Right - the one situation where I'll choose a backpack is when I need it for the convenience it offers when walking about. Even with shoulder straps, none of my panniers are all that great for hauling around on foot.

If my luggage fits in a backpack I prefer it to panniers. Using panniers only when I need extra room, or I'm expecting a heavy rain.
However, the backpack stays on the rack, never on my back. It's more comfortable and more aero! :)

Panniers for me and its' not even a contest. This is my second year bike commuting. Last year I was all backpack and on hot days my back would just be soaked since it couldn't air out. Plus it didn't give me much leeway in terms of storage. A backpack holds my change of clothes and not much more (I have big shoes). It I wanted to stop at the store on the way home I couldn't get much as I'd have no where to put it.

Panniers give me flexibility. 1 is the size of a small backpack that fits a full change of clothes. That leaves with with an empty one for lunch or stopping to pick up something on the way home...whatever.

You don't have to spend a lot on them to try them out.

I have a pair of Axiom Kingston Commuters (I can't post a URL yet. Google will show you what they look like. They are $53 on Amazon)

Axiom makes a waterproof bag too that quite frankly I wish I would have gotten instead, but whatever. Mine a water resistant and since I don't ride when it's going to be pouring out anyway it's not a big loss.

Panniers really help to let the bike do all the work of carrying to load too instead of my upper body and back doing it.The other day I put a 1.5 gallon of liquid crabgrass killer I picked up on the way home in my pannier and I couldn't tell it was back there. If it was in my backpack that would have weighed me down.

For sure, if I've got to carry anything heavy or bulky, it's going to be panniers every time. Today I'm going to be running some errands and buying some items that are heavy (including beer) - no way am I carrying that on my back. I'll take my touring bike with the big Ortlieb panniers and load em up as required.

I used to use a back pack but now after utilizing two inexpensive Nashbar panniers for the past six months or so I am reluctant to revert to a backpack unless I am carrying very little. Sometimes I carry upwards of 20 lbs. of necessary items in the panniers so that obviously is not conducive to wearing a pack. Other times I am picking up produce on the way home which the panniers are wonderful for. I suppose it all depends on the individual's comfort level and what they plan on carrying.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4276/...29eed5f1_k.jpgUntitled by irishbx4th, on Flickr

I use panniers for shopping. Unfortunately, my Rudy Project panniers were discontinued long ago, may even have been prototypes, and I am having trouble finding suitable replacements, as they are nearing end of life, with nylon rips.

They have stiff inner boards to keep them from flopping into the back wheel (essential!), and each can hold a box of cat litter, 30x29x10.5cm. They also simply drop right over a Pletscher mousetrap or Blackburn MTN rack, the ultimate in easy on / easy off.

I have found some $90 rollup canvas units that appear to be about the right size, but I about stiffness.

I am wide open to suggestions and advice.

I've never had a set of panniers that didn't have a stiffner in them but whether they're stiff enough I don't know. While I generally like panniers for shopping because I can bring them into the store I think if I was regularly picking up things like kitty litter I'd get one of those clip on wire baskets and use a normal pannier on the other side.

I use bikes for transport most days, and find backpacks a bit too warm in the day. The pannier backpacks are very nice for hot days cos it won't stick to the back and will feel cooler.

One can buy a good enough rear rack and pair of panniers for under $200. This puts the weight on the rear wheel instead of on your back. It also does not interfere with your clothing in terms of waterproofing or allowing perspiration to evaporate. Rucksacks are fine for kids going to school with a couple of textbooks and a sack lunch but hardly ideal for commuting.

I can put a brief case, street shoes, jacket, and other items in rear panniers without affecting my pedaling of the bike. At my destination I can unclip the panniers and carry them inside with their handles and I have the option of only using one of the panniers if that is all that is needed.

Single side waterproof pannier with zip enclosed shoulderstaps. Can't remember who makes it. Kathmandu, I think.

When I was much younger, I used to ride to my summer job with backpacks.

Now I prefer panniers for their low center of gravity and to allow ventilation on my back. I don't like the trapezoidal shape of pure panniers and they are awkward when you need to carry them around. I also don't like that they are a little more than sacks so you have to rummage and mess up your packing just to look for stuff.

Then I got an Arkel combination backpack and pannier. Being a backpack, it's got lots of pockets and a big zipper that can open the main compartment all the way down.

I rode with backpacks when I was younger, but I find it uncomfortable now. I greatly prefer panniers. I've never had any, but I'm sure I've seen panniers that can be worn as a backpack when removed from the bike.

I've done both and prefer a backpack. I'm in a hot region and still prefer a backpack. Bike feels more responsive and agile to me. Makes the ride more enjoyable even if I'm sweating a ton.😄😄

Yup, backpacks definitely make the bike more responsive, can help keep you warm in the winter, and allow you to ride your fast road bike without mounting and unmounting anything. With that being said, I now solely use an MTX quick release trunk bag with fold out panniers that mounts to the special MTX rack, for increased overall comfort, and ease of use.

I weighed into this thread in 2017. That's when I was using a Timbuk2 backpack. It didn't last very long, but it wasn't expensive, either. My spouse gave me her Osprey backpack, as she wasn't using it. Wow. Now this is some serious equipment. It has a gap sort of thing to keep the pack away from my back. It touches me only on my shoulders and my hips. It's surprisingly heavy when empty, and that's because of the internal frame. The frame makes the weight sit on me so the total weight feels less than with other backpacks. It has a zillion pockets. After a couple of years of use, I just discovered more pockets. She got a women's model and it barely works for me. I'm not a large man, down to about 5'8" tall.

I've noticed that putting luggage on a heavy bike doesn't worsen the ride much but on a light bike, it makes it much worse. That's why a backpack makes sense for so many of us. It's also simpler than panniers. You can't really use panniers for anything but their intended use.

Which model? Radial with the kickstand? Now that feature is very useful for packing., pack stands up on its own. My Radial feels pretty light empty. Also has a rain cover built in and stowed in the bottom. They are very durable too,. Perfect commuter pack IMO.

That Commuter Panner looks nice and 150 bucks is really not much these days. At least that's cheaper than a nice purse. I personally used a back pack for years when commuting. There was no way I was going to put panners on my Liotto road bike. I found that keeping all the stuff in my pack low and at the bottom made it more comfortable. For me it had to be big enough for a pair of shoes and a light change of cloths. I would get to work early and do a spit bath at the sink then change. As long as I kept the packs load low and close to my waist it really did not effect my balance and proprioception.

[MENTION=195685]GeneO[/MENTION], I don't know which model, but it doesn't have a kickstand. That would be nice.