Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Prior to getting these panniers, I was only using a messenger bag and the weight of carrying a change of clothes, the bike essentials (spare tube, tire levers and multi-tool), as well as any additional items was too much. These panniers (as well as a cheap rack I got (both from Wal-Mart)) got my cargo off of my back and onto the bike without breaking the wallet. For that, I'll give them the credit they deserve.
I'll start with the good. The main good thing is what they are. Panniers. Once you ditch the backpack and get a rack/pannier setup, few rarely go back. Other than that, these are about as basic as you get. They're decent sized. They're slightly smaller than a standard Jansport backpack, which is rated for roughly 1900 cubic inches. These have no rated size so I can't tell you how much they actually hold. I've done a couple days worth of grocery shopping with these, as well as carrying a pair of shoes, rolled up jeans and polo shirt, a motorcycle net (for other items on the rack), a garbage bag (for wrapping the contents within the pannier when it's raining), and basic bike tools. All of my daily load fits in one pannier so I rarely use both. The front pocket is nice for your wallet, keys, cellphone and smaller items.
Now for the bad.
-If you look at nicer panniers, you'll see that they often taper in from the top or at least have a notch in the corner of the bag closest to your heel so that you don't hit your heel on the bag (often referred to as heel-strike). This bag doesn't have that. I've learned to adjust my foot angle to avoid it but I barely do so and I still hit it occasionally. It's really annoying.
-The back of nicer panniers is also supposed to be stiff. It should feel almost like it's a forgiving plastic or a tough rubber. These have a tough cardboard feeling. They like to warp and catch your spokes when you ride. Extremely unsafe for your wheel and the rider.
-My biggest issue with these panniers is the mounting system. It's literally just a mildly stiff backed bag with a couple rubber-coated hooks. There's no locking mechanism for the hooks so the bangs can unhook at the first bump (or bump from your heels!) and then your cargo is toast. Also, to keep the panniers close to the rack, there's a very basic elastic strap that connects with the back with a plastic buckle that meets in the front. It's very basic and doesn't work. I immediately had to use a bungee cord to keep the hooks on the rack, and use a second bungee cord to replace the elastic strap to keep the pannier close to the rack and out of my rear wheel.
Overall, you get what you pay for. They work with a couple bungee cords ok, but getting the bags on and off of the rack is annoying and takes a couple minutes (a minute once you get good at it). If you're looking for some panniers that can get a basic job done on the super cheap and can live with their downfalls, get them. I highly recommend you look at spending a bit more. Not $200 for the Ortileb deals but take a look at the Axiom panniers. I'm upgrading to the Axiom Kootenay panniers myself which are a similar size to these but much better (and well worth the 4x price difference here on Amazon).
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