Are you looking for waterproof panniers for your bike commute? Axiom Stormfront might be right for you. As a regular bike commuter and an occasional bike tourer, panniers are important in my life. And as I live on the West Coast, waterproof panniers are even more important in my life. So I am in an ongoing quest to find perfect, waterproof panniers. I have had good results with the Axiom Stormfront “Typhoon,” which are sold in pairs for around $100 at most bike stores.
By the way, if you want to read about better but more expensive panniers, read my post about the Arkel Bug Pannier. This pannier converts from backpack to pannier and back again. EVEN better is the Two Wheel Gear Convertible Backpack, which is light weight, rugged and good looking – this great backpack is reviewed here.
What I Like about Axiom Stormfront Panniers
First off, the bags are attractive and highly visible, available in grey, yellow or red. This is one of mine (I would have bought red, but they were out of stock):
Even this grey color is highly visible because of all the reflective highlights on the bag.
These Axiom Stormfront panniers are entirely waterproof – I have transported my laptop inside these panniers in monsoon-like weather without getting a drop of water on it. This ability to withstand heavy rain comes from the polyester material of the bag, as well as from the fact that the top flap folds down over the bag for extra protection.
Also, the Axiom Stormfront panniers are spacious – the volume of the set is 33.2L, or 2028 cubic inches. Which basically means you can fit a large laptop and three changes of clothes into just one of them, and still have space left over for a couple of lunch boxes. So the size is ideal for bike commuting or bike touring.
The inside of the top flap features a zippered mesh pocket. I have found this very useful for keeping handy the kinds of things I need to find without having to dig around under my clothes and lunch boxes – such as keys, wallet, bike lights, and iPhone.
The outside of the top flap has a waterproof zippered pocket. This is only handy for extremely skinny things, such as maps, and a set of keys if it’s not too bulky (unfortunately, mine are – don’t know how that happens).
Finally, the Axiom Stormfront panniers fit well and easily to my standard bike rack.
That’s it for the good news. Now for the bad.
What I Don’t Like about Axiom Stormfront Panniers
Axiom Stormfront panniers come with lifetime guarantees. So you’d be forgiven for thinking they’d last a long time. That’s certainly what I thought. I was wrong.
In fact, I had to return my first set of Axiom Stormfront panniers after just a few months. On one of the panniers, the zipper on the outside of the top flap had become faulty. Basically the zipper runs over PVC coating that is there to keep it waterproof. But after constant daily use, the PVC coating had begun to degenerate, making it hard to open the zip, and compromising the waterproofness of the pocket.
Return Policy – Replacement Bags for Life!
I took my Axiom Stormfront panniers back to the bike shop. They were not at all surprised to have them returned, though they said that after just a few months was unusual. However, they admitted that Axiom Stormfront panniers have a life-time guarantee, so I could just keep returning them and have a life-time supply of new panniers!
Anyone know of some panniers that will actually last a lifetime?
Update 1: Amazon now sells Axiom Seymour panniers – a set of two for just $80! This is a great price, and they get very good reviews. Best of all – no zips!
Update 2: Reader and well-known avid cyclist Ulrike (see comments below) highly recommends the Axiom Monsoon Aero DLX panniers. She says: “slim-line, slate-gray Axiom Monsoon Aero DLX panniers, I regularly get compliments on them and when I wear one over my shoulder, it looks like a satchel not a big, goofy pannier. They are a very simple, Ortlieb-style, with a roll-top closure. They are quite deep, so for keys I punched a hole in the rigid plastic liner, threaded a thin chain through it, and then clip my keys to that. No problems whatsoever after 3 years.”
Note: If you want the very best in bike panniers, read my reviews of Two Wheel Gear panniers: the Backpack Convertible, and the executive Garment Pannier.
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Chris says
Nothing lasts forever, but I highly recommend MEC panniers. I’ve been commuting daily with them for 4 years, and they’re only now starting to show their wear (the bungee cords are starting to fray). With MEC’s great return policy, I could probably return them, but I’ll buy new ones soon.
JoeAverage says
Thanks Chris, good to know! I will check them out next time I am down at MEC.
SuperSonic says
ЎHola!
Super post, tienen que marcarlo en Digg
Gracias
SuperSonic
Alex P says
I have an MEC pannier that I’ve had since 2004 and used most days since then. It seems to have kept laptops safe. No damage on it at all, and I’ve carried lots of heavy tools in it.
JoeAverage says
Well, that’s the second vote for MEC panniers – looks like they must be the way to go!
smiley says
go ortlieb.
http://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/prod-31.htm
pay the $$$ they are worth every penny. 3 years of use almost everyday. still waterproof and almost brad new.
amazing.
JoeAverage says
Thank you, I will check them out!
PaddyAnne says
Hi, I wish you had written this, and I had read this, before I bought my set in Sept. I too heard the refrain “life time guarantee”. I haven’t had to use this “feature” yet, and hope I don’t ever have to, but, I find the front/top pocket you are having so much trouble really useless, and I find the buckle holding the top flap down is too hard to open/close. I also wondered about the tied cords at the back! Yes, they did keep everything dry, but I find them cumbersome. I bought some panniers from MEC over 10 years ago, they are more nylon-like than those sold today which are more canvessy. I still have the pair from MEC and I love them. I just wish they were a bit more water proof, but I am seriously thinking of going back to them and just using some plastic bags to wrap things up inside of them. cheers! 😉
JoeAverage says
Hi PaddyAnne, and welcome. One of my Panniers now has a hole in it (this is the same thing that happened to the first set) … and it’s just a few months. So back to the store I will go. But it’s a pain in the butt … NOT what I would expect for the price I paid, and also for something that has the cheek to say it comes with a life time guarantee! A couple of people have mentioned the MEC ones, so I will definitely try them sometime.
Also, you have a great blog – I had not seen it before. Brilliant photos – I will add a link on my blogroll.
paddyanne says
Hi, and thank you for your kind words! I have added your link to my blog as well. I find your blog a great read, and it was your write ups of the CVG that made me curious to try it out.
JoeAverage says
Awesome! I love to think I bought a great bike route to another cyclist’s attention 🙂 And thanks for the link!
Auth says
First get your bike fit done by local bike shop, after you have done your own bike fit research on inetrnetEstimate the weight of essentials/luggage for the trip (perhaps 5kg or more during winter). Then add this to your own weightLook for a road bike that can handle this total weight (example: luggage = 10kg + your weight = 90kg, total weight = 100kg). Look for a road bike that is suitable for more than 100kg excluding bike weight of 10kg perhaps (expect undulating route like roads damaged/under repairs/worn) Make sure you also buy extra spare tubes, tire, tire crowbars and tire pump for the trip)