So tomorrow I'll finish my first week of commuting, and I think I'm ready to start prepping to do it full-time.

I've searched the forum's old threads about racks and panniers, but none of them seem to pertain to my situation.

I'm riding my MTB four miles in to work. I don't need to carry office clothes with me. I'm not going to bring my laptop into work. I'm definitely thinking I could get by with something that's only water-resistant and some ziplock bags.

I would like some compartments for tools, etcetera...

Any recommendations? Is there a 'Rack/Pannier Guide 101' that I'm missing?

Will you ever want to use your bike to maybe pick up groceries or a few things at the store, etc.? If not, just get a large seatpack for your tools, tubes, etc. But if you follow in the footsteps of most newbie commuters, you'll soon want do more on your bike which will require a rack and panniers and/or a trailer. There are some very high end options for this stuff so it can be intimidating but if you look around you can find some cheap option that might get you going until you really know what you need.

Does this help?

I'd say spend money on a good, solid rack - but most of them are good - and get some inexpensive REI or Performance panniers. Use them for awhile and see whether you need more. If you don't, great. If you do, you'll have a better idea of what to look for.

As joejack said, a guy can drop alot of money on panniers, so my advice would be to take it one step at a time.

For the most part, I think pockets and compartments are not all that useful. Having big spaces gives more flexibility.

For what you're doing I would look at a Topeak rack with slide-in trunk bag. Mine has outlived 2 sets of panniers that got less use, it's now my standard setup for my 60 miles/day commute. It has survived the last 2 years of fulltime commuting carrying a 7.2 AH SLA battery, tools & spares, wet weather gear, and a change of clothes and is still like new.

With panniers you take an aerodynamic performance hit, with a trunk bag you don't.

If I have to carry more I'll clip my panniers on which are currently Vaude 38 litre and are starting to fall apart just from grocery loads after 6 months.

If your bike has eyelets for a luggage rack get the std bolt on type, not a seatpost-clamp one.
Many commuters carry one pannier, it doesnt upset balance even when loaded. I use a full-size pannier and always have room for groceries. You can get small panniers (designed for front fork racks) which work fine.
The best racks are fully triangulated, like Blackburns, but cheaper copies seem to work well.
A top plate will keep mud off but is unneccessary if you have fenders and can get in the way if you need to strap extra-large loads on the top.
Panniers should have a quick-release clip-on system. The hook and elastic style is obscelete and not secure over bumps. Large ones need a heel cutout. They should be made of heavy-duty material with good stiffeneing. I prefer on main compartment and a single pocket. Others prefer a multitude of compartments.
Flap-top coverings acan be overloaded but zips cannot and can be a point of failure.

Another good way of carrying a small load is a Carradice style saddlebag.

Trek and Topeak both make a rack/bag system. So that the matching panniers and trunk bag snap on and off in seconds. Neither will win the bag of the year award currently being fought over by Ortlieb and Arkel.

But if your not looking for top end, and costly, bags, I'd recomend either the trek or topeak and probably one of their trunk bags. Both will do you fine. Heck I use crappier version of treks bags, and have about 12000 miles of commuting on them thru a LOT of rain, and they keep working enough that I cant justify replacing them. Oh and they usually come with built in rain covers.

Would I be able to fit something the size of a notebook in it? Say, 10 inches by 13 inches in area, and about two or three inches thick?

Did you connect the panniers to the Topeak rack? I'm sorry, I'm unfamiliar with any rack/pannier system, and the Topeak seems a little different. Is this what you have - the Topeak MTX Quick Track Combo EX?

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...=543&pagename=

Another vote for the Topeak trunk setup. Perfect for commuting.

If you have a hardtail, you can use the standard Topeak rack. I've heard alot of negatives regarding seatpost mounted racks.

I have been using a rack and panniers for years. Nothing too expensive. One pannier holds a tool bag (all in one tool, tube, tire levers, flashlight, patch kit), rain jacket & booties & pump. Other pannier can hold spare clothes. I also have a grocery pannier that holds one grocery bag. They pop on and off easily.

With only a 4 mile commute in dry weather - a small tool bag under the seat or tool bag in existing back pack would work.

Great to hear your commute is so short...

My dad has the Topeak quick release bag and regular style rack (non-seatpost version). His bag is the expandable version and I think your laptop might fit but I wouldn't want to say definitely yes. Panniers will still connect to the rack just like any other rack and pannier setup. The basic setup is two top hooks and one bottom hook. The top set goes over the top rail of the rack and bottom one hooks onto the bottom of the rack. The bottom hook is either connected to a bungee to provide tension or there is a strap you can tighten to secure the pannier. My Arkel Bug has a simple latch to make sure the pannier cannot come off using the bungee style connection.

Unfortunately, most mountain bikes now don't have the capability of mounting a rack, especially high end machines (I've paid my dues and don't ride cheap bikes anymore ) I also think that mountain bikes make the best commuting bicycles around so we have to deal with the lack of rack mounts either by using a seatpost rack or pay premium bucks for an Old Man Mountain (which I don't like much either) or Delta now makes a disc rack. I have one on my hardtail that has disc mounts and no rack mounts and it works well. It's a little light, I wouldn't use it for loaded touring, but it's a great rack for commuting. It would work well on other bikes that don't have rack mounts too.

I got Arkel XM-28s. They are small and not alot of money compaired to most. Very good quality. In yellow for visibility. I also bought the Trek rear rack because of the quick release trunks they have. I don't have a trunk yet but it would be nice.

With the XL ziplock bags I am not worried about my clothes. There is not alot of pockets but small ziplocks will allow you to orginize things.

If your bike does not have eyelets you definetly want a Carradice bag. Seat post mounted racks are problematic. If your bike does have eyelets you can order a normal rack and a trunk bag or pannier set from Nashabar or Performance that will do the job. That is what I have and am happy with them. I don't like to spend a lot of money on low tech stuff. For me a rack is just a rack.

I Have a Surly Front nice rack, which are combined with Nashbar waterproof pannierbags. I don't have any rear attachments. The two items above combined with freddy fenders work flawlessly.

You can get the Topeak Rack 'n' Trunk combo off eBay

https://cgi.ebay.com/TOPEAK-COMBO-BIK...QQcmdZViewItem

Unfortunately this is mostly true, however it is still possible to mount a light duty full rack with P-clips to a hardtail MTB. My Ascent Horizon / Blackburn Expedition came with a pair but you would need 4 if your bike did not include the upper mounting bolts. I wouldn't use this method for a heavy touring load but it should be sufficient for commuting and its still better than a seatpost rack.
I've seen the Topeak racks and trunk bags in the LBS and it really is a slick system. Most trunk bags are not difficult to attach but the Topeak system is quicker and more secure. Its what I would buy if I was purchasing now.
Craig

I used an old man mountain rack. Attached to the brake bosses and lower eyelets.
The company has different hardware for mounting to different bikes. Check them out.
Here's a pic of the rack with bags.
The rack is available for sale (half price) since i no longer use that bike for commuting so if anyone is interested send me a pm.

The only problem with mounting a regular rack with P-clips is that it sits way too high. The Delta rack works a bit better because the legs are shorter.