Vaude Aqua Back panniers

Vaude's Aqua Back panniers are designed and manufactured to last. They're tough, waterproof and roomy. Think years of commuting or touring use. With a sad lack of touring trips on the horizon, my initial test has been as commuting baggage – but at least we've had some weather to test the waterproofing qualities... The full touring test will come in time; keep a look out.

• Pros: Weatherproofing, excellent construction
• Cons: Heavy/overkill for commuting, separate shoulder strap needs retrieving from inside

Construction, shape, capacity and pockets

The fabric and construction is second to none in my experience. They're 'climate neutrally manufactured' in Vaude's factory in Germany using durable, PVC-free tarpaulin material. Check out Vaude's website and you will be bombarded with 'Green Info'; you are certainly doing your bit to save the planet by choosing these panniers.

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The seams, buckles and roll closure are all very similar to that used on Ortlieb baggage. It's all top quality, sturdy and built to last, and might even have you wondering if they've come from the same factory. Significantly, they beat the Ortlieb Back Roller Classic by 8 litres on the capacity stakes, offering 48 litres as a pair; they do look slightly more bulky and aren't tapered as much at the bottom, so you have a bigger space to drop large bulky items into such as shoes. The wide base also means a laptop's no issue.

A more obvious difference to the Ortliebs (and many others) is the large rigid plastic 'plate' attached to the outside of the Aquas. It forces the panniers to hold their form – no bowing under heavy loads – as well helping to protect the contents, which is good news if you're carrying a laptop or tablet. Each pannier has two interior pockets: a direct access one that is ideal for (A4) documents, and a smaller mesh one that zips up for passport, wallet, coins and so on. Both pockets sit against the plastic plate so things really are kept flat and protected from other contents – an office commuter's ideal.

Mounting and closure

The mounting system is pretty impressive. Don't worry about whether or not it'll fit on your pannier rack, it just will. Each attachment point is adjustable within its own runner and it doesn't require a tool. Vaude calls it the QMR 2.0 attachment system (Quick Mount Release).

What's really good is that you can position it quickly and easily right where you want it. The hooks that clip onto the rack have a locking mechanism – hang the pannier onto the rack and push against the hooks to engage the lock, lift the handle to unlock and release.

There are three different colour coded adaptor inserts that mean the hooks fit snuggly onto racks with varying diameters, from 8.5mm to 13mm. For anyone with a mammoth rack, just don't bother with an adaptor. They're easy to change over, even without the recommended screwdriver.

The lever that hooks around the side pannier rail is quite long, so lifting the pannier off isn't quite as swift as attaching, but on the flip side it does give secure attachment that may well be appreciated for rougher/off-road ventures.

Once mounted, the panniers don't budge. My commutes have been 100 per cent road, so they've yet to undergo an off-road test; that said, some of the road surfaces round my way almost constitute as off-road...

Closing the panniers is straightforward, and pretty much the same as with an Ortlieb: roll it down as much or as little as you want around a rigid plastic strip, then a central strap and buckle secures it in place. The side straps each clip into a buckle on the side of the pannier rather than into each other like some do, so there's one more buckle to be done up/undone here.

The long shoulder strap is a separate item that'll need to be retrieved from inside and then clipped on. (With an Ortlieb the shoulder strap can stay attached, clipped out of harm's way on the front of the pannier.) You have the option of not using it at all – carrying the panniers by the short handle (a lot of strain when the panniers are really loaded), or clipping the two side straps together to create a very short shoulder strap. Maybe I'm just being fussy, but I found having to undo three clips to get it out every time a bit faffy.

Aesthetics, waterproofing and practicality

The panniers are incredibly tough. The material is really thick and pretty rigid; in fact it would be good if it actually gives a bit to make them more pliable, so that they mould themselves to the load a little better.

If rolled closed correctly there is no way water can get in, and after a good soaking the exterior is dry in no time as water just rolls off it.

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

Vaude gives you a choice of six different colours which, excluding the black, are seriously bold, great for visibility when commuting. A tourer hoping to blend in with the environment may feel differently... Reflective detailing isn't huge but it is effective.

Overall, there are many positives to the Aquas: the shape and space, interior pockets and practical and durable design. They are possibly a bit overkill for commuting needs, but would make a great investment if you're thinking of getting into touring in the near future. I certainly can't see any potential flaws.

Verdict

Possibly a little too substantial for most commutes, but durable and with great touring baggage potential