Tailfin is betting that panniers will become a popular solution for off-road bikepackers looking for a new on-bike organization system.
Today the British designers of technical bikepacking equipment have introduced the 5L and 10L Mini Panniers. Why are they called mini? The company already offers two 22L pannier models, but while those are meant for road touring, the Mini Panniers have been fully optimized for off-road bikepacking.
It's an interesting bet, considering that the best bikepacking bags are often mounted to seatposts, in frames, and onto handlebars. Mountain bike and gravel bikepackers have been skeptical of panniers for a number of reasons, including bulk, weight distribution, and mounting issues.
Tailfin acknowledges this, but the brand claims to have fixed these problems.
Key to Tailfin's design is the X Clamp mounting hardware. While traditional panniers simply hook onto a rack, the Mini Panniers use a lever-operated cam to securely clamp onto a rack, eliminating movement or rattling when riding. The hardware uses CNC machined 6061-T6 alloy components and is user-serviceable in the case of any issues.
The panniers' internal frame is also made from the same 6061-T6 alloy material for stiffness and stability.
Hypalon laminate material is used in high wear areas of the bag, while the uppers are made from flexible, ripstop nylon. The panniers are fully waterproof and weigh 310 (5L) and 380 (10L) grams.
The panniers are designed to be used with both Tailfin's racks as well as racks from other brands. Included is hardware for mounting to 8,10 or 12mm tubing diameters.
Tailfin offers a robust warranty and crash replacement program so riders can be confident in their equipment no matter where they are located.
The Mini Panniers are available to buy today from Tailfin's website. The 5L costs $85/£60 and the 10L $110/£80
