after about 100 miles of use, I've come to the conclusion that I really like these bags from hitway. they strike a good balance between form and function. they aren't perfect, there's velcro around the mouth of the bag which is great for securing items in the bag and helping with weather resistance but it also can be a pain inserting certain materials into the bag that get caught up on the velcro. minor annoyances aside, this is a well built bag, welded seams, very weather resistant and pretty strong. this is one of my go to pannier bags. it's super easy to put on the rack and take off. it converts comfortably into a backpack. capacity is plenty. during one of my rides, I didn't have it secured properly and the bottom corner of the bag got caught in my rear wheel spokes which unfortunately compromised the integrity of the bag because it now has a skittle sized hole in it. considering how fast I was going and how rough it all felt and sounded, I'd say that it performed extremely well and showed how strong it is. I'll patch it up and move on like nothing happened.

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I got this bag to supplement a similarly sized single pannier by Rockbros that I've been using for years. Normally I only carry one pannier but wanted to have a second one that I could snap on quickly and easily when I think I'm going to need the extra carrying capacity. This bag has some features that give it a leg up on the Rockbros bag, and a few that I'd consider downsides.Things that I love about this bag:1. The capacity. It holds plenty of stuff, but can be collapsed down to mostly flat when not in use.2. It stands upright without support and has a removable board that can be placed in the bottom to give it structure.3. The external pouches and zippered compartment provide a reasonable number of options for easy access to smaller items. The zippered compartment is big enough to hold a phone and full-length wallet, and is also easy to open and shut one-handed.4. Comes with a removable carry strap. I leave the strap on all the time and it doesn't hinder my ability to ride.5. The quick-release clips to hold it onto a rack are very convenient and seem to work more smoothly than the ones on my other bag. They have a flap over them that can be zipped closed, which can help prevent them from snagging on clothing and scratching skin when carrying the bag on one's person.6. You don't have to completely roll down the top to be able to buckle it closed. You can just fold it over once.Things that I'm ambivalent about:1. The option to convert it into a backpack seems like it could be useful, but I've never felt like I need this option when I have a shoulder strap. I kind of suspect the backpack straps will just take up space and never be used.2. The yellow color. While it's sunny and cheery and helps with visibility during night riding, I don't always want to call that much attention to myself.3. The interior padded pouch is nice to have, but it's kind of big and sticks out into the bag. I've had things get caught on it multiple times as I'm putting them in and taking them out.Things that I dislike about this bag:1. The main compartment has Velcro on the inside to keep it shut at the top. It seems minimally useful, keeps snagging on things, and causes the bag to close itself when I need it to stay open and accessible. This feature is so annoying, I might remove it. For the time being, I've covered the hook-side with a strip of old fabric so it can't Velcro itself shut unless I remove the fabric.2. The quick-release clips are opened by pulling on a carry strap. There's no easy way to operate them manually or individually. If there's not enough weight in the bag, they don't open all the way without a struggle. If there is too much weight in the bag, I worry that they will break, because they are only made of plastic.3. It's very prone to smudging and staining. In one day of using it, it had already developed prominent and permanent black streaks from rubbing against my black rear rack. I can tell it's going to get ugly quickly.

This is a very handy bag to have for the bicycle commuter as it can keep your laptop or other items dry if you get caught in the rain or just riding wet roads with car traffic splashing water on you & your bike. The attachment to the bike is very easy and requires a rear cargo rack to attach to. It rides to the side of your rear tire so keep that in mind if clearance is an issue.The top of the pack seals with one fold of the top then secured with a strap and buckle. This seems adequate but I would more at ease if it had velco across the entire top of the bag to help keep it closed. There are backpack straps that store in a compartment on the bag and they can quickly be attached so as to permit the bag to be used as a backpack. There's also a shoulder strap that allows it to be carried as a shoulder bag.I don't commute to work on a bike but see this getting use on my longer day trips where I want to be sure my stuff stays secure and dry.

While I am comparing this bag to a Topeak pannier that I have used for years that costs significantly more, I need a baseline for comparison...This bag seems to be made out of quality materials, but the actual waterproofing is questionable. The engagement of nearly every strap and handle is surface mounted and has no wrap around or through stitching into other layers. Much of the external stitching has visible holes through the outer membrane. Splashes and sprinkles are probably okay, but full on rain is likely a no-go. I am convinced enough of this that I will not use the bag because I'll likely arrive at work with a soaked uniform for a 24 hour shift.