I have the Wald rigid (not folding) baskets on one of my bikes and I've used it to commute. I usually use panniers on my other bike, but this bike with the baskets is pretty easy to load- just throw the stuff in there. It's easier for me than loading panniers. If you have the rigid baskets, I think it would be reasonable to load up the top of the baskets with large items like tents, sleeping bags, and stuff, packed cross-wise. Get one of those spider web bungie nets to hold it all down. Not the lightest solution perhaps but pretty stout.

The bike with the baskets is most often used as a grocery getter. The oversized saddle bag allows me to carry the volume of three grocery bags.