Which Panniers (& bar bag)?

timmyflash

Hi all,

Doing a three day tour London to Paris so looking for some panniers (got a specialized sirrus if that makes a difference). Have found bits and pieces of advice here and there and it looks like the highest rated are the Ortliebs, Caradice and Vaude. BUT - these look a tad pricey for now. These were recommended by a friendly person of this forum:

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=B3000

Look quite good in photos, nice price and about the right size i reckon. Thoughts / reviews?

ALSO - looking for a bar bag with a map case on top. Any recomendations? Not a fan of the ones where the map case is only attached just one side to leave the other flapping about - that just looks annoying!

Cheers all

daniel_b

Hey Timmy,

your not getting much luck on here are you matey!

May I direct you to:

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15623&p=128226&hilit=mainstream+pannier#p128226

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=15305&p=119960&hilit=mainstream+pannier#p119960

The Altura ones on my post are actually cheaper now than then.........

Dan

daniel_b

And just to add, the ones you lnked too are the smaller ones, at 25 litres a pair, but you probably want the bigger ones which are here:

http://wazaar.com/cart_productdetails.asp?PRODUCTID=1607

The SL55's are what you may want, and are indeed the ones I linked to in my other reply to you.

Haven't searched to see if they are cheaper elsewhere.

Dan

timmyflash

Ha ha - yep, think it's just you on here! I guess it is a pretty bone question though...

That said, i really appreciate your advice - only problem is, you keep coming back with different great looking options! So still a bit undecided.. What did you go for in the end?

Am currently umming and arring between Altura Fusions and Mainstream ones i reckon. Just don't think i can justify expensive ones at the moment. Thanks for the spot on the small Mainstream ones i linked - that could have worked out badly...

daniel_b

I think you would get better more upto date answers either on the CTC forum, or on the tour and expedition bit on here.

CTC would be my bets bet though, they have a lot of touring type folks on there.

I went for the Ortlieb back roller classics, 2 pairs for myself and my gf, and used them for the first time at the weekend, and they were excellent, nice and maneuverable, and no heel strike to be seen, will actually bring them in a bit when I get the chance to move the weight inwards a bit.
I probably would have gone for the Mainstreams, but at the time they were never in stock, and when I bought the Ortleibs they were £70 a pair from facewest, who are now selling them for £103 :?

Some other places have them for £80ish still though.

Apologies for the extra options!

How much are the Alturas?

If you look on some of those other CTC threads, there are some reviews of how good the mainstream ones are, so see what they say in there (From memory they got very good reviews) and then weigh it up with the Alturas from ribble, who seem to be the cheapest by far.

If it were my money, bearing in mind the Mainstreams were around £35 IIRC last year, I would stick the extra bit of cash in and get the Alturas.

Dan