the past, which method did you use to carry your excess equipment - panniers, a trailer, or a backpack?" More than 10,000 people filled out that survey and the results indicate that of those who toured in the past, 92% used panniers, 7% used a trailer and only 1% used a backpack.
A BOB Ibex bicycle touring trailer is pulled behind a mountain bike on a narrow single-track trail.
While there is much debate over whether or not panniers or trailers are best, I think the numbers speak for themselves. Panniers are the #1 pick for most traveling cyclists!
Panniers are great for bicycle touring because: • • • • •
They place the weight of the gear off your body and onto the frame of your bicycle. They allow you to organize your gear into separate, easy-to-access pockets. They can be waterproof (although not all of them are). They are easy to transport off the bike (on planes, trains, boats and buses). They make your bicycle very compact (which makes it easy to navigate in narrow terrain).
The downside to panniers, however, is that: • • •
• •
They can only be used on bicycles where front and/or rear racks can be mounted. The price of panniers range greatly depending on quality. Steering a bicycle with front panniers takes a little getting used to. Most cyclists need 1-3 days of practice riding with front panniers before conducting a long-distance bicycle tour. Learning to pack them correctly takes some training. They are difficult to carry for long distances off the bike.
While panniers are clearly more popular in the bicycle touring world, there are some good reasons to use a trailer.