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"Panniers are a simple but brilliant concept: bags (usually waterproof) that clip or strap to cargo racks mounted on your bike. They come in a wide range of styles, from 20-liter long-haulers to mid-size “gravel panniers” to “nano panniers” designed for bikepacking (more on that later). If you want to haul a lot of stuff on a bike with minimal fuss, panniers are the way to go. Generally speaking (there are plenty of exceptions) panniers are better suited for large loads, long trips, and paved or gravel roads. People who use them tend to prioritize the “travel” part of bike travel. Four Panniers Traditionally, touring with panniers meant the full 2-rack, 4-bag, front and rear setup. At the risk of stereotyping, you might picture scruffy round-the-world bike travelers, TransAm riders biking across the US, or perhaps retirees on rail trails. If you need to carry a ton of stuff, four panniers are still a great way to do it (though I would recommend adding a frame bag to make the most of all that triangle space). A typical set of rear panniers like the ubiquitous Ortlieb BackRoller Classic holds 40 liters of gear (20 liters per side). Add a couple front panniers, plus all the space on top of the rack to bungee a tent and whatnot, and you have a long-haul setup fit for life on the road. The biggest issue with carrying that much gear, as you might imagine, is a very heavy bike. At the risk of ruffling a few feathers, I’ll say that a full pannier setup is not about making the riding part fun. It’s about experiencing the places you’re riding through, with the bike as your means of transportation. It’s a travel-focused setup. A two-panier setup is a better option for many people. Sadly, most of us aren’t taking off on round-the-world tours right this moment, and camping gear has grown so much lighter and more compact lately that fewer people need to fill a full pannier set for a local trip. Thus many folks ride with only rear panniers, or (less commonly) only front panniers. My original road touring setup, which I rode for months in Southeast Asia and Patagonia, used two large rear panniers. It was heavily back-loaded but I was mostly riding pavement and didn’t care; my Surly Long Haul Trucker handled it like a champ. Weight distribution would have been better with two smaller panniers on both front and back, but that would have cost more money. Two rear panniers are a great way to get a fair amount of gear capacity with minimal cost and fuss. You only need one rack and don’t necessarily have to shell out for Ortlieb; there are cheaper options available (though you get what you pay for). Two full large panniers is still a fair amount of weight to pedal. These days you’ll find smaller panniers in the 10 – 15 liter range, like the Ortlieb Gravel and Roswheel Tour. If you can fit your gear into a single pair of these you’re well on your way to a lighter setup that’s fun to ride. Advantages of Panniers Generally speaking, these are reasons to prefer panniers over a bikepacking bag setup. More space: Larger capacity lets you carry more things, which can be necessary for long trips, complex routes, or small riders with limited frame space for bikepacking bags. Simpler to pack: Large compartments make it easy to find a spot for bulky items, like tents and sleeping pads, that can be awkward to pack in bikepacking bags. Easier to remove from the bike: Traditional panniers click on and off the rack for easy removal and carrying into your tent or hotel. Bikepacking bags mostly stay on the bike, so unloading means carrying awkward armfuls of small bags. Weight is closer to the ground which can feel better for handling, especially with a heavy load. Bikepacking bags need to be packed fairly light or the higher center of gravity can negate their advantages. More affordable, at least for a basic version. Budget-friendly gear is available in both styles, but a pannier setup has fewer pieces and a reliable quality setup costs a bit less. Furthermore, bikepacking bags are more narrowly focused so people tend to make more tweaks over time, resulting in more gear bought and more money spent. Simpler to choose and buy: fewer individual pieces to think about, fewer decisions to make, less of a learning curve to understanding options and compatibility. Bikepacking-Style Panniers In the years since I wrote the first version of this article, the line between panniers and bikepacking bags has blurred. A new class of more minimalist “bikepacking panniers” has arisen to meet the needs of folks who still want to ride rugged routes but need a bit more cargo capacity. Panniers designed for bikepacking try to mitigate the biggest drawbacks on rough off-road terrain. They’re smaller and narrower, lighter, and their soft attachments (usually hook and loop style, also known as Velcro) are rattle-free. They’re usually harder to remove from the rack, as with other bikepacking bags, but that’s less of an issue when you’re riding through the middle of nowhere and sleeping in a tent. I use this style of panniers (REI Co-op Link Panniers, 18 liters each) for more involved off-pavement rides, like a month in the mountains of Central Asia, and for me it’s a good compromise. Other popular examples include OMM’s 14 liter Micro Panniers, Arkel’s 14 liter Dry-Lite Panniers, and Revelate Designs’ 11 liter Nano Panniers.\n"
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