Need to buy new panniers - any recommendations?

pollys_bott
pollys_bott Posts: 1,012
edited February 2015 in Commuting general
We became a crime statistic a week ago with the little darlings rubbing salt into the wound by making off with their loot in my panniers. Yup, I can laugh now..!

I had the basic Altura Arrans like these http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... 1000000000 which were OK, did the job. I only commute approx 8 days a month as I do continental shifts so they don't get massive amounts of wear. Not 100% waterproof in my experience but I wrapped stuff in carrier bags when it was wet. Am happy to buy another pair unless anyone can recommend anything better for around the same sort of price? Thanks.

Comments

  • andrewc3142
    andrewc3142 Posts: 906
    Ortleib.

    More expensive but the absolute best. You can pass them on to your grandchildren.
  • Wynne G Oldman
    Wynne G Oldman Posts: 266
    I've just bough this http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... nnier-bags I can't tell you if it's any good, or not, as it hasn't arrived yet. Seems good value for money though.
    "on your bike" Norman Tebbit.
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    I just went for Ortlieb. Expensive but I've been happy. Last Monday I had to walk home carrying my panniers and the top plastic strip the hooks slide along came off a bit at one end. Less than a year old. However since they're replaceable I just put the screw fixing back in and screwed it tight again, like new.
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    I bought a pre-owned Ortlieb bag over two years ago, other than showing up the dirt cause it's white I can't fault it. I've had the top rail come off mid-ride but luckily never lost any bolts etc, 2 minutes later I was back riding but tightened the screws again with a small dab of blue Loctite.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    Another vote for Ortlieb.

    I also had a complete set of front and rear Roller Classics nicked (and got whacked on the head with a rock into the bargain) and replaced them with Carradice. They just don't seem to be as robust; the zips are not as strong, the mounting onto the rack is not as good and the material itself I do not think is as robust. They are not bad though by any means.

    The Ortliebs did seem to give the rack a rather harder time of it at the top rail in terms of wear, and the little pieces used to accomodate different rail diameters aren't very clever; I can see those getting lost.

    Have not had any problems with water ingress with either the Ortliebs or Carradice.
    - - - - - - - - - -
    On Strava.{/url}
  • pollys_bott
    pollys_bott Posts: 1,012
    Thanks everyone - funnily enough I had been looking quite closely through an Ortlieb catalogue before Christmas, must have had a premonition. Evans are doing a pair of Rear Rollers for £67 which seems pretty good, but I'm hoping to do some long days out on the bike this year and would want to take spare kit / food with me so am wondering whether this would be a better solution than a pair of panniers:

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ortlieb-rack-pa ... -31-litre/

    Anyone used one before? Should still be plenty big enough for the commute as I don't take that much stuff to work, although looking at the dimensions I suspect the 24 litre one would suffice...
  • friedpizzainbatter
    friedpizzainbatter Posts: 166
    I got these a few years back:
    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... nnier-bags

    Really good value for money, fully waterproof, and both bags give you 40L.
    Trek Domane 4.3. Merida One.forty 7.700. Merida CX 3. Voodoo Bizango
    "When the vulture flies sideways the moon has hair on his upper lip"
  • Wynne G Oldman
    Wynne G Oldman Posts: 266
    I'd just like to say that I've been using these http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... nnier-bags for a couple of weeks now and I'm very impressed with them for the money. Yesterday, I rode for just over an hour in the rain, without the supplied rain cover on and was pleased to find that everything inside them was perfectly dry. I usually just use the 2 panniers, with the top bag in one of them, just in case I ever need extra storage, which I did use the other day, to carry home a dozen roses for my wife (Valentines Day). A very versatile and affordable system which I heartily recommend. :wink:
    "on your bike" Norman Tebbit.

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