How to Pick the Perfect Panniers for Touring and Commuting
Congratulations! If you’re reading this article, then a good amount of human-powered, two-wheeled transportation is likely in your future. We think that traveling by bicycle is a great way to get around that’s fun and healthy, helps reduce vehicle emissions and congestion on our roadways, and allows access to many places that cars are unable to reach. Adding a new pannier or set of panniers to your bike is an easy way to instantly increase your cargo-carrying capacity, protect your gear from the elements, or make your ride more comfortable by eliminating the need to wear a backpack.
Whether you’re planning on exploring the world by bike, commuting to work or school, or simply cruising around town to run errands or get groceries, we’ll arm you with the right information to find the best product for your needs. Once you know what to look for, be sure to check out our Best-in-Class Bike Panniers Review and individual product reviews to help narrow down your options and find the right pannier for you.
Bike panniers come in all shapes and sizes, are built from different types of materials, are equipped with different mounting systems, and have all kinds of special features. Some have shoulder straps, some have backpack straps, and some have no straps at all. Some models might look quite similar but might also have small nuances that have a massive impact on their user-friendliness. Luckily, we put the top models on the market to the test, closely analyzed their similarities and differences, and evaluated their performance in the field. We’ll help you sort through all this information so that you know exactly what to look for to meet your needs.
Why Do You Need Bike Panniers?
Throughout the years, cyclists have found numerous clever ways to turn their bicycles into better cargo-carrying carriages. Baskets, racks, trailers, and even extended frames have all provided greater utility to allow bikes to haul more than just their operators. Panniers offer a unique and flexible storage solution that combines useful carrying-capacity on the bike that is easily removed for transport off the bike.
Bike panniers allow riders of all shapes, sizes, and ability levels to comfortably haul their gear while in the saddle. They’re far more practical for cyclists than backpacks because they enable you to ride without a nagging weight pulling at your neck and shoulders, providing a much more comfortable ride and more mechanically efficient body position. A well-designed pannier will also be easy to remove from the bike and will allow you to quickly transition into pedestrian mode with a shoulder strap or even full-on backpack shoulder straps. If you plan on using your bike to travel, commute, or run errands around town, then a pannier will help you reach your destination with gear in tow more comfortably and efficiently.
Bikepacking vs. Bike-Touring
Bikepacking is a relatively new subset of cycle touring where all of your gear is packed into specially designed bags that attach directly to your handlebars or bike frame without any additional hardware like a bike rack. The idea here is to minimize weight and streamline your riding profile for more aerodynamic travel. Many bikepackers will ride with mountain bikes with either front or dual suspensions to allow them to travel off-road and on more rugged and challenging terrain.
Different Types of Bike Panniers
While all the panniers in this review can be mounted to a bike rack and easily removed for transport off the bike, that is where the similarities end. Some types of panniers have a single giant storage compartment, while others have several smaller pockets and sleeves for better organization. Some have heavy-duty waterproof materials and fully-sealing closures for maximum protection from the elements, while others have simple zippered or velcro closures for easier access. Some have highly adjustable mounting systems to dial in a perfectly snug fit, while others have a simple fixed hook system for quicker mounting and removal. It can be confusing to make sense of all the different pack styles and features, but we’ve been able to identify definite trends regarding which types of design features are found on products best suited for certain riding styles. We’ve broken down the pannier market into a handful of general categories whose products each have similar features depending on the intended use.
Commuting Panniers
Commuting panniers are specifically designed to offer utility to folks who primarily use their bike to travel to work, school, or other local destinations. They typically aren’t intended for long-distance rides but are built to offer more comfort and easier use. Since they are usually designed for shorter riding distances, commuting panniers won’t always be fully waterproof but are typically at least weather resistant or include a rain cover. Because they get mounted and removed from the rack more frequently than touring panniers, commuting panniers will usually have very strong and easy to use mounting systems. They should also have options to carry the bag comfortably while off the bike, preferably in the form of an adjustable, removable shoulder strap. Most commuting panniers also have several internal or external pockets to help organize contents like books, laptops, and keys, and are often some of the most stylish bags as well!
If you’re in the market for a pannier for general urban or town use, then you’ll need to consider how much storage capacity you need, what kind of carry system you’d like for the bag, and how easy or difficult it will be to mount or remove a fully loaded bag from your bike. The best urban panniers will have a large storage compartment like mentioned before, will have strong handles and/or shoulder straps for easy carrying, and will have a tough yet simple to use mounting system for repeated attachment and removal.
Backpack Panniers
While backpack style panniers could certainly fall under the category of urban or commuting bags, there are enough standout options for convertible backpack panniers to receive their own recognition! The genius behind backpack panniers is that they feature bike mounting hardware as well as shoulder straps, allowing you to seamlessly transition from cyclist to pedestrian. The storage capacity and overall function of these panniers are similar to commuter bags, except that you can choose to carry them on your back when not on the bike. Some backpack panniers have shoulder straps that stow away, while others require that you affix the shoulder straps each time you want to use them as a backpack. These types of panniers are super convenient when you spend a good amount of time carrying your bag on your back as well as on your bike.
Congratulations! If you’re reading this article, then a good amount of human-powered, two-wheeled transportation is likely in your future. We think that traveling by bicycle is a great way to get around that’s fun and healthy, helps reduce vehicle emissions and congestion on our roadways, and allows access to many places that cars are unable…