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.

Although there are many companies making panniers, here are a few that stand out: Arkel is known for their hard-working panniers make of nylon cordura. They include a tailor-fitted waterproof bag that you can use when you need it but fold up and out of the way when you don’t. Jandd makes good solid panniers out of nylon cordura as well. Carradice has been making panniers out of heavy-duty cotton fabric for decades. The cotton fibers swell when they get wet, which leads to the pannier being virtually impermeable to water.

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: Something else to consider when buying panniers is how it will be attached to your bike. Some companies – like Ortlieb and Arkel – have designed quick-release systems making it very quick and easy to get the panniers on and off the bike. This is a great feature when you need to strip your bike to get it up to a hotel room on the third floor.

Some of the older methods for securing panniers are actually more stable and less vulnerable to damage. They attach to the rack with hooks and nylon straps, which allow you to cinch them on very tightly – there is no chance of them coming off even on very rough, off-road conditions.

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: Every ounce makes a difference on the bike. When you are grinding up hills, you will reconsider each and every item you packed. Pannier weight is included in that.

Durability comes at a price. In general, longer-lasting panniers will be heavier. Due to the heavy, more durable fabric they used and heavier thread for stitching and long-lasting hardware, the pannier will weigh more.

Some cycle tourists have found they prefer cheaper panniers that need to be replaced more frequently over the more durable panniers specifically for this reason. In the long run, this option costs a bit more but if you can save a pound or two of weight it may be worth it. The decision is yours.

Size: How big do you need? We all carry different amounts of gear, so there is no right and wrong answer there. If you will be camping along the way, you’ll need more capacity for gear. If you plan to stay in hotels, your panniers will be smaller.

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.

Nancy Sathre-Vogel discovered the joys of bike touring nearly 30 years ago and has watched the changes in gear and equipment through the years. For help planning your own bicycle tour, check out her website, www.familyonbikes.org. You can get a unique content version of this article from the Uber Article Directory.

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