Best Panniers
 

Does anyone have any recommendations for panniers that can hold a lightweight tent, 2 sets of biking clothes, a sleeping bag, and some protein bars?

Ortlieb is the staple gold standard pannier manufacturer one usually gets recommended. Back and front rollers have 5 year warranty, are 100% waterproof (as in submersible waterproof if closed correctly) and while not the lightest, are extremely durable and very visible.

Bags/Panniers - Products - Axiom Cycling Gear

Are they the "Best", not sure.

I have a pair, would I buy them again? I did buy a second set this year. I have been very happy with all of their products.
Hope this helps,

-Snuts-

Arkel, come with a lifetime warranty. Don't even think of anything else. They are the gold standard.😀

1. what's your budget?

2. any other requirements? cause just about any set of bags, even carp
from wally world could work.

3. why panniers? light weight, low volume. how 'bout that newfangled
bikepacking gear the kids are into nowadays?

this is a good place to start...

A Complete List of The Best Panniers for Bicycle Touring - CyclingAbout

You're not carrying much if that is your entire list. I carried more with a dry sack up front between the handlebars, a large saddle bag, and a frame bag. I had what you list plus a sleeping pad, inflatable pillow, sandals, and clothes for off the bike. The addition of a camp stove tipped me over to a set of rear panniers. I have a set of Ortlieb Bike Packer Plus rear panniers. I love them and they are quite roomy, though they might be more than you need unless you plan to expand.

I agree Arkel are the Gold Standard (mine, anyway , .. and what else matters?) Thing is, when the time came and the real world (as in wallet) weigh ed in ... or came in underweight ... I had to opt for a few sets of something less excellent over a lifetime instead on one pair of the best (Plus I want the superhuge set with the bedroll bag, and they are less than practical for most commutes.)

For what you describe ... almost anything. You could even put the sleeping bag in a stuff sack in a dry bag and hang it off the bars or forks.

Not meaning to pry ... but what kind of trip are you planning? Sounds okay for CC touring ... of you are absolutely certain of the weather and have your tools/tubes in a seat bag or something.

Ortlieb Sport Packer Plus front roller, 30L the pair.

Ortliebs are the best if you want waterproof, excellent connection system, and extreme durability. A Front-Roller Plus pair will do if that's all you need to pack. Many tent poles do not fit inside the panniers, it depends on the tent. If your equipment isn't truly lightweight or you wanna carry more clothes/tools/gear you'll need the larger Rear-Rollers.

Are you the meticulous type that needs everything in it's place? If so, you would like Arkels with their many little pockets and compartments. If You just need to know it's in the bag somewhere, then the one compartment type bag would work for you.

Do you want waterproof? Remember - anything that is even slightly damp and stowed in the pannier (tent with dew) is going to make everything else in the bag damp.

I've used Jandd Panniers for years. Their stuff doesn't wear out and they are made in California. Recently I have moved to light weight dry bags. It is slightly inconvenient to get in a dry bag during the day, but the weight savings is worth it to me. If you are on a budget, dry bags are much less expensive.

SierraTradingPost has Blackburns trunk and freont/rear panniers on sale for 60% off today...

Blackburn Cycling: Average savings of 52% at Sierra Trading Post

Waterproof front and rear panniers and trunk for $200. They're not Ortliebs (lack handles), but Ortlieb would cost 3X-4X that.

If this is your first tour and you are not sure you will do lots more -
I would go for moderate-priced panniers. There are plenty out there.
Or may look for some used ones. (Esp. the moderate-priced ones)
Lots of people have great plans which never materialize.
Selling their panniers cheap helps them to forget.

There is no one best set of panniers for everyone. However, depending on the person there is probably a "best" for their needs.

I use Ortlieb products because they best serve my needs: durable, waterproof, good mounting mechanism, and well designed.

Our whole family use Ortlieb panniers, bar bags, and rack packs. Two family members are absent from this picture, but they are also Ortlieb users.

You can tell we are a little biased when it comes to Ortlieb products.
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/Bar_Bags.jpg

Wife's, daughters', and my bike.
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/y...2016/Bikes.jpg

If this is true, it would not matter if the panniers are waterproof or just "water resistant", the outcome would be the same. I store my tent and rainfly in the same waterproof bag as my sleeping bag and thermarest pad without any problems. If the tent or rainfly is wet I store it in its sil-nylon compression sack and put that in a plastic garbage bag until I can dry them out. My bag, pillow and pad are also in sil-nylon compression sacks, which keeps them dry.

Tent, sleeping bag, sil-nylon ground cloth, compressible pillow, and thermarest pad all go in Ortlieb Rack Pack.
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/y...5e583456df.jpg

Doug,

Yours is the voice of experience speaking. You are totally correct in storing your fly apart from other items until you can dry it out. THEN it is safe to mix with stay dry items.

None of the panniers I have used have been waterproof, although all were (somewhat) water resistant. My tendency is to seek shelter when the rain starts, and wait for the storm clouds to pass. Nevertheless, I have been caught in heavy rainstorms and been forced to press on.

I have no complaints about water-resistant panniers. I keep items that must stay dry in plastic bags, anyways. Other items near the walls of the panniers get a little damp, but they also dry out.

The panniers I bought last year at Mountain Equipment Co-op include waterproof covers that fold up and slip into an inside pocket. Not a bad compromise.

Circa 1989, I bought a set of Cannondale panniers, made of tough Cordura nylon. They were beautifully designed and built, and lasted about 15 years. The waterproof coating on the inside began to de-laminate after eight or ten years. I compensated by spraying the exteriors of the panniers with an aerosol water ******ant, which extended the life of the panniers a few extra seasons.

Genuinely curious: do people without waterproof panniers find that shoving wet things in them allows them to dry?

I forget to dry my hockey equipment once in a while, and I can come back days or a week later and find it still damp (and smelling awful). The bag itself is threadbare in places, certainly far more porous than any of my panniers. I just don't see how waterproof v non-waterproof affects this at all.

I'm sure they're not the best, but if you're on a tight budget I've been very happy with my Nashbar panniers. You can get a pair for $50.

I advise against storing your tent in your panniers, especially waterproof panniers and most especially in a pannier with you clothes. Except in the driest desert conditions the fly and probably the floor will be wet with condensation and ground moisture. It is a ticket for damp clothes and general mildew. I store my tent in a separate water repellent and breathable bag. I have seen folk carefully sponge and chamois their tents dry before packing them in their panniers, but that’s more hassle than I’m capable of. Of course if it is raining that becomes a losing effort and then what?

Have a look at the Ortlieb City panniers. Same size, fabric and construction as the Back Roller Classic but less hardware and bling making them significantly lighter and less expensive.

I can't speak for everyone who uses non-waterproof panniers, but for me, waterproof panniers provide redundant water-resistance, since I already have to segregate wet & dry items within the bag via dry bags (or garbage bags). Wet stuff generally stays wet while inside the pannier.

I wouldn't avoid a waterproof pannier, but it's also not a compelling feature, particularly for touring. Being waterproof is the single easiest feature to add retroactively via packing methods.

[MENTION=458746]jrbrandt97[/MENTION], I'm almost in the same boat, for me it's time for new panniers. The three main manufacturers have already been mentioned and one won't go too far from a lifetime of service using any of the three.

About 15 years ago I bought some panniers from Nashbar and they've lasted far longer than I expected. The best "feature" with them is that they were an inexpensive learning tool for what I really needed / wanted.

Brad

and if you go for a new setup, do front load!

Have to agree these Ortlieb are excellent panniers and are as mentioned completely waterproof. Besides having ridden a couple driving rain storms with them, I have also on one occasion ridden through a flooded street where the water reach the bottom third of the panniers. All my contents stayed completely dry. I do not carry a laptop or other sensitive electronics, but if I did, I would have absolutely no hesitation to do so. Besides the waterproof factor, they are so easy to put on and remove.

I've been moving in this direction myself, though I own Ortliebs, I find the lighter weight more utilitarian idea of dry bags appealing. Do you have any photos of how you mount the dry bags on the pannier? Especially interested in front loading.

+1 on the Ortliebs, I bought mine for my very first tour and I still use them 7 years and 60,000 kilometers later. Might be the best purchase I ever made in terms of use for the money.