Kit Focus — Restrap Bicycle Touring Panniers

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Over the course of numerous long distance bike tours, I have refined and modified my luggage selection. My solution for road and gravel tours is a handlebar bag, frame bag, and two small rear panniers. The release of the new Restrap Small Panniers means this complete collection could now come from the Yorkshire brand; and that is exciting…

Restrap have a genuine passion for the products they create for bikepacking and bicycle touring. Their products are made by hand in their Yorkshire factory, and finished with innovative touches like their magnetic buckles and super strong webbing straps. Their handlebar bag and/or frame bag have come with me on all of my long distance tours to date; including the #CoastsandCols, #7Countries7Passes, and the #RoadsFromRome. These new Restrap panniers are highly likely to come on this year's big tour… (more details of that coming soon).

The Restrap panniers use a classic roll-top design, secured with Restrap's patented magnetic clips. Made from 100 percent waterproof materials, the design means they achieve the highest waterproof rating, and the contents remains safe and dry within.

The small sized panniers mount to the front or rear rack using a simple but effective hook system, which makes fitting and removal easy and quick. Both the bags and the fitting panel have proven to be durable and robust in construction—they are standing up well to repeat testing (just using heavy shopping bags on Isle of Wight gravel cycle paths, for now).

The brief behind the pannier bags' design was for them to be minimal in weight; to make them ideal for lightweight bike touring. As such, they do not feature an enormous number of added extras or 'bells and whistles'; you get reflective detailing for enhanced visibility, and there is the option to purchase internal retro-fit pockets and pouches for laptops and valuables. The lack of internal pocketing might be seen as a small disadvantage, but with a Small sized pannier bag offering 13 litres of storage at 710 grams, the lightweight benefits are the obvious up-side.

Restrap make undeniably great bike bags, and these new panniers are a continuation on the theme. I know that the Restrap team tested and developed these bags to the nth degree; and that also shows through in the design and durability that the panniers have demonstrated in the last few months of testing.

Whether you opt for the Small 13 litre Restrap Pannier option, or the larger 17 litre size; these bags will certainly go the distance.

View the Restrap Small Panniers at Restrap.co.uk here







Restrap bags provided The Expedition Journals with the Small Restrap Panniers for testing

Comments

  1. Unknown30 July 2020 at 11:27

    If you buy this pannier bags, do they come in pair or do you have to buy two of them?

    ReplyDelete

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