Originally Posted by
TiHabanero
In an other thread I noted I returned the Ortleib Rollers I recently purchased, then on a whim I checked FB Marketplace and there were a set of Jandd Large Mountain panniers selling for 20 bucks. Couldn't pass on them and sure am happy that I didn't. Each pannier is about 33.5L providing a total of 67L. Perhaps my math or measuring is incorrect and they are 70L, but who really cares?
The sleeping bag or quilt I use take up a full pannier, and the when using the smaller ones the bag or quilt had to go into a stuff sack strapped to the rack. What I really like is the organizational perfection these big bags provide. Because I switched from only using zip-lock bags to half zip-lock and half waterproof stuff sacks for my stuff, vertical placement in one pannier works really well. Nervana found by accident.
One more thing to note is I have moved all tools, tubes, levers, and chain lube from the h-bar bag to the top left rear compartment (kinda like a pocket, yet better) which reduces the weight in the h-bar bag by a pound.
Sounds like you got a GREAT deal. If you did not get rain covers, you might want to consider that too.
Jandd had a very good reputation a couple decades ago, but now we almost never hear of them. A friend had a Jandd rack on the front of his Cannondale touring bike that he really liked.
https://www.jandd.com/bikes.asp
About a month ago I described how I used compression stuff sacks, one for my down stuff (bag, vest or maybe a light jacket) and one for clothing to reduce packed volume.
How to organize panniers.
Do not yank on the cords to compress the bag, press on it (I sit on it) to compress it and then take up the slack in the cords. Mine are the Event version.
https://www.granitegear.com/outdoor/...ion-stuffsacks
There are other brands too.
I prefer to have my chain lube in the handlebar bag. But if the pannier pocket is readily accessible, that works too. Too many days, mid day I would think my chain was noisier than it should be, but since my lube was packed away, I planned to wait until the campsite. And once in the campsite, I forgot to deal with it. Did not think of it until the next day, then repeat. Thus, readily accessible is good for chain lube.