Panniers, to match or not to match

[mjr]

I'd put the black one on the non drive side and pick something in bright colours and/or retro reflective for the drive side (to make your bike silhouette more visible to those behind).

Adding a bright patch to a silhouette will disrupt the outline and make it less visible, not more. Pick the colour you like because over a quarter of drivers can't see properly so it ain't gonna stop them claiming you leapt out from nowhere! Might as well enjoy looking at it instead.

And I often ride with different panniers, if that's the best way to carry what I need.

 

[froze]

Why not simply buy two yellow generic rainfly's, and put them over each bag, then no one will know what you have under those flys.

 

[Fastpedaller]

It certainly wouldn't bother me if they didn't match - but then I have colour-deficient vision.

 

[CentralCommuter]

Please stop resurrecting this thread. It wasn’t my finest moment.

 

[mustang1]

My preference is matching panniers but that's for me. If the price is right then I'll go with a mix and match and I definitely don't care what anyone else thinks.

 

[mjr]

Please stop resurrecting this thread. It wasn’t my finest moment.

And another learns the hard way that a thread is for life, not just the first month. You may prefer to 'unwatch' the topic using the button near the top. Otherwise, see you next decade!

 

[mickle]

The only time mismatched panniers is acceptable is if one of them is a briefcase / office / laptop specific bag. The other pannier must be the same brand, model, material and colour.
The only time a single pannier is acceptable is never.

I tell my adult children off if i spot them wearing odd socks. They think I'm joking. I am not.