Tldr – what bikepacking bags and or panniers setup to choose.
Currently I ride with a backpack on a rack, and a small crappy handlebar bag for valuables.
I was backpacking before I bought a decathlon bike, so I just strapped my backpack to the rack and went for it.
This is kind of a shitty solution because I have to wrap my backpack with rain covers, and then tie it, and it makes everything inaccessible.
Now I would like to fix it as I plan to move to some rougher terrain, but I'm getting confused by the options for bags.
Half frame bag and a top tube bag seems alright, no cons, but not a lot of volume.
People say that panniers are not aerodynamic.
People also say that big saddlebag + big handlebar bag is not good for the seatpost and makes handling harder. Same for front cages.
So what bags to go with?
I need 40-50 liters for my own stuff, plus capacity for a few days of food.
Right now thinking about just getting front cages for water, half frame bag, top tube bag, and feed bag for everything I need during the day and small stuff, and leave everything else in my backpack on the rack.
I'm in Taiwan now and will move to India soon, so will probably get some Chinese stuff, rockbros and such.
Sorry for the long message, and thanks!
by Rotem_
2 Comments
https://preview.redd.it/a5v5f2nmatog1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=042180b2252f0fbe77922d18ad2b0d933f695efe
Both.
I found frame bag and two panniers to be quite convenient.
Panniers for stuff I may not need during the day, frame bag for wallet, powerbank, tools etc.
I also took a tent with me in a handlebar bag and yeah…
I even had room left over. That’s with 20 L panniers on each side. Two 14,5L ones like the Ortlieb Gravel-Pack would probably be enough, I mainly just need to fit my very cheap, not at all compact sleeping bag in them.
I also tried using the Ortlieb Dry-Pack but it went over the rear by a huge bit and I still couldn’t fit everything in it. The sleeping bag takes like half the 16 L bag’s volume.