Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Thanks for the Specialized Burra Burra suggestion. I'll take a closer look, and the weight is appealing. I got the impression that the weight of the PDW included their dry bag, which I would omit and just insert a tent in there minus poles.

Looking at the PDW mounting system, it may be Rixen and Paul, but it doesn't look to be the quick release version used on many handlebar bags:

Source: https://www.condorcycles.com

That make it even worse, I didn't clock that it is not the quick release version (which is better as this mean it'll be stronger).

Another comparison; a Specialized Pizza Rack weight 900g and can carry 15kg (compare to the PDW's 1026g and 7kg weight limit)

Only the Surly Nice rack which is the heaviest and strongest one you can get (AFAIK) is over 300g heavier than the PDW (1382g with a carrying capacity of 32kg);

the weight is appealing.

edited as I mistook the weight (1026g, not 126og), still heavy thought.

edited as I mistook the weight (1026g, not 126og), still heavy though.

Yes, I found the way PDW wrote the weight confusing, i.e., "1kg 26g" which is hefty.

A similar system that doesn't have a quick release but can easily be mounted using the dry bag is the Specialized Burra Burra handlebar system that weight only 318g for comparison.

It looks like the Burra Burra is no longer available new, which is a pity.

Not the only option out there, other bag like the Ortlieb is also worth looking at.

Those roswheel are amazingly light yes! I don't think they work well if overstuffed or filled with heavy items. But with some bungee cords they could probably be mounted securely enough for offroad touring. Their packability is pretty cool. I can imagine packing them in a framebag and taking them out to do some groceries before you hit camp.

So far i like the vaude aqua front light panniers a lot. Compared to the ortlieb gravel panniers i think their shape and cinch ability works better on single track, especially up front. What issues come up in their reviews?

You could buy a klickfix mount, any kind of drybag harness and bolt a klickfix plate on the harness. I've used the klickfix system with a heavily loaded carradice keswick bag and it held up on trails.

It's not the hooks that rattle.

I doubled everything on my Ortliebs, top and bottom hooks. It would pop out from the bottom
with just a lock inside going over a bump and the top rail would bend with just 2 hooks.
The backing plate is too flexible on Ortliebs.
I found the klick fix bottom hooks to be a lot stiffer and holding the bottom of the pannier more
reliable, also better back plate.

I found the klick fix bottom hooks to be a lot stiffer and holding the bottom of the pannier more

reliable, also better back plate.

Have the same on the Carradice a while ago, was pretty reliable.

Nothing can beat the old elastic strap design thought;

It looks like the Burra Burra is no longer available new, which is a pity.

Salsa have their own version, very expensive thought;

https://salsacycles.com/components/category/bags_frame_packs/exp_series_anything_cradle_35mm

This is how I've setup my vaude panniers. It's not possible to move the bag any direction. No issues on roads like these. If it was a traditional pannier, filled with a lot of weight im sure it wouldn't work as well. Which is kind of the point! Small, light weight and well designed panniers definitely have a place in bikepacking/touring offroad.

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Salsa have their own version, very expensive though

That Salsa Anything Cradle looks very stable and narrow enough not to interfere with brake levers/hand position on drop handlebars. However, it only comes ready to fit 35mm diameter handlebars, and 31.8mm via the included shims. My handlebars are 25.4mm diameter so a pair of unusual 25.4 to 35mm shims would be needed. I'll look into the issues involved further.

This is how I've setup my vaude panniers

It looks like a secure arrangement, with the addition of the second lower clamp.

It sound like the strap on version like a Alpkit, Apidura, Revelate Designs, Ortlieb etc. may be your best bet.

How is that going to be more secure than then Double hooked Ortliebs or the Vaudes than @föhn posted? BTW the gravel pack weight is 1.160, not 1.9 as you stated. For a 25l volume that's not bad going IMO.

1.9 is the classic roll top version, sorry should have specify this as when people said Ortlieb, they usually mean the most common one.

How is that going to be more secure than then Double hooked Ortliebs or the Vaudes than @föhn posted?

Because it held under tension.

Note to self, keep an eye out for bears

Sad news from Montana.

Fucking hate bears.

Ran into a few bears in my time mountain biking.

You think you're fine until you seem them on the trail then your arse collapses. I panic generally.

When you're putting your sleeping bag in your seat pack, do you put it in inside it's stuff sack? Or do you try and stuff it in there without?

sleeping bag -> clear polythene ultralight bag (keeps it dry) -> seatpack
any other way is wrong

sleeping bag -> clear polythene ultralight bag (keeps it dry) -> pannier

;-)

I replace it with a smaller compression bag if the original doesn't compress the sleeping bag enough.

Also less likely to tear/wet if kept in a dry bag.