Panniers vs. Backpack for commute

[jordanpattern]

I ride about 3 - 3.5 miles to work, which isn't much, but I live in San Francisco, so there are hills, and I deal with fairly heavy traffic many days, so that short ride can feel longer. I also have to carry up to 20 pounds (occasionally more) to work and back, which is over 15% of my body weight.

Currently, I have a nice big messenger backpack, which I really love, but it does make me feel like I have less maneuverability, and my ability to stand up for hills or starts is diminished. It can also be really tiring.

I'm wondering if panniers might be a better fit for me. Typically, I have to carry my laptop, several files, and often some books (I work as a legal researcher, so think gigantic law books). I have looked at some panniers that look all right, but I don't want to spend the money if they won't be much of an improvement, so I am curious what you all think. Will 20 pounds in panniers be easier to deal with than 20 pounds on my back?

Thank you!

[7rider]

I ride about 3 - 3.5 miles to work, which isn't much, but I live in San Francisco, so there are hills, and I deal with fairly heavy traffic many days, so that short ride can feel longer.

<snip>

Will 20 pounds in panniers be easier to deal with than 20 pounds on my back?

Thank you!

If you intend to use your back (and your neck) in the future....I'd say, yeah - 20 pounds on the pannier would be a whole lot better than on the back. That's a lot of weight. The Arkel commuter bag has a laptop sleeve, and can carry a boatload of other stuff along with it. Clicks on and off a rack wicked easy, and you can cover the hooks and - viola - an incognito pannier disguised cleverly as a carry all tote.

[tulip]

I use the Arkel laptop pannier, and I think it's great. I don't like having anything on my back. I'd rather have the bike carry the weight. Plus, when the weight is in panniers, the center of gravity is lower, which is much better in terms of maneuverability.

[Melalvai]

When I first started biking I used a backpack and I got some actual upper body strength from it. But that went away when I got a rack & pannier!

[HillSlugger]

I use the Arkel laptop pannier, and I think it's great. I don't like having anything on my back. I'd rather have the bike carry the weight. Plus, when the weight is in panniers, the center of gravity is lower, which is much better in terms of maneuverability.

+1

I felt way too top heavy when I tried riding with a packpack

[KnottedYet]

Consider Wald folding pannier baskets. They are pretty inexpensive (about $35-40 for a pair at the LBS), no-one wants to steal them, they are firmly attached, they hold a ton, they are always on your bike so you are always ready to carry stuff.

And made in the USA.

Trek420 does her SF commuting and shopping using Wald baskets.

You can throw your beloved backpack into one of the baskets (left side, to make you wider to cars) on a light day, toss books into a shopping bag and into the other basket on a heavy day. And yes, there is no problem at all using only one basket on one side, you will not be off balance. There are bungee nets (about $6) to hold awkward loads in the baskets.

http://waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald...ingbasket.html

You can hang lights and reflectors off the wire mesh. They are unobtrusive when folded flat. They don't rattle (and if you find a rattle, fix it with a layer of electrical tape).

If it rains you put your stuff in a plastic bag before loading it into the basket, or if you want to be extra guaranteed dry, use a rafter's dry-bag. A dry-bag is much cheaper than something like an Ortleib waterproof pannier.

[silentlysailing]

I went for panniers, My only thing is that with the panniers it shifted the balance point on my bike rearward so I've slid out the front tire a couple of times and fallen. So either way there are downfalls from my experience. I still use the panniers though as it's far more comfortable, and got some grippier treaded tires to help compensate.

[Becky]

Panniers, definitely!

[Bike Chick]

I've switched to panniers. My area of the country is very humid in the summer and the backpack is miserably hot. Panniers alleviated that issue and are much easier on my neck and back.

[Velocivixen]

I use the Arkel "Bug" which is a pannier that converts into a backpack.

[jordanpattern]

I got some panniers!

I was visiting my family in Canada, where I had a chance to hit up Mountain Equipment Coop. I scored some of MEC's in-house line panniers for cheap, and I'll be trying them out soon!

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...34374302693397

[badger]

I got some panniers!

I was visiting my family in Canada, where I had a chance to hit up Mountain Equipment Coop. I scored some of MEC's in-house line panniers for cheap, and I'll be trying them out soon!

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...34374302693397

how do you like it/them? I had a pair of those and returned them because they were a bit on the small side, and I really didn't want to carry 2 bags. Not to mention them not being waterproof (it rains a lot here).


I finally got my courage to put the Ortlieb Bike Shopper bag and LOVE it!! I stuff so much in it (lunch in heavy glass containers, clothes, books, groceries) and aside from feeling just a little bit unstable at times, it's been great not having anything on my back anymore.　Ortlieb really is the leader in panniers, so easy to put on, take off, and the fact it's waterproof is a godsend.