Most long-distance tourers seem to go for Ortlieb panniers, or one of the numerous imitation brands. They are meant to be tough and waterproof. I decided (as with many things) to try something a little different.
The Super C panniers are made from heavy-duty canvas, which can withstand a fair bit of rain but which is not truly waterproof. However, I decided that it would be advantageous to have panniers which would allow the contents to breathe in the heat and sun, when keeping sweaty clothing and sleeping bags in a watertight bag all day might not be particularly desirable. This paid off in spades as I toured the Middle East and North East Africa, where I saw rain fall just twice in six months of travelling.
To protect my stuff in the event of a downpour or river crossing, I have a waterproof Exped bag liner for each pannier. This gives me the best of both worlds, as I can waterproof items at my discretion, and so far it has worked very well, but after two years the liners have both been patched numerous times with Gaffa Tape, and it is dubious whether they would be effective during total immersion — a river crossing, for example. I would suggest looking for a brand other than Exped, as I am not impressed with the durability of their waterproof bag liners.
I keep my multi-fuel stove and fuel bottle in one of the panniers but on the outside of the liner. This protects the remaining contents of the pannier (my food and cooking equipment) from unexpected fuel leaks, although this has not happened to date.
The canvas is very tough, and has the advantage that if damaged can be patched up easily with a sewing kit. The same cannot be said for the waterproof, plastic-coated-type panniers, which if breached will take a lot more repairing to make them waterproof again. I have heard reports of one pair of these classic Super C panniers being used regularly for over 20 years.
In their current state, they certainly look well-used, as you would expect. After one crash, I found that the front corner of the reinforced base of one panner had come away. The aluminium runner that held the secure plastic rack clamps was also bent a little out of shape after the accident, but it doesn’t seem to have affected the use or stability of the pannier when attached to the rack. One of the two panniers received a small tear which seems to have been growing slowly ever since the incident. This is understandable as I have not managed to find time or motivation to patch it. However, in general, the panniers seem to have taken an awful lot of abuse without any major functional degradation.
The clamps work well to securely attach the panniers to the rack, and are easily removed for transportation. This is probably a good idea to prevent them being damaged, as they do protrude and could be easily damaged if knocked on something. On the back of each pannier, there is also a retainer which can be positioned to latch onto the rack’s tubing. I lost one of these retainers during a bus transit from Istanbul to Antakya, but despite this, the system has held firm.
We also tried the Crosso Dry waterproof panniers, whose hooking attachment system relies on elastic tension to prevent movement. This didn’t always work so well, despite it being much quicker and easier to mount and dismount the panniers, and bumpy tracks would often see the Crosso Dry panniers’ metal hooks slipping off the rack, and sometimes falling off the bike entirely — not ideal. The Carradice Super C’s mounting system is far more secure.
The panniers each have little pockets on the rear side, which are quite small and have loose-fitting lids that are fastened with a plastic pinch-clasp. With the lids open, however, they are just big enough to each accommodate two 1.5-litre water bottles, which is handy. If a few loose items are kept in the bag ends, though, they have a habit of jumping out on bumpy terrain, even with the lid done up and the strap of the lid fully shortened. It’s a minor flaw though — I just keep the contents of these bag ends in an additional plastic bag, or pack them full to prevent movement.
I have to admit that it is convenient to be able to keep a cleaning rag, some chain-lube, a pump, a multi-tool, knife and some snacks in these pockets in easy reach, but without cluttering up my bar bag (which I much prefer to use for easy access to one of the cameras, my diary, map, compass and music player). However, in Egypt I fell foul of my own complacency and had stolen my bike pump and multi-tool while having lunch one day. Needless to say, with Sudan a few days away I had to work hard to find a replacement pump, which was essential, and a subsequent puncture in the middle of the desert reinforced this sentiment! Since then I only keep water bottles in these pockets. I often find myself wishing that they were zipped, or at least fastened more securely.
The panniers are more than big enough for my needs so far, with a rated capacity of 54 litres per pair. The fact that they are made from canvas means that they collect mud and grime far more effectively than the smooth, wipe-clean surface of dry-bag-style panniers. This is great, as I think that the more ramshackle, dirty and travelled I look, the better!
In conclusion, these British-made canvas panniers are very tough, and will last you a very long time if you look after them. They would be ideal as a long-term investment if you plan to make many fair-weather tours over a number of years. They are also suitable for the long-haul, as long as you pair them up with waterproof liners for the wet weather that you’ll doubtless be cycling through at some point during your trip. You’ll then have the advantage of breathable panniers which are hard wearing, easy to repair, secure on the rack, roomy, and can be fully waterproofed. Carradice also make a complementary set of front panniers, if that’s your preferred set-up.
It’s a matter or personal taste and of the predicted weather conditions of your tour, but after two years in a variety of extreme conditions, I have no regrets about my choice.
Ride Earth Rating: 5/5
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