Product review – Decathlon backpack pannier

Trying to get back into cycle commuting, back in the 1980s I had a zip together pannier bag arrangement from Freedom Bikepacking. Looking around for something similar, blanching at the price of the Carradice Bike Bureau and Ortleib, Vario I’ve got a Decathlon a zip-together pannier and rucksack.  I have to carry my bike over a stepped pedestrian bridge, so I figured having my stuff on my shoulders, not on the bike would help. 

The smaller of the two bags, which includes the backpack carry straps nicely swallows a laptop. The mobile ‘phone pocket in the bigger roll top bag is right down the bottom.  I do wish makers wouldn’t use black material for bag interiors. 

The tension of the pannier hooks is adjustable according to the thickness of your rack’s tubing. There’s a catch that turns 90 degrees to secure the bags. Unlike Carradice or Ortleib, the hooks are not on a rail to allow fore-aft adjustment. There’s no anti-sway hook down below – I’m thinking of adding one, to the main bag at least. 

When separated, the rusksack straps are on the inside, exposed – a big improvement for this product would be a zippable panel to contain them. Although as you can see in the picture they have included a loop for the rucksack straps, I’m resorting to a bungee wrapped around the bottom of the small bag, which puts a dent in the convenient mode-switching and style.  I’ve only got 3 miles to go each way, but anything not 100% tied down is bound to misbehave.

They’ve included a loop for a rear light per the picture, but it’s too tiny to be of use for anything I’ve got. 

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/27-l-cycling-double-pannier-rack-backpack-green-grey/_/R-p-347894

For another £100 or £130, the Ortlieb Vario looks like it addresses all the Decathlon’s shortcomings

 https://uk.ortlieb.com/products/vario

£85 for the 26l Carradice Bike Bureau https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m5b0s74p827/CARRADICE-Bike-Bureau-Cotton-Duck