Revelate Designs Nano Panniers Assessment

compose Miles Arbour
time Could 15, 2023
remark 5

Panniers designed particularly for off-road using and bikepacking have made an actual comeback over the past 5 years. At this time, there are fairly a couple of designs with totally different sizing and attachment programs, offering a fool-proof cargo hauling answer for people who want additional house or are using bikes with restricted saddle bag clearance. Some would possibly say we’ve seen fashionable bikepacking baggage journey full circle at this level—from tremendous minimal material baggage again to racks and panniers—and there are extra choices than ever.

Alaska’s Revelate Designs was one of many first bag makers to supply a dirt-touring-specific mini pannier choice with their Nano Panniers, which had been first launched again in 2016. They had been up to date in 2018 however have remained comparatively unchanged since then, current as a low-profile zippered mini pannier and infrequently popping up on rigs tackling distant routes and winter occasions. Within the final yr alone, we’ve seen various new panniers come to market, every part from canvas roll-top baggage to bolt-on baggage for racks and forks with triple-pack bosses, a lot of which we’ve reviewed right here on the location. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to check out various them, however I often come again to my beloved Porcelain Rocket (now made by Rockgeist) Microwave Panniers as a result of their easy design and detachable drybag. In the course of the moist occasions of yr within the Pacific Northwest, they’re fairly onerous to beat. I most likely would have introduced them with me on a latest six-week bikepacking journey in Australia if it wasn’t for Eric Parsons at Revelate Designs letting me know that an up to date Nano Pannier was almost prepared for launch.

Design and Building

The brand new Revelate Designs Nano Panniers are extremely light-weight. At simply 255 grams per pannier, they’re a few of the lightest panniers on the market, they usually’re by far probably the most minimal I’ve used. They’re primarily based round a single principal compartment that’s accessed through a roll-top closure and side-release buckle. The physique of the pannier, together with the entrance, base, and bottom, is constructed from a light-weight Extremely PE material from Problem Sailcloth. A part of their EcoPak Extremely assortment, the Extremely 200 material weighs in at simply 3.5oz per sq. yard, and in response to Problem Sailcloth, it has double the tear power and abrasion resistance as 500D 8oz Cordura. It consists of a 200D face Extremely PE material that’s blended with high-tenacity polyester with a 0.5-mil movie backing. Like the remainder of the EcoPak lineup, Extremely PE is made with 100% recycled fiber and movie. Briefly, it’s light-weight, sturdy, and waterproof, three qualities that make sense for a light-weight pannier.

On the again of the pannier, positioned on both facet of a strip of Rhinotec material, there are two velcro straps and aluminum loops that strap on to the highest of your rack. The decrease attachment level is a straightforward Voile Nano Strap hooked up to a small webbing loop. There are two small metallic loops for adjusting its place and an extra rubber keeper for gathering up the tail of the Voile strap.

The entrance of the bag is the place issues actually get attention-grabbing. The pannier is predicated round a four-point compression system that’s designed to compress its contents and the bag itself tight in opposition to the rack. Within the center is a floating plastic-coated fiberglass strut with 4 adjustable webbing straps extending from either side and wrapping across the pannier. The facet straps lengthen to plastic ladder lock buckles which are positioned straight beside the inside strut. The underside strap runs by way of a ladder lock buckle and sewn in on to the bottom of the bag, looping up underneath the load. The highest strap has a facet launch buckle and loops up and over the roll-top closure, compressing the highest of the bag downward. As a result of all straps are independently adjustable, the strut might be positioned in a different way relying on how full the baggage are, and any pointless bunching is saved at bay with all straps cinched down.

Inside, the panniers are simply as easy. There’s a single X-Pac sleeve on the bottom (rack-facing) of the bag, accessed through a small velcro flap. Contained in the sleeve lives a high-density foam panel, which supplies construction for the bag and a few padding between the rack and the bag’s contents. The froth is in contrast to something I’ve seen in a bikepacking bag. At simply ~5mm thick, is extremely dense, absorbs vibrations, and weighs in at simply 50 grams. Alongside the highest of the froth panel is a detachable fiberglass strut, that aligns with the higher attachment factors on the again of the pannier, offering extra construction and rigidity to the whole system. Each the froth panel and strut are simply detachable and replaceable. Though I haven’t examined it but, I’m keen to wager the froth panel would double as a pleasant seat pad in a pinch.

As one would possibly count on, all load-bearing factors are bolstered with sturdy bartacks, the inside seams are completed with commonplace seam tape, and the underside inside corners are completed with waterproof seam tape to assist preserve the weather out. For the reason that principal seams working down the edges of the panniers aren’t sealed, the panniers aren’t 100% waterproof, however they’ve confirmed to be extremely weather-resistant. Extra on that beneath. It’s additionally value noting that all the straps with longer tails, together with the highest strap and decrease Voile strap, are completed with rubber keepers to maintain issues tidy. Particulars like this don’t go unnoticed.

2,000 kilometers in Australia

The Nano panniers arrived simply in time for our Australia journey. I had no time to present them a shakedown journey, so I crossed my fingers and tossed them into our duffel bag for the journey. Their minimal design and low-profile stature made them simple to put flat contained in the bag, and this additionally holds true when put in on the bike. One of many principal causes fashionable saddlebags grew to become so widespread, except for weight, is that conventional panniers aren’t very low-profile and make mountaineering your bike or using technical terrain cumbersome on slim trails. At simply 4” broad, they really feel slimmer than different panniers I’ve used, extending about so far as my platform pedals however nonetheless offering some real looking room for becoming in cumbersome objects like compressed sleeping baggage and clothes.

When packing, I’d open the roll-top closure, launch the facet compression straps, stuff gear into the again, after which cinch down all the straps to take care of their profile on the rack. Relying how a lot the panniers had been packed, I’d modify the place of the outside strut by loosening or tightening the decrease compression strap, successfully tweaking the place of the strut and the principle compression level. When tightened down, the strut flexes down barely towards the ends however not sufficient to take a seat flush in opposition to the bag. I used to be anxious I’d snag the corners on my legs whereas mountaineering, but it surely ended up not being a difficulty. For the reason that feminine finish of the highest compression strap is hooked up to the strut, the male finish rests on high of the rack platform and is straightforward to find and shut. That is in contrast to the Rambler Panniers I lately reviewed, the place the strap hung down in entrance of the pannier, making it awkward to retrieve and shut whereas packing.

So far as the rack attachment system goes, it’s one of many easiest I’ve seen. A number of bag makers have began utilizing Voile Nano Straps for the higher attachment factors alongside the rails of the rack, which work, however can typically shift on the rack, relying on how they safe to the panniers. Revelate opted for a velcro strap and aluminum loop, purposely positioned tightly to take away all slop. They’re additionally offset barely to at least one facet of the pannier, which permits their place on the rack to be dialed in relying on heel clearance and desire. As an alternative of the standard bungee or webbing strap that different panniers depend on, Revelate opted for a Voile Nano Strap for the decrease attachment level. When secured, the panniers don’t transfer. The decrease Nano Strap and metallic {hardware} paired with the higher straps creates rigidity from high to backside, guaranteeing they don’t shift, bounce, or wiggle in any course. In actual fact, the brand new Nano panniers are probably the most secure panniers I’ve used, setting a brand new commonplace for 7-11L panniers on this weight class.

Trying above, the Mountain Laurel Designs Extremely Poco Panniers are maybe the closest competitor so far as weight and capability goes. They’re additionally waterproof, whereas the Nano Panniers will not be. Nonetheless, the compression system and attachment design on the Nano panniers are actually a step above, and whereas I haven’t used the Poco Panniers myself (Cass is at present testing a pair), they don’t look as refined to my eye. In actual fact, the Nano’s compression system units them other than most off-road panniers, because it retains the load from bulging to take care of their slender physique.

As talked about earlier, the Nanos aren’t waterproof however are constructed in a manner that minimizes the variety of seams. Once I requested Revelate about this, they described the panniers as being “body bag dietary supplements” designed to hold heavy and dense objects like meals, gasoline, and water. They counsel placing cumbersome delicate sleeping gear and layers in a water-proof handlebar bag, seat bag, or on high of the rack platform. Since I used to be utilizing a big roll-top handlebar bag from Rambler on this explicit journey, I discovered the panniers made probably the most sense for carrying my sleeping gear and clothes, so I simply ultimately added some commonplace plastic grocery baggage inside, which match effectively and saved my gear dry in some significantly moist climate.

So far as sturdiness goes, the Extremely 200 material is holding up nice. Partially as a result of its abrasion resistance but additionally as a result of the panniers don’t transfer, there are only some superficial marks. I’m not anxious in regards to the material carrying out any time quickly, and that’s saying one thing after I’ve already logged round 2,000 kilometers on them this yr. The one apparent put on factors are the tiny metallic loops on the decrease attachment level, that are growing some rust, probably as a result of their nickel-plated end. It’s not best, but it surely’s additionally not a dealbreaker for me.

• Capability: 7-11L every
• Materials: Full 200 denier UHMWPE / Polyester woven laminated material
• Weight: 510g (18oz) / pair
• Dimensions: 10.5 x 4 x 10-16” (LxWxH)
• Place of Manufacture: USA
• Worth: $250 USD/pair
• Producer’s Particulars: RevelateDesigns.com

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