Comments on: Panniers vs Bikepacking Bags: Can Panniers Actually Be Lighter?

By: Scott Diamond

Scott Diamond — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 15:47:00 +0000

Nice article! I haven’t gone minimalist for a cycling trip but I’m going to have to give some thought to swapping out my heavier panniers for lighter ones.

By: TriJV .

TriJV . — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 04:27:00 +0000

When it comes down to touring or bikepacking and the system you use, it seems that it is like backpacking.

As we know, you have all sorts of backpackers. Men and women who go ultra-lightweight, using polyester tarp, a bivy bag over a lightweight down quilt, 2-3 shirts, 2 pants, 2 shorts, lightweight cooking system and a 30-35-liter pack. Then on the opposite end, you have people loaded down with everything in a 65+-liter backpack.

Bicycle touring and bikepacking seem to be the same way, and basically it comes down to what you are comfortable with. Some people can get by with minimum amount of gear, while others need certain things and thus they get the biggest pannier systems available.

First thing one might think about is where do they plan to go. Will it be on a local trip, a trip across your home sate, around the country you live in, or will it be around the world? Once you determine that, you should be able to sort out what you need for gear

And then second, one should consider “test trips” like a weekend outing or even a 4-day-weekend outing is the best way to see how you want to go. You might find out that bike touring ain’t your thing. Or you find out “I wasn’t carrying what I need” or “I was carrying way too much!”

By: Alun Thomas

Alun Thomas — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 20:30:00 +0000

Good to see this article, and the reference to the info from the Ultralight cycling blog. I wouldn’t go quite as light as he does, but there’s some excellent info there which is not gear-centric, i.e. always based around purchasing the latest and greatest. Personally I am thinking of going with a drybag on a light rack, with one smaller bag for things I need to access during the ride, in a more accessible position.
I always wondered how some bikepacking setups could work out any lighter when they seem to add another bag for each item to be carried. It also seems in some ways that bikepacking has resulted only in a new, alternative orthodoxy, from which very few adherents ever stray, which contradicts one of the ideas on which it is (or should be) based.

By: Andrzej Brandt

Andrzej Brandt — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:51:00 +0000

Great article, although the most important reason to ditch classic four panniers touring setup is clearly coupled with the aim of being more efficient in hard terrains – preferably mountain trails. It is not much about the weight – nonentheless very important factor – as it is about being able to conquer hard terrain. And all the talks and articles about bikepacking vs cycle touring seem to focus only on weight and volume, rather then they are made for different aims.

By: Sudhanshu Verma

Sudhanshu Verma — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 06:09:00 +0000

Well I would prefer something like grey!
I like basket packing as well.

By: nishars

nishars — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 03:20:00 +0000

Excellent article! As I have started researching carrying system for an upcoming tour, I was surprised to find that bike packing does not really save you that much weight. All those small bags and straps add up in weight and cost significantly more. Moreoever, the rubbing inside of your thighs with the top tube bags and frame bags can be pretty bothersome.

Additionally, it takes more time to pack/unpack items from framebags/seatbags and handlebar roll. So, the time you might have saved with bikepacking setup, you will end up using it for packing/unpacking.

However, I do see the influence that bikepacking has on the traditional touring setups. Now, there are lightweight panniers like the Arkel one you mentioned above. And, the best part of bikepacking, with its better weight distribution, is that it opens up a lot of racy bike options for you.