BTR Deluxe Rack Pannier Bike Bag With Shoulder Strap

BTR's Deluxe Rack Pannier Bike Bag with Shoulder Strap is ridiculously easy to put on and take off. There is plenty of space inside, which is all easily accessible, and the shoulder strap makes it easy to carry around off the bike. The best bit? It costs less than £25.

• Pros: Easy to put on and take off, price, easy access to kit, handy shoulder strap for off-the-bike use
• Cons: Shame it's not fully waterproof

BTR has put aside fancy mounting brackets and clips: four sturdy, adjustable Velcro straps wrap around the rack to secure the bag. It's hassle-free and idiot-proof to attach and remove. Even when loaded to capacity (around 10 litres) it sits firmly in place when riding. It tolerates a bit of (tame) rough stuff too.

> Buy this online here

While trunk bags might be seen as rather old-school, there's no denying that BTR has something that plenty of hardened commuters, audax-riders and day-trippers will rave about.

I have had the bag mounted on an Axiom Journey rack for the majority of testing, though its universal mounting system really does mean it can go on any rack. I did a couple of rides with it on a Blackburn MTN rack and it was just as secure on this.

Two straps thread around the front end of the rack. Two wider ones thread under the rack, through a buckle and then back onto themselves. All of the straps are plenty long enough to accommodate a variety of rack widths. The Velcro never once came loose or needed re-securing.

The bag spent most of its time on my commuting bike. I did take it on a few gravel tracks to see if it would be displaced by some rough stuff (other than potholes), and it sat securely in place. It's good to know that it can tolerate more than just asphalt. I wouldn't advise touring with it: mounting it alongside panniers is possible but a faff, especially as you are likely to want to remove some of the baggage on a daily basis.

The two-way zips extend right round the two longer sides of the bag to let the 'lid' flip fully open. This makes packing and unpacking it seriously easy, especially while it's mounted. You can see everything in it and make use of the two small interior pockets to stash small, 'go-to' essentials: wallet, keys, phone... Since it's not fully waterproof I usually had my kit in a plastic bag or stuff sack.

Two straps come over the top of the bag for extra security. They're not sufficient on their own to stash extra gear under, as the straps are so smooth they slide back on themselves when you apply any serious tension.

The base offers a little bit of padding (from the integrated shoulder strap) but elsewhere it's minimal. It does hold its shape exceptionally well, though there is some 'give' in the bag. I regularly stuffed it to the extreme with a towel and clothing, and although this appeared to put some stress through the zips, the bag is not showing any weak spots.

There is even more storage space on the exterior. A Velcro pocket comfortably fits (slim) gloves, a smartphone and a wallet, but be aware that it is not sealed so rain will get in there eventually. It's also very easy to open; I avoided putting anything too valuable in there.

There is an effective bungee cord for securing excess kit too – perfect for a waterproof or an extra drinks bottle (if you pull it tight enough). The cord has a lot of give, but although it is still functioning well after a month's use, I would have reservations about its durability if used frequently.

> Beginner's guide to carrying stuff on your bike

The bag is pretty easy to take off. Although it doesn't match Ortlieb's Rack Lock Adapter system in terms of a swift removal, it's not going to take you more than a minute. Once it's off you can unzip the base section to release the adjustable shoulder strap. The strap can be clipped into the left or right side of the bag, so a diagonally orientated strap that will allow the bag to rest over the left or right shoulder. While it's really comfortable on the shoulder, the underside of the bag sits against your back – worth bearing in mind if you've been riding without a mudguard.

For only £23.99 you can't really expect a high-tech, all-singing, all-dancing bit of kit, but BTR has done a fantastic job of delivering everything except the waterproofing, though it will tolerate a bit of drizzle well. With the support of a mudguard it'll do a decent job of protecting your kit on a damp day (not that in the exterior pocket). However, take away a mudguard, ride in persistent, heavy rain and it'll begin to penetrate. This is not an issue if you put your kit in a waterproof liner or plastic bag before placing it in the bag... simple. Personally, I would do this anyway so it's not a hassle or drawback of using the bag. BTR does sell a waterproof cover if this is a priority for you. I haven't tested this.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best bikepacking bags

The BTR bag has a lower profile than the Ortlieb Trunk RC bag, so a rear light mounted at the very top of my seatpost was visible. This won't be the case for everyone, especially if you have a saddle bag mounted, but there is a wide slot to clip a light to the rear of the bag. I also clipped a second light onto the carry strap, just under the intended light slot. There is a reflective band at the rear, too; although it's quite effective, I have definitely seen better.

As for value, the bag is far from overpriced. We tested a similar one some time ago from Lotus, which can be extended to a capacity of 8.7l and weighs 780g, both stats falling short of BTR's. Racktime has something fairly similar with the Talis Bag, which uses its own unique clip system, and costs £40. Halfords also has something quite similar for only £25, but its listed capacity is 4 litres less than BTR's, and it doesn't look as sturdy. If waterproofing is a priority you are going to have to fork out a fair bit more: an Ortlieb Trunk Bag RC will set you back £95; you aren't saving weight here either – it's over 400g heavier than BTR's.

> Buyer's Guide: Racks and panniers – all your bike luggage possibilities

In short, BTR's Deluxe Rack Pannier Bike Bag stands out as excellent value for money for anyone looking to create a bit of storage space on their bike without having to mess around with niche brackets. It's as easy to remove as it is to mount, and the integrated shoulder strap sets it apart from many others out there.

Verdict

Excellent value 'old-school' storage space for any commuter or day-tripper, well designed for use on and off the bike