Best Bike Pannier Reviews 2018

The price of a bike pannier depends on its type, size, construction materials used and overall design. For instance a single pannier with one pocket and is made of tarpaulin will cost about $30 while a waterproof, stylish pair of panniers with zippered side/inner pockets and adjustable mounting systems can cost up to $260. It all depends on what you’re looking for, but you can expect to get a quality bike pannier pair within this price range. You may also come across cheap bike panniers in the market, but don’t be enticed by their low prices. In most cases such panniers are poorly constructed and may fall apart within a short time. This is why we haven’t featured them in this review.

Whether you’re going for shopping or on a road trip, you’ll need a bike pannier that can accommodate your luggage. You also need the flexibility to package your stuff separately. This flexibility is very important to your satisfaction and can’t be ignored.

Moreover, these features are also important to consider when looking for a bike pannier:

• Style — Is it touring, commuter, strap, quick release, saddle bags etc.?
• Size — What are its dimensions and weight?
• Construction material — What’s the bike pannier made of?
• Number of compartments — How many pockets does it have?
• Mounting system — What’s the mounting mechanism of the bike pannier?
• Color — How many color variations is the pannier available in?
• Capacity — What’s the volume of bike pannier?

These features will help you pick a bike pannier that suits your needs and is within your budget.

Bike panniers are made with various materials such as tarpaulin, cordura and PVC-coated polyester or nylon. The material used determines whether bike panniers are weatherproof or not. It’s also common for bike panniers to have multiple pockets. These include the main compartment, outer and inner pockets. The important thing is to choose a design that gives you the flexibility to pack your luggage in an organized manner.

The mounting systems used on bike panniers vary from one manufacturer to another. The most commonly used ones include quick release, incorporate lower adjustable plastic clips that hold the panniers in place, as well as standard hook and bungee systems, which also may come with hooks designed to be particularly secure. Whichever mounting system is on your choicest pannier, make sure that it holds the bag securely.

When it comes to closure systems of bike panniers, some of the most common styles in the market include fold-on and drawstring style with a top flap that’s secured with slip hooks. These mechanisms are usually used for the main compartment while the side/inner pockets are likely to be zippered.

As you look for a bike pannier, think of how you’ll carry it when off the bike. Some designs have carry-on handles while others come with adjustable shoulder straps. Also, some bike panniers are designed to collapse into one briefcase style bag. They use a set of magnets and Velcro closures to hold the two panniers together. So, depending on what you want to use the pannier for, you may want to pick a design that’ll give flexibility to carry it when it’s off the bike.

Bike panniers are simply luggage carriers. So, as you shop around, focus on a design that’ll keep your valuables safe from adverse weather, especially during the wet season. Also, if you’re going on a longer trip, try a pannier that’s roomy and can accommodate all your stuff. Side pockets comes in handy for storing things that you may use on the way while the inner pockets are ideal for more delicate items such as laptops.

When you’re going to an area that isn’t secure, you may need to carry your valuables with you. If your bike pannier can easily be converted to a shoulder bag, then it’ll be easy to carry it with you. Otherwise you may have to risk your luggage, especially if the panniers don’t have grab handles. In addition, bike panniers that have clip-on hooks on their mounting systems are easy to load and offload, so you may want to get a bike pannier that won’t give you a hard time when mounting.