Panniers, to match or not to match

[a.twiddler]

Better to have a saddlebag or rack bag than One Pannier. It just seems so...unsymmetrical to me. As for non matching panniers, as a practical thing, panniers work as a pair no matter what they look like, but in my case it would just drive me nuts. Due to the cost many manufacturers will sell them separately, and maybe for daily use one pannier is all you need but it just looks so...wrong.

Also, even if you have a matching pair and only use one regularly, when you come to use them as a pair one will be more worn and weathered while the other will be pristine.

So my post is not much help to the OP. I suppose there are those who just like to use one pannier as a some sort of statement. Each to their own.

 

[Mike Ayling]

Better to have a saddlebag or rack bag than One Pannier. It just seems so...unsymmetrical to me. As for non matching panniers, as a practical thing, panniers work as a pair no matter what they look like, but in my case it would just drive me nuts. Due to the cost many manufacturers will sell them separately, and maybe for daily use one pannier is all you need but it just looks so...wrong.

Also, even if you have a matching pair and only use one regularly, when you come to use them as a pair one will be more worn and weathered while the other will be pristine.

So my post is not much help to the OP. I suppose there are those who just like to use one pannier as a some sort of statement. Each to their own.

All my Ortlieb panniers were purchased as pairs. I prefer bright colours to increase my visibility on the road.
I use one of the smaller front panniers on the back for my day rides. It has faded slightly but it will not be a concern to me if we ever load up the tandem again.
Most Ortlieb panniers are able to be moved from side to side and are not shaped to fit on a particular side. Therefore if you buy a pair and only use one for your daily ride you can alternate them in use so both fade equally.