Upgrade for my touring packing set up

[sjlannoo]

Hello: I am looking to lighten and upgrade my touring packs and would love ideas about all the new ways folks pack for a trip.  Anywhere from bike overnight to week long trip is what I'm working towards.  I have a Bruce Gordon front rack and Bob Beckman front panniers that worked like a dream in the 80s- things have changed and gotten lighter!  What are your recommendations?  Thank you!

[John Nettles]

As a fellow user of Beckman packs, I understand what you mean.  I still strongly believe that Beckman's mounting system is by far the most secure method out there, even today.  I still have way too many Beckman packs.

That said, if you are looking for lighter and/or more volume, then the ever present Ortlieb (or knockoffs) are relatively lightweight. Plus, most of their packs are waterproof which is good and bad.  Most of Arkel's cloth packs are very heavy and if I had to choose, I would stick with Beckman. 

Enjoy your tours, John

[sjlannoo]

Thank you John; I have Arkel rear panniers that I'll use, so mainly looking for what folks find convenient for handlebar, frame or fork bags.  So many set ups out there, I guess maybe just start trying!?

[John Nettles]

Understand.  I still would stick with Ortlieb for front and handlebar bags if looking for lightweight.  Tailwinds, John

[sjlannoo]

Thanks so much, John.  Happy trails!

[dkoloko]

I have given up on handlebar bags (tried a number) or any of the other type bags you mention. I get everything into my panniers, either two or four, all the same bag. This for primarily road extended touring. I do carry tools, etc. in a medium size saddle bag; a bag that is always on my bike, touring or biking around town.

[sjlannoo]

Thank you for for your comments!  This is helpful as I go forward. 
Have you toured on other surfaces besides pavement with your set up?  I haven't; probably why I'm wondering if I need something that doesn't ride as low as my front panniers.

[John Nelson]

Ortlieb bags aren't exactly light. My two rear panniers plus my two front panniers plus my handlebar bag total almost 9 pounds. If you add in the racks required to hold those panniers, it's up to almost 12 pounds. That's a whole lot. Bikepackers who typically use no panniers at all save that weight. They use frame bags, saddle bags and backpacks instead.

[dkoloko]

My extended trips, up to 5000 miles, included rough sections. I tried bikepacking bags for my extended touring. They were not to my liking. Bike was top heavy, bags were cramped, limited, and not easy to get into. If you are going to be off road most of the time, that is a different story. The first change I would make if I anticipated more unpaved miles than I have experienced, would be larger tires. Changing bag setup would be a lesser consideration.

[sjlannoo]

Thanks for the input, all.  So kind of you to mull this over.  I did put 40cm tires on my Trek 520, taking off the fenders for clearance.  I love riding with larger tires, but they are heavier so there's that! 
Thanks again.

[davidbonn]

I did put 40cm tires on my Trek 520, taking off the fenders for clearance.  I love riding with larger tires, but they are heavier so there's that! 

I can only imagine how heavy 40cm tires would be.  I normally ride with relatively wide 47mm tires.

[sjlannoo]

HA!  I mean 40mm tires; silly me.
Thanks everyone!

[ray b]

When I broke down and started using front panniers, I started by moving the Eclipse cardura triangular front panniers from rear rack to front rack. (No - not trying to outdo the rest of you old folks with Beckman's beauties.)

Finally and recently invested in some lightweight, bomb-proof Revelate Designs mini-panniers that are perfect up front. Been using their frame bag (designed for my old Karate Monkey) for 12 y - but again, like the Beckman's, built to be bulletproof, not built for light weight.

Reminds me of Kent Butters, who worked the Paramount room at Schwinn in the day. He would race on lightweight, plastic Simplex derailleurs, but tour with a relatively heavy Campangolo Record that could be wrenched back into a useable shape after a fall. I approach my touring equipment the same way.

[driftlessregion]

Those Simplex derailleurs were so underappreciated but worked really well.

[sjlannoo]

I've been eyeing Revelate's front harness system and maybe a couple of those fork bags.. I'd like to combine some gravel/off road touring with pavement, so thinking maybe low riding panniers up front aren't the best?  Revelate seems to really have some awesome bags; have heard great things about their quality. 
Thanks for your comments!