Best soft panniers for dirt touring

[Pantah]

I like my Wolfman Expedition system, but like cug said, it can be very fiddly until you get your packing routine down so your volumes are the same. With hard bags you just cram stuff in. Not so with soft bags. There are straps everywhere to cinch. Mine was ready for the dumpster after day 2, but better the next. By day 6 we were on autopilot, packed and gone in a flash.

I have my second long term trip planned with Wolfman, now. I'll be lighter and more condensed. I'll also have a repeatable packing plan...

[243Win]

I've spoken to this before I believe.

I've got three of the setups, Wolfman Expedition, older Giant Loop Coyote and Dirt Bagz.

On my XT225, Giant Loop works great, waterproof? Oh HELL NO. But it is the ticket on a bike where you want to keep the load small. No problems with the coarse zipper and dirt. Mine is white so it is bright inside.

One my DR650, I've gone to the Wolfman set up after Dirt Bagz. The DB's are well made and the system is slick, but I found them to be too small and the fine zippers drove me nutz after they got dirty. I also didn't like the fact they were black, it made looking into them a black hole. Good gear, but not for me. Their smaller size may be less of an issue for me now that I've gotten more compact gear.

My Wolfman set up is yellow, again, making it easy to peer into and I top it off with a large, yellow Wolfman duffel. I wouldn't call the strapping system fiddly as so many do, I find it to be comprehensive and well thought out. Once adjusted for the load, I can simply pop a four buckles and the whole pannier set removes easily and I toss it over my shoulders like a paperboy's bag to carry to my campsite or hotel room. And obviously, these things are waterproof. Putting them back on the bike is a simple matter of tossing them over the seat, inserting the little tabs into their loops and connecting the buckles back up and it is rock solid.

No experience with the Kreiga stuff, but it looks good.

[August West]

Originally Posted by Mountain Motorrad

I have been riding with the Kriega Overlander 30 for that last month or 2 and it is brilliant. I have gone in all types of terrain and weather from down pour to hot and dusty and the bags never leaked. The Kriega system does not require any racks and will fit on any bike. The adjustments are great and the craftsmanship is superior, and at $299.99 with a 10 year guarantee how can you go wrong?

Cheers,
Todd

Anyone know if the Kriega Overlander would be a good match for a XCountry w/ Leo Vince exhaust?

[jon_l]

I can't help with security or with the rack / bag system, but re: waterproofing - Many years of canoe camping taught me to compartmentalize. I have never owned waterproof bike luggage, except the Givi top case on the road bike.

I use drybags inside saddlebags, 1 for sleeping bag and pad, and another for clothing.



Tents don't go in with either, but strap outside, on top, since they tend to be wet when packing up in early am, unless you can hang around camp long enough for dew, condensation to evaporate.

Nice thing about the drybags is that your stuff is not only clean and dry, but organized. Set up your tent (which is on top) 1st, then toss in your bedroll, then last grab your clothes. Reverse when breaking camp.

I use Thermarest pads, and the secret for me is to fold it in half length-wise, then roll the pad, put it in the stuff sack, let it unroll to an open cylinder against the walls of drybag, leaving the center open for my sleeping bag. Like a corn-dog.