I try to put everything I might need during the day in my handlebar bag, which does mean a rather large handlebar bag. Spare tubes instead in a small bag on the frame.

But rain gear instead of being in the handlebar bag is strapped on top of my front panniers. Very assessable.

When that goal is not practical, then something that I might want goes in the racktop bag, not a pannier. Less than once a week I might have to stop and dig something out of a pannier when I pack this way. A couple times a week I might get some food out of the rack top bag during a daily ride.



The trip in the photo above was warm enough I never wore rain pants, trip below rain pants were also strapped on top of a front pannier. In the photos, rain jacket is red, black rain pants (plus the obligatory ankle straps), shoe covers are rolled up with the rain pants.



I also have some Carradry panniers, but usually use the Ortliebs shown above. I can't strap rain gear on the Carradry panniers, so the rain gear goes into the front panniers on top of everything else.

That handlebar bag is not even close to being waterproof, I have to put a cover over that. And the waterproof seat cover is in the handlebar bag.

If I have some damp clothing that I do not want to put in the waterproof panniers or rack top bag, if I think that it will not rain that day then that damp clothing is strapped on top of front panners too. Sometimes I use a mesh bag for the damp clothing, sometimes I just fold it up in a way that it won't come loose.

My first pair of Ortlieb Backrollers were black. And in the hot sun everything in the bags got pretty warm. After my first tour, sold those to a co-worker that wanted some Ortliebs for commuting. For my second tour bought the yellow ones, that was 15 years ago. Fortunately I only had bought the Backrollers in black, so only took a financial loss on one pair.