Best backpack/bag for light grocery shopping?
 

Hi guys, with the possession of a new bike I'm probably going to do most things on bike, especially grocery shopping. I'm a light and frequent shopper so I won't need a huge bag but something with a little volume would be nice. What would you guys recommend?

Hmm. Well, panniers would probably be the conventional suggestion, but I wonder if a milk crate might not be even better, in terms of crush-proof-ness and ability to carry things upright that shouldn't be tipped over.

I use the Nashbar Townie Basket.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=8641

I would think that Wald folding baskets, kitty litter box panniers, or the aforementioned milk crate would all work at least as well.

Backpack: LL Bean daypacks. My last one lasted 16 years, was replaced this Christmas. Most of the models are good, and will hold up to hard use. I have done a lot of hauling by bike with a backpack, and it can work very well... it can also be hot as hell and uncomfortable in the summer. Heavy loads can give you bruised shoulders, and in some cases can mess up your bike handling. (this is not to say don't do it, but if you don't *have* a backpack, you shouldn't buy one just because you bought a bike)

On a lot of bikes, a rear milk crate can work. I'm not a huge fan of it, since a high and even slightly too heavy load can make your bike's handling very unpleasant. In some cases, it can go past unpleasant and into dangerous. It's pretty popular here in Madison, but it's definitely a college student thing. Older people tend to use other tools.

I have a set of cloth panniers (cheapie Axiom ones). I would not recommend my specific panniers to anyone. They work, but are not as durable as I like. There are many other panniers on the market that are more like a Bean backpack, and when I replace these because they've worn out, it will be with a durable model. In terms of carrying capacity tho, they're great. They can manage a much heavier load than you'd expect, and a much higher volume load. They're *very* useful.

Bucket/basket panniers seem to have all the advantages of a milk crate (sturdy, always there etc) with none of the disadvantages. The main downside is they're not removable, so if you and your bike face stairs often, they can be a real problem. I have indoor bike storage in my building's basement and no elevator, so stairs are an issue for me. Thus, I stick with removable panniers.

I also have a removable front basket (they also come in fixed varieties). This is my favorite for convenience. With a front basket, I can head to the store, take it inside, shop, put everything back inside at the checkout, pop it on my bike and head home. It handles 2-3 meals worth of food since it has a 10 lb cargo limit. It's also a handy bit of storage for my lock, my helmet, a cargo net, my purse... You name it, if it's lightweight and fiddly, chances are it's ended up in my basket. These are *not* a good choice for some bikes. Mine is very stable, so the handling isn't affected. On a twitchier bike, you can end up with problems. The Klick-fix attachment system (used on some Basil baskets) seems to be the sturdiest. Wald's attachment seems decent. I have a Topeak basket, and have had problems with the attachment, so I wouldn't recommend theirs. The cable they spec snaps even if you stick to the weight limit they suggest.

I use a File crate (office max, office depot, staples ~$8), IMHO better than a milk crate (rectangular shape against square) weight gets distributed more evenly over rear rack.

http://www.staples.com/office/suppli...iness_Supplies

Bike shops sell grocery bags that clip to the rear rack. You take them into the store, buy your food, walk out and clip the bag to the bike. When you get home, unclip the bag, and take the food into the kitchen.

These bags are designed to hold the "standard" large size of paper bag that grocery stores use. But, why waste a paper bag? Just have put the food directly into the bike bag.

I'm very happy with my Ortlieb Velocity. A full paper bag slides in perfectly. Same with the canvas bags I've used. Waterproof roll top that you can still leave open if you're carrying a large or long item (case of beer and 2 bottles of wine were no problem). The newer models have a more ventilated back pad, though I'm not sure how much of a difference it actually makes.

The downside is that there aren't any external spots to attach a light or to keep your lock*.

I haven't used any other bike-specific backpacks, so I don't have anything to compare it to, unfortunately. All in all, it's pretty comfortable and I'd get another if this one bought the farm. Though I haven't had to ride in the rain yet, I'd feel okay about keeping my camera and laptop in it during a downpour.

*They do offer a u-lock holster that buttons around the waist strap, but: 1. it pretty much forces you to use the waste strap due to the lock's weight, I'm usually happy with just the shoulder strap supports, especially when it's hot; 2. it's uncomfortable and since it's not positively attached to the waist strap, tends to slide forward and within 50 feet of riding, you have a u-lock bumping against your thigh. I've opted to just wear my cable/lock slung over my shoulder.

How does this attach to the bike. I don't have a rear rack so this seems most conceivable.

I just use the biggest Jansport backpack I could find. I can fit about 4 plastic bags worth of groceries in it.

Crumpler, any bag, any size, and the 3rd leg is amazing for comfort and security to your body!

Not sure what kind of rack you have, but I have a Topeak Explorer rack and use a Topeak MTX basket, which clips on in seconds. It also works well to carry it into the market. It holds 2 bags of groceries.

http://www.treefortbikes.com/imgDsp....ame=BG1711.jpg

I have a pair of Nashbar Tonwie's. Got them for $14.99 each. I can load each of them up with ~20lbs without a problem. They do tend to lose shape though, not too badly, but they work great and for $30 for two, can't go wrong. They also come with rain covers. I've used them a couple times in decent downpours without any leaks. :thumb:

They attach to a rack.

They are grocery bag panniers. You can't use them w/o a rack.

If you have a rack, then you can use grocery bag panniers or a milkcrate (or both, like me).

If you don't have rack, consider getting one. Or use a backpack, messenger bag, or trailer. Or borrow a Xtracycle/Big Dummy...

My bucket panniers are removable. I made my own, but you could buy the same thing from Cobbworks. I haul my bike up a flight of stairs and remove the buckets first. They have handles and carrying them is easy enough. On a dry day, you can leave the lid off and carry tall/big things in them.

Downsides to bucket panniers:
1. they're noisy. they rattle against the rack as I ride over bumps.
2. the bolts that attach the hook tend to tear plastic bags and could damage other things if I'm not really careful. I still need to put some sort of padding over them. Duct tape and closed cell foam is my friend.
3. the current buckets available have lids that are very shallow. I actually lost one on a ride and didn't know it (see item #1). Fortunately, I have a cat, so I expect to have a replacement lid shortly
4. they are not at all flexible so if your load doesn't conform to their dimensions, you're out of luck.
5. they are so dorky looking you will only get respect from other DIY types. Fortunately, I live in a town that celebrates DIY ethic, so I'm only dorky to 90% of the riders instead of 99%. I'm such a Fred that the buckets just sort of complete the ensemble anyway. :o

Upsides:
A. they're dirt cheap ($6 for the hooks and mounting hardware for a pair)
B. they're rugged. Don't have to worry about cutting or puncturing them
C. they're waterproof unless you lose a lid
D. they can be decorated to meet your esthetic requirements. I might do a whole steam punk look with the next one I make.
E. they're so cheap, no one will steal an empty one off your bike. And if they do, you're only out $6

All in all, I'd rather have a better solution, but they will do while I figure out what the final choice is.

Zip ties! (which is why if I did buckets, they wouldn't be removable... you *can* reuse zip ties, but it's a bit of a pain and not worth it for daily use)

Saddle bags are the answer!
 

I have a Fuji Tourer with a stout back rack. I bought two saddle bags from my LBS. They hook over the top of the rack and have an elastic cord on the bottom to keep the bag from flapping. You can get the bag off in 5 seconds and take it into the store with you. Last week, I went to the grocery store and came home with two tins of coffee, a gallon of milk, 7 bananas, and 10-15 assorted smaller items. The bags are expandable, so a gallon of milk fits fine. On that particular round trip, I went 5 miles. I usually take my bike right into the store. At Walmart, I park it behind the shopping carts, and ask the person in charge to keep a look out for the bike. One time, at K-mart, an employee stopped me from bringing the bike into the store and parking it in the foyer. I replied: "I don't see any sign saying you can't bring a bike in." This befuddled the employee, who walked away. One caveat: If you buy hook-on bags, make sure the hooks are deep. If they aren't, and the contents are light, and you go over a big bump, the hooks can disengage. One time I had a $1,500 lap top in one bag, and it came loose and fell onto the pavement. Luckily, the bag protected the laptop, and it wasn't damaged. Re: Fuji Tourer. It's the best bike I have ever owned, and it was $300 less than a Trek 520.