Grand Touring  panniers from Arkel

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  • Grand Touring  panniers from Arkel
  • The red Grand Touring  panniers by Arkel
  • Bike gear from Arkel Grand Touring front or rear panniers
  • Grand Touring front or rear panniers
  • Blue Bike Grand Touring panniers
Grand Touring front or rear panniers
Weight: 0.95 kg / 2.1 lbs (unit)
Volume: 18 l. / 1100 cu. in. (unit)
Detailed measurements

Availability: In stock

Product Name Price Qty
GT-18 Red (single)
134.95 $ US (unit)
GT-18 Black (single)
134.95 $ US (unit)
GT-18 Royal Blue (single)
134.95 $ US (unit)
GT-18BP Red (single)
159.95 $ US (unit)
GT-18BP Black (single)
159.95 $ US (unit)
GT-18BP Royal Blue (single)
159.95 $ US (unit)
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In a nutshell:
Designed as front panniers to compliment our GT-54 for fully loaded touring, the GT-18’s exemplify Arkel's commitment to quality and functionality. The rectangular shape offers the most versatility in terms of lodging capacity. The exterior mesh pocket is great for stashing that rain jacket after a summer shower, and if you are just going across town instead of across the continent, you can also use the GT-18’s as rear panniers. As with the GT-54’s, the GT-18’s come with a fully waterproof integrated liner bag inside the main compartment.
The GT-18BP is the Backpack version of the regular GT-18. Perfect for the bike and hike trip, for the evening stroll in the park or as airplane carry-on, the GT-18BP is an outstanding multi-use bag.
The GT-18’s come as single units (and not as a pair) so you can decide if you want 2 regular GT-18’s to form a pair, or one regular and one backpack or 2 backpacks. Talk about versatility and style, the GT-18’s are at the top of their class.


  


 


 

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Rectangular shape
Originally designed with a tapered shape, we have redrawn the lines of the GT-18's to bring them to a more versatile rectangular shape. They are now as much at ease downtown Manhattan as they are in the deep confines of Borneo. As well, they are just as handy on the front rack as on the rear rack. They share many of the outstanding characteristics of the GT-54 rear panniers with which they make a perfect match for long-haul, self-sustained touring. See GT-54 features.
 
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100% Waterproof Liner in Main Compartment
The main compartment of the GT-18's has an integrated 100% waterproof liner that will keep your dry stuff dry. The liner is made of ultra light1.9 once Silicon coated Ripstop Nylon. The dual slider zipper offers full frontal access in the same fashion as the front panel of the bag itself. The bag and internal liner system combines the advantages of multi-functional pockets with total waterproofness of the main compartment. The best of both worlds indeed!
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Waterproof Liner Rolled-Up
If not in use, you can easily put the liner away by rolling it up to the top of the main compartment and tying it with the elastic loops. The liner is unfolded just as quickly to put it back to use.
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Aluminum Frame
A removable aluminum frame inside the main compartment prevents the top of the bag from sagging and keeps its structural shape to the main body of the bag. The frame folds flat when you want to store the panniers until the next cycling adventure.
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Wide front pocket
As with the main compartment, the front pocket opens all the way to the bottom with dual zipper sliders. This provides the best possible access and organization inside the pockets.
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Top pocket with "smiley zipper opening"
The quick access top pocket is ideal for glasses, gloves, multi-tool energy bars and valuables. The "smiley zipper" path is curved and opens from the front to the back for the widest access. It also helps prevent the content from spilling out when you are too keen and you hop on your bike and forget to close the zipper. It does happen to all of us!
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Ample Mesh Pocket
A dripping wet bathing suit, a towel, a rain jacket after a warm downpour, how about bananas and a couple of tomatoes. We guarantee you will find enumerable uses for the front mesh pocket. This is the quickest access pocket of them all!
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Huge #10 YKK Zippers
The GT-18's are made for heavy-duty use, and we mean it! The #10 zippers on the main compartment are likely the biggest you ever saw on the sturdiest oversized luggage. So you can stuff the bag pretty much as full and as tight as you want, the zipper and zipper pulls will hold day in and day out. You don't want to mark your route by spreading your belongings along the way; these are zippers you can trust!
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Straps in spokes, NOT!
The compression webbing is threaded through loop locks located on the front so that, should you forget to buckle up, no strap will get close to the spokes and get entangled. Small details sometimes make big differences!
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Reflectors on all sides
Whether you use the GT-18's on the front or at the rear, reflectors will keep you visible from all sides. Also, a blinking light can be attached to the compression strap on the side. Safety is the utmost reason to look bright!
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D-rings for a shoulder strap
All of our panniers have integrated D-rings at the back so they can be carried with a shoulder strap (see accessories). One single shoulder strap is used to carry 2 panniers, simply by putting the panniers back to back and joining the D-rings together.
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GT-18BP - Backpack Features
The GT-18's are made for adventure travel whether this means commuting in the urban jungle or touring in the real tropical thing. We found that wherever some adventures on our bikes would take us, often times the need to carry some gear off the bike became a necessity and converting a pannier to a backpack was just the thing. Hiking a mountain trail after riding to its base, hitching a boat or canoe ride to an island offshore, strolling in the heart of an ancient city, transferring from one transport mode to another or just using the backpack as airplane carry-on are but a few of the zillion possible uses. Important factors in using a combination of a pannier and a backpack are the ease and speed with which it converts from pannier to backpack (and vice versa) as well as the comfort of the backpack. We achieved total success on all fronts with the GT-18 BP. See how the GT-18BP converts from pannier to backpack
 
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GT-18's on a bike
The GT-18's are just as good at the front or at the rear. Just imagine this bag on your bike!
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GT-18BP
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GT-18
   
GT-18BP or GT-18 - Which pannier to choose?
The GT18BP makes for a terrific pannier and an excellent backpack. The GT-18's are sold as units (not as a pair) so you can build your own set of panniers. One regular GT-18 pannier with one GT-18BP backpack/pannier makes for a great combination if you travel alone. Couples often choose 2 GT-18BP and each person uses one backpack when off the bike. Others don't see the need for a backpack at all. It's a free world. You can even choose to buy only one unit, don't worry about riding with a single-sided pannier, it will not affect your balance on the bike. The important thing is to truly enjoy the adventures that come your way and the GT-18's will always be there to meet the challenge.

 

 

 


 
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   Lateral Stabilization
The bungee cord with the lower attachment hook is threaded through a web loop so that the pannier will not sway laterally on the bike rack. It is simple and incredibly efficient.
 
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   Removing the bungee
To transform the pannier to a backpack you want the bungee out of the way. It takes nothing more than simply pulling it out of the web loop!
 
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   Stashing the bungee away
Finally, just to be sure that the bungee will not be between your back and the pannier, it should be wrapped around the attachment system. There're many ways to do it in a jiffy and the one shown here is but one of them. Let go your imagination and your way will work too!
 
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   Accessing the shoulder straps
Two panels closed with Velcro are protecting the shoulder straps while the GT-18BP is used on the bike. The shoulder straps are thus safely and securely stowed away. Also, they are kept free of road grime and dirt. Just lift a corner of one panel to uncover the strap.
 
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   Open up the panel
This will fully uncover the shoulder strap. Do the same for the second shoulder strap and close the panels behind. There are no buckles to snap, no webbing to thread or attach, It’s simple and easy.
 
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   The backpack is complete
The shoulder straps are ergonomically cut with an ever-lasting Plastazote padding. And don't worry, the hooks are completely out of the way. (a question we are often asked!) This is one comfortable daypack!
 
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   A fold pre-creased
The shoulder straps are full length, meaning that they are longer than the height of the bug itself. As such we pre-crease a fold at the lower third so that it's easy to fold in two when storing the straps under the panels. A neat example of KIS (Keep It Simple) engineering!
 
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   Hook system is out of the way
The pannier attachment hardware is completely out of the way and is not bothersome at all.
 
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   The GT-18BP all set for the next travel destination
The GT-18BP is all ready to bike and hike, now are YOU ready? Back to features
 
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Will This Pannier Fit My Bike?
Installing Your Pannier
View the adjustable Arkel hook system - 1.25 MB

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