Best bike panniers: From commuting and touring to grocery getting

A black pannier mounted to a green bike with the background motion blurred
(Image credit: Will Jones)

For larger loads, or even just to avoid a sweaty back, the humble bicycle pannier is a perfect and well-evolved system. There are several reasons the pannier has been adopted so widely by shoppers and commuters to round-the-world explorers alike.

Unless you're carrying compact loads, it is my firm belief that the pannier is superior in all respects besides weight to the best bikepacking bags. Higher capacity, easier to pack, no wobble, no straps to rub your frame. They are also far easier for smaller riders to use, as there is no issue of clearance between saddle and rear tyre. Choosing a pannier rather than one of the best cycling backpacks takes the weight off the body and stops you from arriving at your destination with a sweaty back. 

Recent updates

Last updated on 04th of March 2025

All products were checked to ensure they were still relevant and up to date. Amendments were made to the intro and a new How to Choose section was added to offer readers more specific buying advice.

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Will Jones
Senior Tech Writer

Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He’s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.