Panniers

What makes a good set of panniers? After touring with several brands, I finally settled on a set of Ortlieb panniers. Whilst they are expensive in Australia, I have found that the investment was worth it. Some of the things that can go wrong with panniers are:

• The backing board bends, and the rear of the pannier hits the spokes;
• The mounting system breaks and the pannier heads off in a different direction than the bike;
• The mounting system does not lock to the rack, and a big bump at 60 km/h launches the panniers into orbit;
• The pannier does not have adjustable mounts and your heels hit the rear panniers, or worse they don't fit your rack;
• Sharp objects pierce the pannier, putting holes in it; and
• It rains and everything inside gets wet.

The first thing to look for in a set of panniers is it's mounting system. Some use hooks on the top, and an elasticised hook on the bottom. Others use hooks top and bottom. More sophisticated systems use locking pins or locking hooks. If your panniers don't lock to your rack, then a good bump may cause them to come off while you are riding.

Top locking hooks on an Ortlieb pannier.

The above picture shows a top hook mount, with a locking system that is released when the carry handle is pulled. Both top hooks have this safety mechanism in them. This also has the advantage of stopping the pannier moving around. One pair that I have also came with inserts to allow for different size tubing on racks. When the pannier is attached to the rack, a good solid click indicates that they are on correctly.

The bottom attachment varies on different panniers. The non locking ones tend to use a hook attached to a length of elastic, which keeps the pannier pulled down, but sharp bumps can cause the panniers to come off. The panniers also have a tendency to slide forward under braking with this system. Others use a hook that is adjustable, that slides onto the rack leg before the top mounts are locked. One other system available is that the rear panniers are joined together at the top, and the joining material actually sits over the top of the rack.

Bottom mounting hook on an Ortlieb pannier.

In the above picture the lower hook is adjustable and the hook can be adjusted to suit the rack. To mount the pannier, the lower hook is slid onto the rack, and then the top mounts are clicked into place. To unmount the pannier, the top mounts are unlocked and the pannier is pulled up the rack until the lower hook is clear of the rack. Some other pannier systems use a hook that points both ways, and fits between the front and rear leg of the rear rack. This in some instances limits the pannier to the range of racks that it can fit.

The other part of the mounting system that needs to be looked at is whether the mounts are adjustable in different directions. If your bike has short chain stays, your heels may strike the rear panniers. If you can adjust the pannier's mounts, you may be able to shift the pannier further rearward.

Showing the rear of an Ortlieb pannier, and how the mounts are adjustable.

A lot of panniers come with external pockets, which are handy for putting greasy or oily things in. I used to keep my stove bottle in an outer pocket on my old panniers, because it stank of kerosene. The Ortlieb panniers don't have an external pocket, but they can be purchased, and attached, but I haven't bothered. With various pockets in some panniers, it allows things to be separated and makes it easier to find things.

View inside an Ortlieb pannier. One big pocket.

The main thing I find desirable in a pannier is it's abiity to withstand water and dust. Most panniers use zips for the pockets, and sometimes for the main compartment. These allow water and dust in. Most panniers come with rain covers that are in an internal pocket, and are pulled out to keep the pannier dry. However most of these do not cover the back board where a lot of water can get thrown off from the wheels.

A lot of people recommend using waterproof bags inside the pannier to put everything in, which is a good idea because the bags can be changed when they become damaged. The Ortlieb panniers are waterproof and have a top that rolls down. These are like the bags used for kayaking and can be completely submersed. I have also found another use for these panniers at night. I roll the top down as if I was sealing it. I then close it like normal and because the pannier is full of air, it makes a great pillow.

Your choice of panniers, should depend on your requirements and budget, but make sure the backing boards are strong, the mounts are lockable, and also adjustable so that you can fit it to your rack properly.