Pannier bags or frame bags...how do you choose?

[Boopop]

To be clear, I already have a full set of both.

My question is, how do you decide whether to go with pannier bags or frame bags for your next trip? I last used my pannier bags and Triban for a holiday in 2022 when I cycled North Coast 500. Since then I've been using my Orbea, going on a couple of multi-day trips in the UK again and also riding to Italy in 2023 and then around the south of France last summer.

The next big trip will be Wild Atlantic Coast in Ireland which will be at the end of June. I'm going to go to Wales in a month to ride Lon Las Cymru to test my current Orbea bikepacking set up.

There's still a part of me that's tempted to go for another (albeit slower!) ride on the Triban. If you had both setups, how would you decide? Yeah I know one favours ride quality, and the other favours how much you can take with you. I'm just wondering if anyone here has gone "full bikepacking" mode then dabbled in their cycle touring set up again.

I'll probably go on my next trips on the Orbea anyway but I'm interested to see peoples' opinions.

 

[Jameshow]

If b&B /YHA bIke bags / saddle bag.

If camping panniers..

 

[Pblakeney]

If b&B /YHA bIke bags / saddle bag.

If camping panniers..

In 1993 I toured the SW (Dorset, Devon & Cornwall) using just a backpack as I was staying in B&Bs.
Fully loaded although the single water bottle must have been on the table with the camera.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

As above, panniers if camping. A 13 litre seat bag if bed & breakfast / YHA / Hotels. All comes down to how much I’ll need to carry, opportunities to wash and dry things, and whether it fits comfortably into the lighter setup. For the latter I’ll generally just have one change of clothes and footwear for the evening, accommodation means I have the opportunity to wash and dry one set most evenings as necessary. Accommodation also means no need to carry a towel and toiletries can be minimal and often “refreshed“ at accommodation.

 

[Oldhippy]

Panniers always for me.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

In 1993 I toured the SW (Dorset, Devon & Cornwall) using just a backpack as I was staying in B&Bs.
Fully loaded although the single water bottle must have been on the table with the camera.

View attachment 769354

Down tube shifters and no water bottle (though I spy a cage), top work.

 

[Pblakeney]

Down tube shifters and no water bottle (though I spy a cage), top work.

You missed the second sentence. 😉

 

[Dirk Van Der Dirk]

Always panniers for me. Tried frame bags and got fed up of having to put tape on frame to prevent rub, also did backpack once, 30 odd litre one full to brim across Netherlands in a day, 25 degrees C...never, ever, again!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

You missed the second sentence. 😉

I did!

 

[Jameshow]

Always panniers for me. Tried frame bags and got fed up of having to put tape on frame to prevent rub, also did backpack once, 30 odd litre one full to brim across Netherlands in a day, 25 degrees C...never, ever, again!

I find them more faffy than panniers. Also they imped water bottle access.

I would only use them if B+B but then I would take a bar bag.

I must be getting old!!

 

[fossyant]

Personally a rack/pannier, can't be doing with frame rub = loss of paint and flex. My recent 'trip' used p clips for my panniers as the bike didn't take a rack or any mounts - never again for the weight. Moved and flexed too much.

 

[oxoman]

Have panniers for touring on predominantly roads, however I'm shortly going bikepacking on trails I will use frame /fork and a bar bag. Carrying a tent on both setups, will be travelling very light when bikepacking using youth hostel, B&Bs on occasions as a break from the tent. Northcoast 500 is on my bucket list and that would definitely be panniers.

 

[chriswoody]

Personally I would never contemplate panniers again, I can get everything I need into a set of frame bags. Because the overall carrying capacity is much lower with frame bags, I find the whole setup much lighter. It's also much slimmer and with the type of riding I do I often find myself in situations where I'm pushing or lifting the bike or trying to squeeze through tight gaps, panniers would just be in the way and make everything too heavy.

They do require a lot more thought about packing correctly so they don't sway or move and the frame needs protecting a bit more. I also need to pack a little more conservatively and make sure my gear is ultra small, but overall it's a way of touring that I much prefer. If you get it right then the bike should feel light and nimble still and there will be zero movement from your bags.

The Gravel bike fully packed for 5 days with tent, sleeping bag cooking kit, food etc..

The Mountain bike similiary packed for a 14 day adventure this time in the Scotish Highlands. Again tent, sleeping bag, cooking kit, food, clothes etc..

 

[I like Skol]

Panniers, you will thank yourself.

Seriously, I have toured on road and bridleway with people using frame bags and what a faff! Regular stops to 're-adjust'. Frame rub. Crippling limited space (I usually end up carrying stuff for the bag packers). Soggy, compromised bike handling due to insecure loads. And soggy loads as they rarely turn out to be waterproof despite manufacturers promises.

I, on the other hand, have solid rack and impenetrable pannier bags that consume all I could possibly need and more, with ease.

Funnily enough, as soon as we get into a headwind, my ride buddies suddenly love to tuck in behind the panniers and get towed along....

 

[I like Skol]

Did the King Alfred Way last summer with rear pannier on my road/gravel bike and they were perfect for the job. Tent on top of the rack plus sleeping bag and all other kit in the panniers. It just works, even on a fairly rough route like that.