Recommendations for first panniers
 

I've started using my single speed road bike for 100% of my transportation. Until now I have been using a backpack to carry things but I'm thinking about trying panniers so I can do things like get groceries. What are some good starter panniers that won't break the bank but are big enough to carry groceries or my laptop but will last a few years without needing to be replaced. My bike has eyelets on the rear wheel but not the top eyelet by the seat but I understand I can use p clamps to take care of that limitation. I plan on upgrading to a better commuter bike in the future but I plan on riding this bike for at least 6 more months before doing so.

I bought these... http://bontrager.com/model/07721 . They work for groceries as well as commuting.

Commuting to work
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=313965

Wife took them shopping
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=313966

Nashbar atb panniers are a good bang for the buck. They have a waterproof pannier too that looks nice but I don't have experience with it.

Jandd makes great gear. It's not the cheapest but it will last a lifetime. In the long run, buying better gear saves you money and headaches. Otherwise also look at second hand and craigslist

I have some shopping panniers from REI that hold a good load and fold flat against the rack when not in use. They are open on the top, however. I don't think it is a current product anymore, but Performance/Nashbar sells a very similar one. I just checked Nashbar's offering, and it comes with a rain cover. $20 a bag is less than I paid for my REI version and I got a good clearance on mine.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=313967

These. Put a garbage bag in these and you won't have too much to worry about when it rains.

Sewn or Dry is the first sorting choice..

cheap & replace? or buy better and use for a longer time .
or consider them the first of several .. you will own, for various needs..

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going with the nashbar ATB. Seems like the have more reflective material than the waterproof ones and living in Los Angeles I'm more concerned with being seen by cars than I am about rain

I use these: http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Metro-P...eywords=avenir

Might be a squeeze for groceries, but they work great for lunch and a change of clothes on my commute. Lots of reflective material.

I have the Nashbar ATB panniers. For touring they get the job done, but for commuting, I don't know. I find that what I didn't like about them is that it took some fiddling to get them solidly fixed on my rack. Then if I had to take them off for any reason, the process started over the next time I put them on. Touring: no big deal. Put them on and leave them on. Do all your fiddling/fine tuning during the first half day of riding (during which I have to check them because one always comes halfway unhooked), then they're good for the rest of the trip. For commuting, if I was taking them on and off the bike, I think they'd drive me crazy.

For 'round town errands I am a big fan of "grocery bag" panniers. I think I may also have an REI set. They lack the extra velcro loop that holds the Nashbar panniers in place, but even so, they seem to stay put better. Just use whatever bag/backpack you want and toss it in the pannier. The other day I saw a set, by Soma, I think, that had hooks that grabbed on to the rack like the better panniers do. If my old set weren't working just fine, I'd be considering upgrading just for the attachment system.

I had saddle bag type panniers from Jandd which i liked but they were small and it took a little work to get them secured on my rack and detach. Next, I bought a set from Performance that were very servicable for the cheap price I paid for them. Decent construction, not waterproof and somewhat difficult to attach. I now have a full set of Ortliebs, back and front that I use for touring. They are nice, easy to attach, expensive, but have no outside pockets.

I am sure the Nashbar ones you are planning on buying approximate my Performance. I was perfectly content with these but eventually the upgrade bug got to me and I bought expensive Ortliebs. If you are immune to the upgrade bug then go with the Nashbars. Otherwise, if you think you are going to eventually upgrade you might purchase the better ones and skip the expense of the cheaper ones.

I've been using their Waterproof Rear model for the last few years for both grocery shopping and touring with no complaints. They just have a single big compartment per side and close with plastic buckles - so no extra seams/zippers/pockets to eventually wear out. Watch for sales since Nashbar has frequently had them for half off.

If you don't carry enough stuff to justify the orthodox solution of a rear-rack + paniers, there's the cradle-style front- or rear-rack:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8499589@N02/5432453027

Looks like I'm too late to contribute to the pannier discussion*, but you don't have to resort to using p-clamps if your frame lacks the upper mounting points. You can use something like this- http://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Bicycl...eat+post+clamp.

*I normally caution people about possible heel strike, but it is my understanding that the Nashbar atb mount up a bit higher, so that shouldn't (hopefully) be a problem for you.

I have an 11 year old version of these avenirs and they still work great. For waterproof I put clothes in a $20 REI waterproof bag

Different bags for different purposes. Daily use, and occasional use.

I have daily commute bag for my work stuff, laptop, clothes etc. (Arkel Commuter) indestructible and 100% reliable for daily use. Not really for getting groceries though

I have 2 Banjo Brothers grocery panniers that I use for additional cargo space as needed. Somedays I bring one with me on my commute if I need to make a stop or run errands. Or I use them both to go the the grocery store, beer store, picnic or whatever. These are great for utility carrying of stuff, but not nearly robust enough for the daily commute. In my mind they are occasional use bags. They are inexpensive and super useful to have in the stable.

Avenir medium Panniers 60$, reliable, strong but not waterproof.

It boils down to how many times do you plan on touring. If you plan on doing a lot of it then get Ortliebs, if this is a once in a lifetime touring event then lower priced Nashbar or Performance etc are fine. Problem with lower costing ones is their ability to keep water out of your stuff is usually poor, so consider getting either the waterproof model or buy their rain covers, either way just to be safe put items you don't want to get damp in any matter in plastic zip lock bags. I have Ortlieb's and I still put important stuff in plastic bags even though the bags never gotten damp inside.

Im getting a nickel credit every time I use something other than the paper/plastic bags at the grocery shop.

I use my Ortlieb back rollers as a grocery bag in the shopping.

I like the Ortlieb Shopper for in town use. Have lots of panniers. Have two of these. My favs.

Hard to say without knowing what you mean by "break the bank".

When I wanted panniers I figured it was better to buy once and get it right so I bought a pair of Ortlieb Back Roller Classics. They aren't particularly cheap but they seem durable, they're totally waterproof (I cycled along a flooded road where the water was over the hubs and they didn't leak a drop), they come in a range of bright colours and have reflective patches on the front and back.

For waterproof I just put things in a plastic shopping bag first. :)

Mine are about 5 months old and would look brand new if they weren't a bit dirty from road grime.

Yeah, I did that every day for a long time and got a couple days out of each bag before they'd get a hole. A couple weeks ago it dawned on me that if I got a stronger bag I wouldn't have to keep replacing them. "How did I realize this" you might be asking? One morning I went to pull the grocery bag containing my clothes out of the pannier and saw it had split - and my clothes were wet - bought one of these. Necessity is the mother of invention or in my case, wet clothes enable the duh factor.

I have several different panniers, all from nashbar or performance, for excellent sale prices. I have the daytrekker, the MTB, and the grocery panniers. I like and use the grocery bag one the most.

Two simple reasons - they haul most anything, and they fold almost flat when they are empty. They live on my bike almost all of the time. You can pack anything in anything, even in plastic bags, and drop them in. I can easily carry three large grocery bags home, one in each bag, and one strapped across the top of the rack, and I use the rack treunk for cold/frozen stuff. I also carry two reusable shopping bags in the panniers, folded flat, for use whenever I need them. Extremely handy and useful.

I believe they are on sale at Nashbar today, with free shipping for nashbar branded orders. Don't delay.

I like the Wald folding baskets. Sure they weigh a bit more and are always on your bike, but you can just throw regular grocery bags in there for grocery shopping and for day to day commuting, you just throw a normal backpack or whatever you want in there, take two seconds to put a bungee cargo net on top and you're good to go. Can hold a ton of stuff, super easy, super durable, and adaptable to carrying just about anything. Oh and they fold up flat to the rack when not in use, so not as bulky and don't raise your center of gravity like tying a milk crate to the rack. Not what you asked, but it works.