Good Backpacks for Commuting?

[farrellcollie]

I ride my bike to school and back (teacher) - but I found that I hated carrying books on my back - I use grocery type panniers. I have a rather short commute - 4 miles each way - but my almost 50yr old back and neck just balked at book carrying (if you are a young whippersnapper it may not matter). I have heard a lot of people say they prefer messenger bags to back pack types.

[wildstreaktn]

Wow,thanks for all the input,ladies.I'll check out those sites and let you all know what I come up with for my new daily 24 mile round trip commute!

[bouncybouncy]

I was a backpack commuter for a while (30 mile roundtrip) and thought is was fine...didn't bother me a bit!

UNTIL, hubby put on a rack and panniers....never ever ever going back to anything on my back nope never not gonna do it not me!!!!!

I have the Ortlieb full suspension rack (had issues with attachment and this one worked the best on my bike...Surly Karate Monkey with fenders and v-brakes on rear. Hubby has a smaller rack but he rides a Long Haul Trucker that has brazons for easier mounting)

Also have the Ortlieb (storm waterproof) panniers...loooooove them!!!

[Torrilin]

Wow,thanks for all the input,ladies.I'll check out those sites and let you all know what I come up with for my new daily 24 mile round trip commute!

For 24 miles, I'd go with rack and panniers if you can. I've done the backpack thing, and it's functional. The rack and panniers are a lot more comfortable. And well, I *like* being comfy on my bike. Means I use it more. You don't have to go super-expensive to have a good rack and panniers setup for commuting, since most of the time you won't break 30 lbs commuting.

I did go for a sturdier rack tho, because mine hauls groceries. I really wouldn't want a bottle of wine going splat because the rack failed .

[RoseC]

Wow,thanks for all the input,ladies.I'll check out those sites and let you all know what I come up with for my new daily 24 mile round trip commute!

As usual, I'm late to the party...

Wildstreak, my commute is pretty much the same length as yours, and if I were buying *new* equipment rather than just figuring out how to make do, I wouldn't go for a backpack if I were you. I used one for awhile when I first started just because it's what I had, but it was hot, uncomfortable if I needed to carry more than lunch, and made me feel kind of unstable and like I couldn't see behind me as well as I'd like.

Right now I'm using an old Schwinn touring bag that I picked up on Craigslist, and while it's still not perfect (the weight is still not low and balanced), it's sooooo nice not having weight on my back and in my way!

But I think the best solution for long-ish commutes like ours is the pannier/rack combination. I plan to pick up some Ortliebs as soon as I can afford them, maybe as a self-awarded prize for reaching a mileage point.