Commuting Luggage

When it comes to carrying your daily work kit around choosing the best option for your needs and yor bike can be difficult. Like most commuters I've used either panniers or a back pack at some time or another. But for me niether of these options has been ideal - backpacks make you feel top heavy and can cause excessive back sweat, while panniers have always made me feel like I'm towing an anchor. And most importantly, when I get to the office none if these options seem very board room friendly.

As an avid reader of the ecovelo blog, I've come across a third possible option - saddle bags. Of course your average saddle bag is not up to the task of carrying anything more then a spare tube, patch kit and multi-tool. But these bags from Rivendell Bikes are not your average saddle bag!

From the Rivendell site:
Our new Sackville series bags are as fine as saddlebags get. The Britamerican materials (including waxed and waterproof cotton duck), the Connecticut craftsmanship, the California design, the melted thread-ends, and the total absence of any cost-cutting measures add up to bags that cost us a mint to make, are worth three mints, but cost you only a mint and a half. They're over-the-top good and a joy to use. They load and unload easier than any saddlebags we've used; they're more secure; they're more handsome.

But if these excellent bags don't get you excited check out some other cool (albeit panniers) bags I've come across in my search for a perfect solution.

Unlike the Rivendell bag, neither of these Vaude solutions are waterproof however they do come with their own rain cover which is definitely welcome. Both are designed to carry a laptop with ample room (18L) for all your other items. And best of all they each have a concealed attachment system allowing quick on and off access for your rack.

All 3 solutions will cost a pretty penny - starting at $140 for the Vaude all the way up to $175 for the Rivendell saddle bag. Which one am I going to go with? You'll have to wait and see...