Bicycle Touring Pro » Panniers

How Much Does It Cost To Gear Up For A Bicycle Tour?

Darren Alff — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:53:04 +0000

Bicycle touring can be an extremely inexpensive means of transportation, holiday, fun and more! But purchasing all the gear you need in order to conduct a long-distance bicycle tour can be a major drain on your bank account.

The question is: How much does all this bicycle touring gear really cost?

Well, I never really knew the answer… until I sat down a couple days ago and figured it all out (and the answer might surprise you)!

What I’ve done with this article is written out the basic equipment you might need to purchase for a long-distance bicycle tour. Next to each item listed I’ve recorded an estimated price (in US Dollars) for that particular item and displayed a sample photo of that piece of gear underneath its price.

For example: The first item you are going to need to purchase for your bike trip is a touring bicycle. There are hundreds of touring bicycles to choose from, but for the purpose of this article, I chose one of the most popular and least expensive touring bikes available (the Surly Long Haul Trucker) and displayed it for you below with it’s average estimated price of $1,095 USD.

Now, as you continue down the list, you will see a number of additional bicycle touring items you will likely need for your travels – everything from racks and panniers, to tents and sleeping bags, to camp stoves and sporks, and everything in between. Each item is displayed with its average estimated price and a photo of one such piece of gear.

While you could certainly go on a bicycle tour without every single one of the items listed on this page, the items displayed here are what your average long-distance bicycle tourist (who plans to camp and cook his or her own food) might be carrying. Additional items, like a camera, underwear, off-the-bike clothing, food, toiletries, and pretty much everything else, has not been included. Only the basics/essentials have been covered.

Finally, at the bottom of this article, the cost of all these items has been totaled up for you. The purpose of which is to give you a good estimate as to how much all of this gear would cost you if you were to purchase it all at its full retail price (minus additional taxes, shipping costs, etc).

GRAND TOTAL: $3,083 USD

If you were to purchase every single one of the items on this page, your grand total would be right around the $3,000 mark (plus any additional taxes and shipping charges, etc).

For many people reading this now, the cost of all these items might be a bit shocking. For others, you might be thinking “That’s not too bad”. Whatever the case, at least you now have a general idea of how much it might cost to fully-equip yourself for a long-distance bicycle touring adventure.

And remember: You can certainly equip yourself for a whole lot less than this. Finding these items used, on sale, or eliminating them all together will save you a lot of money. Plus, if you so choose, you can select other gear that costs a whole lot more than this! The choice (and the price of your bicycle touring gear) is ultimately up to you!

For those of you who have traveled by bike in the past, how much did it cost you to equip yourself for your bicycle touring adventures? Leave a comment below and let me know!

Axiom Typhoon Double DLX: Waterproof Bicycle Panniers

Darren Alff — Mon, 02 May 2011 11:22:56 +0000

If I didn’t know better, I might just think that the Typhoon Double DLX bicycle panniers from Axiom were designed just for me.

These waterproof panniers are made out of double-sided, 100% waterproof nylon, mount to just about any bike rack on the market, comes with a padded laptop bag, one outside waterproof pocket, and even extra hardware.

I took the Typhoon Double DLX panniers with me on a recent trip the state of Missouri while cycling my way across the state on the Katy Trail. During that trip, the panniers performed well above parr – even on the little red folding bicycle that I was riding at the time.

At home, I’ve used the panniers as well (on both long day trips and short commutes near my home). Again, the Axiom Typhoon Double DRX panniers have done nothing but impress.

The Best Thing About These Panniers

There are a number of things I like about these panniers. The most obvious, however, is the color of the panniers themselves. I am so sick of seeing panniers that come in black, blue, red and yellow. While not far from the traditional black, the gray coloring on these Axiom panniers is superb. While some people might want the attention generated by brightly colored panniers, there are others that want their panniers to blend in and look good in a city environment. For these people, the color on the Typhoon Double DLX panniers will certainly serve them well.

I also love the fact that the bags are waterproof. As bicycle riding, commuting, and bike touring becomes more and more popular, there are going to me an increased number of people who will look to panniers as a way of carrying their gear. For these people, I believe that having a waterproof pannier is going to be incredibly important. So the fact that these bags are waterproof (and even contain a small, external waterproof zipper) is awesome!

When it comes to waterproof panniers, most of the time you can expect to spend an arm and a leg. But not here! These panniers, while certainly not as high-quality as other panniers on the market (more on this in a minute), are incredibly affordable – just $200 Canadian Dollars ($195 USD). It should be noted that this price is for two panniers and the included laptop case, which is going to be a huge bonus for the modern bicycle traveler who wants to travel with his computer, whether that be from his home to his office, or from his home to some exotic place half-way around the world.

The Worst Thing About These Panniers

While I generally love these panniers, there are a few things on the negative side worth mentioning.

First of all, the attachment system that is used to attach the panniers to the racks on your bicycle is functional, but basic. The pannier attaches with a small bungee hook at the bottom and two large hooks at the top. There is no locking mechanism to lock the panniers into place on your rack, nor are there any options for moving the pannier forward or back on the rack, which means that there could be some problems with the panniers hitting your feet as you ride (depending on the size of your foot, the geometry of your bicycle, and the type of rear rack you are using).

The other thing I worry about with these panniers is their long-term durability. For someone who is using these panniers to commute to work, this is less of a concern. But for someone who plans to use this set of panniers to travel by bike for several weeks or months on end, I’m not so sure how these panniers would hold up. The material seems a bit on the thin side and I’m not sure it would take that much stress to rip or tear these panniers to the point that they are rendered no-longer waterproof. That said, I’ve been using the panniers for several months now and they’re still holding strong. And yet I still can’t get the feeling out of my head that I need to be a little careful with these panniers because they might get a hole in them.

Would I Recommend These Bicycle Panniers?

The short story… ABSOLUTELY!

I have been really impressed with these light-weight, low-priced, and stylish bicycle panniers from Axiom.

If you are planning to ride your bike to and from work each day, this is a great set of panniers… and the included laptop case is just another cool perk.

And if you are a person planning to ride your bike on a short or long-distance bike tour and you need a set of waterproof panniers in which to carry your gear, the Typhoon Double DLX panniers from Axiom are a great set of starter panniers at an incredible price.

My Rating: 8 Out Of 10

More information can be found at: www.axiomgear.com

For Sale: Giro Bike Helmet & Lone Peak Pannier/Day Pack

Darren Alff — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 03:15:47 +0000

Hi guys! This is somewhat of a personal post. I hope you don’t mind.

I am leaving for South America in 1 month’s time and I am trying to get rid of a few things I no longer use. I have two items I think might be of interest to you and they are…

Giro Atmos Racing Bicycle Helmet

I got this helmet when I was I my last year of college. I was a member of my university’s club cycling team and I wanted to get a helmet that matched our team colors (red and white). Unfortunately, I didn’t get this helmet until after I graduated from college. Since then, I’ve sold my racing bike and never once worn this helmet. I may have put the helmet on my head two or three times, if that. This helmet retails for well over $100 USD, but if you’d like this one, I’ll give it to you for only $40 plus the cost of shipping. Please contact me if you are interested.

Lone Peak PD-200 Mount Olympus Pannier/Day Pack

The other item I have for sale is a brand new Lone Peak pannier/backpack. What is so cool about this bag is that it clips onto the racks of your bicycle like a regular pannier does, but off the bike it transforms into a backpack so you can carry it and the rest of your gear with ease. The bag normally sells for $80 USD, but it’s yours for only $50 + shipping if you contact me first.

I have a few other items I am trying to get rid of at the moment as well, but they aren’t necessarily cycling oriented, so I haven’t posted them here. If you’d like to see the other items I have for sale, please visit my personal website at www.darrenalff.com. And please contact me if you are interested in purchasing either the helmet or the Lone Peak bag above. Thanks!

Arkel XM-45 Bicycle Panniers

Darren Alff — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:33:41 +0000

High-quality, water-resistant, retro, and tough. These are four words I might use to describe the XM-45 bicycle panniers from Arkel.

Several months ago I was sent a set of Arkel XM-45 panniers and their matching rain covers. In this review I will describe in great detail the make up of this particular pannier, share my thoughts in regards to its strengths and its weaknesses, and tell you whether or not this is a pannier I would recommend for your travels.

To Start… A Brief Intro To The Arkel XM-45 Pannier:

The Arkel XM-45 is Arkel’s highest selling bicycle pannier for the touring market. The company actually makes a larger set of panniers (called the GT-54), but those particular panniers are absolutely huge (3,300 cubic inches) compared to the XM-45s (2,800 cubic inches). The XM-45 panniers are large enough for most people and are ideally shaped for the needs of nearly every traveling cyclist.

On their website, the company explains that this set of panniers was initially designed for off-road mountain biking, but because of their tall, narrow profile (which helps to ensure heal clearance while pedaling); the compression straps that cross the front of the bags that allow for maximum compression; and the inner lining that works to protect your precious gear… these particular panniers have become a favorite for thousands of people traveling by bike.

Features That Make The XM-45 Bicycle Pannier Unique

The following is a list of some of the features that make the Arkel XM-45 pannier so incredibly popular.

Made Of High-Quality Cordurra

The XM-45 panniers are made out of a high-quality, water-resistant fabric called Cordura. This is the same material used in the manufacturing of backpacks and panniers produced by other outdoor companies. It’s a favorite fabric amongst outdoor manufactureres because of its ruggedness and its ability to shed (although not completely deflect) rain, snow, and other such outside forces. I’ve personally received letters from people traveling by bike in remote parts of the world and they stated to me in these letters that the reason they chose to travel with Arkel panniers was because of just how tough and seemingly indestructible the fabric is – even in the most harsh environments.

Ultra-Durable Zippers

Besides the high-quality fabric, the pannier uses three top-of-the line zippers (one used on the top lid, one used on the side pocket, and one larger zipper that runs down the side of the pannier for those who wish to load their belongings from the traditional sideways position.) Zippers as a whole are something many pannier manufacturers try to avoid, as the zipper is usually the first thing to break on a bag such as this. But the zippers used on these Arkel panniers are top of the line and they’ll run for years before you have to worry about them breaking or giving way.

Compression Straps

The compression straps on the XM-45 panniers are unique in that unlike other bicycle pannier compression straps that typically run in either a vertical or horizontal manner, the compression straps on the XM-45 panniers run in a diagonal pattern, crossing the center of the bag at its middle (See the photo above). This not only gives you a great way to compress your bag down to its smallest possible size, but it also allows the straps themselves to be kept short, so they remain out of the way and are easy to manage each and every time you need to get into your bags.

Top-Loading With Side-Loading Zipper

Traditional touring panniers were designed to be loaded from the side, much like you would do with a suitcase. But many of today’s most popular bicycle touring panniers are designed as top-loaders, meaning that you load your gear into them from the top, kind of like you would do when putting rocks in a bucket.

Whether you are someone who prefers loading your gear from the top or the side, the XM-45 panniers give you the best of both words, because while their core design is that of a top-loading bag, the large side zipper does give you the option of opening the bag on its side and loading your gear in that way.

Fully-Lined Main Compartment

This is another feature that makes the XM-45′s shine! Each of the panniers has a fully-lined interior. So in addition to the external Cordura material that provides the tough, water-resistant shell around your belongings, the inner-liner adds another layer of water-resistance and quality to the bag itself. This liner, just like the exterior of the bag, is accessible from the side and closes at the top with a simple drawstring.

Top Of The Line Pannier Attachment System

How your panniers attach to the racks of your bicycles is another key factor to consider when purchasing a set of panniers. Having a quality attachment system is extremely important – especially if you plan to use the panniers on any sort of long-distance tour. Luckily, the attachment system on the back of Arkel panniers is one of the best in the industry. Some might even argue that it is the best in the world!

The panniers attach by a small bungee-mounted hook at the bottom of the bag and large, industrial-strength, self-locking cams at the top. Best of all, the attachment system works with either 10mm or 8mm racks, so no matter what size rack you have, the Arkel panniers will work for you! (The image above shows the panniers mounted on an 8mm rack.)

Multiple Pockets For Organizing Your Gear

Another nice feature of the XM-45 panniers is that they have three different compartments in which to store your gear. Many panniers only have one compartment and this makes organizing your things somewhat difficult. The XM-45′s, however, have three compartments: one large one in the center, a small one on the side, and a small one in the lid.

Bright & Flashy Design

If safety is a concern of yours, the bright attention-getting colors of the panniers shown in this review certainly do a good job of telling passing motorists that there is a bicycle up ahead. While the XM-45s currently come in both yellow and black colors, both models come with 3M reflective stripes on the exterior… and the rain covers (if you choose to get them) come in a bright neon yellow color that also works wonders to alert passing vehicles of your presence.

Optional Rain Covers That Fit Like A Glove

Finally, when it comes to the extra rain covers, the ones made to fit the XM-45 panniers fit like a glove. If you’ve got your panniers filled to the max and need to protect the gear inside your bags from a sudden download, just slip the light, colorful rain covers over your panniers, tighten the drawstring and continue on your way. The covers themselves are made of lightweight 1.9 ounce Coated Rip-Stop Nylon and are designed so that after slipping them around your panniers, you simply give a tug on the covers’ elasticized drawstring and they’ll close tightly around your panniers so as to keep the contents inside dry and secure.

Benefits Of The XM-45 Arkel Pannier

While there are many reasons the XM-45 panniers from Arkel are so popular, I believe the three biggest benefits of this particular set of panniers is that they are super tough (and therefore perfect for people traveling long-distances on a bike); provide superior heel clearance when compared with other bicycle panniers on the market (even my friend Josh (shown in the images in this review) who has a size 15 US foot was able to mount the XM-45 panniers on the back of his bike and ride without any interference whatsoever); and they come with three different compartments that make organizing your belongings oh so easy.

Drawbacks Of The XM-45 Arkel Pannier

That said, the main drawback to these panniers is that they not 100% waterproof. As time goes on, I think having set of waterproof bicycle panniers is going to be more and more important to many, many people. And despite the fact that the panniers do have extra rain covers that can be purchased, many will see this as just another item to buy and another item that they have to carry on their bikes (in addition to the panniers and all the gear they are already towing.)

Another small drawback to the XM-45s is that they are on the heavy side when it comes to touring panniers. Both panniers weigh a total of 4.3 lbs, which is heavy when compared to many panniers from other bicycle companies.

My Overall Thoughts & Impressions

Overall, I have been super impressed with the quality and design of the Arkel XM-45 bicycle panniers. As far as function and design is concerned, they are top of the line and I would highly recommend them for any type of bicycle riding – whether it be commuting near your home or riding your bike all the way around the world. If I could change anything about the panniers, however, I would want them to be waterproof (without the need for additional rain covers) and ever so slightly lighter. Other than that, they’re fantastic and I recommend you consider getting a pair for yourself!

My Rating: 9 out of 10

More information can be found at www.arkel-od.com

Do you have a set of Arkel XM-45 panniers? If so, what do you think of them? Add to this review by leaving a comment below.

Review Status: The product featured in this review was sent to me for free for the purpose of this review.

Pacific Outdoor Equipment – Front & Rear Fender Waterproof Bicycle Panniers

Darren Alff — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:00:43 +0000

For a very long time now, German-made Ortlieb panniers have remained “the product of choice” when it comes to high-quality, waterproof bicycle panniers. But now, there’s a new company jumping into the waterproof pannier market… and they’ve produced a product that could seriously compete with Ortlieb.

Pacific Outdoor Equipment is a Montana, USA-based company producing high-quality, environmentally conscious bicycle and outdoor products. I previously reviewed the company’s Peak Oyl Elite sleeping mat and gave it a super-high rating. Their panniers, I’m happy to report, have been rated just as highly.

The Basics: Color, Size & Weight

The panniers shown in this review are the new Front and Rear Fender panniers from Pacific Outdoor Equipment. The image above is the Front Fender, made to be used on the front rack of your fully-loaded touring bicycle.

The Front Fender pannier features a classic roll-top design (which along with the material used to make the bag, makes it 100% waterproof), internal pockets for organizing your gear, compression straps to keep your bags from flapping in the wind as you ride, and it comes in three different colors.

The colors currently available are:

Hi-Liter/Chrome (left)
Black/Chrome (center)
Raft/Chrome (right)

The Front Fender pannier measures 41cm x 25cm x 18cm, weights 760 grams (1 lbs 11 oz) and has a carrying capacity of approximately 18 Liters.

The Rear Fender pannier (made to go on the back of your bike) measures 43cm x 30cm x 18cm, weights 839 grams (1 lbs 14 oz) and has a carrying capacity of approximately 20 Liters. The Rear Fender also features a small external pocket and a left/right design so as to allow you extra heel clearance when mounted on your bicycle.

The Attachment System: How The Pannier Attaches To Your Rack

The photos below show the pannier’s rack attachment system. Like most bicycle panniers, the Pacific Outdoor Equipment Front and Rear Fender panniers have two clips at the top of the bag and a large sliding attachment near the bottom (very similar to the way Ortlieb panniers are designed).

The Pacific Outdoor Equipment attachment system is one of the best I’ve seen.

The two small clips at the top of the bag can each be mounted in one of four different positions, allowing you to move the clips forward or back depending on the type of rack you have and the position you wish to place the panniers on your bicycle.

Additionally, the clips come standard with both 8mm and 10mm attachment hooks.

This is one of my favorite features on this product! The panniers come ready to mount for racks with an 8mm diameter. But if you have a larger 10mm rack and you want to attach the panniers to your bike, all you have to do is insert an Allen wrench from your bicycle’s multi-tool into a small hole on the back of the attachment clip and pop out the blue 8mm insert (as shown in the photo below).

Once you’ve popped out the small insert, you’re ready to go! Simply mount the pannier to your bike… and you’re on your way! And if you ever need to mount the pannier to a smaller rack, simply reinstall the blue insert and you’ll have a perfect fit.

Many bicycle panniers do not come built to fit both 8mm and 10mm rack sizes, so this is one feature I really, really like.

Finally, on the bottom of the pannier is a long plastic hook that slides along a track so as to mount your pannier in the ideal position for your particular bicycle rack. Once you find the ideal position for this rear slider, you can lock it in place by tightening a small screw on the bottom of the clip.

The two images below show the Rear Fender panniers being mounted to the rear 8mm rack of my Fuji Touring bike.

Once on the rack, you simply slide the large blue tabs at the top of the clip attachments to the center of the bike so as to lock the panniers in place – thus ensuring that the bags can not bounce off of your bike as you travel about. Once again, not all bicycle panniers have an attachment system that actually locks the panniers into place. Being able to lock the panniers in place, however, is extremely important for the serious bicycle traveler.

Photos of the Panniers in Use:

The following six photos were taken while using the Front and Rear Fender panniers in both winter and summer conditions.

Positives & Negatives of these Particular Panniers:

Let’s start with the positives.

First of all, the panniers are incredibly well made. These are not cheap panniers and I do feel that they could last a very long time out on the road.

Secondly, the bags are 100% waterproof. Many bicycle panniers are waterproof in that they wick rainfall and snow away from the bag, but they are not 100% waterproof in that if they were held under water, items inside would actually get wet. The advantage of these panniers, however, is that because of their roll-top design, they are indeed 100% waterproof. You could drop these bags in a river and pull them out several minutes later and find that the contents of the panniers are still 100% dry.

In addition, the attachment system is great. The clips at the top of the pannier fit both 8mm and 10mm bike racks. They lock into place, so the panniers won’t bounce off the racks as you’re pedaling, and they are made of hard, high-quality plastic (a material I believe would be difficult to break). The bottom of the attachment system on the back of the pannier is good as well (although not as good as I would like – but more on this in a minute).

The fact that the Rear Fender pannier has a small pocket on the exterior of the bag is also a nice additional feature. When traveling by bike, there are surely going to be a few items you want to access on a regular basis and that you’d like to reach without having to dig into your panniers each and every time you need that particular item. These small, flat side pockets certainly come in handy in this regards.

Finally, the color choices should be commended. I love the silver color used on all of the bags. Black is an obvious choice and I really like the Raft blue color that has been made available. However, I’m not a big fan of the Hi-Liter yellow. That said, I have to applaud Pacific Outdoor Equipment for choosing colors outside of the traditional black, royal blue and red that almost every bicycle pannier company in the world seems to use. I love the black and blue color choices they’ve made here, but the yellow needs more work.

As for the negatives, here are my thoughts:

First of all, I really don’t like the Hi-Light yellow color. I think some people will love this color and others will absolutely hate it. Obviously it’s a great color for attracting the attention of passing motorists, but it’s not a stylish, hip or attractive color. I’d likely name it “Piss Yellow” or “Vomit Green.” It’s a good attempt, but this particular color needs to be re-engineered. A darker, more neon based color would be nice.

Weight is another issue. These panniers, while they are really well-made and entirely waterproof, kind of weight a lot. At just over a pound each, they don’t really weight all that much in the grand scheme of things, but when compared to similar products, they do feel a bit heavy.

Finally, my only other negative comment has to do with the bottom of the attachment system on the rear of the bag. While very similar in design to that of Ortlieb pannier products, the thing that this pannier has against it is that the attachment slide 1) can only be mounted in one direction (parallel to the ground) and 2) can not be easily adjusted (something I find important when using a set of panniers on multiple bicycles with different types of racks). Ortlieb has Pacific Outdoor Equipment beat in this regards. The Ortlieb slide at the bottom of their panniers rotates in any direction and with just a quick adjustment can be made to fit on just about any rack in the world. So, while the attachment clips at the top of the Pacific Outdoor Equipment panniers have been excellently designed and superbly made, the slide attachment at the bottom could use some improvement.

Overall Rating: Would I Recommend These Panniers?

The fact of the matter here is this: The Front and Rear Fender panniers from Pacific Outdoor Equipment are excellent waterproof panniers and I would highly recommend them. I love the direction the company is going with their color choices, design, and environmentally conscious means of doing business. If I had to rate these particular panniers…

My Rating: 9.5 out of 10

With just a few alterations, some slight changes in color and a couple marketing miracles, these Pacific Outdoor panniers might soon become the new standard in round-the-world, long-distance, waterproof panniers.

Highly recommended!

Bicycle Touring Pro » Panniers

How Much Does It Cost To Gear Up For A Bicycle Tour?

Touring Bicycle – $1,095 USD

Rear Rack – $40 USD

Front Rack – $85 USD

2 Rear Panniers – $165 USD

2 Front Panniers – $143 USD

2 Water Bottle Cages – $12 USD

2 Insulated Water Bottles – $22 USD

Front & Rear Fenders – $32 USD

Handlebar Bag (+ Map Case) – $40 USD

2 Bungee Cords – $12 USD

Tent & Tent Footprint – $ 261 USD

Sleeping Bag – $189 USD

Sleeping Pad – $80 USD

Bicycle Computer – $50 USD

Rear Bicycle Light – $15 USD

Headlamp – $38 USD

Helmet – $89 USD

Mirror – $15 USD

Bike Lock – $20 USD

Camp Stove & Fuel Bottle – $110 USD

Cook Pot – $70 USD

Knife -$50 USD

Spork – $9 USD

Jersey – $40 USD

Bicycle Shorts – $70 USD

2 Pairs of Cycling Socks – $18 USD

SPD Cycling Shoes – $75 USD

Rain Jacket – $150 USD

Camp Towel – $13 USD

Bicycle Pump – $22 USD

Patch Kit – $3 USD

2 Tire Levers -$6 USD

Spare Tube – $6 USD

Chain Lube – $12 USD

Multi-Tool -$26 USD