I'm retiring an old piece of my commuter luggage. It's time for something good. I'm looking into getting a backpack/pannier combo for hauling my books and miscellany to school and back, as well as moving clothing and groceries from here to there. All of this needs to happen whether it's raining or not, so weatherproofiness is essential. I'm also using some Axiom Stormfronts for that kind of stuff. Mostly I need this bag to fill my need to hold my school stuff both on the bike and off.

Here's what I'm looking at:

• Ortlieb Vario, $108, holds 20L
• Aquapac, $70, holds 23L
• Arkel Bug, $160, holds 25L

Anyone have thoughts on these bags or know of any other good options that I'm missing?

I have ortlieb classic panniers, I would not use any other... i don't know about the Vario though...

Consider the Ortlieb back pack harness that clips on to the pannier hooks.
And then a rear pannier, perhaps Pairs, or,
think you only want 1? there is the water proof Zip closed, Shopper

I've got both the Arkel Bug and the Otrleib backpack harness. The Bug is superb; it's well designed, high quality, comfortable as a backpack, and very functional. I'd buy one again without question. The Ortleib harness is a total PITA, cludgy, and takes up far too much space in a pannier when not in use. The fact that you must remove and store it every time you mount your pannier to your rack makes it very inconvenient for daily use. It's also not nearly as comfortable as the Bug as a backpack.

Is it as comfortable as a goat on your back?

One thing to consider, especially as you plan to ride in any kind of weather. After some of my commutes my Ortlieb Classics are filthy. Dripping with water, splashes of road grime, muck from brakes/chain and whatnot. Without a thorough cleaning I think there would be a very real risk of soiling my clothes if and when they came in contact with the pannier surface.

--jh

Hmmm I ride 4 kms to school and just carry a normal backpack. It works for me and if things get to heavy you can always use the straps on the bag. Especially the hip strap, that really lightens the load.

Do yourself a favor and at least consider one of the large Carradice seat bags. They come in a range of sizes. I've got the smallest version (Barley) and it holds everything I need for commuting 99% of the time. What's nice about Carradice bags is that they center the weight of your load so it has little effect on bike handling. With a Bagman quick-release rack -- which you really need to support the bag and keep it from swaying and hitting your legs -- they are very easy to install and remove from your bike.

Carradice saddle bags are great quality, they give ride comfort and capacity. I think my Carradice (Nelson or Camper, I forget which) is probably the only cycling related piece of gear that has ever gotten "OMG that looks great" kind of compliments from my SO. I don't regret for one moment I chose that over panniers for my light touring setup.

But, and this may be a big but, a fully packed large Carradice bag is pretty miserable to carry around when off the bike for any length of time. There's no shoulder strap, the handle is on the narrow side and the form that works so well on the Bagman rack is very awkward when off the rack.

--J

Couldn't you just attach a shoulder strap to the hooks on the top of a Carradice bag?

Yes you could. That would probably make it more balanced to carry too. I'm still not sure if it would be comfortable though.

Would you mind specifying, how much time do you spend carrying your stuff while not on the bike?

If you have a long ride in the morning and then remain relatively stationary until you ride home, and Ortleib pannier is a great option. I don't think panniers come much better. Thing is, they suck off the bike, I mean they make a decent enough tote bag, but the backpack harness isn't really effective, and it takes an unfortunately long time to actually install.

If you have some off the bike carrying to do, something with a nice shoulder strap is essential. I have no actual experience with the Bug, but it looks pretty decent.

If you're going to be walking around a bunch once you get to campus, you might even be a good candidate for a waterproof messenger bag in a milk crate. Inelegant, yes, but it's stable and waterproof on the bike, quick to get off the bike, and comfortable off the bike.

Sigh...........

Wald baskets and a waterproof backpack for the win. Just keep in mind of the dimensions of the basket(s) when shopping for a new backpack- my large Banjo Brothers pack won't fit in a folding basket when it's full.

Also, leave the books at home and take really, really good notes. Most of my classes that I took tested from the notes and not the reading material. I could've saved a ton of $$ without having to buy those doorstoppers...

There's some new Arkel stuff coming out and at least one new backpack. Here's the link to the 2012 catalog:

https://www.arkel-od.com/legacy/PDF_d...talog_2012.pdf

I believe you can also get an additional waterproof cover for the Arkel even though the material is waterproof. I hate riding in the rain, but have waterproof stuff so maybe others can comment on that.

I'd agree with the comments on the Arkel Bug vs the Ortleib panniers and that *silly* backpack back thing. The Bug is pretty dang awesome.

J.

Oh sweet! Thanks for this link JohnJ80.
I've been lusting after the switchback for a possible Christmas present to myself this year.
But I felt it was missing a few things, a small zipper pouch in the front was one of the big ones for me (not talking about the front pouch on the original switchback but the new smaller one that adds to that)

I only wish it had a handle on the very top, like my current (non-pannier) backpack does. Makes it easier to pick it up/down from the floor.
I can't tell if the 2.0 has a laptop sleeve or option for one? Guess I will google...
Thanks

I have a couple of the Randonneur racks and find them to be really a neat deal. This new Sherpack bag that goes to 22 liters look pretty attractive for high speed/low profile commuting. I currently have a full rack on the back of my cross bike that I take on and off all the time but I this might make a great alternative.

You know you could take your current pack to a good luggage repair place and I'm sure they'd be able to easily add a handle like that. I've done things like that before and had great luck with it.

J.

Ah, I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip!

- Researcher

Sorry to take so long to reply. The thread hadn't had any answers for a while so I stopped watching it.

I carry a lot off of the bike a lot. A calc book, binder, and two chemistry notebooks at a minimum, not counting whatever little odds and ends I need for the day. I have been putting a large satchel in my panniers and hauling it out, but the strap broke and I've already fixed it twice before. Plus, I'm carrying the weight of the pannier and bag, not using the space efficiently, and having to waste time moving stuff between bags.

Did that with one of my classes already. I usually buy my books after the first week of class so I can see how badly I'll need it. Sadly, I'll be stuck with my beefy math book for at least two more semesters.

Thanks, the Sherpack looks cool. I'd totally go that way if I was willing to change out racks too.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and get a Bug.

Good choice. Can't go wrong with that.

J.