Make your own Panniers

[pardes]

It's hard to find the perfect pannier to hold your work stuff that doesn't cost a fortune. Here's an alternative to this dilemma.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How_...Bike_Panniers/

[Zen]

Heh.
Mine would likely be the empty kitty litter bucket ones.
Or duct tape/hefty bags

[7rider]

Hmmm....
I could convert my insulated lunch bag to a pannier.
It would be the world's smallest pannier!
And...I saw a bungie cord on the road during yesterday's ride home. If it's still there, I'll pick it up. I wonder if I can make a pannier using ONLY stuff I already have around or have found on the ground?
Gads.....it'll be fugly.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

That's funny, I was using 'found' bungee cords to hold stuff to my rack before I bought the Wald wire pannier duo. Oh man, I love them. But I look homeless. My insulated lunch cooler (coleman) fits *perfectly* in them. I now have my insulated shopping compartment. I need something for the top of the rack tho...milk crate is too big ..what to do...what to do...

It would be fugly but it would be a great work of art. Rolling functional art.

[Pax]

Heh.
Mine would likely be the empty kitty litter bucket ones.
Or duct tape/hefty bags

Gawd, you crack me up!

[bruiser]

There is also the only-slightly-classier-than-kitty-litter-bucket option of garbage cans!

[Zen]

I swear if I had seen this before I bought mine I would have seriously considered those trash cans

[Becky]

I really dig those trash can panniers! Those would be perfect for leaving the bike outside the grocery store or pharmacy....who's gonna steal a couple of trashcans with holes drilled in them?

[ak2outside]

I was thinking of making some fun panniers to swap out every once in a while with my heavy duty Ortlieb panniers.

Some days I don't need to carry my entire wardrobe with me?

Anyone convert their favorite bag to a pannier?

I was thinking of using the replacement parts to make my own.

[Blueberry]

I hoped this meant Pardes was back

[Tri Girl]

I made my own pannier before. I used a great bag (it was a stylish tote/handbag) and I used replacement hardware and a wood clipboard for the stiff backing. It turned out OK.

I hoped this meant Pardes was back

me, too. I miss her.

[eofelis]

A couple of years ago we had a couple of young bike touring ladies stay with us (warmshowers). They were on a tight budget and one of them used homemade panniers made from two identical backpacks. The shoulder straps were cut and sewn together so the pair of backpacks draped over the rack. Some thin wood or hard plastic was inserted into the packs as a stiffener. They got her from DC to CO.