Originally Posted by Spreggy
Here man, check out this thread:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=310886
Anything on your back is a PITA. A real versatile pannier is a grocery bag style, you can toss anything in it quick, and they hold a lot. You might need a pair though with a laptop and books. Check out the cheaper panniers on Nashbar, you don't need to spend Ortlieb money unless you have some serious showing off to do.
That would be subjective. While I would rather not ride with something on my back it doesn't cause many issues when I do. Plus, messenger bags minimize the negatives as far as I am concerned.
Personally I would say no to the nashbar bags (junk) and save up the extra $$ for Ortlieb or Arkel. In the long run they will be cheaper being that they last longer.
However currently I am leaning toward a Chrome messenger bag.
I already have a set of REI panniers (decent product), performance rack trunk (fairly good), and a backpack. There is no reason someone should not have a wide variety of cargo carrying products. Except maybe money.
Now that I think of it I could use a set of grocery panniers.