Packing your panniers can be complicated, especially when you do it for the first time.
Once you start touring you will quickly discover what works for you and what doesn’t. But until then here are some tips to help.
1. Organise & Categorise – Panniers have a natural tendecy to ast like bottomless pits, where the most important items always get stuck down the bottom of the pannier. That is the last thing you want during a storm, when you are trying to find your wet weather gear.
Start by organising your things into categories. Put all the food, cooking gear and tools & spare parts into one bag. Your clothes and sleeping gear into another bag. Fixing a tyre for example will take far less time if your spare tubes, puncture kits and tyre levers are all in the same section.
2. Balance The Weight – Your bicycle should be well balanced, from side to side and from front to back. A lopsided bike will be difficult to steer, and thus dangerous to ride. Uneven weight also puts unnecessary pressure on the racks and frame of the bike.
3. Pack Important Items On Top – Think about what you are likely to need during the day and then put these things near the top of the pannier, where they can be easily accessed. Rain gear, snakcs, and tool kits generally fall under this category. We strongly recommend a handlebar bag for storing items such as your phone, wallet, camera and maps.
4. Bulky Items Go Outside The Bike Panniers – Not everything has to go inside your bicycle panniers. Bulky items such as tents can be strapepd on top of the rear pannier bags. To make this waterproof store inside a garbage bag.
5. Leave Extra Space – There is always something you will pick up along the way, whether it’s a souvenir you pick up or extra food and water for particularly remote stretches. If your bags are bursting before you leave, they are too full!
6. Protect Sensitive Things – Some things don’t do well with the bumpy nature of bike travel. Anything liquid like cooking oils, honey and shampoo should all go in the strongest container you can find, and stand it upright in your pannier. Place any electronics in a soft padded case, and place between clothes for extra protection.
