.....................Arkel has Updated their website..Take a look...!!!!

I  would like to thank the great people at Arkel for helping me out with an amazing set of Panniers for my trip.  I would like to especially thank Kevin since he was instrumental in getting the bags I needed and taking care of additional details as well.

When I first thought about how to carry my gear, I looked online and like most people found a lot of information on panniers.  One brand that is commonly used is Ortlieb.  So following the sheep, I purchased three sets of Ortlieb bags. hr Yes, "three" is not a typo.  I am taking a lot of gear and needed the room.  I was so excited when they arrived, but soon my excitement turned to dismay when I found out they are just large bags that have no pockets.  If I were to use these bags, I would need to organize all my stuff into other bags.  I really wanted pockets!  After the disappointment settled, I got back on line and looked up bicycle panniers again.  I found a great site called Pannier Review that breaks down most of the brands out there.  I had been on the site once before but had forgotten abotu my previous visit until I saw the Arkel bags.  I proceeded to read all the reviews on every pannier I could find and time after time  I came back to the Arkels.  I went to their home website and was pleasantly surprised to find panniers that are unrivaled in thought and quality.

        For my trip, I've chosen the TT-84 -5200cu -10.35lb (per set) for my rear set and the XM-45-2800cu 5.45lbs (per set) for the front, a total capacity of 8000cu.  I will also be using  a handlebar bag.  The following is a list of what I like about the Arkels and why I have chosen to trust my trip to them.  This is just a small amount of detail.  Please visit the Arkel website to get the full specs and features.

1.     The great people at Arkel made the whole process of getting my panniers a breeze.  They were very friendly and accommodating during all of my decision making.

2.     The sturdy construction of each bag is unparalleled.  Arkel Panniers are made of American Cordura, a super strong water resistant material.  Every stitch is where it should be.  As a side note, all the bags are as stated on their website, with their weights within an ounce or so of what they are described to be.

3.     The aluminium hook system that attaches the bags to the rack are easy to put on and take off and they feel absolutely solid when on the bike.  I believe Arkel is the only company on the market to use such a high quality system. 

4.     At first, I was not sold on rain covers.  My uncertainly about them is actually the reason why I originally bought the Ortliebs.  But, after looking at the quality of the rain cover and taking into consideration that an Arkel pannier will “breathe” while in the rain cover, I decided that this design was a great idea and would be a safer way to go in order to help prevent mildew.  (An Ortlieb is made of 100% water proof material and has no cover in its design, which may cause wet clothes to mildew if left inside the bags too long.) 

5.     Zippers were another product feature that I questioned, but have seen that my fear is unfounded since Arkel uses the finest largest zips on the market (YKK #10).  They also make the corners of the bags an easy pull around for the zip so there is no need to worry about not closing the bags completely or pulling too tightly and causing the zipper to bust.

6.     Bungee and hook-  Some may say that the use of a bungee style cord is passé, but I would have to disagree.  I was looking at another company’s bags just recently and noticed that on their webpage they were touting the 4 points of attachment for their bags.  They claim to be the most secure and of the best design.  The problem I see with the 4 hooks is that if, God forbid, you take a fall, the bag is so secure it won’t budge and will cause the clips to break.  This will not be a problem with my Arkels.  If I take a fall, the bungee will give and let the bag take a bit of the impact, hopefully saving the clips.  (And, with the clips being aluminum, it's doubtful that they would break anyway.)

7.     The straps, when un-clipped, won’t get caught in the wheels and cause a problem... especially if I forget to connect one!

 TT-84’s

The sheer size of these bags is impressive!  At 5200cu, they are the largest bags I think you can find.  Originally Arkel designed them for tandem use and with this in mind, all the compartments are doubled.  So, there are two places to store sleeping bags at the bottom each bag, as well as two sleeping pad tubes that attach to the back of each bag. With the pockets, I was able to find just the right size for all of my gear.  There is even a clever “smiley” pocket on the top of each bag to hold maps or frequently used items.  I am going to use them for storing an extra can of fuel.  They hold a 30 oz. MSR fuel can nicely.  The compression straps work well, though I would like to see them move the strap guide attachment point to the opposite side of the zipper.  I think they designed them this way so that the bag would not just flip open, but if you want to get to an item at the bottom of the bag and the compression strap is tight, it isn't easily done.  (This is just a minor annoyance.)  On the back of the bags is a reinforced area that will prevent a skewer or frame from rubbing into the bag, which is a great feature and well thought out detail.

    Inside the large main compartment you will find an aluminum brace that helps keep the bag's shape, a nice feature since it weighs little and does its job well.  It also folds up or can be removed completely for packing.  Also in this cavern of a main compartment is a waterproof bag to keep any potential water from coming into contact with your gear.  It also rolls up and out of the way.  The right side bag has two pockets on the outside.  One has a flap that covers a zippered pocket, with zips going all the way down on both sides so items can be added or removed with ease.  This is also a removable pocket.  So if you put in your shower stuff in it, you can just detach it and go.  I can see it'll be very useful, but I worry about it walking off.  The second and lower pocket has a nice wide reflective stripe and two zips that open half way around, making a pocket that is easy to get into.  (It is not detachable.)  The compression strap crosses over this bag so I will probably put items in it that I don’t need all the time. I really like the lower sleeping bag compartment.  It is large enough to hold my long 0 degree down bag and is water proof as well.  It has a roll-up front closure and a mini compression strap to keep it all in check.  Another great feature is the long sleeping pad tubes.  Like the sleeping bag compartments, they are found on each bag.  I am using one for my Therma-rest and the second for a blue foam pad that I cut in half. (Even though I will have a Therma-rest, I want to use an initial pad to protect the t-rest from puncture as well as add some insulation from the cold ground I will encounter.) A tube will hold a large pad as long as it is fully deflated.  It will not hold a long foam pad though, which is why I had to cut mine.


XM-45's

I chose the XM for the large volume (2800cu) and the slim tall profile.  I wanted a bag that would fit on my front rack and not cause me any overlap problems with my shoe or stick out too far.  I almost went with the TT-45’s but decided to draw the line.  These bags are essentially top-loading (as opposed to front loading like the TT-84 panniers).  They're made to open the hood and stuff all your things in the huge main compartment.  The bags even have an extension skirt that allows for increased carrying volume.  The main compartment has an internal zippered liner that keeps its content dry and is useful to keep separate any wet or dirty stuff from the gear I'll carry in the main compartment.

These bags also have the "smiley" zipper pockets at the top and at the back (front for me) of each bag.  Once again, they will be useful for carrying water or fuel.  Arkel has done a pretty good job of making the hood come down far enough to cover the main compartment, but in my opinion it could be a bit longer to cover better.  I also don’t think it needs the arch shaped outer edge in front.  It cuts down on the covering capability of the lid...  It's a good design that could be better.  What I would like to see is a small clip in the middle of this lid to tighten it to the main body when closed.  The main compartment has a zippered waterproof liner that will keep all of my gear 100% dry.  I like the cool storage behind liner as well.  I will use this to hold my maps and reading material.  It's another simple, yet great idea that makes an excellent product even better

Big Bar Bag

I have been using the 'Big bar bag" from Arkel and it is fantastic!!! This thing is huge and hold all my essentials for my training, I'll have to wait and see how it does for space when I am actually on the road.. The coolest feature and bar none the best part about it is the Strong alloy non slip attachments. I have loaded this thing down and it always stays in the same place mile after mile bump after bump, in a word 'Bomber'

            I am 99% happy with my choice of bags.  (The 1% is trivial stuff.)  Had the people at Arkel not been so nice, helpful, and willing to without reservation help me with my trip, I would not have chosen to use their bags.  I am a big believer in customer service and I take great pride in helping people get what they need when I am on the service-providing end.  I can tell that the folks at Arkel are passionate as well.  I highly recommend you give them a call if you want the best Panniers and gear for your next adventure.

   Arkel
   2520 rue Roy
   Sherbrooke, Québec
   Canada, J1K 1C1

   Email: info@arkel.ca

   Toll Free:  1-888-592-7535 
   Phone:  819-564-3434
   Toll Free Fax: 1-888-564-3017
   Fax: 819-564-3017