Gear for Foul-Weather Bike Commuting
Staff pick
These user-friendly panniers will keep all of your work gear safe until you arrive at your destination — so you can also change into the dry clothes you carried.
To say Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic Panniers — some of our favorite panniers — will persist through bad weather is an understatement. Waterproof, dustproof, and nearly impossible to rip or tear, these bags ensure that whatever’s inside will survive whatever you put them through. And the seams are incredibly burly — we’ve spoken with experts who (during long bike tours) do their laundry and dishes in Back-Rollers filled with warm, soapy water.
Panniers require a rear rack, so if your bike didn’t come with one, you may have to add one, but doing so is worth the effort. If you’re hauling additional weight, carrying the pannier low around your rear wheel will lower your center of gravity, providing steady momentum over untrustworthy obstacles like slick train tracks or manhole covers. The roll-top bags come in sets of two and include an effective (if minimal) shoulder strap. Plus, the QL2.1 mounting system, which Ortlieb is known for, is universally adored for its simplicity. So you won’t spend much time standing in the rain trying to unclip it from your rack.
