which front rack bags

[just4fun]

I Just wanted to know which front pannier bags you would recommend as i will need some for the summer. I have about £80 budget and will be attaching them to an Expedition front racks.
Thanks in advance

 

[Anthony]

Hi,
I would definitely recommend some vaude aqua front panniers. They have great reviews and are just as good (if not better) as the ortlieb panniers. But I just bought a pair on sale for £54 from allterraincycles, which is a real bargin for such a good pannier.
http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/111837.html

 

[just4fun]

Thanks anthony. Do you know if they are £54 for a pair or each? From your post it looks like a pair but i'd just like to make sure. If It is 54 quid for both they are perfect and a massive thanks for the link.

 

[P.H]

Which rear bags have you got?
Panniers seem to fall into two types, 100% waterproof or breathable. Somethings I like to keep in waterproof, like my sleeping bag. Other things are better in a breathable pannier, damp tent, food...
IMO an ideal combination would be a mix between front and back.

 

[Anthony]

Thanks anthony. Do you know if they are £54 for a pair or each? From your post it looks like a pair but i'd just like to make sure. If It is 54 quid for both they are perfect and a massive thanks for the link.

They are £54 for a pair. It's a very good deal, that's why I bought myself some

 

[just4fun]

They are £54 for a pair. It's a very good deal, that's why I bought myself some

Your a legend!

 

[Crankarm]

As you have done a search it should have pulled up this thread which should give you all you need to know.

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=48989&page=4

and also this thread,

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=53855&page=2


Cheapest place I saw for Vaude Aqua panniers has been Amazon.


I see Ortlieb are doing a rear Sport Packer Plus pannier like the Roller Classics - but with a conventional lid with straps and a side pocket all supposedly water proof for ........ £144.45!!!!!!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Ortlieb_Bike_Packer_Plus_Panniers/5360041587/

I would buy Ortlieb but for the fact that the back panel that the hooks mount to seems to flex too much and bend. It woud be great if Vaude could do a similar bag also with a conventional lid. The roll top is good, totally waterproof, but a conventional lid is better for everyday use IMHO.
Cue the Altura Orkneys but don't like their one lid for both the main bag and side pocket.

 

[Crankarm]

Your a legend!

You're or You are .

 

[Anthony]

Your a legend!

Thanks very much!

Cheapest place I saw for Vaude Aqua panniers has been Amazon.

Amazon do sell them cheap, but they are the older 2008 models. You can get the new vaude aqua front for cheaper on allterraincycles.co.uk. For the cheapest newer model rear panniers, you'll have to search round a bit. I bought the aqua back plusses (with the side pockets) from ebay for a fiver more than Amazon sell there 2008 ones.

It woud be great if Vaude could do a similar bag also with a conventional lid.

They do! http://www.ubergear.co.uk/Vaude-Aqua-Pro-Back.html

 

[Crankarm]

Thanks very much!



Amazon do sell them cheap, but they are the older 2008 models. You can get the new vaude aqua front for cheaper on allterraincycles.co.uk. For the cheapest newer model rear panniers, you'll have to search round a bit. I bought the aqua back plusses (with the side pockets) from ebay for a fiver more than Amazon sell there 2008 ones.



They do! http://www.ubergear.co.uk/Vaude-Aqua-Pro-Back.html

Oh no they don't! As the panniers in your link do not have side pockets.

Amazon was selling the Vaude Aqua front panniers for £50.54 with free delivery and bar bag for a very similar price (see my posts on the above threads). I thought AT cycles were selling them for £54, not sure if delivery was free. This is more expensive than Amazon! They were selling the 2009 models, not the 2008 which I had hoped to get, The 2009 panniers have the QMR hooks which I am not keen on where as I prefer the 2008 range hooks, which my rear Aqua Plus panniers have. These are much better as the clamp holding the hooks in position are tighened using a bolt with an Allen Key head perfect for a multi-tool instead of a plastic wheel in the 2009 panniers. Apart from the upper hooks there are no other differences between the 2008/9 bags AFAIK.

Anyway Anthony what do you think of your Aqua Back Plusses? What colour did you go for?

 

[Anthony]

Oh no they don't! As the panniers in your link do not have side pockets.

Fair enough.

Amazon was selling the Vaude Aqua front panniers for £50.54 with free delivery and bar bag for a very similar price (see my posts on the above threads). I thought AT cycles were selling them for £54, not sure if delivery was free. This is more expensive than Amazon! They were selling the 2009 models, not the 2008 which I had hoped to get, The 2009 panniers have the QMR hooks which I am not keen on where as I prefer the 2008 range hooks, which my rear Aqua Plus panniers have.

As it stands today, amazon are selling them for £55 and it says in the product features its the 2008 model.

Anyway Anthony what do you think of your Aqua Back Plusses? What colour did you go for?

I went for the red ones. I am very happy with them so far. I've tried them out on my commute and they've been great. (Perhaps you're right, for commuting a conventional lid would be better). But I bought mine for touring (where having a roll down will be good for airing stuff). I'll have to wait until i've done my summer trip to Norkapp to let you know how they were, but i'm guessing they will be a worthwhile investment.

 

[Crankarm]

Fair enough.



As it stands today, amazon are selling them for £55 and it says in the product features its the 2008 model.




I went for the red ones. I am very happy with them so far. I've tried them out on my commute and they've been great. (Perhaps you're right, for commuting a conventional lid would be better). But I bought mine for touring (where having a roll down will be good for airing stuff). I'll have to wait until i've done my summer trip to Norkapp to let you know how they were, but i'm guessing they will be a worthwhile investment.

They'll certainly get a work out going to the Nordkapp and I 'm sure will serve you well. They are certainly more than capable.

Don't be taken in by Amazon's pics and blurb. They are often wrong, out of date or mismatched with the description which you would have realised had you read the links to the other posts I included, one of which I wrote about my experience buying them from Amazon . The pics they post are generic pics. The panniers they are selling are the current models. For me I prefer the 2008 versions as I say the hooks are better but you don't seem to have picked up on this.

 

[Anthony]

For me I prefer the 2008 versions as I say the hooks are better but you don't seem to have picked up on this.

It's hard for me to comment on this. I've only had my bags for a few weeks and i've had no problems with the hooks. It's hard to envision future problems becasue they seem well built to me but I guess time will tell on that one. I've never seen/tried the older version so I can't really compare the two.

 

[Crankarm]

It's hard for me to comment on this. I've only had my bags for a few weeks and i've had no problems with the hooks. It's hard to envision future problems becasue they seem well built to me but I guess time will tell on that one. I've never seen/tried the older version so I can't really compare the two.

Do your hooks have little orange wheels to tighten them onto the back plate? The older ones 2008 had bolts which you could just use an Allen key on a multi tool to tighten - perfect. I think with the new hooks if you feel you cannot get them tight enough with your fingers using these wheels, you can remove the little orange/red plastic disc to reveal the bolt underneath and still tighten with an Allen key, although Vaude don't tell you this in their instructions. My rear panniers are 2008 so older better hooks IMHO but my fronts 2009 (end of) new QMR plastic wheel hooks.

They are indeed well built, feeling very robust and of high qualitat which is what attracted me to them. Time will tell. I am expecting at least 10 years use minimum out of mine. No reason why they shouldn't give this and more.

 

[roundisland]

I just brought the Vaude universal bike bag Aqua Front 2008 off Amazon last night, hope there good. This is going to be my first year cycle touring really looking forward to it. Left to buy is sleeping matt thats all!