For a really very long time now, German-made Ortlieb panniers have remained “the product of alternative” relating to high-quality, waterproof bicycle panniers. However now, there’s a brand new firm leaping into the waterproof pannier market… they usually’ve produced a product that might significantly compete with Ortlieb.
Pacific Out of doors Tools is a Montana, USA-based firm producing high-quality, environmentally acutely aware bicycle and out of doors merchandise. I beforehand reviewed the corporate’s Peak Oyl Elite sleeping mat and gave it a super-high ranking. Their panniers, I’m completely happy to report, have been rated simply as extremely.
The Fundamentals: Colour, Measurement & Weight
The panniers proven on this evaluation are the brand new Entrance and Rear Fender panniers from Pacific Out of doors Tools. The picture above is the Entrance Fender, made for use on the entrance rack of your fully-loaded touring bicycle.
The Entrance Fender pannier contains a traditional roll-top design (which together with the fabric used to make the bag, makes it 100% waterproof), inner pockets for organizing your gear, compression straps to maintain your luggage from flapping within the wind as you journey, and it is available in three completely different colours.
The colours at the moment obtainable are:
Hello-Liter/Chrome (left)
Black/Chrome (heart)
Raft/Chrome (proper)
The Entrance Fender pannier measures 41cm x 25cm x 18cm, weights 760 grams (1 lbs 11 oz) and has a carrying capability of roughly 18 Liters.
The Rear Fender pannier (made to go on the again of your bike) measures 43cm x 30cm x 18cm, weights 839 grams (1 lbs 14 oz) and has a carrying capability of roughly 20 Liters. The Rear Fender additionally contains a small exterior pocket and a left/proper design in order to permit you further heel clearance when mounted in your bicycle.
The Attachment System: How The Pannier Attaches To Your Rack
The images under present the pannier’s rack attachment system. Like most bicycle panniers, the Pacific Out of doors Tools Entrance and Rear Fender panniers have two clips on the prime of the bag and a big sliding attachment close to the underside (similar to the way in which Ortlieb panniers are designed).
The Pacific Out of doors Tools attachment system is among the finest I’ve seen.
The 2 small clips on the prime of the bag can every be mounted in one in every of 4 completely different positions, permitting you to maneuver the clips ahead or again relying on the kind of rack you will have and the place you want to place the panniers in your bicycle.
Moreover, the clips come customary with each 8mm and 10mm attachment hooks.
That is one in every of my favourite options on this product! The panniers come able to mount for racks with an 8mm diameter. However in case you have a bigger 10mm rack and also you need to connect the panniers to your bike, all you need to do is insert an Allen wrench out of your bicycle’s multi-tool right into a small gap on the again of the attachment clip and come out the blue 8mm insert (as proven within the photograph under).
When you’ve popped out the small insert, you’re able to go! Merely mount the pannier to your bike… and also you’re in your manner! And in the event you ever have to mount the pannier to a smaller rack, merely reinstall the blue insert and also you’ll have an ideal match.
Many bicycle panniers don’t come constructed to suit each 8mm and 10mm rack sizes, so that is one function I actually, actually like.
Lastly, on the underside of the pannier is a protracted plastic hook that slides alongside a observe in order to mount your pannier within the preferrred place to your specific bicycle rack. As soon as you discover the best place for this rear slider, you possibly can lock it in place by tightening a small screw on the underside of the clip.
The 2 pictures under present the Rear Fender panniers being mounted to the rear 8mm rack of my Fuji Touring bike.
As soon as on the rack, you merely slide the big blue tabs on the prime of the clip attachments to the middle of the bike in order to lock the panniers in place – thus making certain that the luggage cannot bounce off of your bike as you journey about. As soon as once more, not all bicycle panniers have an attachment system that really locks the panniers into place. With the ability to lock the panniers in place, nevertheless, is extraordinarily essential for the intense bicycle traveler.
Photographs of the Panniers in Use:
The next six images have been taken whereas utilizing the Entrance and Rear Fender panniers in each winter and summer season circumstances.
Positives & Negatives of those Explicit Panniers:
Let’s begin with the positives.
To start with, the panniers are extremely properly made. These will not be low-cost panniers and I do really feel that they might final a really very long time out on the street.
Secondly, the luggage are 100% waterproof. Many bicycle panniers are waterproof in that they wick rainfall and snow away from the bag, however they aren’t 100% waterproof in that in the event that they have been held underneath water, gadgets inside would really get moist. The benefit of those panniers, nevertheless, is that due to their roll-top design, they’re certainly 100% waterproof. You may drop these luggage in a river and pull them out a number of minutes later and discover that the contents of the panniers are nonetheless 100% dry.
As well as, the attachment system is nice. The clips on the prime of the pannier match each 8mm and 10mm bike racks. They lock into place, so the panniers received’t bounce off the racks as you’re pedaling, and they’re fabricated from exhausting, high-quality plastic (a cloth I consider can be tough to interrupt). The underside of the attachment system on the again of the pannier is nice as properly (though not so good as I would love – however extra on this in a minute).
The truth that the Rear Fender pannier has a small pocket on the outside of the bag can also be a pleasant extra function. When touring by bike, there are certainly going to be a number of gadgets you need to entry regularly and that you simply’d like to succeed in with out having to dig into your panniers each time you want that exact merchandise. These small, flat facet pockets actually turn out to be useful on this regards.
Lastly, the colour decisions must be counseled. I like the silver colour used on all the luggage. Black is an apparent alternative and I actually just like the Raft blue colour that has been made obtainable. Nevertheless, I’m not an enormous fan of the Hello-Liter yellow. That stated, I’ve to applaud Pacific Out of doors Tools for selecting colours outdoors of the normal black, royal blue and pink that just about each bicycle pannier firm on the earth appears to make use of. I like the black and blue colour decisions they’ve made right here, however the yellow wants extra work.
As for the negatives, listed here are my ideas:
To start with, I actually don’t just like the Hello-Mild yellow colour. I believe some individuals will love this colour and others will completely hate it. Clearly it’s an amazing colour for attracting the eye of passing motorists, however it’s not a trendy, hip or enticing colour. I’d doubtless identify it “Piss Yellow” or “Vomit Inexperienced.” It’s a very good try, however this specific colour must be re-engineered. A darker, extra neon based mostly colour can be good.
Weight is one other subject. These panniers, whereas they’re actually well-made and fully waterproof, sort of weight lots. At simply over a pound every, they don’t actually weight all that a lot within the grand scheme of issues, however when in comparison with related merchandise, they do really feel a bit heavy.
Lastly, my solely different detrimental remark has to do with the underside of the attachment system on the rear of the bag. Whereas very related in design to that of Ortlieb pannier merchandise, the factor that this pannier has towards it’s that the attachment slide 1) can solely be mounted in a single course (parallel to the bottom) and a pair of) cannot be simply adjusted (one thing I discover essential when utilizing a set of panniers on a number of bicycles with several types of racks). Ortlieb has Pacific Out of doors Tools beat on this regards. The Ortlieb slide on the backside of their panniers rotates in any course and with only a fast adjustment might be made to suit on nearly any rack on the earth. So, whereas the attachment clips on the prime of the Pacific Out of doors Tools panniers have been excellently designed and beautifully made, the slide attachment on the backside may use some enchancment.
General Ranking: Would I Suggest These Panniers?
The very fact of the matter right here is that this: The Entrance and Rear Fender panniers from Pacific Out of doors Tools are glorious waterproof panniers and I might extremely suggest them. I like the course the corporate goes with their colour decisions, design, and environmentally acutely aware technique of doing enterprise. If I needed to price these specific panniers…
My Ranking: 9.5 out of 10
With just some alterations, some slight adjustments in colour and a pair advertising miracles, these Pacific Out of doors panniers would possibly quickly turn into the brand new customary in round-the-world, long-distance, waterproof panniers.
Extremely beneficial!
Evaluate Standing: The panniers proven right here have been despatched to Bicycle Touring Professional without spending a dime for the aim of this evaluation.