Anyone try these out yet?

https://www.rei.com/product/811081

thinking about using my REI dividend to get a set, but would like a fellow commuter's take first.

I have a TB2 messenger bag that is THE BOMB so I'm hopeful about this unit . ..

TIA
Zman

I have these and i love them. I liked that they put the waterproof material on the outside so you can just wipe it off if it gets dirty. The saddle section is sewed in at an angle so that the bags tilt back when on the rack to give you heel clearance. Two little hooks clip to the rack on both sides. The bag holds tight to the bike, i can stand up and pump and i don't feel the bags moving at all. It takes a couple more seconds to hook and unhook the bag than an ortlieb or an arkel but it really isn't bad. There is one big internal pocket on each side but that's it. could've used more little pockets but other than that they're great. The magnets work great to hold the bag together when you carry it. Would've also liked maybe some bottom rubber lining or something for when you put the bag down but that's minor. That's about it, it's a great bag and can hold a ton.

Look nice. I just returned their Shift messenger/pannier because the hook broke on week 3. Those look a little more durable.

Thanks for the review!

I don't think this would be a concern with this bag because the hooks aren't holding the weight of the bag, they just keep it from flapping around. If your bag is full you don't even really need to hook it in, the saddle takes care of the load. There is even two velcro strips along the top of the saddle section to hold more stuff on top of the rack.

Just received mine today. Great size, I love the magnet feature that combines the two bags when off the bike, very sturdy, thick fabric/material, great internal pouch for separating items and they ride a bit higher on the rack for better heel clearance. Heads up - AE Bikes has them on sale for $90 delivered - a much better deal than REI.

I put those bags on my REI wish list earlier today, thanks ZManT for soliciting the reviews here.

Like unhookt I just got mine yesterday, delivered to work. Big change for me moving from backpack to pannier. The ride home was interesting: I noticed the rear weight more than I noticed the absence of weight on my back (but this isn't a pannier v backpack thread!). This morning's ride was much better. Quickly getting used to the difference. I like the saddlebag setup, rather than individual panniers--that's what sold me. I just throw it over my smallish trunk bag, hook it up, and go. Perfect size for clothes, lunch, and other bits and pieces I need at the office. Got mine via Amazon, not quite as low a price as AEBikes though. Seem to be very durable bags--looking forward to lots of use. Plus, a lifetime guarantee!

Following are a couple of (crappy) pics I quickly took of the bag on my bike so that you can get a sense of their size. Sorry about the quality.

A couple of questions for those who actually have this product:

-Is there a fabric shroud with drawstring closure on the main compartment or is the opening narrower than the flap is wide?
-Just how big are these bags? The size on REI's site is stated to be 1,465 cubic inches, but the math on the product dimensions listed works out to 1984.32 cubic inches...

Also, would you be willing to measure the length of your chain stays and rack platforms? I ask because I had heel strike with my last saddlebag panniers caused by the 16.3" stays and 12" rack (with 26" x 1.5" tires). The way that these Timbuk2s mount at an angle may allow me to go back to panniers.

Thanks guys! I've been looking at these for a while and haven't been able to find any reviews. I'm definitely going to buy them with my 20% off and Dividend from REI.

Yeah they are cheaper somewhere else but REI's 100% return policy is priceless.


REI lists that they are selling size Medium....are your bags also medium? they look a bit bigger.

I just got home from REI with my new set of Timbuk2 Tandem panniers. First impressions are very good. Seem well designed , waterproof and comfortable. I think i got exactly what i was looking for.

I loaded them up and put them on my rack and went for a quick spin around the block.

Unbearable heel strike

I then remembered that someone mentioned they have an ability to angle backwards preventing said heel strike. The hook on the bottom that i had expected to hook to my rack actually swings up and clips on the back of the rack and like magic, the heel strike is gone.

genius.

I'm glad it worked out in the end for you. I haven't pulled the trigger yet - still waiting I guess.. .. I may take my bike to REI to do a heel-strike test if they'll let me. would you care to post a photo or two of the unit on your bike?

Thanks to unhookt for the heads-up about AEBikes - $30 is a good chunk of change.

I should have mine by the end of the week and let ya'll know how it works on my Trek 520. Unlike most men I don't have especially large feet (!) so I rarely have heel strike issues.

i'll post a pic tomorrow. Mine doesn't angle nearly as much as yours. I wonder why.

^
I've got mine thrown over a small trunk bag that slopes down toward the bike's front. So, my bags probably do angle more, plus ride higher. Mixed blessing--on the rougher MUT the bags would creep forward, so I've had to rig up something to stop the creep, otherwise I'm regularly reaching behind to shove them back. I suppose I could lose the trunk bag, but I'm not there yet.

Is there a way to strap the trunk bag on top of the saddle portion of the pannier? I think I heard someone say that there are straps or something .. .

TIA
Zman

I've had panniers that are connected like the Timbuk2 in the past. Not a fan. If you have to adjust something on the bike when you are using them, both have to come off. If you don't want to carry both panniers, you are out of luck. If you want to attach something to the top of the rack, it's more difficult.

The panniers themselves look very boxy. I'm not surprised that Epicus07 had heel strike issues nor at the angle that f1xedgear has to mount them on the rack to avoid heel strike.

If you can try them at REI, try a set of Ortlieb Front Rollers or the REI Transfer too. Both have a much easier mounting system. Basically just drop them in place and they stay. No bungees to fiddle with.

Thanks for the information - both the Ortlieb and REI options look like good choices as well.

There are two velcro straps that run the length of the saddle portion. I imagine that they could be used to secure a trunk bag.

Got mine yesterday and used them for the commute this morning. Overall I like them.

@no1mad- there isn't any form of waterproof closure; the opening can be pulled sort of closed with the internal strap that pinches the long sides together but I think in real wet conditions the water can get past the top flap and into the bag.
- the measurements are approx 10"x6"x13" for a total of 1560 Cu in for both bags.
- my chainstay is 17-3/4" center of BB to center of axle. Rack top is 12". I didn't have any heel strike at all.

The fabric is solid and clearly water proof. I think the top opening will probably keep out water in a light rain/sprinkle but I doubt it'll keep out the water in a serious rain.

hope this helps

Yes, you could use these velcro straps to secure a trunk bag. They are normally used to secure the bag to the upturned part of the front of the rack to prevent the bag from sliding back. I screwed in an 'L' bracket to the back of my rack to keep the bag from sliding backwards and now i'm able to use these velcro straps for whatever. Unfortunately, on my bag, the two hooks that hook to the rack on the bottom broke off. With my rack, when i'd hook into the bottom, the hooks weren't really that tight and would often come out. Well this happened a couple of times and usually the strap on the bag would hold the hook back but a couple of times the hooks got free and as they dangled around they caught a spoke and ripped off my bag. So now both hooks are gone and i basically just have the bag laying over my rack - so i have to now use the velcro straps to secure it. This works ok but when i'm pumping hard and stuff the bag will flop around from side to side which is kind of annoying. I tried putting a small carabiner in the strap on the bag and hooking that around the bottom of my rack, but it's too loose and makes a racket. I was thinking of putting a loop of innertube around that strap and using this to connect to my rack but i'm open to any other ideas you guys may have. I still really like the bag though and would only hesitate to recommend it because of the hooks.

I had the same failure with my Shift pannier from Timbuk2. I've reinforced mine with paper clips and looking for a metal pin to use instead of paperclips.

I only just realized this myself, and it's really made a difference in dealing with sliding--I don't have to anymore!

It's the stretchy straps that hold the hooks that are failing on my bags--the straps are wearing thin and I am using duct tape to slow the wear, but that won't last . . .

I still very much like the bag set.