GT-54

Product Review (submitted on September 6, 2011):

I was at first hesitant to shell out the money required to own these panniers but after my first ever fully-loaded touring experience, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made cycling-wise. I semi-converted my ever versatile Kona Jake cyclocross bike into a tourer and these panniers were the final piece in the puzzle. These packs are so well-designed and there were some features I didn't even realize were available to use until I finished the trip. I wasn't sure if they had enough capacity for an 8-day trip since I didn't have front panniers but they were just perfect for the job. The only items I didn't put in them were my cooking pots and stove which stayed in a bag on top of the rear rack..but these don't need to be in panniers anyway. The placement and design of the pockets made it so easy to find the things I needed when I wanted to and were so logical that it made it easy to decide which compartments would hold what. From this first experience, I now know that I can go on any type of touring from a few days to several months and that these packs will be quite reliable for many years to come. Everything from zippers to the fabric used to the rack locking system were of excellent design. Thanks Arkel for being one of the best pannier companies in the world and for being Canadian!