Commuterists - reco...
 

[Closed] Commuterists - recommend me some panniers/Frame Bag

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Afternoon,I am looking for a decent rear pannier to attach to my commuter (Trek XCaliber) that will take a laptop. Or anyone using frame bags for similar? Currently use a rucksack but the weight is now getting a bit much. Thanks.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 12:32 pm
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I bought a pair of second hand but with new tags Thule panniers from my local Facebook page - £50 the pair. I have a rack given to me for free when someone changed to fashionable bike packing.

They work - best bit is it is so quick to take bag in, get changed, unload laptop and go...I've found a 25lt pannier is slightly over sized for what I need, but useful should I pop into supermarket on the way home.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 12:34 pm
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i went with Vaude, not been disappointed

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 12:37 pm
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Ortlieb. Expensive but last about 15 years of daily use IME.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 12:39 pm
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Cheers guys, any recommendations for the type of rack i would need too?

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 12:46 pm
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Partly depends how big your laptop is and how much other stuff you need to carry. I was using Ortlieb sport roller city (12.5L each, sold as a pair) and using the pair to spread the load (which I much prefer to a single, large, heavy, pannier.). However, will take a 13" MacBook in a sleeve but probably not anything bigger. The City versions are slightly stripped down (they don't come with the shoulder strap) but are a chunk of cash cheaper.

This is interesting for their bigger panniers - https://www.ortlieb.com/uk_en/commuter-inserts-for-panniers

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 12:53 pm
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A steel rack from one of the big touring brands if you want it to last forever or carry anything seriously heavy.

Otherwise, Topeak Super Tourist DX (comes in various flavours so check what will clear your brakes). Will still carry more than your legs will want to push and last a lifetime if you're not insisting on carrying 50kg of supplies off road to Everest Base Camp.

There's inbetweeny options (i.e. expensive aluminium racks) but they're generally pointlessly inbetweeny and generally twice the price.

+1 for ortlieb panniers. I've got the traditional ones, a full set of 2x25 and 2x20l. But the roll tops are probably less faff in the real world.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 12:58 pm
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there was a thread somewhere... i replaced a very old battered SS commuter with a Genesis Day One (8spd hub gear)
i put a topeak super tourist DX/F Disc rear rack on it and then got a Vaude Aqua back rear pannier in yellow.

i also got some SKS commuter road mudguards.
it took me longer to fit the lot than to build the bike - but its all nice and straight and snug......nothing like what it replaced!

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 1:01 pm
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A rack which holds the panniers low and also keeps well away from heels.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 1:05 pm
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tubus are the best - at a weight and cost

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 1:13 pm
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Vaude rolltops.

Bought in 1997. Used daily for about 10 of those years.

Still completely waterproof.

Still click on and off the rack rails in moments.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 1:23 pm
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I've got these from Decathlon, https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/500-waterproof-pannier-rack-bike-bag-20l/_/R-p-120036?mc=8355657&c=BLACK.
Basic, but waterproof and do the job.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 1:29 pm
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I've got the lifeline adventure waterproof pannier bag and also the lifeline rack. Both have been absolutely fine commuting for me.

The rack fits on all my bikes and has adjustable width so can be run on a MTB with wider tyres also.

The bag has a rigid back so is good for keeping the laptop getting battered, and has kept stuff dry in some proper downpours.

They're both pretty cheap too.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 1:36 pm
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Cheers all. My LBS is a Trek dealer and has some Altura and Thule panniers in stock. They have said they can advise on a rack too. Don't think its going to be cheap, but I have a good LBS and don't mind paying for quality kit.(The Thule Panniers are £100)
Thanks for the advice, appreciate it.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 2:42 pm
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tubus are the best – at a weight and cost

I bought one 10 (ish?) Years ago after a PSA on here. I think they were £25? Maybe from Evans. One of those you scoop up just because. Didn't use it for a couple of years, but it's had near daily use since then. Well worth the cost. No clue what it weighs!

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 4:02 pm
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(The Thule Panniers are £100)

Mine are good. But not excellent.

They rely on a magnet lower mount - which being quite small is now wearing already and a bumpy track overcomes the power of the magnet so the panniers flap like dogs ears. I cannot see the bag fabric lasting as long as some other options that have a 'click' or lever mount lower down.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 4:16 pm
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Just another option I keep thinking about but haven’t gone for are the carradice bags that hang under the saddle. There are a couple of those that look like they might just fit a small laptop in. I find my backpack a bit heavy some days when commuting - although during Covid that hasn’t been an issue as I’ve worked in a spare bedroom the whole time.

https://carradice.co.uk/product-category/saddlebags/

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 4:23 pm
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Ortlieb downtown with QR3 mounting to a tubus rack. I have a dedicated rack that only accepts this mount and is minimalist.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 9:22 pm
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the carradice bags that hang under the saddle

Nice but spendy option as assume would need the Nelson or larger plus the bagman support?

I have a Carradice Barley for sale in classifieds, it’s a roomy thing for it’s size if that makes sense, but I’d say a laptops a no-no. Super C?

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=103543.0

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 10:00 pm
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This thread got me looking at upgrading to some newer waterproof panniers and found that the ortlieb sport rollers recommended above are on offer in a few places including Tri Uk if anyone is looking

https://www.triuk.com/sale#brand=Ortlieb

Have no experience myself but at 50% off brings them down to a similar price to other options, just hope it is not another garmin solar type typo!

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 10:11 pm
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I got the messenger bag from Decathlon for commuting with a laptop, clips onto the pannier rack but has a zipped cover to hide the clips when carrying it around. Also has magnets to stop the shoulder strap flapping about. My commute is only a few miles but been through some pretty nasty weather and never had an issue. Plenty of space/pockets.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/500-bike-messenger-bag-15l-plum/_/R-p-300844?mc=8504454

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 10:43 pm
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Nice but spendy option as assume would need the Nelson or larger plus the bagman support?

Yes I can fit a laptop into my Nelson saddlebag, it was quite a hefty Dell thing when I last did it.
I use the SQR seat tube mount not the Bagman support.

 
Posted : 06/01/2022 10:48 pm
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Always worth a look on FB marketplace and eBay before you go to trek. Reduce reuse recycle innit. I recently got a Topeak DX mentioned above for £10 and 2 altura panniers for free. Both have faultless carried the weekly shop for a while now.

 
Posted : 07/01/2022 12:20 am
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make sure the panniers are going to fit on the rack.

Recent problem - Thule rack, Agu panniers.

The rail on the rack was too fat for the hooks on the agu's and i needed to dremel grind a bit away to make them fit. Also the klickfix latch didnt fit as the rack bar was too low for it to engage,so i had to remove that entirely.

Bags are zippied on to the rack which is far from ideal.

 
Posted : 07/01/2022 12:40 am