Thinking about getting off the road for camping. Or, perhaps cycling to hike. Does anybody use backpackable panniers?

I'm seeing two varieties online.

SciCon Transalp 2.0


Richard Jones Convertible Pannier Backpacks






The Richard Jones panniers aren't cheap, especially if one orders the full front/rear set. However, it appears to create a backpack that should work as well when hiking as when packing them on the bike.

Has anybody used either the Richard Jones or SciCon panniers?

While that system looks interesting it still seems kludgey to me.

What I did a few years back was take my ultralight-backpack (which is essentially a duffle), turn it inside out, put some stuff in it and strap it to top of my rack. I still carried most of my gear in panniers. I rode to the hiking area, loaded my backpack, cached my bike stuff, and hiked out.

My backpack is 24ozs, roomy, and amazingly comfy. Not a great weight penalty. I still used my Ortlieb panniers. I'm quite sure that convertible system can't match the single-focus performance of my individual backpack or panniers.

Haven't used, but those are exactly what I was looking for on my last euro trip!

I have a set of Panpack front panniers. The company doesn't seem to exist anymore. The bags convert into a daypack, which can be attached to the larger rear panpack. The daypack is confortable but I haven't really used it. I put food, cookset and tools in the front panniers so going on a day hike means transferring everything into different bags. They are most handy when you need to carry everything off the bike.

All the backpack-like setups I've tried failed pretty bad as both panniers and backpacks. If I had to drag them around off the bike, I'd get a pack able duffel bag and a decent set of straps to go with it.

with a bike trailer like the Burly travoy or flatbed, you could just put it ,your backcountry back pack, In It .

& have room for the hiking boots too..

Do you need a backpack bigger than would fit in a shopping pannier?

I would NOT advise doing what I saw a couple that I met at a campground trying to do, they picked up some cheap folding bikes and planned to carry their full size back packs on the back racks. I gave a strap to one of them that was having trouble keeping the backpack on the rack with bunge cord, but I don't know if it solved their problems or not. Overall it looked like a disaster waiting to happen, but they left the camp ground on their new bikes and I never saw them again.

The Path less Pedaled folks follower Heinz Stuke example and The Back Pack stands straight up on a rear rack

with the straps secured over a cross bar behind the saddle ..

There are a number of day-pack panniers available that I didn't post, often comprising of one side of one's pannier system. The ones I linked appeared to be sturdy packs with good straps & belts. Although perhaps a bit odd with flipping the upper pannier upside-down. Frame/back support design would be critical.

Before dumping $500 into a pack/pannier system, I'll have to carefully consider my needs as well as considering the loaded weight of the packs. I'd like to minimize a bit. So far I've avoided using more than rear panniers, but there would be benefits of better front/rear weight distribution.

I have also always tied part of my load to the pack frame so something entirely compartmentalized may not be adequate.

Unfortunately we live in a society where bike security is also important. There would be things like bike tools that would not have to go on a hiking trip, but I wouldn't leave anything that is easily removable with the bike if going out on an overnight, or even multi-day hiking trip.

I'm leery enough about the idea of leaving a bicycle at a trailhead, but perhaps that is unfounded if one could find a well hidden parking spot.

Secure bike lockers would be nice at major trailheads.