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Panniers are the quintessential baggage possibility for on-road bicycle touring. They’re straightforward to take off the bike, they’re waterproof and so they provide a big, straightforward to entry cavity.
Panniers can even make a really helpful contribution to an off-road bikepacking setup, particularly when you’re biking in distant areas and wish to hold meals for a number of days (or voluminous winter tools).
Bikepacking bag producers have acknowledged this want with an ever-growing array of off-road particular panniers, typically known as micro, mini, nano or just small panniers.
Be aware: The article was initially revealed in Mar 2018 however has been up to date for March 2022.
What’s The Deal With Bikepacking Mini Panniers?
- They’re small and slender for using by way of tighter areas.
- They don’t get in the best way when pushing your bike (hike-a-bike sections).
- They’re an important different bag possibility for small bikes with no house for a seat pack.
- They provide further storage for meals (7+ day adventures with no providers) or high-volume tools.
- The small frontal space leads to much less aerodynamic drag than full-sized panniers.
- They’re lighter than full-sized panniers.
- Many micro panniers are designed to be ‘rattle-free’ on bumpy roads.
Hooks vs. Straps
One of many genius issues about touring panniers is that you would be able to take them off immediately because of the locking hooks discovered on most panniers.
However there are a couple of drawbacks to hook programs:
- They’ll rattle on the path.
- They’ll unhook and drop a pannier.
- They’re vulnerable to break.
- They’re heavier.
You’ll discover velcro and Voile-style cinch straps on many bikepacking micro panniers. This permits for a tighter match to the rack whereby the smooth pannier backplate can mould to the form of the rack, making certain there’s no house for the bag to maneuver.
That stated, most hook programs nonetheless work properly off-road, and really hardly ever expertise failures.
If you happen to just like the sound of instantaneous bag detachable but additionally a good, silent and safe rack match – try the modular Rockgeist Microwave panniers (pictured above) that make use of a neat detachable dry bag from the pannier holster.
Pannier Profile Width
An essential side of micro panniers is the profile width. The narrower the profile, the better it’s to squeeze between obstacles or, within the case of rear panniers, to push your bike. A smaller bag profile has the advantage of being extra aerodynamic too.
The panniers I’ve featured beneath have entrance profile widths starting from 7.5cm (3″) by way of to 14cm (5.5″). As compared, touring panniers are normally 17 to 26cm (7-9″) in width.
Utilizing Touring Panniers
You is likely to be led to consider that you just want micro panniers to your off-road adventures, however the actuality is that plenty of folks merely use entrance touring panniers. Ortlieb truly re-named their ‘Entrance-Curler’ mannequin to ‘Sport-Curler’ to make it clear their luggage may be fitted entrance or rear.
There are lots of methods to make touring panniers work higher off-road. Some folks discover they should run a protracted Voile strap round their touring panniers to maintain them in place. Others use a couple of zip ties to maintain their panniers in examine. Alternatively, you possibly can add further decrease anchoring hooks to get a greater attachment between your pannier and rack.
Proper, let’s check out the very best micro panniers, which I’ve separated into ‘hookless’ and ‘hooked’ classes.
Micro Pannier Choices For Bikepacking (With out Hooks)
Alpine Luddites HAB Panniers – US $275
The HAB (Hike-A-Bike) set has been designed across the calls for of bikepacking. These luggage are customized made, so you possibly can select between a couple of material varieties and two totally different bag compression kinds. The again is stiffened with a skinny layer of polyethylene to maintain your gear out of the spokes and the panniers connect with velcro. The pannier profile may be constructed as skinny as 7.5cm/3.0″.
Hookless | 14-18 Litres | Waterproof | 567g
Alpkit Toliari 12 Panniers – £80
The Alpkit Toliaris are a VERY low-cost and light-weight pannier possibility for bikepacking. They’re accessible with and with out hooks, the latter being a bit heavier. The hookless model has webbing ladders on the again of the bag that will let you completely regulate the mounts to your rack.
Hookless or Hooked | 24 Litres | Waterproof | 870g
Altura Vortex Ultralite Panniers – £100
These well-priced panniers have a very giant quantity whereas additionally being mild, slender and waterproof. They connect with the rack through two higher straps and a decrease velcro hook.
Hookless | 30 Litres | Waterproof | 1000g | 11.5cm Profile
Arkel Dry-Lites Bikepacking Panniers – US $90
The Arkel Dry-Lites are low-cost and well-known for his or her reliability; I’ve met folks on very lengthy excursions who had been fortunately utilizing them. Whereas they’ve a entrance profile width on the extensive facet, they taper from the underside offering a little bit further clearance. You should buy them in black or pink.
Hookless | 28 Litres | Waterproof | 540g | 14cm Profile
Bedrock Hermosa UL – US $300
Bedrock Baggage use each X-Pac and ballistic nylon supplies to make a light-weight and sturdy product. They’ve a wonderful entrance profile width given their quantity and mount utilizing velcro straps. They’re accessible in six commonplace colors and eight customized colors.
Hookless | 26 Litres | Water Resistant | 630g | 10cm Profile
Buckhorn Waxed Canvas Panniers – US $295
Buckhorn panniers are handmade with inexperienced or tan waxed canvas (New Mexico, USA) for that basic look. 4 Voile straps connect the pannier to the highest of your rack and two straps join up the decrease bag.
Hookless | 13 Litres | Water Resistant | 794g | 10cm Profile
Mesabi Rear Rack Panniers – US $60
The low-cost Mesabi luggage are an identical measurement and design to the Revelate Nano panniers. They’ve a easy roll-top closure and are secured to a rack utilizing 4 small buckles.
Hookless | 12 Litres | Water Resistant | 450g | 7.5cm Profile
Outer Shell Journey Pico Panniers – US $200
The Outer Shell Pico Panniers connect to 3-boss cargo cage mounts (or suspension fork lowers utilizing the Clamp Package Add-On) with no rack or cage needed. The mounting plates are product of ultra-tough waterjet-cut polycarbonate. Every Pico Pannier can match a 1.9l/64oz water bottle and you should buy them in 11 colors.
Hookless | Water Resistant | 1000g | 13cm Profile
Revelate Nano Panniers – US $160
Right here we’ve one of many lowest quantity panniers with the narrowest entrance profile width at simply 7.5cm per bag. In contrast to the opposite pannier choices, the Revelate Nano Panniers use zips to entry saved items. They’re optimised for Outdated Man Mountain racks however can regulate to most racks.
Hookless | 13 Litres | Water Resistant | 465g | 7.6cm Profile
Rockgeist Microwave Panniers – US $275
The Microwave Panniers are a modular bag set that has featured on dozens of bikepacking rigs over time. The panniers incorporate two principal elements: a holster that straps on to a rack utilizing some neat Voile straps, and a dry bag that may be rapidly eliminated and introduced into your tent. The holsters can be found in two totally different colors.
Hookless | 26 Litres | Waterproof | 920g | 10cm Profile
Stealth Mountain Panniers – US $175
These handmade micro panniers (New Zealand) are significantly slender and can be found in a wide range of supplies and hues. They connect utilizing two higher velcro straps and one decrease adjustable strap.
Hookless | 16 Litres | Water Resistant | 640g | 8cm Profile
Micro Pannier Choices For Bikepacking (With Hooks)
Arkel XM-28 Bikepacking Panniers – US $240
These panniers are the heavy-duty, fully-featured model of the Dry Lites. They use higher hooks with a cam-lock to carry them in place, have a zipper than runs down the size of the bag, and have a skid plate on the decrease part of the bag to stop injury from rocks. You will get them in black or yellow.
Hooked | 28 Litres | Water Resistant | 1920g | 14cm Profile
Dyed In The Wool Panniers – €350
DITW panniers are on the bigger facet and are a bit nearer to a touring pannier given the cam-lock hooks that make bag removing a breeze. These luggage are handmade in Poland can be found with both Cordura, X-Pac (pictured) or Dyneema materials.
Hooked | 26 Litres | Water Resistant | 794g | 14cm Profile
Helmut Rower Panger Bikepacking Panniers – €245
These French-made luggage use the modular pannier design pioneered by Porcelain Rocket. This lets you rapidly take away the 13-litre dry luggage from their holsters. Curiously, the holster is definitely detachable too utilizing Rixen Kaul pannier hooks. These panniers can be found in three totally different colors.
Hooked | 26 Litres | Waterproof | 780g | 15cm Profile
North St Micro Panniers – US $200
These small panniers are constructed with a sailcloth material and fasten to your rack utilizing steel higher hooks and a decrease bungee hook. The panniers are available 9 totally different colors and are handmade in Oregon, USA.
Hooked | 20 Litres | Water Resistant | 766g | 12.5cm Profile
Ortlieb Gravel Pack Bikepacking Panniers – US $190
Ortlieb’s bikepacking-specific pannier set is constructed with a light-weight material and rolltop closure to shave 20% of the load from their touring mannequin. The baggage include two decrease anchoring hooks for extra stability and are colored the identical as the remainder of the bikepacking baggage vary. Please notice that Ortlieb panniers are recognized to rattle on the path and typically drop their bolts on corrugated roads. It’s finest to hold some spare bolts (identical measurement as your water bottle bolts), washers and nuts available, simply in case.
Hooked | 25 Litres | Waterproof | 1160g | 14cm Profile
RAL EX Loader – US $156
The RAL EX Loader panniers are made utilizing Cordura material in California (USA), have easy-to-access zippers, and fasten to your rack utilizing two steel higher hooks and a decrease bungee. You will get them in 5 totally different colors.
Hooked | 22 Litres | Water Resistant | 766g | 13cm Profile
Swift JR Ranger Pannier Set – US $380
Utilizing X-Pac materials mixed with a extra typical pannier backplate, Swift has provide you with some panniers which are nearer to touring panniers when it comes to performance, however these have a greater profile for off-road using.
Hooked | 20 Litres | Water Resistant | 1400g | 10cm Profile
Tailfin Mini Panniers – £160
Tailfin makes common mini panniers that go well with each the Tailfin QR rack or any entrance/rear rack you want. These are 100% waterproof, combine neat compression straps and fasten utilizing Tailfin’s personal aluminium stop-action clamp, which guarantees to eradicate all rattle when using off-road. You could find the Mini Panniers in 5-litre or 10-litre variations; the smaller model has an excellent slender 70mm profile.
Hooked | 20 Litres | Waterproof | 760g | 11cm Profile
Vaude Aqua Entrance Mild Panniers – €116
The Vaude Aqua Fronts are a light-weight hooked pannier set. They’ve inner pockets to handle your gear and a cargo web excessive for quick-access gadgets like a rain jacket. As a result of using ultralight materials, the utmost load is 10kg.
Hooked | 22 Litres | Waterproof | 1000g | 15cm Profile
Extra Pannier Articles:
The place to Greatest Carry A Load When Bicycle Touring: Entrance or Rear Panniers?
What’s the Velocity Distinction Between Entrance/Rear Panniers and Bikepacking Baggage?
Why Not Examine Out Extra Bag Lists? Touring Panniers, Stabilized Bikepacking Baggage, Bikepacking Rolltops, and Bikepacking Bag Producers
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