The best bike panniers
Get the weight off your back: bike panniers for the commute, the weekly shop and a weekend away, from waterproof roll-top pairs to a budget double bag that straps over the rack.
Panniers carry the load low on the bike instead of on a sweaty back, and every bag here hangs from a rear rack, so the bike needs one fitted first. The classic kind is a pair of roll-top bags, one each side: roll the top down, clip it shut, and welded or sealed seams keep the rain out.
Check whether the litres quoted are for one bag or the pair. Hooks that clip onto the rack (Ortlieb’s QL2.1, VAUDE’s QMR 2.0) make the bags quick to lift off and take into the office or the shop, while a double bag that straps over the rack costs less but stays on the bike. Reflective details help on dark evenings, and a shoulder strap turns a pannier into a carry bag.
What matters
- Capacity: per bag or per pair, and whether a roll-top gives extra.
- Waterproofing: a roll-top with welded or sealed seams keeps rain out; zips and fabric only resist it.
- Fitting: clip-on hooks for bags that come off easily, or straps for a bag that stays on.
- A rear rack: panniers need one, and a double bag may need a narrow one.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic QL2.1 Panniers (Pair, 2 × 20L)
£150 RRP
Rated IP64 against dust and splashing rain, these roll-top panniers clip on and off with Ortlieb’s QL2.1 hooks and are made in Germany. Hartmut Ortlieb began sewing waterproof bags on his mother’s sewing machine in 1982, after a soaking on a cycling trip in southern England.
What owners say: Owners expect them to last a decade or more, and ride through rain without anything inside getting wet.
A closer look: Roll the top down at least three times before clipping it shut: that’s what keeps the rain out. Set the hooks to the rack’s tube size with the reducers in the box, and after that the bags click on and lift off in seconds, with the shoulder strap turning one into a carry bag.
- IP64 waterproof roll-top
- QL2.1 quick-release hooks
- Up to 9kg per bag
- Shoulder strap and inner pocket
- 5-year warranty
Best for: Commuting and touring in any weather
- Capacity
- 40L (2 × 20L)
- Bags
- Pair
- Closure
- Roll-top
- Waterproofing
- IP64 rating
- Fitting
- QL2.1 hooks
#2 of 5
Runner-up
VAUDE Aqua Back Rear Panniers (Pair, 2 × 24L)
£75–£100 Price range
A roll-top pair with high-frequency welded seams and PVC-free fabric, holding 24 litres a side, on VAUDE’s QMR 2.0 hooks, which lock onto the rack. Like the Ortliebs, they’re made in Germany.
What owners say: Owners put them on a par with Ortliebs, and like the firm click of the two top hooks locking onto the rack.
A closer look: The top and side roll closure lets each bag be cinched down when it’s half full, so a light load doesn’t shift about. Set the hooks to the rack’s tube width before the first ride and check they click home, and a damp cloth is all the tarpaulin needs after a muddy commute.
- 2 × 24L roll-top
- Welded seams, PVC-free
- Lockable QMR 2.0 hooks
- Removable shoulder strap
- Inside pocket in each bag
Best for: PVC-free, all-weather riding
- Capacity
- 48L (2 × 24L)
- Bags
- Pair
- Closure
- Roll-top
- Waterproofing
- Welded seams
- Fitting
- QMR 2.0 hooks
#3 of 5
Best budget
NDakter 35L Expandable Double Pannier
£20–£30 Price range
One bag that sits across the rack with a pannier on each side, expanding from 25 to 35 litres, with reflective coating on four sides for dark evenings. Three movable buckles and two side straps hold it on, and it goes on in about 30 seconds.
What owners say: Owners say the rigid sides keep the bag in shape, and there’s room inside for a camera with a big telephoto lens.
Heads up: It fits racks less than 6in (about 15cm) wide, so check the rack’s width first.
A closer look: Pull the two side straps tight round the rack’s side rails so the bags can’t swing towards the wheel, then do up the buckles. Unzip the expansion only on shopping or kit days, and zip it back in for a slimmer bag on the commute.
- Expands from 25L to 35L
- Reflective on four sides
- 800D Oxford fabric
- 3 buckles and 2 side straps
- Abrasion-resistant lining
Best for: Shopping and commuting for less
- Capacity
- 25–35L
- Bags
- Double, over the rack
- Closure
- Zips
- Waterproofing
- 800D Oxford fabric
- Fitting
- Buckles and straps
#4 of 5
Most capacity
ROCKBROS Waterproof Roll-Top Panniers (Pair, 25–32L each)
£50–£75 Price range
A roll-top pair with seams sealed by hot pressing rather than stitched, holding 25 litres a side rolled down or 32 unrolled, and an outer mesh pocket to keep wet kit away from the dry.
What owners say: Owners find plenty of room with the tops unrolled and the contents staying dry, and one uses them for work in the week and touring at weekends.
A closer look: Adjust the rotating bracket on the back so it braces the bag against the rack lower down and it can’t swing out on bumpy roads, then set the two top buckles either side of the rack’s supports. The smooth PVC surface wipes clean with a damp cloth.
- 2 × 25–32L roll-top
- Heat-sealed seams
- Outer mesh pocket
- Rotating bracket on the back
- Hard-wearing base pad
Best for: Big loads in wet weather
- Capacity
- 2 × 25–32L
- Bags
- Pair
- Closure
- Roll-top
- Waterproofing
- Heat-sealed seams
- Fitting
- Quick-release clips
#5 of 5
Best single pannier
Rhinowalk 25L Waterproof Pannier (Single)
£30–£50 Price range
A single roll-top pannier in 1000D polyester with a PVC layer on both sides, which comes off the rack and goes over the shoulder on its removable strap once you’re off the bike. It holds 25 litres closed and 27 with the top unrolled.
What owners say: Commuters like how quickly it comes off the rack at the office and how secure it feels on the way there.
A closer look: Clip the top hooks over the rack and fix the lower fastening to a stay so the bag can’t bounce off over potholes. One pannier is plenty for a commute; for touring loads, a bag on each side keeps the bike better balanced.
- 25L, 27L unrolled
- 1000D polyester, PVC both sides
- Quick-release rack hooks
- Removable shoulder strap
- Reflective details
Best for: Commuting with one bag
- Capacity
- 25–27L
- Bags
- Single
- Closure
- Roll-top
- Waterproofing
- PVC-coated 1000D
- Fitting
- Quick-release hooks
How they compare
| Feature | #1Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic | #2VAUDE Aqua Back | #3NDakter 35L double | #4ROCKBROS roll-top | #5Rhinowalk 25L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best budget | Most capacity | Best single pannier | |
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.3 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| Price | £150 RRP | £75–£100 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £50–£75 Price range | £30–£50 Price range |
| Capacity | 40L (2 × 20L) | 48L (2 × 24L) | 25–35L | 2 × 25–32L | 25–27L |
| Bags | Pair | Pair | Double, over the rack | Pair | Single |
| Closure | Roll-top | Roll-top | Zips | Roll-top | Roll-top |
| Waterproofing | IP64 rating | Welded seams | 800D Oxford fabric | Heat-sealed seams | PVC-coated 1000D |
| Fitting | QL2.1 hooks | QMR 2.0 hooks | Buckles and straps | Quick-release clips | Quick-release hooks |
| Best for | Commuting and touring in any weather | PVC-free, all-weather riding | Shopping and commuting for less | Big loads in wet weather | Commuting with one bag |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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