Hepco & Becker Explorer or Caribou/pelican ?

[svwphoto]

I need to get some panniers and am torn between HB explorers which are nice and the much stronger side opening Caribou cases, for a trip round iceland next year (2011). I am sure i'll drop the bike (dakar twin spark 04) at some point and think the pelicans will with stand it and the subsequent many river crossings far better than the explorers. But the HB's look better.

What to do?

Help???

 

[ONYERBIKE]

Have you seen the ARDcases made by Roger (redcap) of this parish?
Maybe worth getting in touch with him before you spend your hard earned.
He handmakes quality custom aluminium boxes.

 

[svwphoto]

I could go for Ard but I have a HB top box and am thinking the pelicans can with stand a bit more than Aluminium side boxes in a side slide.
So the question stands, to be vain with matching HBs or to go sensible with pelicans?

 

[rc mad]

I went sensible and got the caribous, apart from having to re-coat the rails they hold up well. Had then for around 3 years i think, apart from needing a good clean they look as good as the day they were fitted, just keep ontop of the racks and they'll last agres

Even riding into a concrete bollard didn't damage them ,It did bend the mounting on the pannier slightly but nothing to serious, i belive roger has resolved that issue now

Also you can clip wing mirros and not know about it and knock over the orange plastic bollards without problems

pros

waterproof.
Difficult to damage.
lifetime gaurantee through pelican on the cases themselves - worth its weight in gold to me, if i break a case pelican will replace it for free

Cons

left hand case is difficult to load if the bike is on its sidestand, stuff keeps falling out. An issue i could fix if i used a inner bag - which i don't.
Can't think of anything else

 

[Biking Viking]

My Icelandic experience is neither, I would opt for the Hepco Becker Gobi. The strongest I have come across yet. Besides they might keep you upright while fording a river

 

[svwphoto]

I liked the gobis and the sensible Pelicans but the Explorers won out. Quite how, I am not sure but they look good. My girl friend might have swayed it slightly as they were the ones she liked best (purely on aesthetics!). Iceland is on the cards so if they fail to do their job ill let you know.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[IainMac]

I chose an Xplorer topbox for my yam. it took best part of 2months to ship from HB germany though . But now its here I think it looks pretty good and is functional. Cant say of its the toughest of boxes, with the alloy sides being riveted and bonded to the plastic corners /bottoms it may burst if subject to impact. Anyways some pics attached for perusal.

 

[Doberman]

Helmet

Hi,
Does the Xplorer top box enable you to fit a helmet? I've heard that the Varios is a tight fit and some have had problems with fitting a helmet.
Any feedback would be appreciated.