Hello,
I hope I'm not duplicating another thread: feel free to redirect me if needde!
Since I've "discovered" panniers, I've been looking for a while at pannier which can be used /converted into a backpack. Sometimes I need to go places after cycling and carrying my pannier around is not the easiest. There doesn't seem to be a lot of options around? I thought I might give myself a nice Christmas present and was interested by the Ortlieb Vario QL3. It looks very nice (and expensive!) but looking at a youtube demo/review, I was wondering if the converting part is not too fiddly (if I need to do that in the dark, in the rain, etc). It might be because the person demonstrating was obviously taking it out of the box and maybe tried it for the first time. Any experiences with this? Or any recommendation of other make/models?
Many thanks in advance!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
pannier/backpack convertible?
(15 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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I've a pannier in the garage that converts into a messenger bag type thing (I think), that I was given for nowt, ostensibly to do a review which then wasn't required. Never did have a proper look at it, I'll check tonight.
Posted 10 years ago # -
The Bike Chain (sob) had some pannier/backpacks which looked really good. I was eyeing them up but unfortunately I can't remember the make at the moment.
When I come back from my coffee break and my head has hopefully reattached itself after having fallen off trying to solve a particularly knotty problem, I might remember.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Arellcat posted a link to Arkel (Bug model) on the other thread...
Posted 10 years ago # -
Ortlieb do a backpack adapter that adds shoulder straps, etc to their panniers.
I can't say that this makes their panniers into good backpacks (the weight distribution seems inherently "wrong", for one), but it does make their panniers much easier to carry.
So, I'd say this solution is very much biased to an on-the-bike solution, compromising on-the-back.
I think there are backpacks that can be used as panniers, but they may similarly compromise the on-the-bike experience (at which Ortlieb panniers excel).
So I would definitely think about on which bit (bike/back) you are prepared to compromise and work from there - I don't think there is something equally excellent for both, although there may be solutions equally mediocre or equally bad for both!
Robert
Posted 10 years ago # -
This has given me a genius idea. I'm going to take the shoulder strap from an old bag and loop it under the flap of my pannier bag when I need to carry it. When not in use, the strap can roll up in the bag.
Posted 10 years ago # -
My Karrimor Iberian can be worn on the shoulder using one of the fastening-straps.
Posted 10 years ago # -
"The Bike Chain (sob) had some pannier/backpacks which looked really good. I was eyeing them up but unfortunately I can't remember the make at the moment."
That was where I got my freebie from, not long before it was then announced they ewre closing (*sob* x2)
Posted 10 years ago # -
My Karrimor Iberian can be worn on the shoulder using one of the fastening-straps.
The Ortlieb rollers are also easily carried using their shoudler straps.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Carradice also makes the Carradry Rucksack Pannier. Carradry is their welded plasicised range.
http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=range&url=carradry-rucksack-pannier
They took the novel step of putting the straps on the opposite side from the rack fixings. But like many others here, I have a wide padded strap (from a laptop bag) that I clip onto pannier hooks or D-rings. It's not as comfortable as a rucksack but does free up my hands.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I think it might have been Vaude?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Road.cc have just reviewed this (pricey) option from Thule: http://road.cc/content/review/100502-thule-pack-n-pedal-commuter-pannier
And recently covered a similar Carradice which is much cheaper and got a better review: http://road.cc/content/review/94677-carradice-super-c-a4-pannier
Neither are rucksack/pannier combos but both seem to be designed to be carried reasonably easily and comfortably off the bike.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Even the cheapo 'Top Move' roll-top panniers I picked up from Lidl some time ago have a shoulder strap so there ought to be plenty options from serious manufacturers (though I realise it's a rucksack design that's desired). I finally used one of them for the first time on my 'mud-plugging' venture along the canal to Falkirk yesterday. It held up well, though there was a muddy damp patch inside near the base. I'm not sure if that was a flaw in it's weather-proofing or more likely it came off the empty water bottle I put in there, thinking it was cleaner than it was.
Probably not up to regular heavy use but then I didn't buy them for that. I use a connected pear of Lidl's non-proofed panniers for day-to-day use but they obviously wouldn't suit the criteria.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Here is the Vaude one
http://www.vaude.com/en-GB/Products/Bike/Bike-Bags/Cycle-22-black-meadow.html
And the bigger version
http://www.vaude.com/en-GB/Products/Bike/Bike-Bags/Cycle-28-black-anthracite.html
They are not cheap though!
Posted 10 years ago # -
Thanks everyone for all the information. Yes, I guess, Ideally I would prefer a proper backpack, but maybe a strap would be enough... The Vaude model looks maybe easier to "convert", and still cheaper than Ortlieb. I'll try and read some reviews...
Posted 10 years ago #
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