How to choose a pannier rack? 5 best racks to pick from

When you travel on your bike, you will not be going only for leisure rides. You may use the bike for work or to go shopping.

In this case, you need space to store your luggage or belongings. This is where a pannier rack will help.

You can fix this rack either to the front of your bike or the rear portion.

If you were wondering why you should get a pannier rack, check out these 3 benefits:

- You don’t have to worry about where to place your backpack or ride the bike wearing a heavy backpack.

- It is easy to store luggage on your bike and you can go on picnics carrying as many bags as you want.

- The bags or luggage can be placed securely without having to worry about it falling off.

It is important to know about the various kinds of materials used to make the pannier rack:

1. Aluminium racks:
Racks made from aluminum are light and ensure it doesn’t add much weight to the bicycle.

However, it is not very strong and hence not durable. In case it breaks, you can’t fix it and need to get a new one.

2. Steel racks:
They are strong and do not break easily. They are also durable in nature.

In case they break, you can even fix it easily. However, it is heavy in weight.

3. Titanium racks:
This is a very good option since it weighs less and is durable.

It has the added bonus of not corroding over time. The downside is that it is the costliest material.

4. Cromoly racks:
Cromoly is a variant of steel that has carbon. It is lightweight and convenient to use.

It is also strong and durable, making it a great option to use.

When you set out to buy a pannier rack for your bike, you need to know how to find the best rack in the market. Here are some information that will make the buying process easier:

Decide on the material based on the guidelines given below. Ideally, you need a lightweight and durable rack.

Decide your budget. Do some research, so you will know the approximate prices of different racks in the market. Based on this, decide your budget, so you don’t end up spending too much.

The rack would weigh around 1kg, which is needed to support the kind of luggage you want to store. If you get a Titanium rack, it would be very light.

You need to work out how much luggage you would carry around on your bike. Find out if the rack would support that weight.

You can fit the rack yourself and even disassemble it when needed. It is quite simple. Find out if the rack is compatible with your bicycle. Also, find out if you can do the fitting yourself.

This rack is perfect for carrying all your baggage and luggage. Its capacity is 10kg and it is lightweight, making it convenient to use.

Assembling and disassembling are both easy since screw hardware is provided. It has a plate to which you can add a Vioo clip or a rear light.

It is compatible with all 24-inch to 28-inch bikes that have frames with inserts.

This particular model is ultra-lightweight and weighs just 700g.

Even though it is lightweight, it is a large weight capacity and can hold up to 18kg. 

Assembling and disassembling is easy, thanks to the screw hardware provided.

It is compatible with most 24-inch to 28-inch bikes having fixing points.

This model is an adaptable rack that weighs just 660g, yet can hold a weight of up to 5kg. 

It is meant to be fixed at the front of your bike.

You can place your belongings in it and hold them in place through elastic straps, but the rack has to be fixed to the fork and axles of the front wheel of your bike.

It is compatible with the Triban 100 Road bike, Riverside 500 Hybrid bike, and Elops Speed 500 City bike.

This model is a folding luggage rack for use on the 20-inch Tilt folding bike.

Clipping the pannier rack to the bike takes just a second – yes it's that convenient. It is also possible to adjust the height and length according to the model.

Do note that it is not compatible with Tilt 500 XS 14-inch and with baby seats.

For extra visibility, you can attach a light.

This pannier rack is meant for adult-sized bikes and is the best option if you are looking to carry heavy luggage.

It has a weight capacity of 27 kg, and weighs just 1.55kg. 

You can use it with a child seat and attach a light or reflector to it. It has adjustable length and height, and assembly and disassembly are easy.