soft panniers security
 

I am about to buy an AT and am looking into travelling gear too. How do you guys deal with safety/security issues like leaving the bike when site seeing with soft panniers?

Cheers,
Noel
www.toyotaoffthemap.blogspot.com

Stay the night or park at a good hotel or similar with security parking. It sucks walking around in the heat with your gear (long pants) on, so I wouldn't be surprised if you end up choosing option 1. I believe it's about the ride to find place you can't do backpacking more than the sightseeing, but this is a personal decision.

There is a review in here somewhere about using stainless steel thin wire netting - probably in the equipment reviews forum.
What I do is park the bike in very public areas with lots of people passing by continuously. An alternative is to park in an entrance to somewhere, like a museum and ask the people working there to keep an eye on the bike + you could take the luggage inside and dump it with the attendants at the entrance.
Some people use a bike cover so that the whole bike is covered over.

I use a set of Crampster throw overs. The good thing is that shock loads are absorbed by the seat. anything I don't want to get wet I put in a plastic bag inside the pannier. Although I have yet to see any dampness on the plastic bags so they have been waterproof thus far.

I'll add another recommendation for Wolfman Expedition Saddle Bags.

25k miles through North, Central, and South America. Multiple lay downs. Bags are still in great shape and fully waterproof.

Never had an issue with security.

I have some Steel Ponies and was happy with them. Unfornately when I lent a friend my bike someone cut one of the panniers overnight in some podunk town in eastern Siberia. That's not the bag's fault though.

Also, IIRC Colebatch was developing some super-duper soft panniers, although I don't know if they being produced.

tmr

I saw the prototype when with him in London over Christmas.

Although still with some small modifications, they were very, very purposeful.

Smart looking too. Well, they were clean and new.
That will be changing, pretty soon!

My name is down for a set when (if?) further ones are produced.

Wolfman expedition work well, water proof and fix onto a rack well.
Angie has been over a few times and the bags toughed it out.

Welcome to Two Bikes Running

I've owned Andy Strapz and recently purchased some Wolfmans. Andy strapz are good because they're easy to remove and you can chuck them over just about any bike, the Wolfman's are good because they work as a complete kit and are very securely attached.

If you do go the Wolfman route, avoid the black version as it is extremely difficult to find anything in there. Don't ask me how I know.

Hi

I have a Giant Loop Coyote too - and already think its brill though I've not had it too long. I like the Kriega bags too - especially the way they are modular so up to a point you can pick what you need for different outings. At the NEC in Birmingham last year Kriega were showcasing a prototype of what they were calling an "Overlander" - this consisted of their larger (2 x 30L) packs with the option of bolting onto a frame pannier-style on the rear of the bike. The system was being developed either with or for use with the Rotopax fuel / water reservoirs to clip on beside them - looked very good, but I have been looking at their website and they're not offering them yet. The chap on the stand thought they'd be available around about March / April this year. May be worth checking out?

PacSafe do the steel mesh covers for bags / kit - but while they are a good deterrent, if anyone had bolt croppers or 5 minutes to work on it the mesh isn't 100% secure so yup - park in view!

I have used Andy Strapz for over 8 years, only on my second set as I set fire to the first set (long story). Strong, cheap, waterproof, repairable, and soft on you when you drop the bike on yourself. Of course, no security, but only take what you can afford to lose!

Ortleib rat pack + Magadans + 'pelican' cheapo copy as top box.
Best combi which works really well for me.
I've yet to see anything that remotely comes close.
But then it's horses for courses!

Here are many cheap options
Build your own panniers made easy

Hands down the winner is Wolfman!

Ive been on the road for nearly 3 years now and in those three years, Ive only had to replace one buckle that got sun damage on my Wolfman bags (and a couple i broke by squeezing through things!). However, I love them. I have the roll bag, expedition pannier bags and the tank bag.

Go Wolfman!

On my first trip, I used AndyStraps but they didnt last more than 6 months. They came apart at the stitching, I was forced to sew it up every second day.