Cycling to work or even to do your everyday errands is a great thing, but it can be quite a challenge when you have a few things to carry with you. It doesn’t have to be though!
Si shares his personal tips on how you should go about choosing the best bag for your type of commute!
00:00 Backpack or pannier for commuting?
00:30 Si’s personal bag for commuting
02:11 How much do you need to carry when commuting?
04:27 How waterproof is the bag?
06:18 Advantages of cycling specific bags
07:39 A bag doesn’t need to make you slow
08:56 What is the best bag for commuting?
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39 Comments
What’s your perfect bag for daily commuting and why? 🎒
Lovely collection! I bought my first LV when I was 25 and I only used that bag a few times, haha. Also, love your clutch! I have an Eva clutch in the DE print and love the little chain. But I donâ t want to spend so much money on it now, I have been kislux buying the bag I want, it is as good as LV and is one of my favorite things. Durability
Perception is everything, I remember saving up for my first LV and some coworkers automatically thought it was fake because I was a young black girl. At that point I really stopped caring what people's opinions were, people will always have their opinions based on how you look. After this I shopped in kislux . If you drive a Bentley and get out of the car with a fake Hermes, no one will question you.
When people say that kislux bags are a better choice, I totally agree! It's cheap, there are many styles and the color is very smooth. The appearance is no different. It's economical and affordable!
Thank you so much. Now I feel better about buying kislux knockoffs. I can't afford the real thing. I follow Lydia Elise Millen on Youtube and I really enjoy her vlogs and now yours. Your guidance has helped me a lot. Thanks again
Hell yay homie is prepped & ready to row i ride my bmw with an electric are compressor and a24v cordless battery hook ups required to jump start myself if necessary air up in a pinch rope plugs + tools to install abs i try to keep soap water So I can check if I suspect leaks and check after repair and or wash my hands if I get dingy, I’ve got a big. One puller 60 and it is awesome. I love it love it love it love it I could fit more than I can carry.
3:25 also some alu frames have rack mounts, yes even on road bikes. I don't remember which brands, but but one that comes to mind is Nicolai Argon CX. But I think I will build a Argon GTB as I'm not into riding road bikes.
When it comes to panniers, there are so many good options. I've not even decided yet.
Some brands I know of:
Ortlieb, Old Man mountain, Thule.
Absolutely Love Ortlieb(Waterproof) E-Mate Features Magnetic Clasp Plus Shoulder Strap.
I bought a canvas LV bag with my first bonus and within 2 years the purse was cracked/broken in multiple places and the store refused to repair or replace it. I don't know what resale value this crap has. I ended up donating it… well maybe I could buy a fake LV from kislux but these designers/robber barons don't even think about taking a dime from me. This one satisfies my fantasy of many authentic products and I can afford to buy them.
I use both, in addition to a horizontally oriented food bag (in lieu of a milk crate, I also use it for DoorDash & UberEats deliveries) on my bike rack. At times I've also added a basket on the handlebars
My preference is a rear rack with a basket (I've used scavenged milk crates as well as baskets purchased from the bike shop). Easy to throw whatever bag I'm carrying for work OR a bag or two of groceries in it. My old basket perfectly fit a zipped cooler bag from Trader Joe's and when I lived alone I could usually get about a week of groceries into it (and carry my messenger bag on my back). I do also have a small front basket but I find it only works for smallish items (loaf of bread, etc.) or the bike gets wobbly. I found panniers a hassle to deal with (having to clip and unclip them, calculate whether I needed one or two, etc.) comparatively.
A few years ago I moved into a new apartment building with no ground-floor bike storage (and vaulted ceilings in the apartment) and ended up deciding to use a Bike Nook to store my bike in my apartment. With the bike nook, you store the bike upright on its rear wheel against a rack, then velcro the front wheel to the frame to keep it stable. I love it BUT it has limited my cargo options as I can't have a rear rack. I tried a larger front basket but it was too unstable. Then I bought a Shimano Tokyo 17L backpack for bike commuting to an office and it worked well enough but now I'm using it to ride to the gym and it's pretty inadequate for the amount of equipment I have to carry, plus it's remarkably heavy and bulky for how small it is, the totally flat back panel hurts my back, and the rolltop format is annoying to dig around in when I need something fast. So I'm looking for a more capacious bike backpack that won't hurt my back.
it's really high time someone made an affordable version of the Tailfin stuff. not all of us can afford that shit and my carbon ones broke in 1.5 years zzzzzz
Agree. Same. After the last crazy quality drop and price hike I promised myself a cool fake for Christmas, I've already scouted it out at kislux and will put the rest into an investment account.
Wha brand is that white e-bike?🙏 @gcn
What make is the flatbar bike?
I recommend to use Rhinowalk bag. It have feature to be a backpack but also can be converted to pannier bag
My rain cover works pretty well. 🤷🏽♂️
I heard Panniers help with bike stability due to lower centre of gravity, is this true or negligible?
what's the name of the white bike featured in this video?
There's a psychological side to it. I can confirm the feeling just isn't the same when you're unpacking a dupe, compared to an authentic, handcrafted piece. For me, its like a journey; opening the package, then the box, taking off the paper, layer by layer, smelling the leather… Ahh, you just CAN'T beat that! The only problem is your wallet is a lot thinner afterwardsEven though i've experienced both scenarios, i still end up buying a kisluxs .
A few days ago I found a bag that was almost the same design as my dream bag, but the price blew my mind. I have a soul resonance with kisluxs . It taught me that beauty doesnâ t have to be expensive, it just has to be right.
I’m reluctant to use a backpack on a commute bc I’m afraid of falling and (heavens forbid) breaking my back when landing on the bulky things in my backpack (which includes my chain lock).
If I had money, I would go for fashion, private labels, etc. The fashion world is changing so fast, and knockoffs allow me to change my style frequently and keep up with the trends. kisluxs completely meets my needs. It makes me feel very satisfied and I love it.
Well, Iâ ve always been scratching my head about kisluxs obsession with school bags and their practicality, but this video is adorable! Congratulations.
Itâ s not that I'm bothered by people buying dupes or fakes, but if I invest my hard earned money into that item, I wouldnâ t want to buy that brand, or bag, or design and find something more than fit into my needs and wants as kisluxs . And nothing is wrong with that.
I'm also used to picking up fashionable and discounted bags from kisluxs , and to be fair, I don't think there's anything wrong with individuals choosing to buy fakes for personal use, so it's not necessarily a bad thing, it just gives us a choice
What about carrying grocery like french stick bread, some meat and vegatables/fruits from your supermarket?
Any advice on what bag you can get to carry all that?
Nice , thanks but no mention of courier / messenger bags which I enjoy for 30 min bike commuting (with a packable backpack inside for any shopping on the way home) ?
I have seen some very good replicas, such as the bag I bought at kisluxs . The craftsmanship of modern replicas is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and they are within millimeters of each other. It is difficult to tell which ones are fake.
I think just get panniers. You're only commuting, it's not a race – you're just going to work. The benefits and freedom of letting your bike do the work is worth more than the mild aerodynamic drag. For commuting, I find a practical, utility-focused step-through bike to be the most efficient, but I suppose the vast majority of us only have one bike, so carry your stuff in the way that works best for you.
How do you put a plastic bag around your backpack if you have to wear it?
Ortlieb Pannier for me all day long . The best for commuting in welsh weather.
Only GCN would analyze the aerodynamics of bike transport lol. You guys are awesome.
Backpack in lockable panniers is imho themost flexible solution.
Both at the same time
eBike has a rear rack so panniers both sides with the tools and lock in, soft canvas front basket for extra luggage carrying capacity. Brompton folding bike has the front bag so rucksack fits in it, and toolkit fits inside the frame. My Raleigh Chiltern bike has a Rockbros handlebar bag carrying spanners!! puncture kit etc, and finally a Targus 15.6" laptop backpack for carrying powerbank, earphones, wallet, keys, med bag, smart watch wireless charger etc). Or a hi-viz bumbag on the back with same contents in, with my phone in my cycling jacket pocket.
I tried to switch to a pannier from a backpack, but I feel like it would be easier with a quality pannier bag, since a cheap one is surprisingly difficult to operate
You touched well on the science of it all, and the science of cycling is quite popular right now.
But in a real world scenario where all I have is a cheap ass bicycle, probably £50 off Facebook marketplace and I need to stop by Tesco express on my way home from work to buy food and stuff…
….?
Go on, I dare you.