Originally Posted by
tjspiel
I've used all 3 but have settled on a backpack for now. My commute is intended to be a workout so I sweat backpack or not. I will also make a stop or two along the way so I find a backpack more convenient. Don't particularly like the way my bike performs with a loaded pannier on it either.
Folks on a more upright bike will find a backpack more uncomfortable than people on a bike with an aggressive geometry. The latter spreads the weight more evenly across back and shoulders.
Until I replaced my inexpensive aluminum rack with a much more rigid steel version, I wouldn't have guessed on how much the difference in the bike's handling characteristics would be from the reduced flexing of my rear rack while carrying heavy loads.