One simple way to make good panniers less attractive is to use them a lot. My Ortleibs, after 10 years of 3-4 commutes/week plus shopping year 'round don't get much attention from anybody. (Of course, you want to start with panniers that will still be usable after that time.)

Edit: my first Ortleibs were 10 years old when this thread started. They have been replaced as primaries but still get used anytime I want front and rear or I need panniers with fewer theft worries. Being Ortleibs, they are as waterproof as they were new and the hardware is easy to get.

Ben

I use a kittier, it's easy. You're right, it works very well, it's super tough and waterproof. The only part that wears is the hinged lid, which after a few years starts to crack. But keep an eye out at the recycling and you'll find replacements faster than you can use them up. Or find a neighbor or friend with a cat and ask for their empties.

It's not locked to the bike at all, but who would steal it? Especially mine is covered in reflective tape and very identifiable.

Another option, since you say you're poor, ditch the panniers and 'permanently' attach a milk crate to your rack, like with bolts, nuts and washers, or hose clamps.

There are many versions of the "backpack" pannier. This arkel is one of them.

Arkel Switchback 2.0 Pannier - Black/Lime - Modern Bike

Clip on attachment mechanisms are complicated, they have to be. Losing a pannier due to the bike bouncing is unacceptable, yet the bag has to be able to be removed quickly. I've used both ortlieb's mechanism and thule's commuter panniers mechanism. The Thule mechanism is more secure (up top), but is more finicky. The ortlieb mechanism feels flimsier.. (thin plastics) but it works EXTREMELY easily. I'd have confidence that either would be fine on a tour. The magnet used for the lower attachment for the thule bags is... slightly annoying if you lay your bike over while loaded. The pannier will swing out because the magnet isn't strong enough to resist the force of gravity in a perpendicular direction. In all honesty I never lay my bike down, so that's not an issue. The thule panniers are also meant for commuting, not touring. The ortlieb has a simple plastic hook that catches one of the downtubes of the rack. Simple yet effective, but slightly more difficult to get on than the magnet.

Again, both are great and work perfectly well, I'm just noting differences. The thule ones come with replacement "hooks" for the attachment mechanism, but I've never needed to replace them, despite dropping the loaded bag on the hooks quite often (accidently.) I expected them to break a long time ago and cringe every time I drop it, but they seem to be holding strong. The mechanism on the thule bag also folds away to carry the pannier with the included strap over your shoulder and not worry about the hooks catching your pants.

Modify Bike Buckets The Bike Bucket - Bike Buckets to not only be screwed on to the rack
with P clips rather than Hooks. but also have a way to lock your lid closed.

DIY, get Kitty litter Bins..




./.

As RubeRab mentioned: hose clamps. They are a minor pain in the ass, but that's the point.

No one will steal a cat litter bucket.

Your two beat options at todays day in age is to either disguise them as boring potato chips, but them you would have to always leave some good chips nearby. The old little bag of quality beats big bag of boring trick. Or go buy a baby ruth every once in a while and just smear it everywhere on the flaps, remember to have a few peanuts still lodged here and there so that even at a semi close look the thief will be pretty sure its poop on there. Everyone is scared of poop, except moms. But they dont have the kinda time to steal panniers... They have kids. Real poop works even better

That's what I'm counting on!

Bikebins - British Born British Made

Another great tip I got once, was to simply write your name or initials on it.

Pretty cool, looks like basically a more refined version of a kittier

Does anybody have the Surly Big Dummy Panniers ? Any ideas how to lock them ?

"They" do
Bikebins - British Born British Made