Originally Posted by cyclintom
I did a 5 day tour with a cheapy aluminum rack and not surprisingly, the steel passier hooks have worn about 20% of the way through one of the cross bars of the rack. No way that I could have gotten any decent tour out of the way without having to replace that rack.
Cheap, light, durable...pick 2. Equipment fails, it's a fact of the touring life. Racks may fail, bags may fail, trailers may fail, bikes may fail. You deal with it or you change your zip code
Some people like trailers. Some don't. Some people like panniers. Some don't. Some people will use a trailer is some situations and not others. There is no black and white here. Pick the one that works best for
you. If someone asks give them your opinions but don't be a zealot about it. I give people my opinions based on my experience and, I hope, thoughtful reasons for why I don't like one system over another. If they choose something else, I'm not offended because there is no one "true" way to load a bike or, for that matter, to tour. Do what's best for you but be open to other possibilities.
For example, if I tour off road, I'd use a trailer because off-road a loaded bike is hard to handle. If I toured with a tandem, I'd probably use a trailer and/or panniers because I'd need the space. If I tour on-road, I use panniers because I don't like the handling at high speeds when using a trailer. It may not bother you but it does me. Having another wheel and more equipment to care for may not bother you, I'd rather not deal with it.