Commuting panniers

Civilian_Target

After 9 years of service, my Vaude Aqua panniers ripped open this evening, spilling their contents into the snow. Time for a replacement.

While I'd consider them again, I'd hope for something better, since the Vaudes now cost most of 200 EUR.

While I'd prefer something that's decent value, I'm willing to pay for good bags because I'm expecting to use them until they're dead. Mostly commuting (clothes, laptops, shopping), but with a smattering of touring. They will be seen every day in the office, so it would be ideal if they were less ugly than the Vaude bags

I made a quick short list

Arkel Orca 45, simple & solid
http://www.arkel-od.com/en/orca-45-waterproof-rear-panniers.html

Axiom Typhoon Aero, a bit cheaper
http://www.axiomgear.com/products/gear/bags/tempest-series/typhoon-aero-dlx/

Ortelib Back Roller, reputable but ugly (my brother has these and loves them)
https://www.bikebagshop.com/ortlieb-back-roller-plus-2014-p-1008.html

North St Route 7, the hipster's choice
http://northstbags.com/collections/panniers/products/route-seven-pannier-all-new

Detours Freemonster flap - WTF?
http://www.detours.us/panniers/fremonster-flap-pannier.html

What do you recommend?

Civilian_Target

wow - really? No one has opinions on bike bags? (Not even hi-vis ones?!)

uphillonly

Ortliebs not on your list?

I've been running these for years. Laptop going back & forth to work whatever the weather with no concern. No sign of wear & very secure.

Ortlieb Back Roller Classic
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ortlieb-back-roller-classic-pannier/

Civilian_Target

uphillonly wrote: »

Ortliebs not on your list?

I've been running these for years. Laptop going back & forth to work whatever the weather with no concern. No sign of wear & very secure.

Ortlieb Back Roller Classic
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ortlieb-back-roller-classic-pannier/

Ah yeah, it is, I just mistakenly called them Vaude. Updated. Everyone seems to swear by those bags, I see them a lot. A bit ugly though, in my opinion.

mgadget

Ortlieb back roller classic. Have a set for commuting, shopping, touring. they are functional. I Haven't looked at your list, I wouldn't buy anything else.

Zen0

I don't know how you can call the Ortliebs ugly and pass no comment on the last two yokes on your list. Those bags are seriously yucky. Just get the Ortliebs, really good solid bags. They even come in a range of colours, if you are that way inclined.

petethedrummer

I use ortlieb front rollers. I have back rollers but they're too big for my commuting needs. I've only ever used them for touring.

aFlabbyPanda

Another vote for the ortlieb, can't fault them.

Macy0161

Those our way out of my price list. For what it's worth, I have one's I picked up in Aldi for €15-€20. Not waterproof on their own, but have a waterproof cover like you'd get on a hiking backpack, which got me through the worst of the autumn/ winter without any leaks.

aFlabbyPanda

I bought my single pannier for 45€ online so it wasn't massive money.

Diarmuid

Both my SO and myself have been using Ortlieb backrollers every day for the past 5 years of commuting and they are still going strong. I'd buy them again in a heartbeat.

Idleater

Another option is the ortlieb *front* roller. Same as back but smaller and imo neater. I commute with one, and have only found the need for two if going to do a big shop.

tomasrojo

My panniers are freebies. A colleague found them in a skip and, knowing I was looking for panniers, rescued them and gave them to me. They're Sporthouse, and good enough for my purposes, but I've never seen them for sale. I had to cut up some MDF to replace the plastic back boards, but other than that they've been trouble-free for about ten years. Given that that's ten years after someone else threw them out, I think that's pretty good.

Seaswimmer

Slightly OT but if one has a decent pannier (Ortlieb or similar) and uses it for shopping, going into town ect then isint there a risk of it being stolen?

How do people manage to minimize this risk.

tomasrojo

Little risk of my ancient panniers being stolen, but I'd never leave them on a bike.

They fit to the sides of a shopping trolley quite nicely actually.

(Slightly related and not widely known tip: the Early Learning Centre €1 toy coin works perfectly as a token for Aldi trollies. The €2 toy coin is too big though.)

OldBean

Seaswimmer wrote: »

Slightly OT but if one has a decent pannier (Ortlieb or similar) and uses it for shopping, going into town ect then isint there a risk of it being stolen?

How do people manage to minimize this risk.

I've a pair of Giles Berthoud panniers. I lock my bike through the rear triangle/wheel quite tightly, and leave that pannier on, but unable to be removed, and bring the other with me. Bit of a pain, but don't know any better ways to keep them attached.

crosbie

One word - ORTLIEB.

THREAD CLOSED!!

Tonyandthewhale

I use ortlieb. Six years, commuting, grocery shopping, touring, no problems no issues no complaints. Quite possibly there are other panniers that are just as good but I have no particular interest in finding out.

cdaly_

Mine is a Trek/bontrager 'interchange'. Clips on easily, pull out waterproof cover, two compartments.

Ryder

You've got plenty of advice but just to add my 2c. ....ortlieb back roller city. City version is a bit smaller and one criticism I read online is that they're a little hard to close (I don't really find this)

Plenty big enough to carry a folded suit, shoes and laptop. Waterproof. Reflective. Not at all ugly (have mine in red). Genuinely, thread closed