10 criteria for choosing bicycle panniers
It's not always easy to choose your bike panniers, so here are my 10 essential criteria to consider before buying your bikepacking or cycle-touring equipment.
The video
1. Tour length and travel style
If you’re going on a day trip, a small frame or handlebar bag is enough to carry your snacks, rain gear and a few repair tools. The advantage of a handlebar/frame bag is that it’s easy to access while riding.
If you’re going to be away for several days, how are you going to sleep and how are you going to eat? If you’re traveling in complete autonomy, you’ll need more space on the bike. If you sleep in camping/hotels on the road, you’ll be lighter. If you’re cooking with a gas stove and popote to save money, you’ll need a larger pannier to carry your cooking gear.
If you’re in ultra mode, you’ll be looking to save every last gram, which won’t be the case if you’re on a “slow” trip.
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When selecting your bag, it’s essential to focus on your needs. Howyou intend to use it should guide your choice. Don’t just follow fashion đŸ˜‰
Rack-mounted panniers, for example, allow you to take more things with you, and therefore potentially more comfort (but are heavier), while bikepacking panniers are lighter, more versatile and give you a better riding feel (but mean you have to be fairly minimalist).
2. Adapting the pannier to the bike
Yes, it sounds obvious, but believe me, it doesn’t have to be… Especially when you’re a woman with a size S bike! I know plenty of women (including me!) who have already made a mistake when buying panniers, simply because we tell ourselves, without thinking, that they’re bound to fit on our bike. Except that manufacturers mainly design panniers for larger bikes, so there are countless panniers that don’t fit on a small bike. The solution? Measure carefully! Manufacturers always give specifications, so get out your tape measure and measure EVERYTHING before you buy đŸ˜‰
3. Type of bike
Traditionally, on a trekking bike (randonneuse type), you attach your panniers to a luggage rack at the rear and/or front of the bike. This allows you to carry a maximum amount of equipment. These bikes are particularly sturdy and designed to take a lot of weight.
On Gravel or Road bikes, which are generally much more fragile and potentially made of carbon, we’d rather use bikepacking panniers, which are attached to the handlebars, saddle, fork and frame. Care should be taken to reduce the stress on this type of bike. Find out more about the different types of bike panniers here.
4. Bag material
Don’t forget to pay attention to the bag’s material. Even if it’s more expensive, I’d really advise you to opt for a waterproof model to keep your belongings as dry as possible. Don’t hesitate to read several reviews before making up your mind!
5. Easy to hang
Ease of installation and attachment is another criterion not to be overlooked. A pannier that’s easy to fit and remove will save you time when you stop to remove the panniers from the bike. On the other hand, a pannier with an awkward fastening system will have you complaining on a regular basis: wouldn’t that be a shame?) And that’s what makes Ortlieb’s Back Roller panniers so great.
6. Easy to open and close
Another point to consider is how easy it is to open your panniers. You’ll need to open and close your panniers many times during your trip. A pannier that’s quick and easy to open means you’ll have easy access to your belongings, and that’s a lot more fun!
7. Compartments
Theorganization of your belongings in the panniers is also important. Models with several compartments often provide better distribution of your belongings and easy access to your essentials. And don’t forget to take into account your own needs (dynamo cable routing, etc…) – we don’t all have the same!
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8. Design
It’s a question of personal taste, but if you’re going to invest in panniers with a view to keeping them for a while, you might as well like them and like the way they look once they’re on the bikeđŸ˜‰
9. Manufacture and origin
Bicycle bags come in all shapes and sizes: purely artisanal, French or European industrial, made in China… It’s up to you to judge whether this is a criterion for you, but in my opinion it’s worth taking into account, as more local production often rhymes with greater quality. For example, I’m a big fan of Ortlieb (made in Germany) or Restrap (made in the UK).
10. Budget
Budget is a very personal and important criterion, of course. Even if price doesn’t always rhyme with quality, I still recommend that if it’s possible for you, don’t hesitate to spend a little more on panniers that will last longer– it’s often a win-win situation in the long run!