Bike Bins launch on Kickstarter, offering lockable, weather-resistant containers to replace pannier bags

If you want something a bit stronger and secure than standard pannier bags to carry your gear, Bike Bins claim to have the answers in the form of a hard shell, locking construction that is fully weather-resistant. They're made in Britain, and crowdfunding on Kickstarter now. 

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Fed up with the fragility of pannier bags during a bike tour across Russia some 14 years ago, creator Sam Lowings wanted something sturdier and more secure to keep his luggage safe. When he returned home a prototype Bike Bin was made. In fact back in 2009 we reviewed the original Bike Bins you can find out what we thought here. 

Now the company want to raise funds that will allow them to relocate the injection tooling to a local manufacturer and make modifications, update the product and prepare for full production. 

The Bike Bin is made from recyclable materials in Britain, and has a storage capacity of 17.5 litres. They weigh 1.3kg each, and the fittings that lock them are provided by Rixen and Kaul which are readily available worldwide if you eventually need replacement parts. 

The 2.5mm plastic construction is said to provide better protection for your gear, and increased weather protection compared to standard panniers. 

Bike Bins have just launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, and have so far raised £436 of their £27,440 goal with 28 days remaining. A £45 backing gets you one bike bin, £80 gets you a pair and for £3,000, bizarrely you can get two Bike Bins covered in Swarovski crystals. Click here to find out more.