I have used both soft and hard luggage on my various travel bikes over the years. However time and experience have pushed me more towards soft luggage but have always found quality or storage issues with many of the systems available. I even dabelled with making my own luggage system to overcome all the requirements I had - but the reality of the competition in the market place along with costs and production became overwhelming and that slid into the dark recesses of the past.
I however have found a very good set of panniers for the job.Imported and supplied by Zen Overland in the Uk - These are the Swiss designed Enduristan monsoon (as the name suggests 100% waterproof). They are similar in some ways to the more basic Ortlieb bags but are far better quality, finish and fit with some interesting and inventive features. The Bags have a roll top allowing the volume to adjust between 15 and 30 lts per side, the bags are double skinned with a strong cordura exterior and an waterproof pvc type liner, in between the two is a semi hard shell (removable giving the bags a strong protective shell and shape) so even a fall damaging the exterior would leave the interior waterproof - it also means the exterior can be repaired anywhere along the way without compromising the waterproofing of the bag. On the bag back is a semi hard padded rubbing area to prevent wear. When rolled shut the bags have three securing straps with excellent buckles along with a number of tie on points for fixing roll bags tents etc to the top along with carry handles making them easy to move off the bike.. - excellent stuff. Internally the bags have an easy clean interior which has fold away compartment dividers, making it easy to separate your luggage internally into three compartments without additional bags, when folded out the way these allow full use of the internal space.
The bags can adjusted and fitted wherever you like them - they do not need racks in most cases depending on your bike and are easily mounted well forward to centralise the weight and avoid hot exhaust pipes or way back if you need to carry a passenger and when fitted are very secure and do not move or flap about nor do they stick out like a huge pair of suitcases causing wind sapping drag and wallow nor do they make the bike massively wider so sides of cars or bushes along the way are no longer a major problem along with the huge weight saving - these bags weigh about 3 kgs total).
The securing straps system consists of two over the saddle straps with velcro - more about that later and then lower front and mid rear tension strap to hold everything secure - this is clever as the front strap has a strong plastic clip buckle that on the strap carries right through to the rear part of the bag from the front lower where it attaches to the rear strap and come out the back so all the main tension on the strap (which happens to be elasticated rock strap)is transfered not soley to a velcro loop attachment point on the bag where it could break away in the event of catching on something very solid saving the bag as it moves away - but also to the bike attachment points on the bike along the strap itself at the rear behind seat or rack. The straps are very easy to fit and undo when wet or with cold hands. Once fitted the bags are very secure. The seat straps were the only area of complaint I had - they were to long for my bike and had to be cut down to fit (this meant re stitching the velcro) Also the straps are attached one to each bag then fit the other bag through a metal buckle of very good quality. I would have preferred separate straps altogether which would have made them easier to adjust to length and should it be required much easier to replace. I spoke to Enduristan directly about this - they were very open to this point and are in fact going to feature separate straps and two buckles per bag in the future design. Its a little point but one worth bringing up. All in all knowing what is involved in making luggage and having tried these Bags I would rate then very highly in the soft luggage world. Away from custom built products made exactly to your own requirements (expensive) means at only £215 you get a fantastic pannier system with excellent Build quality and features along with usability I give them 10 out of 10.