Roody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dancing in Lansing
Posts: 24,221
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 711 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by Machka
I've been quite pleasantly surprised how light and easy to use our new waterproof Ortlieb handlebar bags are. Definitely no heavier than any of my other handlebar bags. They are roomy ... I can get quite a lot in there. And easy to open and shut, but of course, not too easy ...
I'll have to check them out next time I'm looking for a new bag. For now, my ordinary nylon backpack is reasonably water resistant. If something absolutely must stay dry, I put it in a plastic box or bag inside the pack.
__________________

"Think Outside the Cage"
Roody is offline  
Old 10-27-14, 03:42 AM
  #17  
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times in 1,286 Posts
Originally Posted by Roody
Most waterproof bags I've seen are pretty heavy and not very convnient.
My messenger bag and and my roll top backpack are 100% waterproof. Made from the same material as dry bags for outdoor use. They are easy to use and very convinient. The were a little stiff and hard when brand new, but now after many years of use the material has become a little softer. I wouldn't use any bag unless it's 100% waterproof.
wolfchild is offline  
Old 10-27-14, 03:55 AM
  #18  
In Real Life
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Carradice bags are waterproof as well. They are not only practical, convenient, and not overly heavy ... but they are also beautiful.

I've been using my oldest one for a decade and have been very happy with it.
Machka is offline  
Old 10-27-14, 10:17 PM
  #19  
Sophomoric Member
 
Roody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dancing in Lansing
Posts: 24,221
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 711 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 13 Posts
I think I would miss the zippers and multiple compartments.
__________________

"Think Outside the Cage"
Roody is offline  
Old 10-27-14, 11:21 PM
  #20  
In Real Life
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Originally Posted by Roody
I think I would miss the zippers and multiple compartments.
Why?
Machka is offline  
Old 10-27-14, 11:48 PM
  #21  
Sophomoric Member
 
Roody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dancing in Lansing
Posts: 24,221
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 711 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by Machka
Why?
Convenience, fast access, and better organization. TEHO
__________________

"Think Outside the Cage"
Roody is offline  
Old 10-28-14, 05:54 AM
  #22  
In the right lane
Thread Starter
 
gerv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 9,565

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by Roody
I think I would miss the zippers and multiple compartments.
I tend to buy bags that don't have a lot of compartments. Usually the compartments have zippers and they are the first thing on the bag to break. I have quite a few bags that were decommissioned due to broken zippers.

On the other hand, putting everything into one compartment is a bit of a pain. You often can't find anything. To get around this, I sometimes group items and put them into a nylon sack.
gerv is offline  
Old 10-28-14, 06:00 AM
  #23  
In Real Life
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Originally Posted by gerv
On the other hand, putting everything into one compartment is a bit of a pain. You often can't find anything. To get around this, I sometimes group items and put them into a nylon sack.
^^ This.

I group small stuff in plastic or cloth bags. Ziploc bags work well for some things.
Machka is offline  
Old 10-28-14, 06:31 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Small Chrome backpack. Holds all my necessaries via commute and then some. I ride multiple bikes and do a bike-bus-bike commute, so a backpack is most sensible option.

I have a more substantial backpack with expanded living gear, but realistically, it would live in a trailer if I was to adapt it to bike only life + trailer.

Last edited by mconlonx; 10-28-14 at 06:35 AM.
mconlonx is offline  
Old 10-28-14, 05:02 PM
  #25  
In the right lane
Thread Starter
 
gerv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 9,565

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by Machka
^^ This.

I group small stuff in plastic or cloth bags. Ziploc bags work well for some things.
Ziplock bags work well too. Actually, the smartest thing to do is have a mix of ziplock, cloth and nylon. That way, you stick your hand in the bag, feel around for the texture... and voilą
gerv 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.