How To Buy Panniers For Bicycle Touring

Panniers (saddle bags for bicycles) are the mainstay for the bicycle tourist. The bulk of your clothes and equipment will be carried in these bags, and the choice of which pannier to buy is a critical one.

There are many features to consider in panniers. consider your needs and the conditions you will be riding in - you may find some aspects of the pannier to be more important for you than others. Personal preferences vary widely so consider what you want rather than what your neighbor wants.

Fabric: The type of fabric you choose will determine, to a large extent, the waterproofness of the pannier. It will also determine the durability of the pannier. You can choose from hard-wearing cordura, heavy-duty cotton duck, or PVC.

Traditionally, panniers have been made of some kind of nylon or heavy canvas. These panniers have stood the test of time and last decades, even under heavy use. Unfortunately, they are not waterproof and you may need to pack your gear in plastic bags if you'll be riding in rain.

Carradice makes lovely panniers out of heavy cotton fabric. The fibers swell when they get wet, which makes the pannier nearly impermeable to water. Arkel makes heavy-duty panniers out of nylon cordura. They also include a waterproof bag attached to the inside - use it when you need it; fold it up and stash it away when you don't. Jandd panniers are made of a coated nylon cordura which is reasonably waterproof, but you will need to pack gear in plastic if you plan to ride in heavy rain.

Many people have found they prefer PVC panniers for their waterproof nature. They can pack their clothes away and know they won't be wet at the end of the day - even if they pass through a torrential downpour. If you choose this option, be sure you don't put anything even a little bit damp in the pannier as the moisture cannot escape and everything in the bag will end up wet. Consider Ortlieb if this priority for you.

Attachment system: Panniers need to be attached on to the racks on your bike somehow - and this system varies widely with manufacturer. Some companies - like Arkel and Ortlieb - have designed quick-release systems to make it very fast and easy to strip down your bike. This is a handy feature if you have to carry your bike up to a third floor hotel room.

On the other hand, some of the older methods of attaching panniers are more secure and less vulnerable to damage. Although they are a bit more difficult to get on and off, having an attachment system with hooks and nylon straps makes it possible to cinch the panniers on very tightly so there is virtually no chance they will come off during rough off-road riding. Jandd makes great panniers with this type of system.

Organization: Just as some of us prefer clothes or purses with lots of pockets, so will we vary in our preference for pockets in panniers. Some cycle tourists find a wide variety of pockets handy in sorting and organizing gear, while others prefer one big bag and will use ditty bags to organize. Most panniers come with at least one pocket, although one type of Ortlieb has none at all - just one big main compartment. If you really like pockets, check out Arkel.

Weight: You will feel each and every ounce you are carrying while grinding up hills. Included in that weight is your panniers.

Although we all want long-lasting panniers, that durability will come at a price - weight. In general, the more durable the pannier, the heavier it is. Due to the heavier fabric and thread and hard-working hardware used in the longest-lasting panniers, they weigh more.

Many cycle tourists have found they prefer lighter-weight panniers over the heavier work horses. They need to replace them every few years - which costs more money in the long run - but they find that preferable over carrying excess weight over high passes. In the end, the decision is yours.

Size: When you start looking for panniers, you'll find they come in all different sizes, colors, and shapes. How big do you need? A lot of that answer involves personal preference but in general, if you will be camping you'll need bigger panniers in order to carry the extra gear. If you plan to stay in hotels, you will be able to get away with small panniers.

In some ways it is nice to have panniers that are a bit too big - if you find a souvenir you want to buy you can fit it in. On the other hand, having space encourages one to fill it - and you might find yourself carrying unnecessary weight.