Panniers, Bike Bags, Stuff sacks, and Saddle bags

[Tijoe]

I want to get a dedicated thread going to review and discuss available carrying of your gear for Bikepacking, Adventure cycling and Bicycle touring.   I want to keep this thread to items that are used to carrry your gear on your long multiday rides.   - Panniers, Bike bags, Stuff sacks and saddle bags.    Aliexpress lists and sells a lot of different items in this category.   I am always looking for the lightest, most durable, perhaps water proof, and best bang for the buck.   

For this years planned trips, I am trying to remove more weight and am looking for the lightest durable gear packs I can find on Aliexpress.   (Perhaps other brands outside Aliexpress, if they are affordable.)

I am hoping other forum members will have some good recommendations for bags you have purchased and used.

I purchased a set of Rhinowalk panniers over a year ago.  They have held up OK, on 3, week+ trips, but they are already showing signs of wear, and are having issues. 

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832858229989.html

I purchased and use one of these NEWBOLER saddlebags for overnight trips.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832636637212.html

I have purchased numerous sacks off of Ali express.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832771567611.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805087053087.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805093049693.html

[kbernstein]

Decluttering the interesting finds thread and organizing by item type is a great idea.
I'm interested in the Montcamper drybags, which ones do you have? Could you weigh them for comparison against StS? Thank you

[sbellote]

Rhinowalk has nice options with a good cost (through 2023 the prices dropped and there are frequent sales too, on the superdeals and similar low prices promotions
I have top tube, handlebar, and saddle bags from them, but all are small - not the bikepacking type. Still, they're well made, and well worth the price. I'm not sure if I'd trust it to last years of frequent and heavy use, though. Like I imagine would be expected from a more known and established brand

used to find Roswheel products too on Ali that have nice quality, I have friends with their bags, but it's been a while since I saw products from them on Aliexpress

[Tijoe]

Decluttering the interesting finds thread and organizing by item type is a great idea.
I'm interested in the Montcamper drybags, which ones do you have? Could you weigh them for comparison against StS? Thank you

Below is a pic of the collection of my dry bags, most from Aliexpress.   I have 3 Montcamper bags that I purchased through the $1.99 deals.  They are the lightest 3L = 44 grams, 10L =52 grams.   I haven't used the Montcamper bags yet, but they appear to be sewn well and use high quality rip-stop material.

The 2L "Waterproof Bags" are heavy duty and weight 92 grams. (Also purchased on the $1.99 deals)  I'll use this style bag more for water sports than cycling.

The 7L Newboler dry bags weigh in at 228 grams.   On the heavy side, but I may use one for a front fork side pack where I often hit objects on narrow trails.

I am not a "drybag" expert by any means and want to learn more about the materials used, versus the durability and water resistance.

[Tijoe]

Rhinowalk has nice options with a good cost (through 2023 the prices dropped and there are frequent sales too, on the superdeals and similar low prices promotions
I have top tube, handlebar, and saddle bags from them, but all are small - not the bikepacking type. Still, they're well made, and well worth the price. I'm not sure if I'd trust it to last years of frequent and heavy use, though. Like I imagine would be expected from a more known and established brand

used to find Roswheel products too on Ali that have nice quality, I have friends with their bags, but it's been a while since I saw products from them on Aliexpress

The Rhinowalk 3-piece pannier set I purchased, weighs in at 3.75 lbs / 1700 grams.   Not heavy, but not light.   I have read that some riders that use rear racks are migrating to a larger top-of-rack only partitioned duffle style bag.  The Space per weight of the bag ratio is better than a conventional pannier set.   (I use a dropper post, so using my large saddle (.75 lbs / 340gram) bag, doesn't work well for me when it is fully filled with gear.)   

[mirphak]

I now buy my bike bags (particularly frame bags) from etsy, there are several sellers (mainly from Poland and Ukraine) who make them based on your specified measurements, so really custom fit.

[buckfifty]

speaking of bike bags, are there any rack systems on aliexpress that are similar to tailfin?

[kbernstein]

speaking of bike bags, are there any rack systems on aliexpress that are similar to tailfin?

Haven't bought either as I don't have a rack yet but these have been in my cart for a few months now:

https://aliexpress.com/item/1005004803842527.html?

https://aliexpress.com/item/1005004926687174.html?

I've seen both fluctuate in price and be cheaper. Maybe I'll give bikepacking a try with one of these this summer

[Tijoe]

On my Rhinowalk top bag, It has the same construction where the elastic rope eyelets are sewn into the bag.  With around 3 weeks total of usage, I have had 2 of these fabric eyelets pull out of where they are sewn.  The elastic rope in mine is also lower quality and is already over 1/2 stretched out.   (I hold a foam bottom pad and a pair of lightweight beach shoes under the elastic rope.)

I you plan on using the bag shown in your second link, (Yingrun)  the little eyelets are probably the initial weak spots if you actually use the elastic to hold things in place.

[nicklej]

I've used my RhinoWalk bar bags for about 1.5 years. I've used it for some 2-day trips and also its on my bike at all times for commuting. I can't remember the capacity of the bags but this setup works well for me. Not had any delaminating on any seams, nothing is broke and they were about £30 iirc. My previous ones were apidura and they had a problem on a seam but apidura couldn't repair them and i was out of warranty so those were passed on to someone as a freebie.

I can never upload pics on here, is there a file size limit?

https://ibb.co/k6jTmck
https://ibb.co/CHJ8V6t

[impmonkey]

Anyone have a recommendation for a bolt on top tube bag?

[kbernstein]

Anyone have a recommendation for a bolt on top tube bag?

Sadly not a thing yet on ali... Some here have reported modding the rockbros to fit bolts but nothing official
I had to get a focus atlas bag (same one cervelo uses but half the price) (be careful to not get BMC's because they have a proprietary bolt spacing which is a new low in scummy design) and I'm happy with it for 28CHF

[Tijoe]

A couple years ago I wanted a top tube bag with a clear plastic screen that fit my cell phone.  I was in a rush so I found a Cheapo Blackburn bag at Walmart.  (approx. $8)   I punched 2 holes in it, added wide washers on the inner fabric base, cut off the top tube strap and have been using this bag for 3 years.   Liked this bag enough that I purchased 2 more and just strap them to other bikes without bolt mounts on the top tube.   

Point is, It is very easy to punch 2 holes and mount the bag using bolts.  You just need to purchase one that has a rigid enough base so the bag wont flop back and forth on the top tube when filled up.   

I have not seen any with hole on Aliexpress either.  I did purchase a top tube saddle bag set off of aliexpress, and use this on my bike packing bike.  Occasionally my knees hit the bags, but overall it has worked out well for my needs.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802951466181.html

[jannmayer]

I'm looking for pannier bags for my commuter. My laptop is fairly large (16" wide) so many of them are too small. Anyone have any recommendations for large pannier bags?

[TidyDinosaur]

I'm looking for pannier bags for my commuter. My laptop is fairly large (16" wide) so many of them are too small. Anyone have any recommendations for large pannier bags?

Not Ali, but I have the Thule Shield Pannier 25L since 8 months and I am happy with them. I put my backpack with a 16" laptop in there
Had the Ortlieb back roller classsic before that for about 15 years. Those are better, but very expensive.