Which Panniers?

[squiddley]

Been looking at different pannier sets on the internet,bit of a minefield.
Has anybody any tips or preferences which ones to choose?
Thanks in advance.

 

[MontyVeda]

after much deliberating and debating... I ended up with BikeBins on the back and Ortlieb front rollers for the front.

but it's swings and roundabouts.

 

[vernon]

It's unlikely that you will get unbiased advice as most folk have there own personal preferences.

I've used Altura Arran, Altura Orkney and Halfords own brand panniers. All have served me well before I migrated to using the Carradice cotton fabric range of luggage. I recently sold my Arran and Orkney panniers at bargain prices and they were snapped up.

I'd start with a price and look what's available at that price range and make a selection from them.

Retailers worth visiting:

Wiggle
Spa Cycles

 

[squiddley]

Ok thanks

 

[snorri]

Depends what you want to use them for.
You may want to compromise and get a type suited to general usage, ie. touring, day trips and shopping excursions. Or buy two sets, one dedicated to longer tours, usually more expensive., and another cheaper set for general use.
I find it convenient to have a general use set which I can use for carrying just about anything without worrying about cuts and scuffs.

 

[saoirse50]

Just back from a ten day tour of bits of Western Scotland and Skye. I am so glad I recently sold the old secondhand Arkels I had for a few years and replaced them with Ortlieb Bikepackers. Super waterproof in some of the wettest, windiest weather I have experienced in a while (well since last August in Arran).
But it is a personal thing. I had Karrimors for years, donated after many years elsewhere, then Ortlieb back rollers (still have them, use them for shopping)' then was sold second hand Arkels which are great in the extra pocket department, but get heavy when it's wet (I hate those waterproof covers). So saved up and forked out for the Ortliebs which on last weeks performance are well with the money. There are cheaper Ortliebs, but I like the pockets. Must have spent many wasted hours searching through luggage for keys, tickets, money inhalers etc, in the voluminous back rollers over the years.

 

[Aushiker]

For what it is worth from a touring perspective my vote is for Ortlieb panniers. I went with Ortlieb as the overwhelming opinion from what I found around the place was that Ortlieb panniers are an excellent choice and my experience has born out that view. I started out with a pair of Ortlieb front-roller classic panniers but have now "upgraded" to Ortlieb Bike-Packer Plus panniers on the rear and on my Extrawheel Voyager and a pair of Ortlieb Sport-Packer Plus panniers on the front.

Very happy with them and haven't come across anything that apears to out perform them.

Andrew

 

[Bodhbh]

One of the great things about the Ortliebs is they are modular and you can buy all the spares (attachment hooks, pockets, etc). Althought I'm sure that applies to some other pannier makes too. They are completely waterproof too.

/hello Squiddley btw. I'm from Keelby just down the road, but living in Salisbury atm.

 

[squiddley]

Now then,thanks for the info,small world...I use to live in Keelby,moved from there about 3 years ago.

 

[slowmotion]

I've got Ortlieb Back Roller Classics. They are completely bomb-proof weather wise. As someone recently observed, it can be a bit of a pain trying to find stuff in the single compartment. I'm still delighted with them though. I think they have a five year warranty too.

BTW, you can clip them on and off your rack in three seconds. Brilliant!

 

[jjb]

I like lots of pockets in my panniers, so I can find stuff. Currently I use an old set of Karrimors as they're light for the volume, 1.3kg per pair maybe iirc.

 

[Aushiker]

One of the great things about the Ortliebs is they are modular and you can buy all the spares (attachment hooks, pockets, etc).

Thanks for the reminder! I had been tossing around ideas on how to mount a couple of fuel bottles outside of my panniers and you have reminded me of another option I wonder if the Ortlieb bidon's would hold an MSR or Trangia fuel bottle.

Andrew

 

[willem]

I don't think that is a good idea. Fuel is relatively heavy with a high specific gravity of about 0.8 (much camping gear and clothing is closer to 0.25 or 0.3 at the most). Have so much weight at the far back end of the bike, and you will degrade the handling. The best place for such heavy stuff is in the centre of gravity of the bike, such as in a Bikebuddy under the downtube. More generally, weight is I think the biggest disadvantage of the Orlieb line, even if the quality is indeed superb. First of all, you are easily persuaded that because they sell both front and rear panniers that you actually need both - but often you don't. Second, they are pretty heavy. Classic backrollers are 1.9 kg, or about 20 % of the loaded weight of a set. With frontrollers the ratio is even less unfavourable. If weight matters to you, and if you think 36 litres is enough (I think it is for many tours), a set of Pacific Outdoor LTW small panniers only weighs just over 1 kg. Perhaps not as bomb proof as the Ortliebs, but they deserve a thought.
Willem

 

[Crankarm]

Been looking at different pannier sets on the internet,bit of a minefield.
Has anybody any tips or preferences which ones to choose?
Thanks in advance.

Search is your friend unless you are lazy. There are absolutely shed loads of threads on this topic.

 

[MontyVeda]

I agree with Willem about putting your cooking fuel anywhere but in the pannier... in a bottle cage or getting the Bikebuddy is the best bet*... just try not to take a swig of meths if it is in a bottle cage!

*just in case it leaks... you don't want it on your tent, sleeping bag, clothes, food, cooking gear, etc.