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Seattle Sports Titan Review

A rugged, fully waterproof touring pannier that is affordable enough to buy two
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seattle sports titan bike pannier review
Credit: Seattle Sports
Price:  $75 List
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Manufacturer:   Seattle Sports
By Nick Bruckbauer ⋅   ⋅  Feb 21, 2020
74
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Mounting System - 25% 6.0
  • Storage - 20% 7.0
  • Durability - 20% 9.0
  • Weatherproofing - 20% 8.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Seattle Sports Titan wins our Best Buy Award once again because of its stellar overall performance and its affordable price tag. Ready for use right out of the box with no additional hardware, this bag is easy to install and remains secure on the rack. In addition to its large storage capacity, we appreciate the external pocket that allows for quick access to smaller items while on the saddle, as well as the useful compression straps and reflective materials to keep you visible on the road. The Titan is a great option for bike tourists or commuters, and anyone looking to save a few bucks on a durable, waterproof pannier.
REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Inexpensive
Easy to install
REASONS TO AVOID
Not sold as a pair
Lacks adjustable mounting hooks

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Seattle Sports Titan impresses once again with its durable and waterproof construction and scores well across the board with a surprisingly affordable price tag. While its mounting system is a little more basic and not as adjustable as what's found on other higher-end competitors, it certainly gets the job done, and adds to the simple and effective utility that this bag provides. With some of the burliest materials and most solid construction out of any model in our lineup, the Titan offers excellent value with a respectable all-around performance at a very reasonable price point.

Performance Comparison


seattle sports titan bike pannier review - the titan is a durable, waterproof, affordable touring pannier that...
The Titan is a durable, waterproof, affordable touring pannier that performs nearly as well as much pricer competitors.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Mounting System


We were impressed by how easy it is to mount this bag to the rack right out of the box without needing any adjustments or additional hardware. With a pair of bent plastic hooks up top and an adjustable lower support latch, the Titan is easily able to slide onto a variety of rack configurations without any trouble.


While the Titan's simple mounting system is easy to use, we weren't overly impressed by its security on our rack. This model is one of the only touring-specific panniers we tested whose mounting system doesn't have a way to click or lock into place. While this makes it pretty straightforward to attach and remove, it also leaves it susceptible to bouncing off while riding over bumpy terrain. Even if you don't plan on going off the pavement, it's still good reassurance to have a more secure attachment system. We also found that the latch at the bottom of the bag tends to loosen and slide away from its original position on extended rides.

seattle sports titan bike pannier review - simpler than other touring panniers, the mounting hardware of the...
Simpler than other touring panniers, the mounting hardware of the Titan didn't offer much in way of adjustments but we found it to be sturdy nonetheless.
Credit: Rob Woodworth

Most other higher-end panniers also come with highly adjustable mounting systems, with hooks that can tilt or slide back and forth, and latches that can slide and rotate. While those features make it easier to dial it a precise mounting position, the simple hooks found on the Titan will be suitable for most riders and most situations and are consistent with what's found on other panniers at this price point.

The mounting hooks firmly grasp the bike rack without the need for...
The mounting hooks firmly grasp the bike rack without the need for any adjustments. While this is a more basic mounting system, it is of typical quality and design for panniers at this lower price point.
The lower support hook helps ensure a secure attachment.
The lower support hook helps ensure a secure attachment.

Storage


Despite its somewhat unassuming appearance, this pack can haul quite a bit of gear. Compared to larger bags, the Titan's profile doesn't appear very voluminous, but we were able to everything from our touring pannier storage test inside, and still completely close it with three rolls on the top of the bag. The large main overall storage compartment with a wide opening and tapered shape is an efficient design that allows you to optimize the provided storage volume, and keep all your gear inside protected from the elements.


The external splashproof pocket, while on the smaller side, is a nice added feature to conveniently store items like keys, maps, or snacks in an easily accessible spot. The Titan also comes equipped with a longitudinal compression strap that helps support larger loads or cinch down and secure smaller loads, and helps keep the contents in place during especially rough rides. This is a nice bonus feature, and we're surprised that similar compression straps aren't found on many other panniers in this review.

Even though it is seemingly smaller than some other touring...
Even though it is seemingly smaller than some other touring panniers, the Seattle Sports Titan was able to accommodate all the gear we had selected for our storage test.
The Titan's (right) storage capacity is on par with other models...
The Titan's (right) storage capacity is on par with other models with higher stated volumes.

Durability


The nylon fabric used on the Titan has a full-coverage vinyl reinforcement that feels similar to heavy-duty rain gear and is on par with the most durable products that we tested. Not only does this, of course, provide stellar waterproofing, but it also means that this bag is extremely resilient to scuffing and abrasion. During our testing, the Titan withstood repeated abuse as we bushwhacked through black spruce, keeping up with similar products that are much more expensive.


While the overall build and high-quality materials of the Titan are impressive, the quality of the mounting hardware is a notable weakness when compared to other panniers. After using this bag for a month, one of our testers noted that one of the mounting clips starting showing some wear, not grasping onto the rack as tightly as it once did. While nothing was broken and the mounting system was still functional, it was clear that repeated use had put stress on the hardware. This could potentially become a concern with extended use on longer bike tours.

seattle sports titan bike pannier review - the well-built titan was able to handle awkward loads and poor...
The well-built Titan was able to handle awkward loads and poor conditions like a champ. We never doubted its resilience to hard use.
Credit: Rob Woodworth

Weatherproofing


Similar to the other top of the line roll-top style touring panniers that we tested, the Titan has exceptional weatherproofing. During our overnight rain test, it kept all the contents in its main compartment completely dry, while the external pocket had only trace amounts of moisture inside. Even though the external pocket has a splashproof zipper, there is a tiny opening near one end of the zipper seal that allowed some moisture to penetrate. Overall, the zipper seems robust enough to keep out road spray and sprinkling rain.


When it came to the dunk test, the Titan performed just as well as we'd hoped, keeping all of its internal contents completely dry. However, after 15 seconds underwater, the external zippered pocket had been breached with quite a bit of moisture. While we wouldn't expect this pannier to encounter a full submersion during a regular ride, it's worth pointing out that any water that got in past the zipper would be trapped inside due to the waterproof material.

seattle sports titan bike pannier review - the main compartment of the titan was impervious to water during our...
The main compartment of the Titan was impervious to water during our submersion test, though the external zippered pocket seemed to have a bit of a breach.
Credit: Rob Woodworth

Ease of Use


The Titan is an extremely user-friendly pannier, with very straightforward setup and installation. Requiring no adjustments out of the box, this is one of the only panniers in our lineup that comes ready for immediate use. Sometimes it's nice to be able to adjust the mounting hardware to get a better fit on the rack, but with the Titan, we never experienced any heel-clipping while riding, and thus never felt the need to adjust the mounting position.


One minor downside with using this bag is that the robust roll-top closure system makes accessing the main pocket a little more difficult, but we believe this is a fair tradeoff for keeping a watertight main storage compartment. Thankfully, the external zippered pocket is also there to stash smaller items and keep them more easily accessible while on the go. With reflective material on both sides and a padded handle for carrying off the bike, the Titan has several features that enhance the overall user experience. We do wish that it came with a shoulder strap for more comfortable carrying off the bike.

seattle sports titan bike pannier review - the roll-top closure and additional cinch straps making loading...
The roll-top closure and additional cinch straps making loading, unloading, and securing your gear simple and effective.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Value


This bag nearly has everything you could ask for in a hardcore bike touring pannier, and is also one of the least expensive products in the entire lineup. You could buy two Titans to create a pair of panniers, and still come in well under the price of several of its competitor products. With its extraordinary value, the Titan is a well-deserving repeat winner of our Best Buy Award.

seattle sports titan bike pannier review - the titan provides great value and is a well-deserving best buy...
The Titan provides great value and is a well-deserving Best Buy Award Winner.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Conclusion


Once again, the Seattle Sports Titan rides away with our Best Buy Award for its tremendous value and great versatility. It is both easy to install and remove from your frame without any additional hardware. The roll-top closure and cinch strap ensure that all your gear stays dry, and an external zippered pocket gives you the ability to stash smaller items away for easy access on the fly. Because of its affordability, we think this is a great option for first-time pannier purchasers. But whether you're on a budget or not, this is an excellent pannier to consider, and we firmly recommend it.

Nick Bruckbauer