dlittledlite

Come now, I can't afford even half a big one ($100) and the paniers I see cost anywhere from 20 on up. I have trouble affording the expensive ones, however, I have trouble being cheap because I'm afraid I will get what I pay for. Anyone out there have advice on a fair price good quality pannier? Keep in mind you should have experience using it as well or I probably wont take your advice. TIA to anyone who can direct me in.. well, any direction.

ews

If cost is really an issue, the number of threads by people using milkcrates as panniers is easily into triple digits.

rilles

I have a pannier by Voyager, $40 at the local bike shop. It is very simple in design, just one storage area and a side pocket. One side for work stuff, the other side for rain gear/bike tools.

UncleStu

Sometimes Nashbar puts their ATB panniers on sale cheap- I got a set last month for $20 the *pair*- plus shipping & tax of course(add tax & their share of the shipping, call it ~$26 delivered for the panniers.)They seem to be out of stock now, but if you're not in a hurry keep checking on them. They do have their "Townie Basket" panniers at ~$20 *each*. Or you could check on Ebay, Amazon, & all the other bike places. Good luck.

pwyll99

I got a decent pair from performance for $60, forget the model. Good size and expandable. Even came with rain covers. Usually Performance branded gear is ok and does the job well enough.

stringbreaker

+1 on the Nashbars. Mine have the hi viz top flap. They are perfect for my commute and I ditched the backpack for summer. No more sweaty back and in the cool mornings my jacket can vent like its supposed to.

Allen

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=236014
^^^
I home cobbled a set of camera bag/lap top/messenger bag/panniers.

Use as set of Arkel or Ortlieb replacement parts and attach them to what every kind of bag you have or like.
Tip: If your bag is soft sided, use a piece of plastic sheet on the inside of the bag to stiffen it. It will make the bag easier to load, and more importantly keep it out of your spokes.

You will have to spend aoubt $20USD for the Arkel or Ortlieb replacement parts. They are well worth the money, as they are some of the best pannier attachment systems designed. Of the two I prefer the Ortlieb.

misterE0

+1 on the Nashbar ATB panniers. I got mine for under $20 and they are perfect really. They have a nice variety of pockets and are still fairly compact, while still holding plenty of gear. Also, they work well on most generic racks. The Axiom bags I have don't play well with non-Axiom racks (cord length way too long).

n4zou

Laundry detergent or kitty litter buckets work very well and basically, free. 1 inch aluminum angle provides support on the rack. A ball bungee looped around the handle and dropout eyelet keeps it from bouncing around. A #8 "U" nut with a #8 eyelet screwed into the "U" nut keeps the bucket from bouncing off. Here are photos so you know how to make them.

novas

i agree. +(yet another) 1 for the nashbar ones.

slowjoe66

I made a great pair out of some hardware, bungee, a couple of strips of aluminum and two old Army/Navy surplus rucksacks for less than 30 bucks for the pair. They are either waterproof or damn near; they are made from a rubberized canvas. They are tough as hell. No problems with them in over two years of commuting and being stored outside all day in the sun while at work. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

Do some searches. I found everything I need explained somewhere on the net. Mine look a lot like this:

https://www.bicyclinglife.com/HowTo/HeavyDutyRacks.htm

nemo

those are so cool! i am working on a set now

sparky221

I've been using a set of kitty litter bucket panniers. Light rain was no problem and the dirt wipes right off of them. I haven't had the opportunity to use them in hard rain yet. I used rope cleats and hardware bought at Ace hardware, total cost was less than $10 for both, including bungees & a couple of reflectors. I made them one night while watching the news. Total time is about 20 minutes for the first bucket and less than 15 minutes for the second. On a nice day, I used one for my long ride to carry extra water, jacket, snacks, lock, tools, and spare tube. I had lots of room to spare.

They are a little noisy since things rattle around in them. I haven't had one even come close to popping off and I've taken them over some really rough unpaved roads. I did lose a lid on afternoon, so I'll look at a way to tether the lids on.

I have a cat, so I pretty much have a replenishing supply of buckets.

JanMM

Have been using Delta Compact panniers for several years. Not too big, not too small. Adequate for my commuting needs. Needed a little work by my wife and her sewing machine to make the carry handles functional.

Michel Gagnon

Are you using your panniers only for commuting or also for long self-contained tours? Is it just to carry your lunch and other basic stuff (rain gear, repair kit...) or do you want to carry one week worth of groceries (i.e. heavy stuff) in them?

Any special requirements, such as carrying a computer, travelling long distances, carrying oversize documents, etc.?

Do you need to park outside yet get your pannier(s) inside daily, which means some kind of quick release would be welcome?


For the cheapest yet good stuff, I would suggest you look at housebrands from MEC (Canada) or REI (U.S.).

sauerwald

I use Arkel T-42 panniers to commute with. I think that they cost me about $100, and I have used them on approx 700 commutes (my commute is 15 miles each way), They are as serviceable today as they were when I bought them, but if they were trashed today and I had to replace them, my cost would come out to less than 15 cents per commute, which I don't think of as excessive.

steppinthefunk 

Here is my post from the "DIY Panniers" thread:
_____________________________

Sling bag from Army Surplus Store. Cost about $15.00 I think.



Willie and Max motorcycle panniers. $65.00

cachehiker

I use one pair of Delta Compact (15 liter) Panniers and a small trunk bag (6 liter) on my foul weather commuter.

I have a pair of Nashbar Daytrekkers (12 liter?) and a simple burrito style tool wrap (1 liter?) on my fair weather commuter.

I think both combinations do their jobs admirably.

Bike4More

Axiom makes some great stuff. I have two Lasalle panniers. They are big but I use them for groceries also. Their racks are great too. Check ebay for the best prices.

old_alfie

If you don't mind looking Xxxxxxxish or Xxxxxxxxxian (insert whatever ethnic you'd like to joke about) then by all means use milk crates or cat-litter buckets. If you truly are cheap but don't want to appear cheap, save the amount of money you're willing to spend in a single pay period a couple or few pay periods in a row till you manage to save up what a decent set will cost and then buy em.

Personally I like and own two sets offered in the SUNLITE (or somesuch brand line) brand imported by J&B Imports. One set is two seperate bags that sell as a set and hang on a rear rack, the other is two bags joined across the top.
alf