DIY panniers. What to use?

[offrd]

Looking forward to getting this!

I have tried quite a few ways of packing the bike over the years and this is the exact thing i was looking for!

[.chris]

I have been thinking of upgrading my bikes luggage carry capacity. Now that I have the pannier racks that Clint kindly donated I feel I can add a bit more to my load since the tank is not the only thing taking the weight.

I currently use a Bags-Connect Cargobag (50l) and normally carry a drybag (35l squished to about 25l).

But all of this ends up sitting quite high on the bike which I don't like so much. I was thinking of adding some soft panniers to the bike. I am not sure I will still be able to use the Cargobag, but I figured with the panners at the right height, it will provide a good platform to add another drybag and have them better secured than I currently do.
So I current have
50+25 = 75l of storage.

New system would be more like
28l Panniers (expandable to 35, or was thinking these or these)
40l drybag (givi)
35l drybag (beyond)
Giving me over 100l of storage.

The other option would be to add a top-box to the mix, I figure a 36l/46l one would be able to sit at the back with a dry bag in front of it with the panniers below.

Any opinions/thoughts on this type of setup?
Sorry for the thread hi-jack, at least it is semi on topic.

[offrd]

I have been thinking of upgrading my bikes luggage carry capacity. Now that I have the pannier racks that Clint kindly donated I feel I can add a bit more to my load since the tank is not the only thing taking the weight.

I currently use a Bags-Connect Cargobag (50l) and normally carry a drybag (35l squished to about 25l).

But all of this ends up sitting quite high on the bike which I don't like so much. I was thinking of adding some soft panniers to the bike. I am not sure I will still be able to use the Cargobag, but I figured with the panners at the right height, it will provide a good platform to add another drybag and have them better secured than I currently do.
So I current have
50+25 = 75l of storage.

New system would be more like
28l Panniers (expandable to 35, or was thinking these or these)
40l drybag (givi)
35l drybag (beyond)
Giving me over 100l of storage.

The other option would be to add a top-box to the mix, I figure a 36l/46l one would be able to sit at the back with a dry bag in front of it with the panniers below.

Any opinions/thoughts on this type of setup?
Sorry for the thread hi-jack, at least it is semi on topic.

Sounds like a Ford transit high roof LWB van would be perfect for you!

80L does me for TWO people for 3 days/nights....

Ha ha ha ha!

[.chris]

Sounds like a Ford transit high roof LWB van would be perfect for you!

80L does me for TWO people for 3 days/nights....

Ha ha ha ha!

Yeah, I tend to carry more than I need, but I never want to be in-need of something.
Part of my problem is my sleeping bag, it is from the 90's and is pretty large even when compressed. I do plan to get a new bag for winter, if I got an ultralite new bag, I could get rid of the large bag/extra blanket I carry (for summer anyway).

But you may be onto something about me taking too much gear.
For my next trip away I shall photograph everything that I am going to pack, then you guys can pick through it and judge me accordingly

[NordieBoy]

For my next trip away I shall photograph everything that I am going to pack, then you guys can pick through it and judge me accordingly

Why wait?

We can judge you right now...

[cooneyr]

Why wait?

We can judge you right now...

I reckon.

I've a alpine climbing background and think that a 80l pack is big (got that much stuff then your carrying too much). 40-60 is enough even with 30l of rope, harness and other bling.

I've currently using Wolfman E10 bags at 18l total and will add tent/bivi bag and bed roll on top as necessary. I can get sleeping bag, jandals, clothes (for 2 days), spare oil, toilet bag in wolfman with a little spare space and carry all my bike spares, tools, layer of poly pro and wet weather gear in a 30l backpack.

The EXC subframe does drive you to be very frugal with gear though!

Point is - maybe have another think about what you really need!

Cheers R

P.S. the Wolfman E10 rocks. Stayed in place perfectly on the DB1k with some fairly aggressive riding. Bags even handled a couple of lie downs in the dirt and a sideways slide into a fence with no problems at all. Very impressed.

[.chris]

Why wait?

We can judge you right now...

Of course you have judged me already huh.
please note the lack of Slippers, evening dress suit, Italian Espresso machine.


Tank Bag: Knife, Torch, Professional soft camera holder (read: homemade), spare gloves, first aid kit.
Cargobag: Sweedish Field cooker (contains cuterly, fuel for cooking), ktm tool-kit, toiletries, rain layer, pump for air-bed, tent, clothes (teex2, socksx3,jeans, windfleece, polyprop, undiesx2, togs, jandals, mini towel(forgot to include in pic))
Drybag: sleeping bag, army/scout blanket, kathmandu blow up single bed

That is what I would take away for a 2+ night trip and pretty much covers at week+ trip gear (with a bit of washing along the way). On top of that lot I usually carry food (couple of cans/meusli bars)

Looking at this pile of gear, seeing the size of the sleepingbag/extra blanket, makes me think I really should just invest in a new decent sleeping bag, as it would probably be smaller than the current one and negate the need for the blanket.

And this is what it all looks like on the bike.

[Night Falcon]

I like the flexibilty of soft panniers, you can jamb odd shaped items in them easier (shoes, containers, toasters) hard cases are bit more restrictive BUT softies dont take the knocks as well. I use my panniers where ever possible as the lower weight is better plus I don't like those bags that takeup half ya seat, especially if ya riding technical tracks fully loaded (plus they're a pain with the 690's rear tank)

I am always rethinking what to take on trips. My sleeping bag takes up too much room but I don't do tents so that saves some space. The great thing about NZ is ya never more than a few hours away form a bed/motel which is far more civilised than bush wacking it in a tent.

I think your pretty sorted though Chris, far more onto it than me anyway.

[dino3310]

Of course you have judged me already huh.
please note the lack of Slippers, evening dress suit, Italian Espresso machine.

ya got ya flip flops mate thats the evening wear covered

[NordieBoy]

Of course you have judged me already huh.
please note the lack of Slippers, evening dress suit, Italian Espresso machine.

I've been known to head off to a 3 day ride with my tent etc and have to stop off at my sisters and borrow a sleeping bag as I'd forgotten mine

[BMWST?]

if you want a small sleeping bag it has to be down...they pack up ridiculously small,but the downside is they must not get wet..You need a proper sized bag or compression bag for them and you can stuff the sleeping bag in.I had a mac pac sleeping bag that was very warm and it packed into a bag not much bigger than a shoe!It has somehow gone missing tho....

[Eddieb]

I've just picked up a Exped Downmat 9LW for my touring setup. I do camping, but I don't do sleeping on the ground or on some wafer thin piece of foam.

The Exped Downmat range comes in 7 and 9cm thicknesses and the 9LW is the Longest, Widest and thickest size Exped do at 197cm x 65cm x 9cm inflated, but it packs down to 27cm x 16cm so fits in my Wolfman expedition bags with room to spare, the 9LW weighs in at 1240 grams.

The Downmat range also has a goose down filler so the 9LW is rated down to -38 degrees and has a R insulation value of 8.
My biggest problem when camping is often the cold coming up through the floor so hopefully this will resolve, or at least heavily offset that. The coldest I usually camp is at the Cold Kiwi rally each year which over the past few years has got down to about -8c overnight.
The Downmat range also have a built in pump mechanism so no huffing and puffing after a hard days riding or having to carry a pump.

They are not cheap but quality never is. Retail for the 9LW is $299 but Bivouac have a 30% off sale on Exped products at the moment so I saved $90 on it buying it this week. The 7cm thick models start at about $220.

More info: http://www.bivouac.co.nz/gear/campin...de-valves.html

[clint640]

Just spotted these DeWalt cases in the Toolshed brochure, they look like they could be a good option for someone wanting to make some DIY hard panniers or for a top box.

http://www.thetoolshed.co.nz/index2/...ss=true&id=284

Cheers
Clint

[Oscar]

I have a set of these MTB Panniers:



http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T...n-rear-pannier

Waterproof, rugged, on special for $89.99 and they went straight on my Givi mounts.

[Andy67]

I have a set of these MTB Panniers:





Waterproof, rugged, on special for $89.99 and they went straight on my Givi mounts.

They look good mate, I called T7 and the lady couldn't really explain the mounting system.

Are the bags joined together ? Or seperated ? Can they be attached individually to the rack and if so how ? My rack is tube and about a foot wide.