Ibera Bicycle Bag PakRak Clip-On Quick-Release All Weather Bike Panniers (Pair), Includes Rain Cover , Black

This review will be for 3 items that were purchased to work together, and I will post it as a review for each individual item. Photos show the bags all the way opened and all the way closed in all configurations.Ibera IB-RA5 Touring Carrier + for disc brakesIbera IB-BA14 Expandable Commuter Trunk BagIbera IB-BA9 PanniersMy husband and I bike a lot, and we camp for many weeks during the summer. The bikes always go to the campgrounds with us. We often use them to ride to the beach, other park attractions, or to the store to pick up a few items. I was getting tired of using plastic shopping bags hung over my arm to carry things to the beach or home from the store, and I often wished we had a way to carry snacks or cold drinks with us. Besides, carrying those swinging plastic bags never made me feel very safe. We also usually have our dog along with us on a break-away leash, and we carry our back-pack style folding chairs with us. It is quite a load, and we needed to be able to take it all safely.This rack and the bag/panniers will be the answer!The rack was easy to install on my 26” bike, and we like it so much that we might get the same rack for my husband’s 29” bike. Since it is adjustable, we are hoping it will fit his bike, too! We bought this particular rack, because it was compatible with the bags we wanted to purchase. It provides a nice frame to add accessories to the bike, and, with a little jury rigging, it even accommodated the attachment needed for my existing clip-on red tail light. The tail light is even more visible on the frame than it was when attacked to the bike itself.We are always looking for flexibility that will allow us to use things in multiple configurations as we need them, and these bags fit that bill! We can use any one of them, two of them or all 3 as long as the bike stays in balance.The panniers are roomy, and there is stiffening for the bottom and sides that either folds or removes to allow the bags to be flattened to take up less room for storage. They will carry our beach towels, other paraphernalia or a few groceries with ease! Couldn’t be happier with the size! The large pocket in the main compartment has a pull tie to close the inside bag down before closing the top over it, and the straps that hold the top down are adjustable. In addition to the main compartment, there is a smaller pocket on the outside at the top. These panniers will be perfect for beach towels, water floats or a few groceries, and the top pocket will help keep smaller things like books separate and within easy reach. The panniers come with a handle to carry them when off the bike and a nylon rain cover. Great idea!The Expandable Commuter Trunk Bag lives up to its name! The main compartment can expand at the rear to be about 2 inches taller. It has a solid bottom and foam stiffening that would also act a bit like insulation. This main compartment is perfect for taking along some water bottles, snacks or some lunch – or anything else that will fit. There is a smaller top compartment both inside and outside of the bag to help keep smaller items from getting jumbled in the main compartment, and there is a bungee cord on top to keep items like a jacket or (leakproof) water bottle within easy reach. There is another small pocket at the back of the bag for keys or a wallet. The side pockets can be used as they are or unzipped to expand into a longer inner bag that are like small panniers. The bag also comes with a shoulder strap making it easy to take it along when it is off the bike. The one thing I wish it had is a rain cover. Ibera makes one for this model, but we have not been able to find anyone who sells it.The pannier-like side bags of the Commuter Trunk Bag can be used with the regular Pannier bag, although they will lay on the top of the panniers on an angle. I don’t anticipate using the side bags on the Commuter Trunk Bag as pannier extensions when the Panniers are also on the bike anyway, because it would be a bit of overkill, but the pannier extensions will be great when I need a bit longer space but not enough to put on the panniers.These bags are really flexible, and they will let us use just the bags we need while accommodating every use we can think of.As for the quick release feature on all of the bags – OMG! These bags go on and take off within seconds! So easy! We will see whether or not they come off too easily after we have used them for a while, but for now we love the idea and the design!The one drawback? I am at the shortest safe height to use a 26” bike, and the trunk bag will make it harder for me to swing my leg over onto the bike. I can do it by tilting the bike to the side quite a bit, but I won’t be able to bail off quickly. Shorter riders beware! You might need to try this bag on your bike to see whether or not you will be able to get on or off. The panniers are not problem for getting on or off.

I want to address some concerns I couldn't find answers for before I had it in hand:1) DOES THIS FIT NON-IBERA RACKS?I have a rack that came with my bike and it fits just fine, perfectly secure, and the quick release works great. The hook halfway down the bag is easy to adjust with an Alan wrench to accommodate most racks I would imagine.2) WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE LOOSE PLASTIC PIECES?I was confused by the review video. The loose plastic boards aren't for the bottom. You slide them into pockets on the side of the panniers to give the bag a more box-like structure. There is already a board at the bottom. These sides help the bags to stand up on their own, which is a big improvement from my last set of bags. (See picture of bag sitting up on a chair.)3) IS THE QUICK RELEASE REALLY A QUICK RELEASE?There is a review showing a set of hooks that you have to wedge back to get the bags off, indicating that the quick release isn't actually a quick release. I think that review is on the wrong set of bags, because on these there is a little flapper/handle that you twist to get the hook to release. Very easy, very fast.Overall, I am very pleased with these bags. I've only used them for a week so far, so I can't talk about durability just yet. I particularly love the structure because I get so tired of taking my panniers with me, setting them down somewhere, and they go toppling over. The structure also allows me to pack the bags more efficiently.

so when biking friends recommended the Iberra's- i was like, "hmm.. awfully expensive.." Surely i can find a better value and deal elsewhere right? So I have actually bought 3 other pannier or bag systems for my back rack on my bike. Man.. all I can say is- go with Iberra and save youself time and trouble- even if you have to get the iberra rack to do it.DISCLAIMER: your fit may vary but Iberra designs this to be very versatile to fit many types of racks. I'm pretty confident it won't be too hard to get these to fit your rack.For me- thing is absolutely perfect fit and slides RIGHT ON, pops right back off no problem. I read other reviews that say the twist/pop-off would ruin their racks... i can't see that happening with these bags.Other notes:1. they are a bit smaller/sleeker then i thought they would be. So if you're looking for bags for like week-long camping or HUGE amounts of grocery shopping.. this MAY not be big enough for you- look for bigger Iberras.2. Definitely get a quick on/off clip system- straps and velcro straps will just be a pain in the end. Maybe they are easy to get on the rack, but a pain in the butt to get OFF the rack. This multi-clip on without any straps is just slight on, slide off.3. If you have a THICK rack, this may not work for you as the clip on system doesn't open extremely wide. But standard size and below- not a problem. (e.g. My Rad Mini back rack is way way way THICK and thus i can not use these on that bike- sucks!)4. I love that these bags don't require you to use both at the same time and have a connector over the top to link the bags together. This leaves my top of my rack free to get a rack trunk bag too if i want to increase capacity. This also allows me to just use 1 bag if i want to go that routet and not have both. LOVE that! Also, WAY EASIER to put on and take off having independent bags on each side rather than a single bag that lops over each side and are connected.Lesson Learned: don't fool around and try to "beat the system". just get Iberra (whichever works for you) and enjoy and get to biking. I'm so estatic i now have excellent panniers that pop on/off in a jiffy!