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Forgive me if been done recently but my Free Ranger is used for two things...(1) easy xc rides of a couple of hours for which jersey pockets + small saddle pack is fine (2) longer more touring paced back road/easy bridleway pedalling with my boys where I might be carrying more stuff - spare jumpers, coats and food, tools and spares suitable for all 3 bikes and (after today's incident with one of the boys and a pot hole) a decent first aid kit.
I was using a hip pack today and it wasn't big enough or really the right thing and I'm not wearing a rucksack.
Obvious option would be some kind of lightweight rear rack and slim panniers. Any suggestions welcomed?
Is there something "bikepacking" or "touring" style that I'm missing that would be considerably better than rack/panniers?
Take your pick from frame bags, bar bags and seatpacks but a rack and panniers might be the easiest option when it comes to loading and unloading.
^ that. I tend to ride with small frame bag and small under saddle bag of tools. On a bigger or winter day, or when taking picnic, the bar bag goes on as well.
If you have a rack, then strapping a 20 litre dry bag to the top will swallow a surprising amount of stuff. The problem with some panniers is they aren’t too secure, sometimes bounce off and they can be a pain if you’re pushing a bike along a narrow track, catching your legs, snagging on bushes and trees etc. Personally I don’t like waist packs - they can inhibit your breathing and are amazingly good at destroying your finest Lycra shorts.
How about a big saddlebag? Or have it up front as a handlebar bag or dry bag in a strap arrangement.
Tools and tubes for my bike live permanently in a small saddlebag, first aid kit, foil blanket, emergency layers and tubes for kids bikes go in a Podsac frame bag from Planet X
Seatpost mounted rack.
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Tortec-Explorer-Seatpost-Mounted-Rack_47588.htm
Rack top bag that doubles as a holdall
https://btrsports.co.uk/products/waterproof-rear-rack-bike-bag
Or... Rack top bag with fold out mini panniers
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-rx-trunk-bag-dxp-with-side-panniers
Or just paniers. Decathlon do decent looking Ortlieb copy.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/500-waterproof-pannier-rack-bike-bag-20l/_/R-p-120036
If you're going for a dry bag strapped to the top of a rack may I recommend the Alpkit Gordon.
https://alpkit.com/products/gourdon-20-waterproof-backpack
I've used it as above but mostly use it as a bag when hill walking with the kids. Cheap too.
I think mine may be the 30 litre one but they're sold out at the mo.
Thanks.
After a bit of internet trawling and looking at suggestions above I'm aiming for one of those long thin saddlebags either a harness and drybag type or all in one bag (not an old school sideways saddlebag) combined with a more traditional bar bag.
The harness bar bags look better for bigger loads (e.g. for bike packing / light camping) but less good for on the fly access.
Cost looks comparable to buying a rack and panniers while being easier to remove and more convenient to ride with.
The pidsacs stuff from planet X is dirt cheap and seems hard wearing if a little heavy
I've just ordered one of these to stop my saddle bag swaying.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313906429796
As anagallis_arvensis says, a PodSacs saddle pack should be perfect for your needs. As it has a roll top closure you can keep it tightly closed to avoid excess swaying.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CCPDWSB/podsacs-waterproof-saddle-pack