Banjo Brothers

I previously purchased the Banjo Brothers "Large Commuter Backpack" so I was familiar with the brand and quality already. I was really seeking a convertible backpack/pannier that was comfortable as both. This bag happily exceeds my needs in almost every area. The designer clearly thought through everything.I feel info on this bag is limited so I want to fill in some blanks:+ The top flap does not cover the bag opening when in "pannier" mode. Instead, it covers the backpack straps. I'd be more confident of the waterproofness with an extra layer over that opening.+ There is one "carry handle" on the pannier side.+ There is one tall waterbottle pocket. The other side has a zippered pocket that is also quite tall. I keep a normal sized (not Nalgene) bottle in one and my glasses case in the other.+ In pannier mode, the backpack straps are folded on themselves and held up with horizontal loops located on the straps. I'm not fond of this arrangement and instead use the sternum strap clips to pull the straps up.+ The bottom of the pannier is secured with a closed triangle hook. The bag comes with two small metal hooks to add an anchor point to racks that don't have a peg or similar protrusion.

The pannier is well-made, using heavy, non-waterproof fabric. You can tell Banjo Bros. Wanted it to last. Waterproof plastic liner is also heavy, so combined weight is more than I expected. If durable fabric is your priority, it’s a winner. The backpack straps aren’t really protected from rain and splashes. The top flap flips over them, but the flap leaves them open on the other three sides, so you might have to clean the straps after a muddy commute. The flap pocket is small, and with two layers of heavy fabric and double zippers, it adds to the weight, while adding little capacity. Pannier seems to hold securely to the rack if the bungee is stretched tight, but there is no locking clamp on the rail, just two open hooks. The bungee for the bottom triangle loop neither flexes nor adjusts easily, so switching it to a bike that has a different rack is far more of a pain than on many panniers. This is a surprisingly bag design that should be changed to be more adjustable. In our case, we have to untie and retire the bungee at different lengths to switch bikes. The shape is narrower at the bottom and helps with heel strike for the Yeti cyclists out there (couldn’t resist a Bigfoot joke). Would love to see the Bros. make something like a good Deuter light weight pack that fit inside a basic single layer waterproof pannier with a back that folded in half and could be rinsed off and strapped to the outside of the backpack if you couldn’t leave it on the bike. That way for commuting or shopping, you could use the backpack without messing up office clothes.

I own other Banjo Brothers products so I was familiar with the brand. The other backpack panniers had questionable reviews, or costs twice as much. As I wasn't sure if this would meet my needs, I didn't want to spend $150 or more for this pannier. Especially as I already have several panniers, a set of saddlebags, and a trunk bag. I was just looking for something that could be carried on the bike versus my body when riding, and was easy to transport off the bike. I love the saddlebags, but fully loaded they are a bear to carry when I have to walk from the bike parking area to my office.Pros:After looking at several different options, this seemed to have the easiest conversion system from pannier to backpack; this has been true in my experience. Like all Banjo Brothers products then material used to make the bags appears to be durable, and the bags are well put together. They have nice reflective piping. After some adjustments to what I carry, I find that this pannier holds what I need it too, but it is essentially one big pocket that is waterproof, so I use packing cubes to keep things organized. There is a quick access pocket where I keep my keys for the bike locks and a garage door opener.Neutral:The bags have a waterproof liner. They are attempting to use a roll top system like a kayaking dry bag, but haven't provided enough material when the bags are loaded for 2 full "rolls" of the material for me to feel secure that my laptop won't get wet. I have a waterproof cover for my panniers that I use when bike commuting for an extra layer of protection.Cons:The attachment hooks are fairly standard across all Banjo Brothers products. They are simple hooks that attach to the rack. They have nothing to secure the hook to the rack (some other brands use clips) so I typically add a bungee for extra security. The bottom attachment point is a bungee with a piece of metal to attach to the rack. My racks have never supported this attachment system, so I end up using a carabiner to secure the bottom of the bag to the rack. These two minor adjustments tend to keep the bags on the rack and make them workable for my needs.

Im so happy I came across this bag. I originally had bought a Rhino Pannier for my bike but had really wanted something versatile for me to be able to take my bag with me without slinging it over my shoulder as suggested with the rhino bag. (I'm 5ft and yellow Rhino bag would hit my knees as I walked around with it as a sling). After much searching I found this backpack that didn't require me to buy a separate attachment to put the bag on my back! I love the compartments! The bag is boxy, but it needs to be to keep its shape on the carrier.