surgtech, what are you going to be carrying in your panniers? How far are you going to be going, and what type of surfaces--city streets, country roads, single-track (!)?

I commuted for years with my laptop in an Arkel laptop pannier. It's very nice, but some folks complain about heal strike. I placed it as far back on my rack as I could (the pannier adjusts). When I needed to, I had another pannier for clothes, but they typically fit into the Arkel. This pannier suspends the laptop, which keeps it from getting too much vibration.

Ortlieb and Arkel are probably the best panniers out there, in my experience. I had no trouble balancing with just one pannier while I was riding, but walking my bike up my front stairs was a bit more challenging because of the weight on one side.