Choosing the perfect panniers for your commute, tour, and more..

Getting Started:

Get a FREE BikeShopHub.com T-shirt (available in mens or womens) with Ortlieb Plus Pannier as well as the Ortlieb Bike Tourer Panniers and the new 2010 commuting panniers, the Ortlieb City, Downtowner and Vario.

Are you thinking about using your bike to haul stuff, but don't know where to start? A good set of bicycle panniers and racks is a great first step in transforming your bike into a machine of utility, purpose and adventure.

With the growing popularity in bike touring and the recent boom in bike commuting, there are a plethora of bike panniers on the market. We've taken it upon ourselves to bring together an in-depth collection of the best panniers around. All of the panniers that we offer could be considered "the very best" depending on your particular inclination. We figured that by offering all of the great bags stacked side-by-side, you'll be able to quickly get a good idea about their different features to figure out which panniers will best serve you and your stuff. Our shop is literally full of bike panniers and we've had plenty of time to touch, feel and test them all. We also really like this stuff and use it on a daily basis so we really enjoy explaining the nuances and subtle differences between the bags.

Bicycle panniers have a few distinct advantages over other bag configurations and, in some cases, over bike cargo trailers, when carrying heavy loads. For instance, experienced commuters usually prefer panniers to backpacks for shuttling their gear between home and work. And, when maneuverability and/or simplicity are key, racks and panniers can be preferable to bike cargo trailers.

Which bags you choose and how you pack them will depend largely on which type of bike rack, or racks, you prefer and you are able to install on your bike. Distributing the weight of your gear is an important key to maintaining balance when fully loaded, and the lower you can pack the heavier items, the better balanced your bike will be. It is also beneficial to distribute your heavier items between front and rear panniers, as that will also balance out your rig. See our Bike Rack information page for more on racks.

Waterproof vs. Fabric Panniers (A general dividing line for pannier styles):

• Waterproof bike panniers are made from material such as PVC or waterproof Cordura, like Ortlieb's Plus material. Features like seams, pockets, and zippers all diminish the bag's ability to seal out water. Therefore, most waterproof panniers offer far fewer of these features than their water-resistant counterparts.
• Conversely, water-resistant panniers, typically made from heavy-duty Cordura, can offer a plethora of organizing features such as pockets with zipper, snap, drawstring and Velcro closures. Many water-resistant panniers overcome their lack of waterproofing by making tight fitting rain covers, offering the best of both worlds.

Pannier Mounting Systems:

• Adjustability: Bike Panniers offer a variation in the range of adjustment in their upper and lower mounting systems. Impact resistant plastic systems by Vaude and Ortlieb offer a great range of adjustability. Upper hook and lower strap or bungee systems by Jandd and Lone Peak are not adjustable but offer a natural flexability in positioning.
• Durability: A reliable and durable mounting system is essential to long lasting, reliable panniers. Plastic mounting systems by Ortlieb, Vaude and Racktime are incredibly durable, but will occasionally break under heavy stress. Simpler hook and loop systems offer excellent reliability.
• Steadfastness: By this I mean how securely the pannier is mounted to the rack. Plastic mounting systems are incredibly secure and will only come unclipped in the rarest of circumstances. Hook and loop mounting systems are generally less secure, however are sufficient for most uses other than rough mountain bike touring.
• Ease of Mounting & Dismounting: All of our panniers are relatively easy to mount and dismount from bicycle racks. Plastic mounting systems offer very definite mounting that is easy to release by pulling up on the mounting systems carry straps. The ease of mounting hook and loop mounting systems is somewhat depending upon the position and the bike rack that they are mounting to.
• Repairability: We offer replacement parts for all of the panniers that we offer. Mounting parts are fairly simple to replace. Generally damaged panniers mounting systems can be Jerry-rigged to work while on tour though the removability aspect will be disabled by these temporary fixes.

Bike Pannier Styles:

• Bike Touring: The majority of bike panniers are designed with touring in mind. Bike Touring panniers are often the largest but also simplest designs, setup for being stuffed full of gear.
• Bike Commuting: This growing realm of panniers has a range of features to make the transition from riding the bicycle to heading into the office, a smoother, trouble free experience.
• Shopping: Large panniers setup to hold groceries and even grocery bags are great as both shopping panniers and general use commuting and errand panniers.

*For further information on bike panniers, please review our Bike Bag FAQ's and our Bike Bag & Rack Comparison Chart.

Our Brands:

Ortlieb Pannier : Ortlieb has been setting the standard for manufacturing waterproof, rugged, innovative bike panniers since 1982.
Vaude Panniers : Vaude specializes in strong, long-lasting bags to withstand the elements of your daily commute or touring expedition.
Racktime Panniers : Racktime specializes in high quality urban panniers and trunk bags.
Jandd Panniers : Jandd makes good quality, functional biking gear with an affordable price tag.
Lone Peak Panniers : Made in the USA, Lone Peak panniers are durable, versatile, and easy to use.