I am quite interested in the 582's and I might get them regardless of any soft panniers. I've never used panniers and I have a feeling that if I carried densely heavy things like jugs of water and the like, their sag would make them a little more hazardous. The wire baskets would support water jugs well. I carry them to work on occasion as I need them, as the tap doesn't make tea as well as jugged "spring" water, so they'd get use there at least. They're cubular, so they'd let the jugs sit upright and they can brace against each other...

How many gallon jugs can you fit side by side in one? I'd eyeball three?

M.