Single pannier bags

The single pannier bag, a removable bike bag for the luggage rack

A single pannier bag is a super practical, removable and convenient bike bag to put on one side of your luggage rack. This type of bike bag consists of one main compartment and, depending on the design, often has many additional compartments, pockets and other features, like a front compartment, an inner organizing compartment or extra handles. 

You can easily remove this bag from your bicycle and wear it as a shoulder bag, without it being too obvious that you’re carrying a bike bag. Single pannier bags are also known as pack bags or removable panniers and are considered the most popular type of individual bike bag. They’re available in various sizes, colors and prints, and made with various materials.

And they’re not just convenient for grocery shopping and heavy cargo bike trips, they’re also great for the office and longer bike treks! Below, we’ll tell you more about the pros and cons of single pannier bags and the different types of individual pannier bags.
 

Why buy a single pannier bag?

Great question. You can fit much more into a double pannier than in a single pannier bag, and that’s a pretty important distinction. Yet single panniers are incredibly popular, thanks to their practicality and versatility. We’ve listed some of the differences (and similarities) between single and double panniers to help you choose the bike bag that is right for you.
 

Do you want a removable bike bag?

Single pannier bags are also known as pack bags: they are easy to remove and just as easy to install on your bicycle any time you want. One downside to this is that you’ll have to reinstall the single pannier bag repeatedly, causing wear to the mounting system, and at some point, you will have to replace it.

Double panniers don’t have this problem - however, they cannot double as a shopper, office bag or school bag. If double panniers are the right choice for your situation, you will also need a separate bag (like an insert bag) to carry your things around in.
 

Want extra compartments?

Single pannier bags often feature extra ways to help organize your things. You will often find they have one or several (zip) compartments and pen pockets, or an extra compartment on the outside for your wallet and/or public transport card.
Double panniers usually only have the two main compartments.
 

Waterproof panniers: pros and cons

Waterproof panniers are available in both the single and double variant, thought can have widely different pricing depending on the materials they’re made of. For panniers made of more expensive material, a single pannier bag would be the more affordable choice. Also, certain materials tend to be heavier and will add more weight to the bicycle. Therefore, if you’re unlikely to take many things with you, you’ll be better off with a single pannier bag. 
 

Types of single pannier bags

There is more than one type of single pannier bag. Its most popular variations include the removable pannier, messenger bag or office bag, and touring bike bags.
 

Removable panniers

Removable panniers are sometimes referred to as shopper bags. These usually have one main compartment and are perfect for grocery runs. They’re easy to install on one side of the luggage rack and just as easy to lift off once you’ve reached your destination. With the included shoulder strap, you can turn this bike bag into a regular shoulder bag. Easy!
 

Office bag or messenger bag

These bike bags are designed with commuters and students in mind, often featuring a special, padded compartment for your laptop, tablet or mobile phone so you can be sure that your electronics are well protected at all times. 

Office bags and messenger bags usually have extra pockets and compartments for smaller items, like office supplies, keys and your wallet. And of course, there’s plenty of room for your lunch box and thermos.
 

Single pannier bags for trekking

If you’re considering getting a single pannier bag for an extended bike trip, be aware that your bag should meet certain requirements that you won’t find in the average bike bag. When going on a longer bike trip, the best bike bag you can bring is a bike bag designed for the journey.

Ideally, your bag is lightweight, durable and water-repellent (not just waterproof), so your things will always be protected and dry. They have plenty of compartments to put away your things in an organized manner, where they’ll be easy to find. You may be unpacking and repacking your things multiple times over the course of your trip. In this case, a pannier made of robust materials is less likely to suffer a lot of wear.
 

A water-repellent single pannier is perfect for trekking

A water-repellent single pannier bag is the perfect accessory for extended bike trips, especially when you’re carrying electronics, Water-repellent panniers are available as handlebar bags, saddle bags, frame bags, backpacks and luggage bags.

Use our filter menu to make a decision based on your personal preferences, and to select specific brands, like Ortlieb (the best manufacturer of water-repellent bike bags for bike trips) or Thule, another brand that has perfected the water-repellent pannier with the use of welded seams and roll closures, among other things. With a roll closure, neither water nor dust will stand a chance of getting through. 

Other brands that create solid, water-repellent pannier bags include AGU, Willex and Basil.
 
Since water-repellent single pannier bags are available in different volumes - from less than 1 liter to over 30 liters, and everything in between - there are plenty of bags to choose from, whether you’re taking the absolute minimum of luggage with you or bringing all your gear. 
 

What are the best single pannier bags?

The best single pannier bags are robust, water-repellent and equipped with a mounting system like the MIK system. With a system like MIK, you’ll have a permanent adapter on your luggage rack to let you safely and easily remove or reinstall your pannier bag. 

Removable pannier bags are mounted on one side of the luggage rack, removable and convenient for transporting various things. Keep in mind that the single pannier bag’s weight is situated on one side of the bicycle, and the added weight might influence your steering, as well as getting on and off the bicycle.
Single pannier bags that our customers love, include: 

•    The New Looxs Odense - a stylish backpack (18L) and bike bag with a laptop compartment 
•    The Urban Proof Shopper - a very nice, user-friendly shopper (20L) made of recycled PET (RPET)
•    The Basil City Shopper - the perfect bike shopper for city life (14-16L)
•    The Ortlieb Back Roller Urban - a multi-functional rack pack (20L), perfect for casual and business purposes
•    The Willex 1200 XL - the perfect pannier for a bike trip (25L), made of waterproof and water-repelling polyester

Single pannier bags are often used to transport office supplies, laptops, school things and so on, and they’re available in many shapes and sizes, Some double as a shoulder bag that you can install on your luggage rack. 

These bags often feature a handle for easy carrying when you’re at work or at school. Some single pannier bags are also referred to as shopper bags and are usually somewhat wider and less rigid in shape. This is why they’re often used for grocery shopping or a day of clothes shopping. 

When selecting your perfect single pannier bag, your personal tastes matter, as well as the material of the bag and whether it is waterproof or water-repellent. 

With waterproof pannier bags, the contents of your bag are protected in some light rain, while water-repellent pannier bags will also keep your bag’s contents safe during rougher weather. Brands renowned for their water-repellent single pannier bags are Ortlieb and Thule. 

The appearance and finish of the pannier bags naturally play a large role as well. That’s why Hollandbikeshop.com offers a wide choice in single pannier bags of all kinds, such as:

•    The Beck Sporty, a sturdy, sporty bag finished in solid black with reflective details.
•    The colorful New Looxs Lilly, a pannier that really brightens up your bike.
•    Elegant pannier bags with leather accents, like the Racktime MIA.
 

What size single pannier bag do you need?

When determining what size pannier bag you need, consider how you’ll be using it. Pack bags with a capacity of up to 20 liters are suitable for transporting smaller items. The Beck Micro is a great example of a smaller, single pannier bag with a 5-liter capacity. 

Single pannier bags with a capacity of 20 to 30 liters are the most common size, suitable for transporting a laptop, books, food and drinks, school things and office supplies. People often use bags this size as a shoulder bag or shopper, like the Willex 1200 XL. 

Single pannier bags with a 40 to 50 liter capacity are often used for bike rides that require more gear, including an extra set of clothes, as well as for grocery runs, like the Ortlieb Packer Plus. 
Single pannier bags with a capacity of over 50 liters, like the Ortlieb Back Roller Pro Classic, are perfect for transporting luggage on a bike holiday. You’ll find the single pannier you’re looking for at Hollandbikeshop.com. 
 

How do you install single pannier bags? 

Single pannier bags often feature hooks or a mounting system like the MIK clicking system (Mounting Is Key). Thanks to the MIK system, you can install your single pannier on the bicycle quickly, and remove it just as fast when continuing your journey on foot. 

If more than one person in your household has a MIK adapter on their luggage rack, you can easily mount your pannier bags on any of their bicycles as well. Quite convenient when your partner is going grocery shopping and wants to use your single pannier bag! 

We’re often asked if this type of bag can be used in combination with a children’s bike seat. While this is often difficult, it’s not impossible if you’re using an adapter like the Steco Pakaf-Mee (Dutch for “Take Away”). The Pakaf-Mee can be installed on either side of the luggage rack. 

The adapter puts the bag slightly further away from the bicycle, allowing the bag to protrude a little and creating enough space for both the pannier bag and the bike seat. 
 

Buy your single pannier bags at Hollandbikeshop.com

In the wide range at Hollandbikeshop.com, you’ll find single pannier bags/pack bags in various shapes and sizes, for women’s and men’s bikes, for e-bikes, and in many different colors, with and without patterned prints. We offer panniers by top brands like AGU, Basil, Beck, FastRider and Racktime.