If I might shed some light.
As some may have seen from my other posts I have the rear Vaude Aqua Plus panniers with zipped side pockets which I bought October 2008 from TwoWheelsGood in London.
Mine are just like the ones in the
ebay link above although they have an additional piece of fabric acting as a weather strip above the zip of the side pocket.
These are the current models on Vaude's website,
http://www.vaude.com/epages/Vaude-d...ps/Vaude/Products/15134/SubProducts/151340310
I however bought the corresponding front Aquas which don't come with side pocket and Aqua bar bag from Amazon.
Amazon had also put the wrong generic picture up showing the Aqua Pros which have conventional lids but the written description indicated that the bag was the roll top version. Durrr! So over the period of a week I called Amazon several times trying to find out what design the panniers were they had in stock. Eventually one foxy Irish lass arranged for some one to actually go to the racking where they were stored in their huge distribution centre to check. They were the roll tops. She was so sorry that the wrong pic had been posted.
So I couldn't pay for these one remaining pair of Aqua front panniers at £50 (26% off IIRC) and also the one remaining Aqua bar bag at £50 (26% off IIRC as well) fast enough. They arrived separately which I was bemused by having ordered them together, but they were both very well packaged and in new immaculate condition.
I think the side pocket with roll top and securing bucklr might actually be an older version as these are not on Vaude's website. Maybe they were the design of the Worldtramp panniers.
My own zipped versions have been fine no problems what so ever, although ..... one week ago the slider did slip off the end of the zips on one of the side pockets and I can't get it back on. The zip is welded in the pannier material cannot be stretched neither do I want to cause irrepairable damage in trying to force it. The zips should have stoppers at either ends or alternatively the two sides of the zip should be stitched/welded together at the ends.
Other than this the panniers have been absolutely fan dabby dozy brilliant in the 18 months I have had mine using them pretty much everyday. They still clean up like new. They are of course totally water proof including the side pocket (when the zip slider doesn't come off). The zips themselves are fine and show no signs of jamming/splitting which usually happens with pannier zips. Just annoying the slider has come off one of them.
I have emailed Vaude about the zip slider and they say to return them under their warranty. They may repair it or just replace the panniers. Either way I would like the zip modified so it can't happen again.
You won't be disappointed if you buy these panniers. Expensive but they are the best on the market IMHO (zip sliders aside).
I would ring up Amazon and get them to clarify which design/model they have in stock which will mean some one having to go and actually checking them which might take 24hrs or so. If so they are a pretty good buy at £86-87. I paid nearer £100. Some retailers want considerably more.
.
