Touring-accessories front or rear panniers

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XM-28

Arkel front or rear panniers

Touring front or rear panniers
Weight: 1,4 kg / 3 lbs (pair)
Volume: 28 l. / 1700 cu. in. (pair)
Detailed measurements

219.95 $ US (pair)

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Waterproof zippered liner
The main compartment is equipped with an internal zippered liner that keeps its content totally dry, and separate from any wet or dirty stuff you may need to carry in the main compartment.

Waterproof box-cut hood
No matter how much you load the pannier, the hood and it’s waterproof lining will always fully cover the body of the bag (thanks to a cut that works like a box top).

Side zipper for huge access
Reaching and searching in top loading panniers has always been a chore. Many years ago we innovated with our TFL® side-zipper (Total Front Loading) that "slices" the whole bag from top to bottom, giving an amazing access to the content - in a way that other bag can’t match.

Access from the top
Thanks to Arkel's TFL® zipper, it's now possible to gain access to the inside of the bag without having to unclip all the webbing and buckles. It may sound trivial, but believe us it's a god-send when it's pouring rain and the very idea of opening the top of the bag is risky. It avoids opening a funnel to the inside of the pannier, and gives instant access to the content.

Access the bottom in a cinch
The TFL® zipper has a two-way slider system - in other words you can access the bottom of the panniers at any time, just by opening the lower zipper. We all know that small items tend to sink in Top-Loading panniers, so this seemingly simplistic feature takes a whole new meaning - and appreciation - in this case.

Front mesh panel
Why is it that every smaller panniers from Arkel has a mesh panel? Because they make sense: use the mesh to store a wet rain jacket or beach towel and use the compression strap to secure it in place. The object will stay put no matter the road and it'll drain and dry naturally in the mesh. Since the XM-28's are also front panniers if you need, the mesh is perfect for a road map and is accessible even as you ride.

Stabilized webbing
Top loading panniers are great because they can easily compress or expand depending on the load, but sometimes the compression straps may end up being a liability. At Arkel we take great care in making sure that even when unclipped, the webbing will not fall anywhere near the wheel.

Centered compression point
The X shape compression straps of the XM-28’s will help keep the load tight and close to the bike. A single cinch on the strap compresses the whole bag, pulling everything towards the center of the bag for the ultimate in load control.

Skid plate against abrasion
Using a panniers on a lowrider rack can lead to some damage on the side of a pannier should the bike gets too close to a concrete curb. It is particularly true if the bags are used on a mountain bike (smaller wheels). The XM-28's have a HDPE skid-plate that will slide on a curb, protecting the mesh panel against rips. Still, be careful please!!!

Highly stabilized webbing
Every corner where the webbing goes has a loop-lock - a "ring" in which the webbing is fed. Those loop-locks stabilize the webbing making sure that it'll never fall in the spokes of the wheel, and that it'll always align with where they should be. Oh! Note the reflective stripe as well. Safety is very important to Arkel!

Top pocket with diagonal zipper
On top of the hood there's a pocket. The usefulness of it is self-explanatory: keys, wallet, glasses, sunscreen, etc; there's no better place to store those things. But what we did different is that the pocket is on "top" of the hood, not "inside" it. Loading the pocket will not steal space from the hood, insuring a good hood coverage at all time. The diagonal zipper is also a big plus for a great access.

Handle for easy carrying
Every Arkel pannier has a handle for off the bike convenience. The handle is long enough for a good grip but never so long that it will flap down and rub on the bike wheel. We make sure that this is never an option, as safety has no price.

D-Rings for a shoulder strap
You can carry your XM-28 panniers with a shoulder strap (optional). The panniers have D-rings at the back just for that. But moreover the D-rings of both panniers are located in such a way that they'll align side by side when the panniers are back-to-back. What it means is that with a single shoulder strap you can carry both panniers! How brilliant is that?!

4 Review(s)

Will This Pannier Fit My Bike?
Installing Your Pannier
View the adjustable Arkel hook system - 1.25 MB

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Customer Reviews

Great touring panniers Review by Erik J

I have taken 4 of these panniers with me on 3 epic touring trips through Europe. Their tough and rugged material makes them both strong and durable and keeps me from worrying when my bike takes an unexpected spill or I really have to jam some gear into the bag. As an another review noted the D rings that you can hook a strap to are also very helpful when you need to move all 4 bags at once but the design of the bag makes carrying one bag around with a strap very uncomfortable because either the hooks, used to attach it to the rack, rub against your side or you have to carry it with the outside facing in. The one complaint I have is that, living in western Norway where it rains 5 out of 7 days a week, these bags are not more waterproof as some varieties you see on the market. Please note that they never claim to be waterproof... it is just something I wish I would have considered prior to purchasing these since it makes these panniers less useful for daily commuting. All in all a great product! The hooks are adjustable by the way so that they can fit snuggly and securely on both your front and back rack! Erik

(Posted on 11/4/10)

spring wear Review by julia

I have traveled over 2,000 miles with these panniers and love them. I use them low in fron and due to the tall and narrow quality they have dragged on the ground when full of heavy graoceries...but all is still waterproof and strong and in tact. I love that there are two attachments to add a sholder strap (although it does not come with one) I was able to take them off my bike and walk around town with my own strap. The spring attanchment have lost some springyness and three of four screws have raddled off. I am in the process of getting new parts from the company.

(Posted on 9/18/10)

Great panniers Review by Jeff Tamminga

I've used these panniers on 5 off-road tours in Utah as well as using them on a 3-part cross country tour. They performed flawlessly. Easy to mount on the bike and bombproof even on terrible rocky 4-wheel drive trails in Utah. Highly recommended.

(Posted on 8/12/10)

XM-28 feedback Review by Tim Dixon

Hi I wanted to let you know that my friend and I each purchased the XM-28 from you for he San Juan Hut to Hut ride. The packs were flawless and the side zippers and easy install and uninstall were greatly appreciated. I teamed the Xm28 with an Osprey Talon pack. Thank you Arkel for making and recommending such a great product. Tim Dixon

(Posted on 7/16/10)

XM-28

Customer Reviews

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