Bike pannier bags: single or double

Which journeys call for a rack pannier?

A rack pannier carries the load low, close to the rear wheel, which keeps the bike stable and frees your back. The right model depends above all on what you carry.

• Commuting: a single pannier, sometimes convertible into a backpack, with a laptop pocket and a shoulder strap to carry it into the office.
• Shopping: a shopper bag with handles, or a double pannier draped over the rack, for a large capacity spread across both sides.
• Cycle touring: a pair of separate waterproof panniers, supplemented if needed by a second pair on a front rack.
• Gravel and bikepacking: on a bike without a rack, saddle bags and frame bags take over.

Hooks, MIK, Snapit or straps: how do pannier bags attach?

Most single panniers hang from the top tube of the rack on two hooks, whose spacing and diameter you adjust; a lower hook or an elastic cord stops them swinging against the wheel. Click-on systems avoid these adjustments: with MIK, the pannier locks onto a compatible rack or adaptor plate and comes off in one movement; with Snapit, from Racktime, a plate screwed under the bag or basket clicks onto the brand's rack, and the Connect plate extends this system to other racks. Double panniers, for their part, are attached with straps and stay in place from one journey to the next.

If your heel hits the pannier with every pedal stroke, move it back on the rack or choose a model with a bevelled lower edge, especially if you have large feet.

Capacity and load: what your rack can take

Allow around fifteen litres for a laptop, a change of clothes and a meal, around 25 to 35 litres for the weekly shop, and more for touring. The maximum load is set by the rack, marked on the tube or in its instructions: spread the weight between both sides and put heavy items at the bottom. On an e-bike whose battery sits under the rack, check that the pannier still lets you remove the battery.

Waterproofing, visibility and theft protection

A pannier in welded tarpaulin with a roll-top closure stays waterproof in a downpour, provided you roll it at least three times before buckling it. Water-repellent fabrics suit short journeys, backed up by a rain cover. Reflective strips make you visible from the side, and some models include a combination lock so that nobody can walk off with the pannier during a short stop.

Racks and other bike bags

If your bike does not yet have a carrier, start by choosing from our bike racks, front or rear, checking their permitted load. Documents and phone find their place in handlebar bags, always within reach. On a road bike or gravel bike without a rack, a large saddle bag or a frame bag takes over. All our bike bags are brought together on one page.

Pannier bag brands

Kheax, a French designer of bike accessories, names its panniers after mountain passes, such as the 31-litre Izoard II or the Ventoux II, which can also be worn as a backpack.

Willex, a Benelux brand focused on city cycling, relies on robustness and visibility, with double panniers in coated canvas of up to 57 litres and single shoppers such as the Forest.

Basil, a Dutch family business based in Ulft, fits many of its panniers with MIK hooks or its Hook-On system, such as the reflective 17-litre Miles Tarpaulin or the 25-litre Urban Dry Shopper.

Newlooxs grew out of a Dutch family leather goods business, now devoted to bike bags: Oslo and Kota shoppers, the Trunkbag or the Mondi Joy rack bridge bag for the Racktime system.

Altura designs the Vortex Ultralite, a waterproof pannier in TPU-coated fabric, with welded seams and a roll-top closure, which weighs less than 300 grams.

Zefal, an accessories maker based in Jargeau, in the Loiret, offers the Z Traveler 60, an expandable 20-litre rack top bag with a rain cover.

Pannier bags at reduced prices

A pannier from a previous collection is still just as useful: those leaving the catalogue go into our bike bags clearance, while the latest models join our new arrivals. The summer sales come at just the right time to prepare a cycle tour.

Frequently asked questions

Front or rear panniers: where should you put the load?

The rear carries most of the weight without affecting the steering, so it is the basic position. Front panniers, which are smaller, attach to a front or low-rider rack and balance the bike on a loaded tour; for everyday use, a single rear pannier is usually enough.

How do you stop a pannier from moving as you ride?

Adjust the spacing and diameter of the hooks to your rack's tube, then attach the lower hook or the bottom strap to the rack stay. A well-adjusted pannier does not tip when you pull it by hand, even when empty.

Which pannier bags for an e-bike?

It all depends on where the battery is. If it is in the frame, any pannier compatible with your rack will do. If it sits under the rack, choose a side pannier with hooks or MIK fitting, which leaves the battery accessible.

Can you use pannier bags without a rack?

No, a rack pannier needs a carrier. Without mounting eyelets on the frame, a seatpost-mounted rack will take a small pannier; otherwise, a large saddle bag or a frame bag carries the essentials.

How do you look after a waterproof pannier?

Clean it with lukewarm water and mild soap, without solvents, then leave it to dry open away from direct sunlight. Check the welded seams, the hooks and the roll-top closure from time to time, as they determine how waterproof it stays.