$120 USD; $149.99 CAD
The fully waterproof Timbuk2 Tandem Pannier is designed for people on the go who want an easy way to carry several items at once. It comes with two pannier bags that attach together at the top, Velcro straps to prevent it from sliding off of a rear rack and metal hooks and square rings that attach to the bottom of a rack. The top flaps of the bags have Velcro closures and plastic buckles to keep items from falling out or rain from pouring in. Items can be tossed into the large storage compartments or the two stretchy pockets with small buckle closures. When not on your bike, you can carry the pannier using either the two handles or the detachable shoulder strap. Magnets along the inside of the pannier prevent the two bags from flopping all over the place when you’re carrying them.
Pros
The pannier bags are designed to angle away from your feet, giving you more heel clearance. The bags are also made from durable waterproof material with reflective elements. Despite having used this pannier for the past six months, it still looks good as new. The stitching is intact and the reinforced reflective trim has stood up to being tossed on dirt, sand, pavement and grass. I also like being able to evenly distribute my load between the two sides to avoid feeling off-balanced. I seldom use the bottom clips, as the bags rest flat against the rack without them and stay secure with just the Velcro straps around the top of the rack.
Cons
The pannier is awkward to carry when fully loaded because of the size of the bags and the somewhat thin shoulder strap. I would like to see an option to unhook the bags, or the inclusion of a padded shoulder strap. Although the side buckles come in handy when carrying larger loads, they can be a pain to open and close. The Velcro on the side of the bags has a tendency to stick to my clothes if I’m not paying attention. An added bonus would be to have a small inner or side pocket in each for keys, a cellphone and other smaller items.
Ideal Rider
This pannier is well-suited to someone, like me, who has lots to carry and wants a two-in-one pannier bag set.
Overall
I use this pannier every day I bike. It’s large enough to store all of the things I need to take with me, but not too big that I feel overwhelmed by its bulk. I also like that it keeps my ride even and I never have to worry about it slipping because of the Velcro straps at the top.
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