ANATOLY IVANOV / PROSE / 2008-10-24

OUTDOOR 2008: PACIFIC OUTDOOR LTW FRONT FENDER PANNIERS PREVIEW

by Anatoly IVANOV

CYCLING / TRANSPORTATION / PREVIEWS

Pacific Outdoor Equipment. The alternative sleeping pads’ makers from Montana, USA. The waterproof bag specialist. What kind of gear would I have expected to see at their booth during the Outdoor 2008 show in Friedrichshafen?

Not the company’s vice president’s Surly bike loaded with touring panniers! Riding off across Europe right after the show.

Ultegra components aside, the bike was showing off Pacific Outdoor’s new line of bike-specific bags and panniers. The waterproof LTW Front Fender pannier may be the lightest available.

 

Photo: Pacific Outdoor LTW Front Fender / Used with permission from PO / Author unknown

WHAT’S NEW AND INTERESTING?

A pair of front rack-mounting bike panniers from Pacific Outdoor, the company with a long history of waterproof products for the backpacking and water sports enthusiast.

 

Photo: Pacific Outdoor LTW Front Fender / Used with permission from PO / Author unknown

 

Photo: Pacific Outdoor LTW Front Fender / Used with permission from PO / Author unknown

 

Photo: Pacific Outdoor LTW Front Fender / Used with permission from PO / Author unknown

 

Photo: Pacific Outdoor LTW Front Fender / Used with permission from PO / Author unknown

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

AVAILABILITY

Should be available in spring 2009.

MY QUESTIONS AND DOUBTS

I’ll have to use the bags to see how well they function. Shifting? Packing? Ergonomics? Water resistance?

I have few doubts about durability. I wouldn’t mountain bike with these… or, hopefully, slide on asphalt too often.

ALTERNATIVES

The following companies provide a wide range of bike panniers. But, to my knowledge, none of them makes a lightweight waterproof bag.

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