People don't just struggle to stay organized at home and at work; they are also challenged by staying organized when they're mobile. And for many people, being mobile means being on a bike as they commute to and from work, go shopping, visit friends, etc.
Pannier bags are one solution to that challenge. The Bradley Bike Bag from Hill & Ellis is an upscale product, made of leather, with a number of interesting features. For example, those leather straps on the side are reversible; the other side is reflective to provide extra visibility when needed without looking tacky at other times. As with many bike bags that aren't waterproof, it comes with a waterproof rain cover. This bag will fit a 15" laptop sleeve; some others in the line are smaller and only fit a 13" laptop,
Here's what the back of the bag looks like when closed, as seen on the similar Betty Bike Bag. There are no exposed hooks to jab the cyclists or snag their clothing.
And here's what that compartment looks like when it's in use. The pannier clips come from Germany; they are spring-loaded so they can attach to any pannier rack from 6mm to 16mm. Catherine Ellis told me via email that "the lower flap goes down against the bag so the underside covers the leather on the back of the bike so it doesn't rub during the ride and the top flap rests on the top of the pannier rack and helps protect the bag against any dirt from the wheel."
The The Sac from Linus Bike works well for the rider who wants a minimalist design that's not too expensive, that will carry a fair amount of stuff, and that doesn't scream "bike bag" when it's being carried around. This one has no reflective stripes. It's made from waxed canvas and a coated durable base, so it's water resistant; it has a magnetic closure and one interior pocket. There's a detachable shoulder strap, which for some odd reason is not color-coordinated to the bag.
The Linus Sac has exposed rubberized clips, but they're unlikely to catch on the rider's clothes. For exposed clips, they're pretty inconspicuous. And they fit on a wide range of racks.
The Chrome Saddle Bag Rolltop Pannier 20 is a design for riders who want a truly waterproof bag and/or those who want one with no mounting hardware (inconspicuous or not) on the bag once it's removed from the bike. To make this work, the bag works with a rack adapter, which will make it harder (if not impossible) to use the bike with other pannier bags, unless the adapter is removed. And the adapter won't work with all bike racks.
While many bike bags will hold a laptop, this one comes with an integrated laptop sleeve that fits a 15" Macbook Pro. That will make things easy for people like me, who won't carry a laptop in a bag without plenty of padding.
I've read reports that the bag can be difficult to attach to the adapter, but this owner says that it got much easier over time, as the fabric softened up.
Some cyclists may prefer a design like the Noe Commuter Pannier Tote Backpack from Timbuk2, with its external pockets making it easy to grab a water bottle and other items. There are also internal pockets, which some riders will find helpful for organizing the contents. (Some people really like pockets; others prefer to just use pouches or other organizers that they move from bag to bag.) But those external pockets aren't going to work well in the rain unless the contents can get wet without a problem.
The bag is easy to connect to a bike rack, and it also converts to a backpack. The hooks are nicely hidden away when they aren't being used.
For cyclists who would rather not deal with a pannier, a design like the Armitage Satchel from Po Campo could be a good alternative. It's extremely easy to attach to the bike, assuming the rack is long enough. It's got a zippered pocket inside and another one outside. It's made of waxed canvas, with a polyurethane coated nylon lining to help keep contents dry. That's a faux-leather trim; this bag is vegan, which will be important to some riders.
Some cyclists may prefer handlebar bags, and there are many designs for these, too. This bike tote from Uncommon Goods fastens to the bike with two buckled loops; purchasers agree it's very easy to take on and off. The shoulder strap tucks inside when the bike's being ridden. There are no fancy features here, but some riders just need a simple product.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are designs like the Paloma Handlebar Bag from Swift. This bag also mounts to the bike easily, but in a very different way, using the Klickfix Handlebar Adaptor. The bag won't work with bikes that have cross-top brakes levers.
The Paloma bag is lined with X-Pac, a light and waterproof ripstop textile; the bag also has two rain flaps. There's a clear map case on the top, which can also hold whatever mobile device is being used for navigation.
Swift lets buyers customize their bags, selecting from over 20 choices for the body and the front pocket, nine choices for the trim, and six for the thread. The products are all handmade in Seattle by this five-person company; supporting such a business will appeal to some purchasers.
The exterior of the Green Guru handlebar bag is made from upcycled bicycle tubes; the inner lining is made from recycled plastics. That's supposed to keep hot food hot, and cold food cold. Most purchasers said it does that well; one wrote about keeping food cool even in warm Florida weather, and another said she uses it to transport both popsicles and burritos. Yet another person mentioned carrying beer.
And speaking of beer: Cyclists with top-tube bikes will find there are designs specifically for toting beer and other bottled beverages. This one is from Donkey Products, and it's made from canvas and Velcro. There's no insulation there, but purchasers said it worked well for carrying bottles to a BYO restaurant, bringing them home after visiting local craft breweries, etc.
There's also an active Kickstarter for three products from Roo, including The Sixer. It's similar to Donkey's 6Pack, but it's made from leather and held in place with four snaps.
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Comments
I'm afraid that most of these represent the triumph of fashion over function. At least here in the NW, you can't reasonably use anything less than a totally waterproof Ortlieb or Vaude roll-top pannier for 9+ months of the year (and they also hold a lot more groceries than any of these). Not to mention the shoulder strap on the Linus would get caught in the rear wheel if you let it dangle like that...
The Linus shoulder strap easily clips on and off. Obviously you wouldn't attach the shoulder strap if mounting the bag on the bike, but it makes a nice addition when you are carrying the bag into the market.