Originally Posted by mandrake

I commute a few days a week (20+ mi. a day) using the Arkel Utility Basket. It is not waterproof, but I live in a place that gets very little rain, so it's not an issue. The Utility Basket is a nice product, well built and designed nicely for shopping or commuting. I will also use it on a small tour I am planning in the fall.
BTW, Arkel does make waterproof panniers, check out the Dolphin line on their Web site. I have been very pleased with my UB, I checked out the Ortlieb BikeShopper at REI and did not like it as well, though Ortlieb makes great stuff. To each his own.