HELP !!! I need some advice

Hey guys, I could use some help here..
I’m heading up to New York City at the end of the week and I'm planning to pick up a bike rack along with a new pair of panniers. I've been browsing online, but honestly, I'm having a hard time figuring out where to go. Does anyone have any recommendations for high-quality panniers? Also, if you know a great spot in NYC to grab everything at once, please let me know! 🙂

The selection of high-quality storage bins here in the States is actually quite overwhelming, though I ended up having to order some specific ones from overseas anyway. Then again, "quality" is such a subjective term; it really just depends on your own standards.

Richard Wright3 said:We have such a great selection of high-quality panniers here that I actually ended up having to order from overseas. Then again, I suppose "quality" is entirely subjective depending on what you're looking for.

Generally speaking, anything that’s actually built to last is going to cost you a pretty penny. I remember browsing through the Nike store over in downtown Chicago and spotting some decent waterproof bags priced at about $500 (roughly $250 per bag), but I managed to find the exact same ones online for about a third of the price.

I’m using something pretty similar to these:

http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k35...5-schwarz.html

The ones in the link are a newer model with an extra front pocket, but the price tag was essentially the same—around 60 bucks for the pair, plus shipping and tax.

jadetiger962 As stated by:
Anything worth its salt usually comes with a hefty price tag. I was browsing through the Nike over at the Labor district recently, looking at some higher-end waterproof bins for... $500 Roughly, I think it was... $250 I mean, fair enough, but I actually picked up the exact same stuff online for about a third of the price.

Nike is pricey—I know that much from buying hiking gear. I honestly wonder if they even carry something as basic as a toolbox there.

jadetiger962 said:I have similar thoughts to these guys:

Check out this link for those black components. It’s basically the standard setup you'd find at a Trek Bicycle shop if you were looking to spec out a new ride.

These are the newer models with that extra front pocket, but I paid the same amount for them—about 65 bucks for the pair, plus shipping, sales tax, and all that good stuff.

So, what was the final damage on all of them?

Ah, just like I suspected...

Look, my definition of quality is pretty much the same as yours: if they aren't waterproof and built to last, what's the point? I want gear that I can rely on for years without any headaches. For me, the absolute ceiling for a pair of bib shorts is about $160... anything more than that is just 😁

goldenotter52 said:Ah, just as I suspected...

Look, my definition of quality is pretty much the same as yours: they don't need to be magic, they just need to be waterproof and reliable enough that I can ride with them for years without a single headache. My hard limit for panniers is $150. Anything beyond that is just overkill. 😁

I dealt with this exact same headache when I was hunting for panniers. I couldn't find anything decent locally; everything stocked in US shops seemed to start at the $200 mark. $100 Eventually, I ended up ordering these from a boutique shop overseas.

http://www.crosso.pl/pages/en/produc...lassic-big.php

In the end, they actually cost me more than expected, so I wouldn't recommend that route. The bags themselves are top-tier—tough Cordura on the outside, PVC lining with sealed seams on the inside, all that good stuff.
The ones jadetiger962 mentioned seem alright, though. I'll let you decide if they're worth it.

I had such a hard time looking for panniers when I went to Czechia for a little bike trip... ended up just grabbing some cheap ones on Kindle since there wasn't much else... I was really aiming for those Author ones at Trek Bicycle but they sold out right before my eyes 👎

Can't say I regret missing out on those, especially since it rained every single day, goddammit 😁 ... but we made it work by using trash bags for everything... next time I'm definitely bringing a bunch of heavy-duty garbage bags to pack everything in...

Maybe check for some Author gear or maybe Apple () ... they seem way better than this junk I'm riding right now...

And hey, check out Topeak gear over at Ozon Sport, not sure if they have panniers though... they're located over on the new street...

Here's a photo, those red ones are the ones I missed out on, but I picked up some yellow used ones on Dropbike...
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...c/P1010019.jpg

P.S. - try emailing Velocity ( http://www.velocity-bikewear.com/ ) because I heard they might be getting panniers and front racks soon... the panniers look solid and the racks are their own brand... not sure if they're actually doing it or if they gave up, but it's worth a shot...

@analogseal72/">@@analogseal72
Thanks so much for those links and for sharing your perspective...
Honestly, I’m not really sure either... I’ve never been big on shopping online; it just feels like too much of a hassle to deal with all that stuff.

What I am thinking, though, is that I’ll probably go for something a bit higher quality. It's hard to define what "quality" actually means these days, but those cheap ones around $40-$$167? They’re basically disposable. If they snap, they snap. I'll probably just whip up a cover out of some tarp or something—if they start falling apart, I'll just throw a cover over them and call it a day. I don't know what else to do.

Anyway, if anyone else has any good suggestions, let me know!

PS. I still need to check in with REI; I think they might have something decent in stock.🙂

analogseal72 said:It feels like I'm looking for something that isn't a complete piece of junk—unlike the absolute wreck I’m currently driving.
Check out this link to the product page—I think it’s exactly what we were talking about earlier! http://www.lopuh-alfa.com/index.html?k...product&id=87

I have the exact same ones—the Author ones—and honestly, for the price, I’m pretty happy with them. Sure, they might leak here and there, but everything stays tucked away in bags, and I make sure to treat them with waterproofing spray and use a thin tarp liner. After about five years, they start to show some wear and tear, but if I can't find something better out there, I'll just end up buying the same ones again.

Ferrino teamed up with Leona to drop this three-tier storage unit—it's going for about 90 bucks.
I just stumbled upon this Ferrino bike bag online—seriously, take a look at this thing. It looks like exactly what I need for my weekend rides around the city. Honestly, if you're tired of stuffing your gear into a backpack that leaves you sweating through your shirt, this might be the perfect fix. It’s sleek, looks pretty rugged, and seems like it would hold everything from my tools to a light jacket without looking bulky. I'm leaning towards picking one up for my next trip out toward the suburbs. What do you guys think? Is it worth the investment?
They just look way too wide at the bottom—honestly. Maybe they should’ve been "trimmed" down a bit so the heel doesn't keep catching on everything.

Ortlieb gear is basically the gold standard for serious globetrotters—it’s built so tough that even a tsunami couldn't squeeze its way inside. I’ve personally grown really attached to their pocket and compartment setup, too; it’s a total game-changer compared to those flimsy, single-compartment bags everyone else uses. Plus, my stuff has never once come out smelling funky because the seal is so tight—it keeps the water out, which obviously means it keeps the air out, too. When it comes to packing, hauling, or just crashing at a hostel, I swear by that inverted "U" shape—it just makes everything so much more practical.

Richard Wright3 said:Nike is pricey; I know that from buying hiking gear. Honestly, I was surprised they even carried bins there.

So, what did the whole thing end up costing you in the end?

It caught me off guard seeing them there too, though I wasn't really planning on dropping that much cash on them. I ended up grabbing them as part of a larger order through a Trek Bicycle clearance sale—with a little bit of a bug in the system, if I recall correctly—so by the time everything settled, I think I paid about $110 or $120.

I’ve got the exact same shorts on my bike as analogseal72, just in blue. I went ahead and picked up some $13 gear right away along with a rain cover, so I stay bone-dry no matter how hard it pours. The only bummer was they only had the yellow ones, which get dirty fast. This is what I'm talking about:

Anyone in the market for some panniers? I spotted these on Craigslist and they look pretty legit, though obviously, you’d want to check them out in person before committing:

http://www.craigslist.org/rel/bicycles/panniers-ad-589692

Guys, I’ve officially decided to just buy everything online because the local scene is driving me insane... I’ve spent all day trekking through New York City... hit up over ten different shops... and maybe four or five actually had even a tiny $50 bit of what I needed—I don't even want to describe how ridiculous that was...
Help me out here....
If I order from overseas, about how long should I expect to wait? What have your experiences been like?
Can you guys drop some links or recommendations for specific shops? Like, give me direct links to panniers I could actually pull the trigger on right now. I am seriously losing my mind over this... I literally walked across the entire city only to have everyone tell me the exact same thing... hhhhhh
Come on, please guys... what do you think about these ones from Europe? http://www.crosso.pl/pages/en/products/panniers/classic/classic-big.php

And roughly how long would the shipping take? My big trip is coming up fast and I'm currently riding totally empty-handed without any panniers 😁 HELP, URGENT!!! :P 🙏

You’re going to have to hunt for something pre-owned if you want that "like-new" quality without the retail markup. My advice? Keep a close eye on the local listings, or better yet, just post your own ad stating exactly what you're looking to buy.

goldenotter52 said:If I order from overseas, how long am I looking at for shipping? Any personal experiences or tips...
Could you guys drop some links to shops you actually recommend? Ideally, somewhere selling panniers directly so I can just grab them online. Honestly, I'm losing my mind over this... I’ve spent half a day wandering all over New York City just to have every single shop tell me the exact same thing. hhhhhh

I'd still stick with these if I were you:

http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k35...5-schwarz.html

You'll definitely be waiting about 2 to 3 weeks for them to arrive, though. If you're in a massive rush, you could always check out those panniers at $500 or wherever they keep them over at the Nike store on Labor Street. I swung by there recently and, of course, they still have them in stock. Just ask the staff and see if you can charm them into a discount—they might be getting tired of staring at them 😁

jadetiger962 said:Who actually needs panniers? These look pretty decent on Craigslist, though you really ought to inspect them in person first:

http://www.craigslist.org/bicycle-panniers-ad-589692

I used to own those exact ones, and I wouldn't recommend them. 😁

Panniers like these are meant for city riding—think commuting or quick errands—or maybe a single day out where you just pack a camera, a sandwich, and some water. I’ve tried using them on multi-day trips myself, but only by hauling an extra hiking backpack on top of the bag, which isn't ideal.



They’re great for short stints; they're rigid, well-padded, and honestly, they look sharp. But for actual long-distance touring? Not so much. At least, if we're talking about true touring here.

goldenotter52 said:Come on, guys... I'm curious what you think about these bags from that site over in Europe http://www.crosso.pl/pages/en/products/panniers/classic/classic-big.php

Those are being shipped from halfway across the world. $183 By the time they actually hit your doorstep, the total cost will likely have nearly doubled due to shipping and fees. 😢 I wouldn't recommend buying them solely based on that sticker price. If you really need them, I could just rent them to you. 🤷

jadetiger962 said:Naturally, you’re looking at a two or three-week wait. If you’re in a massive rush, you could always grab some basic gear from $500 or whatever they have over at the Nike in the industrial district. I swung by recently and, predictably, they still have them sitting there. Ask the staff if you can haggle a discount; they might be tired of seeing them just 😁

Hikers with a pass get a 10% discount there, but honestly, for that kind of money, you could hire a personal assistant to carry all your gear and run ahead of you 😁

I am seriously going to lose my mind😁
@beznicka
Honestly, thanks so much, but don't worry about it😉 respect...
I'm planning to pick up some from $50 over on Main Street... that's the current plan... next time I'll go much bigger... and in the meantime, I'll just order some online.... What do you guys think about me making a quick trip over to Venice? Is there anything good out there? Like, which shop should I hit up? And do they carry that Ferrero stuff??