Pannier or Rucksack?

[Joe24]

Ive got a ruck sack, and just use one strap and wear it sort of like a messenger bag, with the waist strap around my waist aswell. Works for me. Wouldnt bother with paniers unless i was carrying alot, or something pretty heavy. But i would need to put on a rack on my bike and get some paniers, which is alot of effort

 

[Cking]

Changing from a rucksack to a pannier has made my commuter into a far more useful machine.

I found that too.
I was given a twin pannier set as opposed to a one piece throw over type. I find that most of the time I ride with one (Roadside with a flasher) but when I need to haul the uniform into work the other one takes the excess. I do wish they were Dayglo though!

Rgds Cking

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

Pannier , normally packed with lovely cakes

 

[J4CKO]

Panniers here, they are brilliant, lower the centre of gravity, no sweaty back.

I have the Altura Orkney 36 litre ones, one is usually enough but if I need to bring my laptop home the second gets used, sometimes I take when I know I need beer on my return journey or am going to the chippy, the woman in the chippy doesnt get the idea you can carry more than 1 bag of chips in them. Fully laden I have seen p to sixty pounds for the bike plus panniers but it still moves well, I used to notice the rucksack shifting if it had any weight in, I reckon that having the weight down low, in some circumstances might be the difference between staying on or not.

They just look a bit nerdy !

 

[Bromptonaut]

Brompton front pannier is unbeatable for work swallowing breakfast, flask, spare clothes papers etc etc. Makes a presentable briefcase off the bike as well, only problem is in a headwind.

On the tourer, bar bag and saddlebag or panniers. Rucksack on the MTB but keep it as small as possible otherwise CoG problems.

 

[neslon]

Rucsack.

I use Revolution/Vaude with airflow & sweaty back is no more noticeable than all the other sweaty bits. I think panniers affect the handling in a way 'sacs don't. Also, the can carry lights, reflectives, hi-viz from bike to bike easily. As long as the waist & chest straps are able to stop it moving, it's not noticeable (mind you, I spent most of my youth wandering around with rucksacks, so perhaps its just acclimation.

 

[theboytaylor]

Silly question time - does a pannier make it harder to get through traffic? Aren't you a bit wider at the rear wheels? I ask cos I'm hoping to get a 2nd bike in the autumn just for commuting/winter use and I'm considering putting a rack on it and using panniers - I'm getting fed up of sweaty backs and overheating.

That said, a "proper" cycling rucksac, like most of the Deuters, does make a lot of difference

 

[jimboalee]

Neither.

One of these :-

 

[beanzontoast]

For me its:

Commuting - pannier.

Trail riding - rucksack.

 

[summerdays]

Silly question time - does a pannier make it harder to get through traffic? Aren't you a bit wider at the rear wheels? I ask cos I'm hoping to get a 2nd bike in the autumn just for commuting/winter use and I'm considering putting a rack on it and using panniers - I'm getting fed up of sweaty backs and overheating.

That said, a "proper" cycling rucksac, like most of the Deuters, does make a lot of difference

I've a Deuter ruc-sac that I hate - just sits really badly on my shoulders (I'm slightly lopsided) - I never use it.

But the pannier isn't really any different that the width of your leg/bars. I think it slightly helps to make you look wider - so that they hopefully give you a bit more room. And I have had one minor knock where a car hit my leg and the pannier where I suspect the pannier helped protect my leg. (Those two sentances seem to conflict each other but the car incident was trying to evade the police so not too bothered about avoiding a cyclist).

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Pannier. For the sort of cycling where it's necessary to carry stuff, the "extra drag" makes absolutely no difference.

 

[borsuk]

rucksack. i've got a fantastic little samsonite bag which is ideal for the little i carry about (laptop, charger, a few papers). cost a lot but i've had it nearly twelve years, used pretty much every day in all weathers and it looks virtually new. good protection as well for the laptop as well. sweat is an issue in the summer, though.

 

[Bodhbh]

I used panniers mostly last year, but was without a rack for a few weeks so used a rucksack cos I had to and stayed. Commute is only 6 miles and often stop in town, less faff getting on and off the bike, just lock it at go walkies without having to unclip, carry it around by the handles etc. If I came in thru the country and it was longer I think a pannier would make more sense. Otherthing can unsubtley bounce over speedbumps, up kerbs and so on without having to worry about the pannier unclipping and skidding across the road.

 

[Eat MY Dust]

I think panniers affect the handling in a way 'sacs don't.

You'll probably find that the rucksack has a worse effect than panniers as it raises the centre of gravity.

 

[Morrisette]

Have you thought about a rack bag? I have an Altura Arran. It is smaller than a pannier, but can fit the same amount of stuff in as a small rucksack. It's on the top of the rack so there's no aerodynamic issues, and mine has a loop so you can attach a light to it as well!