Hi,i carry mostly food and cooking in the front panniers.On this trip the weight was 6.5 lbs on each pannier with approx twice that on each rear.On the road,low riders are hardly noticeable but offroad can be tricky not least because they snag on the greenery.The Karrimor panniers were purchased in 1990 and the bottom location is only by shock cord .The bungee prevents them swaying.