In practice, the lightweight materials mean stuffing gear within the bags is easy and quick and would be useful for storing bulky items like sleeping bags, tents, or winter layers during extended bikepacking trips. There is a standard shock cord and hook point on each bag that hooks onto the lower section of the rack to keep the Dry-Lites in place, and ultralight horizontal stays to hold the panniers away from the rear wheels. The velcro system keeps the weight down, and there is little chance of failure, which can’t be said for standard rack attachment systems seen on other panniers. The Dry-Lites will fit nearly every rack out there. The bags are made of 400-denier ripstop nylon, provide up to 28 litres of storage between two bags, and are easily one of the lightest pannier sets out there.Īlthough the velcro attachment system looked a bit messy at first, with a little practice it became one of the bag’s most valuable features. The Arkel Dry-Lites are fully waterproof roll-top panniers that use a unique velcro attachment system that should make them compatible with most rear racks. However, in the last few years, they have been expanding their already impressive product line to include lightweight and bikepacking-friendly saddlebags, handlebar bags, and panniers. These would be a fantastic pannier for winter conditions, especially ultra races such as the Arrowhead or Iditarod.Īrkel is best known for its traditional touring panniers and accessories. The mounting system is bomber, they keep their contents dry, and weigh barely anything. The Vortex Ultralite panniers are simple and elegant. They seem like they’d handle moderate abuse but we’d hesitate in dragging them through thick brambles, thistles, or thorns like one could with Cordura or X-Pac. The strap system snugs up tightly and keeps the pannier from bouncing. Ordinarily, panniers bump and bobble around, but not these. The mounting system on panniers always seems to be the weak point, but the strap system used on these bags is bombproof. Made with proprietary Altura Shield Technology, welded seam construction, and a roll-top closure, these panniers keep your critical items dry. These 15-liter panniers are built with light and fast adventure in mind. If you’re in that twilight zone of “panniers too big, bare bike too small,” try our cargo cage and fork mount bag Index. We’d suggest organising your heaviest gear at the bottom of the pannier when you can, to minimize the effect of panniers on your bicycle’s handling off road. For this reason, all the panniers in this selection have a maximum of 30L in combined capacity.Īs a bonus, packing a pannier is inherently easier and quicker than the more meticulous approach that’s required with most modern bikepacking bags. And their capacity is capped, because at heart, mini panniers still encourage us to pack light, unencumbered by excess gear. Soft bag models may also need a liner for complete waterproofing. Generally they’re designed to be left on the bike during a tour, rather than removed each and every day. In many cases, this means that they’re not as easy to pull on and off as a traditional pannier. In some cases, they’re so minimal that they can be cinched back or rolled right down when not in use, barely taking up any space at all.Īll this said, panniers aimed at bikepacking tend to sacrifice everyday practicality in the pursuit of performance. Their profiles are slimmer too, which means pushing a bike is less awkward, and singletrack riding is often more enjoyable. They’re also lighter and often rattle-free, which makes them more suited to off-road riding. A number of manufacturers have noticed this need, and there’s a growing range of small, minimal panniers that cater to this overflow without reverting all the way back to a traditional touring setup.īroadly speaking, these bags are smaller in capacity than conventional panniers. And then there are shorter riders, whose setups often impose limited tire clearance for a seatpack, as well as the constraints of a small capacity framebag.ĭespite their extra bulk and weight, hybrid setups make sense when our requirements are a little out of the ordinary. Tykepacking? We know what it’s like to have kids and need to carry extra gear. Winter riding? Maybe a -20° sleeping bag takes up all the space on our handlebars. Or it’s an expedition-style journey with two or three weeks between resupply points. Perhaps it’s an extended tour on dirt roads and we’re expecting mixed weather. Or sometimes we just need a little extra capacity. In the real world, however, many of us aren’t always enjoying trail riding and our gear can often be bulky. In bikepacking utopia, we all ride beautiful singletrack on minimal soft bag setups, perfectly packed with the latest in ultralight gear.
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