What pannier for commuting?

[Geordie5]

Recently started communting and have found I'm getting too hot with my trusty backpack on.
Looking to use a single pannier for commuting, although i'd be looking to buy a set of 2. Like the look of the altura dryline's available in 56l and 32l.
Any advice on whether a single from the 32l would be sufficient to hold relevant stuff for commuting - change of clothes, towel, shoes, lunch etc. and likewise if a single from 56l would be too excessive?
Any other recommendations would be welcome, and also need a rack!
Cheers

 

[HelenD123]

I have a single 20l one that is more than sufficient. I soon changed it to one of these though as I find having pockets more useful and can use it on the days when I'm not on the bike.

 

[Big T]

I leave my shoes and towel at work and use a single small altura pannier which contains shirts, trousers, underwear, fruit and sandwiches/salad. Plenty of room. I can squeeze a fresh towel in if necessary.

My wife uses the other pannier.

You'll be lambasted for being a mono-pannierist, but hey ho.

 

[HLaB]

I use an ortlieb sports packer plus, and size wise it great for me and I've been pleased with its robustness. I'm a wee bit dissapointed that the new version doesn't have the external mesh pocket anymore, I find this very handy on mine.

 

[HJ]

Or you could try any of these...

 

[Tynan]

single ortleib back roller here

I leave the trousers at work too

the roller ca roll down quite slim and small or bulk up bloody big

which is handy, ecellebt pannier if you ca aford it

 

[Theseus]

I leave shoes & trousers at work and carry shirt, socks, pants, sandwiches, fruit .... in one of these.

 

[willem]

We mostly use a single ortlieb frontroller (my commute is short and I just ride in my business suit), but sometimes a backroller. These are truly outstanding bags, and some of them in our household are now some 10 years old, and have been in constant use, for commuting, but also touring.
I would now opt for their new City line, as they are about a quarter cheaper, and a quarter lighter. Yet, they are as robust.
If you want something that looks like a real briefcase, Ortlieb have that too, but I find the touring bags just as convenient, or even more so.
Willem

 

[SoulOnIce]

single ortleib back roller here

I leave the trousers at work too

the roller ca roll down quite slim and small or bulk up bloody big

which is handy, ecellebt pannier if you ca aford it

+1

Is 100% waterproof, bloody hard wearing (had mine for over 10 years) and the fact is can roll up slim are big is great. Pricey but well worth it.

 

[ianrauk]

20l is more then enough to carry what you need

 

[ufkacbln]

Single panniers are the work of Satan!

 

[rusky]

I have the cycle hut large pannier set (I was on a budget OK!), they are OK ish but not very watertight.

I took one of my panniers off when I rode to the lbs today as I wasn't planning on needing it & it was empty.

It felt wrong riding with only one, I could sense mothers shielding their children's eyes as I cycled past :-(

 

[HJ]

Why cycle with two when you only need one??

 

[grhm]

Single panniers are the work of Satan!

I'm interested - why?

I routinely commute a single cheapy pannier (brand name says "Premier" - got the pair for ~£30 in a LBS).

I only carry two panniers when I'm carrying a heavy load that I think I ought to spread out - or if my weeks clothes and towel and other buff for the end of week commute is too much bulk for a single.

 

[Randochap]

Here I am working for Satan, on a longish 600km "commute."

The pannier is an old Madden Mountaineering (defunct) job, I've had for 29 years. I use it for local shopping, etc. and, in this case, when I need a bit of extra room for clothing on a long brevet.

I own various bags and panniers, including a set of Jandd expedition panniers.

In a typically devil-may-care way, I use them in what ever combination the load requires.