betes

Hi all,

I've been browsing this forum a bit and trying to learn as much as I can about touring, as I'm interested in doing so. A few friends and I are talking about taking a 2 day trip along a portion of the Katy Trail in a couple weeks, and I wanted to get some pannier recommendations. I've read good things about Arkel on here, but they are SO expensive. I saw some at the LBS that are Axiom I think. They are $90 for the pair. They aren't too big, but how much can I possibly need for 2 days? I was thinking if I got a smallish pair, then later wanted to do a longer tour, I could always get bigger panniers for the rear and use the smaller pair up front.

Are there any other good sources for quality panniers that don't break the bank? I was hoping to find some used Arkels or something on here or ebay but nobody seems to want to part with any.

mtnroads

Do a search on cheap panniers - this gets re-hashed every week.

bwgride

If you are doing smooth road touring, most any pannier will work for you. I use inexpensive ($40 on sale for a pair, now $64) Nashbar rear waterproof panniers for commuting and experienced no problems with them. I carry 20 to 30 pounds of weight sometimes, books, papers, etc., and nothing has ever gotten wet during rains. I would use (and have) used them on road tours. Offroad tours require panniers with very secure locking mechanisms, and those types of panniers usually cost more.

There are many options and a search through this touring forum will reveal many recommendations. Most folks recommend top brands, but expense is certainly a consideration (at least for me).

Here's a page that provides comparisons among many makes and models (it is a bit dated, unfortunately):

https://www.lancerushing.com/bicycling/panniers.cfm

At a minimum this page will provide links to manufacturer's web pages so you can read their propaganda.

Another option that some try is to make their own pannier. Usually it consists of obtaining old military packs (tough canvas alice packs), inserting some stiff frame/board/license plate inside the back of the pack and then attaching a bolt through the frame support and back of the pack to hold a hook on the outside. The hook is used to mount pack to rack. These types of pack will probably be the most rugged you can get and also the cheapest! You can also experiment easily with different mounting/lock systems to learn which holds homemade panniers to a rack best.

betes

mtnroads: I did a couple searches but I found a lot of vague stuff. I was hoping for personal recommendations and maybe an idea of where to get used ones besides ebay.

bwgride: Thanks for the advice!

dbuzi123

The panniers available at MEC have worked out well for me. They are pretty cheap and simple, but well made. If you are in the states though you have to pay customs fees too.

mtnroads

Ok, sorry if I was rude. I use Arkel and Jandd - both excellent imho. The Jandd Mini-mountain are nice panniers for the price, so are Novara, sold at REI. My understanding is that the Axiom are decent panniers -they look fine. Also consider Lone Peak, sold by TheTouringStore.com.

You do not need a big set, espec for a few days. A lot depends on whether or not you are sharing some of the load (tent, cooking gear) with someone else. Since you are, you will need less space. Be careful not to overload the rear of the bike - it could degrade your handling.

Have fun on your trip!

kesroberts

I really like my ortlieb rear rollers.

betes

No problem. Lots of people tend to ask questions that would easily be answered with a search. The thing with panniers is that nobody ever shows more than 1 picture. I want them to be around 2000 cubic inches (I will be sharing the load, so this should be more than enough I imagine), so the Jandd mini mountain, Novara transfer panniers, and Lone Peak P100 all look good, and all are around the same price. The Axiom ones I looked at locally seemed very well made, but now that I think about it, maybe not quite as big as these others.

The thing is, it's hard to tell what the internal organization is like. I'd like 2-3 small pockets to help me organize my stuff. The Novara says it has an organizer, but it's hard to tell what it is or how well it works. The Lone Peak doesn't appear to have any smaller pockets, but the hook system looks very well designed. The Jandd is the only one that looks to be a pain to remove from the bike. I am leaning towards the Novara because of the small organizer and the included rain covers.

Shemp

We have Jandd and Arkels. I prefer the Arkels. My only complaint about the Arkels is price, but then again, it could be said you get what you pay for.

bccycleguy

I have the Arkel XM-42's and XM-28's. Great panniers, but rain covers are essential.

The Arkels are very sturdy but the price you pay is they are also heavy. But when you are zooming down a hill at 65 km and some bad traffic pushes you onto the shoulder and you end up bouncing into the air off some bumps, you can be confident that your Arkels are going to stay attached.

justmeagain

I have a pair of Cannondale Overland panniers from the mid 1980's and I like them a great deal. They look like this. https://cgi.ebay.com/Classic-Vintage-...QQcmdZViewItem

I also have a newer pair of Axiom panniers which are much smaller and they seem to be well made also.

I only tour on roads so I have no experience biking on rough terrain as to panniers staying attached, etc.