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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: MARCH 24th
HOW DO WE REACH THE OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
Brae Cycling Yonder Pannier
1020g 25 litre £60 (each) (Discount £49.90 at time of writing)
Brae Cycling’s Yonder Pannier is a generously sized - and priced roll-top waterproof pannier that aims to “get you over the horizon” whether touring or shopping. Colour coordinating cyclists may baulk at only having two colours to choose from, but it is hard to argue against the Yonder being well thought out, well-made, and very reasonably priced. A second one, to complete the set will be on my wish list for my birthday – bet I get socks again!
Pros: large capacity, payload, waterproof, price.
Cons: limited range of colours compared to some manufacturers.
Specification 4.25/5
Available in red or black, the Yonder is made out of hard wearing and waterproof 600D TPU, promising both dry kit and long life. Seams are welded, as you’d expect for this spec, but that ensures waterproofing all-round.
With a capacity of 25 litres per pannier – 50 for the pair – they outdo many competitors for size (true, the massive Ortlieb Back Roller XL go to 70 litres a pair, but that’s exceptional and caters really for bulky but relatively light items). Payload for the Yonder is 1Okg per bag, again very much at the top end of things (check your rack max load if carrying the proverbial kitchen sink) and, indeed, outdoes the aforementioned Back Roller XL.
Available in red or black, the Yonder is made out of hard wearing and waterproof 600D TPU, promising both dry kit and long life. Seams are welded, as you’d expect for this spec, but that ensures waterproofing all-round.
With a capacity of 25 litres per pannier – 50 for the pair – they outdo many competitors for size (true, the massive Ortlieb Back Roller XL go to 70 litres a pair, but that’s exceptional and caters really for bulky but relatively light items). Payload for the Yonder is 1Okg per bag, again very much at the top end of things (check your rack max load if carrying the proverbial kitchen sink) and, indeed, outdoes the aforementioned Back Roller XL.
There is a nice sturdy hem at the top of each bag. Security is provided courtesy of a roll and buckles at each end. Webbing straps make for extensive adjustment. Equally, the additional capacity gives the opportunity just to leave the pannier open, which I have done when carting flowers or such delicate items.
Unlike, for example, my venerable Ortleib panniers the carrying handle is separate from that used to release the hinged hooks. I quite like this arrangement, but that is probably just personal preference than any special advantage.
Reflective patches to front and rear are always welcome.
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Mounting adjustments are described below.
Contexts
I have used this on the Oxford HD Alloy Disc Rack, a chunky Tubus touring rack, and various Tortec racks. It has fitted all very well. Likewise on the Oxford HD Alloy Luggage Rack. Commuting – carrying lunch, laptop, and office gear – shopping, and a short fully-loaded short tour. As ever, rides have been mixed surface, from horribly pot-holed country lanes to relatively smooth gravel tracks and, wait for it, smooth new asphalt.
Mounting and fitting 4/5
As ever, it is worth spending some time adjusting the various securing points to ensure a secure fit and avoid contact between foot and pannier when pedalling. Despite its size, the Brae Cycling Yonder does not seem to cause in issues more than any other pannier. As usual the top hooks can be adjusted, as can the bar that secures the pannier lower down one of the stays. On the Yonder the latter is done with a dial. The bar itself is slimmer than some and curves so it clips around the stay. Initially, I wondered if this would prove as sturdy as the thicker bars on some other panniers. Although only a few months in, it has held everything securely and I have noticed no alarming movement. It seems my suspicions were unfounded – and I am very much a belt and braces tourist.
In fact, when removing or mounting the panniers that extra bit of flex has proved most convenient, except on the chunky Tubus rear rack on my faithful Swallow traditional drop-bar tourer. Mind you, with the central stay recessed a little, this causes a bit of a faff (at which I have a degree of expertise) when mounting any pannier (it does, however, have the benefit of being rock solid). I have overcome this by adjusting the bar to sit around the rear of the three stays. However, that made porting between bikes much less convenient, so I just faff away to my heart’s content.
The hinged top hooks clip around the rail, so no need for inserts for tubes or rods of various diameters. A definite plus, but one not always to be found even at this price point.
Care and durability 3.5/5
Panniers will get dirty. That is as sure as death and taxes. Keeping them clean is easy. A scrub with a sudsy bucket wash has done the job. Similarly, a blast of bike cleaner (Pure Bike Cleaner in this case), a scrub with a brush and a wash down with clean water has done the trick. I’ve used a dab of degreaser to remove splatter flung by the rear mech, chain, and cassette.
I’d tend to give fabrics like the 600D TPU a more regular clean than I might the tarpaulin used in models such as the UPSO Potters Pannier. Leave it too long and dirt starts to become ingrained or requires more elbow grease to get things ship-shape.
Natural caution suggests avoiding allowing sharp objects to press against the fabric when packing. However, scrapes against brickwork or undergrowth are inevitable. Try to avoid them, but the scrapes that come with commuting on narrow towpath have not left any evidence, so far.
Unlike some panniers, the Yonder does not have a reinforced foot or an external plate to add rigidity against the rack stays. It is reinforced internally in the latter. Although some heavy-weight tourers appreciate such strengthening, I have found the a mixed blessing, often, in my experience, being the first elements to fail. I any case, the Brae Yonder has remained rigid and unharmed.
Performance 4/5
Clinging tightly to the various racks, the brae Yonder gives me complete faith in the security in transit. They have proved easy to remove at the destination and the carrying handle is more than adequate to lift a load of shopping whilst being comfortable enough to hold (although not as broad as the same feature on my Altura panniers (not that this would be a deal-breaker).
That little bit of extra capacity over most panniers, the Yonder will just give you that little bit more when touring. For example, partly due to a slow transition from my nineteen-eighties amping gear to modern extra light-weight stuff, what once took two panniers now takes one (well, it has taken some rearrangement of my old packing practices, too). In any case, that bit of additional space would have allowed for the purchase of larger gifts for the Mrs. Steve (always handy with future trips in mind). So, it can swallow tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tent footprint, plus a few extras, thus keeping just about all camping gear in one place. The Yonder has done an equally good job when employed for mundane utility and commuting trips.
Reassuringly, even when fully loaded, I have felt no disconcerting sway or minor movements. Likewise, despite the additional capacity, I’ve had no problems with clearance for my size 9.5 (UK) feet. Having said that, there’s plenty of adjustment to alow for those with bigger feet.
Properly fastened, heavy rain and spray from the garden hose have failed to gain entry. I make that qualification because unlike models with a central fastening strap – and, maybe, because of the additional fabric that gives that extra capacity – you need to tighten the side straps when carrying smaller loads or the ‘roll’ is inclined to ‘unroll’ itself. This isn’t a much fa problem.
Value 4.25/5
Bigger than Ortlieb Back Rollers, unless you go for the Back Roller XL (much more expensive and with a payload of 9kg per bag for their 35 litre capacity bag, heavier, too), the Brae Yonder is much cheaper than tis staple of the touring community. Now, the fabric on hte Yonder does not feel as supple or sturdy as the Ortleib Back Roller, but I am not in a position to say if this makes it less durable. I’ve neve worn out a set of Ortlieb’s; and after several weeks of constant use, the Yonder shows no sign of distress.
I like that Topeak Pannier DryBag DX – which can act very much as a dry bag (with proper care) as well as a pannier. However, it is more expensive, fussier to out, although its height to breadth ration may well appeal to folk with bigger feet and smaller clearances.
The laptop sleeve and internal organisation may appeal to commuters in particular – even to tourists who lie to stay connected. If not, I really liked the UPSO Potters Pannier. Made from recycles lorry tarpaulin, they are full of character. Not technically waterproof (you cannot weld tarpaulin) mine were very well designed and stitched and never let me down in rain or shine.
I notice, that at the time of writing, buying two online from Brae is proportionately cheaper than buying singly.
Summary
Large capacity, solidly made, easy to maintain, simple to adjust and lift off and on. Top all that with a good price and you have a pannier for all occasions that won’t empty your pocket of the necessary to go on another trip.
