Basil is a company based in the Netherlands, where they really know a thing or two about getting around by bike. They have a huge range of bike bags, from waterproof practical black bags to very fun, flirty bags. We went with fun and flirty for this test!
Right off the top, the bags are not waterproof. They are water resistant and the flap style top will keep most of the rain off, but serious precipitation will require your duds or groceries to be wrapped in another plastic bag inside the panniers. And anyone who prefers separate bags for each side may not be happy with the saddlebag design of the Blossom bag. There’s a connecting strip of fabric between the two sides that has slots for the insertion of a strap or luggage carrier. The bag uses a set of straps to attach to your rack rather than the more common clip style attachment, unless you use the old style rack with the spring loaded top to hold down the bag. That means the bag is a bit more of a challenge to get on and off the bike quickly.
All this said, I really love these bags, just for their square-bottomed roominess. Items stay squarely in place down at the reinforced bottom and each side is large enough to fit a full grocery bag (the old-fashioned paper kind) inside. Plus there’s the fun, flirty factor which causes a dangerous head swivel effect in passers-by!
Basil Blossom Bike Bags, msrp: $80 (Here in the U.S., Seattle Bike Supply carries Basil bags. Just ask your local bike shop to order them from SBS for you.)
P.S. Almost two years later, I’m still using these bags daily for all sorts of hauling. They’re finally showing some wear at the seams after carrying hundreds of pounds of groceries, week after week. Thumbs way up for these bags!
