Best rear panniers for a size 13 shoe

[txblur]

Hi all,

This is both my first post and soon to be my first tour. I have been researching various rear panniers online and have noticed that some of them are so large that the riders' feet hit the panniers. I am going on an unsupported 900 mile tour through Montana, so I need the panniers to be large enough to hold everything. The LBS' around here are limited in selection, thus forcing me to purchase them online so I am unable to test them. I wear a size 13 cycling shoe. Which panniers have a large amount of storage yet still provide an adequate amount of clearance?
- Oh, and my bike is a Surly LHT
Thank you for any help

[tonythomson]

HI TX
you have my sympathy as a shoe size 14 rider.  I have yet to adequately solve the problem of your feet hitting the rear pannier.  What I do is make sure that the panniers have a securing system that allows plenty of adjustment on the rear rack.  The pannier is then set as far back as possible and that way I can get just about manage although I would prefer to have them sit more centrally on the rack, but haven't had any problems as yet and have done  a few 3000 mile trips.

Plan next year to have a bike hand built to get over this problem.

Good luck
Tony

[Tourista829]

Txblur, contact "The Bike Bag Shop," in Flagstaff, Arizona 800 717-2596. They will be able to help you and their prices are very sharp. We purchased Ortlieb Bags from them and they work great. There is an Arkel Mtn Bag, I believe the GT45 which is tall but narrow that might work. I am not sure they are as waterproof as the Ortliebs, but can hold more. (If not they may supply a rain cover) Also measure your chainstays. With a big feet you may need 460mm of length. Good luck.

[staehpj1]

As has been said a lot of this is how and where they are mounted on the rack.  You don't necessarily need especially large panniers, maybe consider using smallish ones.  Are you planning to use front and rear panniers?  If so I find that I can get by fine with smallish panniers regardless of trip length.  On the Trans America the rear panniers I used were actually supposed to be front panniers and I had way more than enough space.

Remember that you can always carry lighter, but bulky items like sleeping bag or sleeping pad on the top of the rear rack if you need to.  Also I always carry the tent there, since I see no point in putting a damp tent in a pannier with dry stuff.  I roll the tent with the waterproof bottom on the outside and it doesn't seem to get any wetter inside sitting on the rear rack even in an all day rain.

[txblur]

Awesome, thank you all very much. I think I am going to go with front ortliebs and just place them on the rear.

Staehp- Thanks for the advice with the bulky items, that will save a lot of room. I will be using both front and rear on the trip so I will just pack light. I only need the essentials so I'm not incredibly concerned about space anymore.

Tourista- thanks for the reco, I am going to order my bags through them

Tony- I suppose we can't let the big feet get in the way of a passion, eh? Just a little unfortunate. I will just push the panniers as far back as possible, and hope for the best

Thanks all, ride safe
Andrew

[dombrosk]

The rack may also make a difference for you.  I had troubles nudging my rear pannier until I switched to a Jannd Expedition Rack, it lets me slide the panniers much further back.

[tanslacks]

For what it's worth... I ride a 60" Surly LHT with the Surly rear rack. I use Lone Peak 500 rear panniers and have a size 13 foot. With the Panniers set to the rear of the rack, I do not even come close to striking the bags.

[txblur]

Yea I just ended up going with the Ortlieb back-packer plus set. Low and behold, I have plenty of clearance...

Thanks everyone