My old bicycle panniers, cheap and cheerful, had run their course. They had managed some fantastic trips and been dragged through rivers, but it was time to get a new set. This time waterproof.

Checking the net showed up some good brands, including the gorgeous Ortlib, but in the end I opted for some Carradice Carradry rear panniers via Evans cycles.

First impressions then. Very well built, they use a PVC nylon material which is quite stiff but looks very waterproof with welded seams. Perhaps being new or because of the material they tend to want to have their own squarish shape. It does make it a little harder to drop a carrier bag of shopping into them. There are external zipped pockets which are not terribly usable being stiff - its hard to get the zip around, so I’ll pack them with stuff I’d rarely use such as tools and spares. The attachment to the rack is very secure, no movement or fear of coming loose at all. In fact its a bit of a fiddle to get them on or off. So while they’ve not yet had a tour in the rain they seem good stuff. But why only in grey? Fluorescent yellow would be much better.