The 100% waterproof Backcountry Pannier Kit is designed for transcontinental adventure touring, enduro-style riding, and camping from your bike.
The Backcountry Pannier is our flagship product, designed for long-distance adventure touring, hardcore enduro-style riding, and camping from your bike.
The standard configuration of this kit includes two 21L bags and two 4L Aux Pox auxiliary pockets (one on each bag), for 50L of total capacity. Four Aux Pox or No Aux Pox options are also available, see the variant options above.
With bomb-proof construction and heavy-duty materials, these bags can really take a beating. Our quick-mount wedge system makes it easy to take the panniers on/off the bike so you can store them in your tent or have them by the fire without wrestling with straps. Our new proprietary ‘Speed-Pin’ latch ensures that the mounting system is always engaged.
This is the system for long-distance travelers and people living off their bikes. Guides, instructors, and RTW riders: this system was designed for you.
Check out the new Backcountry Brush Guards, designed to provide additional protection from brush and extend the life of your bags.
Download Assembly Instructions here.
*Sold as a pair! Just add a bike-specific rack and you are ready to rumble.
*Cutout Pannier Rack Note: Bikes with stock racks and a pannier exhaust cutout (like the R1250GSA, R1200GSA, 850GSA, or F800GSA for example) require an additional adapter. Check the 'Racks + Adapters' section of our site, or email us with questions.
We created the Backcountry Pannier because we were tired of over-the-seat soft panniers that flop around in rough terrain, have no external pockets or stash spots, disintegrate after a couple crashes, and are a total pain in the ass to get on and off the bike. We wanted something like a backpacking frame pack, but that mounts on your bike, and that stays connected to the bike and stays waterproof no matter how many times you lay the bike down.
The Backcountry's are super easy to click on and off the bike, and because the waterproofing is accomplished inside the bag (thanks to the two-bag system), minor external crashes and scuffs won't faze your panniers at all. Thanks to the thick, welded seam internal liner, you're also protected from internal abrasion: for example tools, or a camp stove, or some other hard piece of gear vibrating and rubbing against the inner surface over a long period of time.
Backcountry panniers will mount seamlessly on most OEM and aftermarket pannier rack systems. If you don't already have racks, we recommend Outback Motortek Standard Frame pannier racks, available in the Racks & Adapters section of our website.
Rolling Updates to Version 2.1:
Want to protect your panniers and gear from thieves? Add our Compact or Heavy Duty ADV Locks, which store conveniently in the pouch on the back of the beavertail, and integrate with the aluminum Locking Bar on top of the pannier to both a) lock the bag to the bike and b) lock the bag closed.
Backcountry Weight Note: The Backcountry is heavier than the Scouts, and it's also heavier than a traditional over-the-seat saddlebag. What you get for that weight is bomb-proof construction and materials, a completely stable mounting system (no flopping), and lots of stash spots. Lighter is not always better if it comes at the price of functionality or durability. If weight is your primary concern but you want to stick with a rack system, check out the Scout 25L Panniers. If you're really serious about weight, take off your racks (shaving 8-10 pounds off the bike) and get a Reckless 80L instead.
Wedge-Mount Compatibility Note: In July 2016, we switched the backcountry pannier wedge and frame from machined HDPE to molded glass-filled nylon. The new wedge/frame are not compatible with the old version. To determine which wedge/frame you have, check on the back of the wedge. If it is flat & smooth, that's HDPE. If it has an inset honeycomb pattern, that's molded nylon. We have extra wedges and frames of both materials in stock available for order by special request.
Cutout Pannier Rack Note: Bikes with stock racks and a pannier exhaust cutout (like the R1250GSA, R1200GSA, 850GSA, or F800GSA for example) require an additional adapter. Check the 'Hardware & Parts' section of our site, or email us with questions.
Check out the Backcountry Brush Guards, designed to provide additional protection from brush and extend the life of your bags.