I need some help choosing some panniers. No plans to go bike touring with them. More for day to day commuting, grocery shopping etc. I like the look of these from Thule but I can’t help wondering if they’re form over function demanding a higher price?
I’d like some that can double up as a backpack./ carrying bag but I know nothing of these things. Anything else I should be looking at?

ortileb are the go to for bomb proof construction and waterproofing.

Ortlieb, end of thread. Should be something in their range for you.

Ortlieb: great on the bike, not so great off (the classic back rollers at least). They are tough but not quite as bombproof as people like to make out, wore through mine in a couple of years of almost daily use.

Have I read that Thule link correctly: £80 for a single pannier?!

That’s appalling value for money considering that you can buy a pair of Ortlieb Back Roller Classic panniers for £95 from the likes of Spa, which are considered the best available, whereas panniers are not a Thule core product. I suspect Thule just sub-contract out the manufacture to some company in China, and are using their brand name to sell an inferior product to Ortlieb at a ridiculously higher price.

Ortlieb aren’t 100% bombproof but they are pretty easy to repair with seamgrip glue.

Don’t know if anyone has recommended them already, but I’d suggest Ortlieb.
They do wear (anything strapped to a bike will) but for ease of use and waterproofing, they are a no brainer. I use mine 5 days a week for commuting. You can get an awful lot of shopping in an Ortlieb pannier.

Ortlieb

Norco Arkansas are doing sterling service on the hire bikes at work. Some are on their fifth season with minor scuffing. Vaude ones are a tad cheaper than Ortlieb and also work well. Mine are 10 years old.

Ortlieb have a good rep if no one has mentioned them yet 🙂

Our jandd panniers are over 20y old and still going strong. Don’t think the company lasted as well though.

Have a look at UPSO. Made by the Carradice people out of recycled truck tarps. Some nice colour combo’s.

http://upsobags.co.uk/recycled-bike-bags/panniers

Surprised nobody has mentioned Ortlieb yet.

Has anyone recommended Ortlieb yet? They’re pretty good.

far tougher and half the price of ortleib.

crosso. been using mine for 8 years. still like new after a wipe down.

http://cyclesense.co.uk/m60b0s74p13926/CROSSO-Dry-60L-(Pair)-Rear

Ortlieb. Fantastic quality. However, I also have a vaude bar bag. It was a lot cheaper than the ortlieb equivalent and it’s also been fantastic.

Ortlieb yeah they’re good, so I’ve heard

Call me a rebel, but I like the Ortliebs.
🙂

Will try Carradice again if the Ortliebs ever wear out, they’re just down the road, I like them, rude not to.

The Upso seatpack are nice, btw.

Carradice

Panniers are for newbs.
You need a Carradice Camper Longflap saddlebag.
Certainly for commuting.

Panniers – no idea. Bought a set of Carradice panniers back in the 1990s and haven’t needed to replace them yet, but then it’s the saddlebag that gets daily use. Ortliebs are meant to be quite good though.

I’ve thought about Ortleib, but can’t find any recommendations.
(too much?)

I’m going to throw a curveball in and say you should go Ortlieb. Had mine for ages, 100% satisfaction.

Screw it, I’ll go against the grain and suggest Ortlieb. My front rollers (used on the back) have been tens of thousands of KM’s around the globe so should cope with the daily commute.

Have Ortlieb and Carradice in the house, and some others I can’t remember the name of. Orts sort of easier to use, more obviously water tight (you could put one under water and not leak) and lighter but I bet the Carradice are still around in 50 years but not the Orts.
I’d recommend the Orts, pretty easy to get on and off, water proof but just one big compartment, I recommend separate internal bags just to keep things sorted and easier to get at, well made and pretty tough. Harder to repair properly but dead easy to repair with a piece of gorilla tape that will last for years. Not as big as the Carradice and look a bit pants.
Carradice, very tough, i.e. Really tough! Easier to fix properly (might need a saddler to sew the canvas!) harder to do basic repair, though I doubt you’d cut it in a hurry. I find easier to use but I do add a dry liner bag. I’ve not seen water get through them but water can get in through the tops/lids and the canvas gets wet and holds water. They are big.. and look rite proper. And di I say tough.

I have a Carradice bike bureau commuter bag. It’s nothing like as good as the Ortlieb panniers I have. The mounting system is slower and more awkward and the bag is very poorly thought out.

To help with any indecision, the Thule Shield panniers I’ve got are really good.

Came as a pair with my bike to work bike, but I’ve only ever used one of them. So if you want an unused single Shield pannier for say, £40 posted, email is in profile …

Someone I knew managed to fall into a French canal with his bike. It had Ortliebs front and rear. The bike floated and when they fished it out, everything inside them was still dry.

I’m going to do the old favourite of recommending what I have, and that might not be completely relevant to your situation. But it is something different to posting another vote for the expensive bags above.

I love my decathlon pannier messenger, like this:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/900-cycling-messenger-bag-black-15l-id_8385332.html

I had a look at similar options from Vaude and Ortlieb, but they all seemed compromised to me. I like the fact that the decathlon bag has a flap to hide the rack clips. I was worried that it didn’t seem like a secure attachment system, but it is very quick and easy to lift off the rack, and I rarely use the securing toggle. I have never had it come off, even on off road jaunts. The bag isn’t huge, but it is big enough for a commute with a laptop and a change of clothes. The low profile also avoids interference with my large feet. I have also done a lightweight hostel staying tour using only this one bag. I’ve toyed with the idea of getting a 2nd bag, just cos my one is so good. It’s not completely waterproof, but my commute isn’t long anyway so the shower cover is light and effective, and it is quick.and easy to open the bag. The price is reflected in the quality of finishing and the materials, but it is sufficiently sturdy and smart looking.

Nothing lasts forever…
[img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4427/36832918025_993995fa8b_b.jpg[/img]

To add to the mix, I’m thinking of getting a set of Arkel Dry-Lites – no personal experience, but I like the idea I can roll them up and stash it/them away in another bag if not needed. I can think of situations where that might be handy, although maybe not appropriate for the OP’s needs.

Really happy with my Altura waterproof panniers. Bought online for circa £40 the pair.

I agree with ton. Crosso are brilliant. Mrs B has had hers about 6 years and they’re still as good as new.

If you haven’t Already done so then check out the Ortlieb panniers.
Apparently they’re pretty good.

I like my Brooks ones.
They are made by Ortlieb.
I’d check out Ortlieb (unless someone has mentioned it before), for the brooks ones you are just paying for the beauty of them. They are beautiful. for panniers. that get muddy.

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I really like the look of those recycled truck tarps so I’m having one of those and also I’m having the Thule Shield very kindly offered by Gilesey.
I’m going to ask next “Which Pannier Rack” – Hope Ortlieb don’t make one of those….

You can just strap a rucksack to to your pannier rack with some velcro luggage straps if you want something easy to carry. I found bungees tend to come loose.

I’d like some that can double up as a backpack./ carrying bag 

Not sure if Ortlieb do a pannier that’s any good as a backpack or carrying bag?

Thought Thule did a pannier that had rucksack straps behind a zipped panel? Though not sure I’d want to put a wet pannier bag coated in all the road Crap kicked up on a commute on my back. Despite the comment earlier about the meeting being form following function I think Thule is just the opposite in all they do. As for not being specialists they are specialists in products designed for carrying stuff which is a category panniers fits into quite well. You might not think they’re specialists in bike boxes but they make the best thought out and designed bike box I’ve ever seen. They are pricey though, but you are getting second to none levels of quality.