Panniers, to match or not to match

[CentralCommuter]

Please help as I’m struggling to decide - I have one black ortlieb pannier. To buy a second isn’t cheap, in fact it would be cheaper to buy a matching pair of something else. Or I could get a single of something else, but is that like having non matching socks?? (which, to be honest, I do!) Is this a cycling convention faux pas that will cause other commuters to laugh at me on the way past?

 

[Pblakeney]

Do you care what others think?

 

[CentralCommuter]

I think, on some level, everyone does.

 

[All uphill]

If you were the only surviving person on earth would mismatched panniers bother you?

They would me.

 

[Dan Lotus]

It genuinely only matters if it matters to you - I think it probably would matter to me.

Personally I would take the opportunity to buy a bright yellow pair, and I tend to think black and yellow go together rather well - OR flog the black one on second hand.

 

[Pblakeney]

I think, on some level, everyone does.

Not everyone.
If it bothers you then you have your answer.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

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).

 

[ianrauk]

it would bother me. 2 matching or just the 1

 

[wafter]

It would certainly bother me; intrinsically rather than because I'm concerned by others' perception of me.

Personally the short-term financial pain of sourcing another Ortlieb would pale into insignificant over years of thinking "that looks sh*t, I wish I'd not been so tight" every time I looked at the bike..

Also worth remembering that Ortliebs tend to last very well so that's another argument for spending the money over going with cheaper alternatives.

 

[PapaZita]

I have mismatched panniers. It could bother me, but it doesn’t because I’m able to tell myself that there’s a good reason for it. One has loads of organiser pockets and a laptop sleeve. No point having two of those if I only have one laptop. The other is just a big boxy bucket - perfect for shopping. I can use one or the other or both. They’re different colours so I never grab the wrong one.

 

[oxoman]

If you can afford it buy a new matching pr, as it obviously bothers you as your asking our advice. It would certainly bother me. As already suggested they last a life time if looked after. Sell the old one on fleabay.

 

[fossyant]

Got to match. Get on ebay.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Sell the current single one. Get the pair you want. No one else cares, but you clearly do or you wouldn't have posted this. Do it for your own needs.