Originally Posted by
Pratt
Nerd Alert!
Well, you asked.
I use four panniers, two in front and two in back.
Front, left stuff I use during the day, plus the tool kit. Map, snacks, sunblock, phone charger, first aid kit.
Front right, stuff I won't use until camp. Towel, camp slippers, air mattress, booties, lights and batteries.
Rear left, stuff I might want underway, rain jacket, warm shirt, under that, clean clothes.
Rear Right, Stove, food.
Tent and sleeping bag in stuff sacks on top or rear rack.
Stuff on the left is daily use stuff and will be available when bike is leaning on a wall, tree, guard rail.
Stuff on the right is less likely to be needed during the day's travel.
To further nerdify it, I do have a list of each pannier's contents, but that is to use as a packing guide for next year.
Totally agree on your approach and I do very similar.
Rain and warmup clothing I need or will de-layer from during day go in rear left since that is the side I dismount (think of this as "hall closet" for rain and cold). Smaller daily use stuff and valuables are in handlebar bag (my "desk"). Dense heavy items I might need during the day like tools goes in front left ("the workbench"). Right side is for when not riding. Right Front is "bathroom, "medicine cabinet" and "kitchen":, the heavy dense stuff. Right rear is "clothes closet" for riding and street clothes.
Works for me. And I use all sorts of zip-lock bags, stuff sacks, etc that are mentioned in other posts.