Oxford Aqua 14 Pannier

Provided you have a rack, a tough, rugged, waterproof pannier in a relatively compact size is a really convenient option for commuting. The Oxford Aqua 14 Pannier ticks a lot of boxes for size, durability, water resistance, reflectivity and even price, but is let down slightly by the clips that fix it to the bike rack.

The pannier is made from an über-tough, heavy duty waterproof fabric with a shiny wipe-clean surface, and fastens with a clip-in roll-top closure. It's one of the most confidence-inspiring waterproof panniers I've used. Even the pocket that's accessible from the front has a water resistant zip, and the pocket itself is made of the same rugged waterproof fabric as the rest of the pannier.

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In a downpour so bad that the animals were starting to gather in pairs, there was absolutely no doubt at all that everything in this pannier was going to be just fine. A (very) large Oxford Aqua pannier would probably be a contender for an update to the Ark.

A white pannier may not be to everyone's taste, but there is a black option available too, and both colours feature more generous than usual amounts of reflective accenting, including large chevrons across the bottom of the bag.

Inside, there's a single compartment with removable plastic stiffener for the base and a stiffened back to the bag, plus a large mesh zipped pocket. It's spacious enough for plenty of stuff for a commute, including a medium sized laptop, spare shoes/clothes and a bit of shopping too. It does taper quite a lot, but a 15in laptop just fits, with some space below it where it doesn't reach the bottom. Your laptop will need a protective case of some sort, though, as the bag isn't cushioned. The stiffener inside the base of the bag is removable, which gives a little extra space if needed.

> Read our guide to racks and panniers

The attachments for the rack are adjustable, and it's super-easy to attach – but this is also where a problem appeared unexpectedly. Although really easy to clip to the rack, it's not so easy to unclip, and the simple clips make it tricky to try to ease them off too. It's a real shame considering what an excellent commuting pannier it is otherwise; if you have to remove it when you arrive at work and/or home, so once or twice a day, it could become a real chore.

When you do manage to remove it, a plastic carrying loop makes it easy to carry around.

Price-wise it's comparable to others of this ilk: the Upso Potters Pannier Jez reviewed recently weighs virtually the same and is £45, while Altura's Arc 20 Roll Top Pannier is a penny less. Address the fitting – or rather, the removing – system and Oxford would have a comparable product in terms of overall performance too.

Verdict

Tough, a useful size and could probably do double duty as a liferaft... just beware the stiffness of the rack clips