Grocery bag panniers?

[mariposa]

Hi,

I'm getting a rear rack with pannier stays for my bike. My bike has 27" tires, but a short wheelbase.

So now I'm trying to figure out panniers.

Here is what I am thinking about the panniers:

1. Most common use of the panniers would be to (a) pick up groceries or shopping items; or (b) having a place to stash/lash my commuter backpack when it's heavy and I don't want it on my back.

2. I do *not* want to get a backpack/messenger bag style pannier. I have a ton of backpacks/canvas shopping bags already, and want to use the ones I have, rather than adding to the list. Also, the panniers don't need to have a top/rain cover...I don't often commute in the rain, and if I do, I'll improvise something.

3. So I'm wondering if I should just get two, sturdy "grocery" style panniers, that are plenty deep wide enough to just throw any backpack into them.

Or maybe I'd get a grocery pannier on just one side; and simply lash my backpack to the other side, sans pannier. (Although, there are backpack straps that could dangle into my wheel; don't want that.)

Also, since I have a short wheelbase, what do I need to do to ensure no heel strike?

Ideas? Specific brand/model recommendations? (And, I'd prefer to buy used, so I'll probably look on Craigslist, or maybe someone here has some panniers they want to sell

Mariposa

[Melalvai]

Have you considered a rear basket? I like the Wald's largest pizza-box-size basket, with a mesh bungie thrown over it. I pile stuff up, and stretch the bungie over it all.

[mariposa]

Hmmm, rear baskets. This Kettler one looks great - anyone tried it?

http://www.amazon.com/Kettler-8985-6...ef=pd_sbs_sg_5

This Cardiff one looks really nice, too:

http://www.amazon.com/Basil-Cardiff-...ef=pd_sbs_sg_4

Mariposa

[Slowspoke]

ohh I like that Kettler shape!

[Blueberry]

I'm sure this isn't what you're looking for, but I'm totally fascinated with it: http://www.burley.com/products/cargo...ies/travoy.cfm

It's a trailer/grocery cart contraption that seems to carry quite a bit and without much difficulty. Folds up small. My LBS has one. I was tempted. But I don't need it...

I have the basic fold up nylon grocery panniers (Novara, I think). They aren't holding up terribly well (I bought them 2nd hand). They also have a boxy shape that makes heel strike a problem for my DH on his shorter wheelbase bike. I'd rule those out. I also have the Ortlieb grocery shopper. It's small, and difficult to load (but is water proof).

[WolfGirl]

ooh, that Burley looks really neat! I've been wondering how to haul stuff if we do biking/camping trips...that looks great.

I have a Trek grocery bag pannier (here) that holds a lot, but I do have some heel clearance issues at times. (It's inconsistent.) In case you were pondering a backpack pannier, I have an Arkel one that I actually don't like that much; it doesn't hold a lot and I wouldn't use it for groceries. I'm pretty happy with the Trek one, and probably if I adjusted it I wouldn't have the clearance issue.