Originally Posted by
fishboat
That does look versatile..but once I get into that price range (>$120)..there's a whole bunch of options..even the Surly rack
Quite right. I opted for the Soma Porteur for my use and love it, but that is mostly because I do more around-town errands than long touring. The Soma is terrific for things that are normally awkward to carry on a bike -- you can bring home a pizza or even a watermelon on it. But the front pannier options are a bit limited. It is set up for small front panniers. I use the large front panniers from Nashbar, but they are a bit of a force-fit. And I don't use front panniers at all for my typical jaunt to a state park that is no more than a day's ride away. For full-out touring, something like the Surly rack might well be the better tool.