Two or three panniers on long distance riders??

[Wapping]

Do whatever suits you best on each and any trip.

Do you value / need a bag on the jaunt? If so, use one. If no, use a top box (or not) as (and if) required. Only you will know what you are planning to do, what you might need and /or how or what you intend to carry.

In short, there is no perfect answer, just as there are no perfect answers to: what are the best panniers, helmet, tank bag, tyres, communications system?One man's meat, is another man's poison, after all.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

As Wapping points out, there is no definative answer and you must do what's best. You could probably get all your essentials in a roll bag and strap it on the rack.

As a rule of thumb when I'm on a long trip is two panniers, one with stuff like tools and things I won't need often and one with my daily things so when you get to a hotel you can just open it up and get you bag out and bingo. You don't need to keep taking your panniers off every evening cart them into a hotel room. I never quite undertsand that

I have of Verns small top box's for valuable and I do like a tank bag for daily things like wallet camere etc.

 

[leftofcentre]

I travel 2 up and we use the panniers for all the camping gear , topbox for clothes etc , and the tank bag for food, drinks, camera and an extra light layer to go under the biking jacket if it gets cold . your probly not suppose to but I also strap stuff on as below we did 2000miles like this with no problems

How come you didnt use the centre stand???