Like all pastimes, hobbies and pursuits, cycling has its lexicon - words, phrases and idioms which roll off the tongue for those well-versed in everything two-wheels. “Derailleur”, “skid-lid”, “on the rivet” - just three which immediately come to mind.
But amongst those words which challenge and confuse newbie cyclists, “pannier” has to be up there. “Pann-ey-ah”. Or is it “Pann-ee-er”? This French-sounding word can cause consternation, but in reality, a pannier is nothing more than a simple bike bag - a neat and practical way of carrying gear by riding.
So what is a bike pannier and how can you use them for bike touring, bikepacking and commuting? This is the Carradice guide to panniers.
Introduction
What is a bike pannier?
A bike pannier is a bike bag designed to attach to a bicycle via a pannier rack. Unlike backpacks, panniers take the weight of gear off the rider, enabling the bike to shoulder the hard work of carrying items when riding. In doing so, a pannier bag is said to improve riding comfort - something that’s important on all bike rides, but particularly those that take place over long distances.
Traditional touring setup with pannier bags front and rear. Image: Dave MacFarlane
Pannier bags are sold in a variety of sizes, styles, and materials to suit the demands of different rides - from daily commuting to multi-day touring.
And, before we continue, a tangential diversion into the etymology of the word pannier. The word comes from Middle English, borrowed from the Old French term "panier," which, roughly, meant bread basket.
A potted history of bike panniers
Though the first recorded mention of panniers goes back to a late 19th-century patent, panniers have been truly part of cycling since the beginning of the 20th century. Originally adapted from saddlebags fitted to horses, we cyclists quickly recognised their utility for carrying gear on longer journeys.
Carradice has been handcrafting panniers in the UK since 1930, offering durable and repairable bags built for adventure. Over time, as bicycle touring grew in popularity, so did innovation in bag design - here are some particularly fine examples of panniers from the 1950s. Lately, with the rise in popularity of bikepacking and minimalist touring, some pannier bags have been made to be extremely lightweight or modular in design.
Many moons ago. Image: Carradice
Pannier bag materials and construction
What are pannier bags made from?
Panniers are made from a variety of materials, each with pros and cons. Traditional panniers use a fabric called waxed cotton duck. It’s durable, weather-resistant, and has a timeless aesthetic that ages well over time.
Other panniers often feature synthetic fabrics like Cordura or a TPU-coated nylon for lighter weight and waterproofing. When waterproofing is important, manufacturers will weld seams for full protection.
Hooded vs Roll-Top closure panniers
Most pannier bags fall into one of two categories. Those that close with a hood and those that have a roll top.
Hooded panniers use a flap that buckles over the top opening, often with drawstring closures underneath. They offer quick access and extra protection from rain.
Carradice Overlander panniers in action. Image: Edward Kingston
Roll-top panniers seal by rolling the top fabric and securing it with buckles - either at the side or clipped inwards - creating a watertight seal.
Hooded panniers are easier to pack quickly, while roll-tops can offer superior waterproofing.
Mounting and Compatibility
How do pannier bags fit on a bike?
Most panniers attach to racks via a clip, a hook, a strap or a combination of all three.
Regular pannier bags mount on a rear pannier rack over the back wheel, while front panniers attach to a rack over the front wheel.
Some fitment systems have a retention or locking cam to ensure secure attachment (like our very own Quick-Clip system) - an especially important feature when riding on rough ground or when the panniers are fully loaded.
Before buying, it’s important to check that your bike will accept pannier bags in your chosen placement. In the next section, we look at pannier bag compatibility in more detail.
Can panniers be fitted to any bike?
Ultimately, this question should be reframed as, can you fit a pannier rack to any bike? As a sweeping generalisation, 50% of bikes come with the necessary frame eyelets to fit a pannier rack, whilst the other 50% don’t. Touring and commuter bikes typically come with rack mounts, whilst, gravel, road, and some hardtail mountain bikes usually don’t.
But if that is the case, all is not lost.After market adapters or clamp-on pannier racks can turn a bike without the necessary mounting points into one that can accept a pannier bag.
Rear panniers on a road bike. Image: Edward Kingston
Another consideration when deciding whether to fit your bike with pannier is heel (or toe) clearance. Essentially this means, on some occasions when a pannier bag is fitted it can overlap the riders foot when pedaling. Obviously the ability to pedal a bike is a requisite of cycling so this can put the kibosh on fitting any bike with panniers. The phenomena of overlap tends to increase in frequency as bike frame sizes get smaller.
Irrespective of which bike you plan to fit a pannier bag too, if you’re riding for the first time with one (or two) - be wary of how they can change how a bike rides. The extra weight can drastically change how a bike feels when pedalling - especially when out of the saddle. But no, fear, after a few short miles its something that you can quickly get used to.
Can you put panniers on a road bike?
Yes, but with caveats! Most road bikes lack eyelets for racks, but some modern models include hidden mounts. There are seatpost mounted pannier racks available but due to their fitment, these are usually limited to carrying lighter loads.
Types of Bicycle Panniers
In our eyes, a pannier bag usually falls into one of four types.
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Rear panniers: Larger, used for heavy or bulky loads. Usually 20L in capacity or more.
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Front panniers: Smaller, often around 10L in capacity.
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Commuter panniers: Svelte in design. Some have laptop sleeves or outer pockets.
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Convertible panniers: Pannier bags that double as backpacks or shoulder bags.
Front Panniers
Front panniers are smaller than rear ones and attach to lowrider racks on the fork. They help distribute weight evenly across the bike and improve balance, especially on long tours. They are useful for storing heavier items that benefit from a lower centre of gravity, such as food or tools.
Adding front panniers to a bike opens up the possibility of carrying much, much more. Image: Dave MacFarlane
As we mentioned earlier, riding with fully laden pannier bags can significantly alter the way a bike rides. Sometimes even the slightest change can induce the dreaded wheel wobble - a phenomenon where the bike’s front wheel swivels from side to side, causing the handlebars to judder in the process.
To prevent this kind of wheel wobble, especially on descents, it's a good idea to mount front pannier bags as long down to the ground as possible and as far back towards the back wheel. In the circumstance of a more extreme wheel wobble, a different pannier rack could solve things!
Is there a difference between a front pannier and a fork bag?
Yes. Front panniers are larger than fork bags and typically come in pairs, mounted on lowrider racks. Fork bags are smaller, mounted directly to the fork using cargo cage mounts or straps. Fork bags are common in bikepacking setups where a minimalist approach to gear carrying is preferred.
Panniers vs other bike bags
Panniers vs bikepacking bags
Simply put, panniers and bikepacking bags serve similar purposes, but are optimised for different riding styles.
Panniers offer more volume and easier access, making them ideal for touring and commuting. Plus, their fixed mounting prevents any bag sway whilst riding - something that’s particularly important when carrying heavier gear/
Bikepacking bags, meanwhile, are designed to be rackless (i.e. mounted without a pannier rack), attaching directly to the bike frame. This way, their compatibility is almost universal, ensuring they can fit to the bike you already own. That said, bikepacking bags usually offer less storage volume when compared to pannier bags. For more information, see our Complete Guide to Bikepacking.
Should I consider another bike bag?
Possibly. If your rides are shorter, you want to go for a light setup, or you're planning an off-road adventure, bikepacking bags, saddlebags, handlebar bags, or even a backpack might suit you better than a pannier bag.
We’d be doing ourselves a disservice by not pointing you in the direction of our unique range of large-volume saddlebags. Neatly and securely mounted - much like a pannier bag, but much larger than standard saddlebags used for carrying a tube and tools - these are a definitive alternative to a pannier bag. Here’s a look-see at our range and how to choose the right saddlebag for you.
But for carrying laptops, groceries, or camping gear, panniers still offer the best balance of convenience and capacity.
Is a pannier bag better than a backpack for commuting?
Generally, yes. Panniers remove weight from your back, keeping you cooler and reducing strain. They also offer more space and better weight distribution. However, if you're frequently off the bike or have the luxury of frequently changing the bike you ride, a backpack may be the more convenient way of carrying stuff when riding.
Other key questions
Are pannier bags waterproof?
Many are, but not all. Synthetic panniers with welded seams are typically fully waterproof. Waxed cotton offers water resistance and can be reproofed.
Can we suggest another popular option? By using internal dry bags, not only are you guaranteeing that your gear will stay dry, but it also offers the ability to organise gear within the pannier - particularly important if you’re travelling with a lot of gear.
Are pannier bags sold individually or in pairs?
It depends on the manufacturer and model. Commuter panniers are often sold individually. Touring panniers may be sold as pairs.
If all that extra weight is good for one thing, its going downhill! Image: Dave MacFarlane
Why is no one using panniers any more?
This is a misconception. While bikepacking bags have exploded in popularity (alongside the boom in gravel bikes), especially off-road, panniers remain the go-to for many on-road tourers and commuters. Their capacity, accessibility, and stability on paved routes make them an unmatched choice for carrying serious loads. Meanwhile, for Audax riding, the large-capacity saddlebag continues to be popular. A perfect halfway house between a multi-day touring setup and an overnight bikepacking rig.
Touring cyclists in the 1980s with the original Carradice Overlander panniers, recently reimagined. Image: Carradice
Choosing the Right Pannier
Best Pannier for Touring
The demands of cycle touring necessitate that riders should look for large-capacity, weather-resistant panniers with strong attachment systems. Carradice Super C Rear Panniers are a top choice - wink, wink, nudge, nudge!
Built from durable cotton duck, these pannier bags are handmade in the UK, and if looked after correctly, should last a lifetime. At 28L each in capacity, they offer oodles of space for camping gear, clothes or even electronics, and unlike many other pannier bags, there’s a really usable extra pocket on the rear of each bag - perfect for storing items that you frequently need to fish out.
Best Pannier for Bikepacking
Sat neatly in the Venn diagram of cycle touring and bikepacking, the latest Carradice Overlander Panniers honour the legendary Overlander series from the 1980s, reviving the adventurous spirit that characterised a generation of cyclists.
Made from super durable material and capable of shrugging off scuffs on rocks, snags on trees and some persistent road spray, the Overlander Panniers are the ideal companion for all kinds of bikepacking escapes.
Available in 20L (rear) and 10L (front) versions, they’re perfect for slotting into an existing setup or forming the basis of a new multi-day bike riding rig.
Again, like the Super C panniers, the Overlander Panniers are fitted with the Carradice Quick-Clip pannier hook system - a quick way of attaching the bags to almost any pannier rack.
Best Pannier for Commuting
For getting to the office, or riding around town, choose a pannier bag with simple, quick-release fittings, internal organisation, and water resistance. The Carradice City Classics range balances form and function, offering vintage looks with modern commuting practicality and the Kendal Panniers (at 16L each) would be our exact suggestion.
Maintenance and care
As a general rule of thumb all bike panniers should be cleaned with tepid or cold water. We tend to avoid detergents too and once everything is wiped and brushed clean we air dry.
How to care for Carradice pannier bags?
Carradice panniers made from waxed cotton duck require occasional reproofing to maintain water resistance. Clean with a soft brush and cold water. Avoid detergents. Store in a dry place and re-wax as needed. With this basic care, Carradice pannier bags made from waxed cotton duck can last for decades and be repaired rather than replaced.
That brings our complete guide to pannier bags to a close. Clip on that pannier, load up - it’s time to ride!
