Given panniers come in only a few colors and tend to resemble each other, have any of you taken to marking your bags for identification at hostels or for reclaiming in the event of theft?
I have seen some riders with their names scrawled across the face of their bags in Magic Marker to deter theft, but it sort of ruins their appearance in my eyes. It seems a popular thing to do on large mass rides where panniers may be transported in organizers' vans (i.e. Cycle Oregon rides here in the States). I added a couple club patches to my Ortlieb Packer Plus bags using some Seam Grip adhesive to avoid causing leaks by stitching them on. That helps me find my own bags, but isn't much help to others. I have seen some bags marked with the serial number of the owner's bicycle, so the two can be matched together. Fine unless one uses their bags on multiple bikes.
I'm now contemplating discretely marking my bags on the wheel side with my name so I and others can identify them without feeling like a kindergartener whose mother has just written my name on the back of my shirt collar.
I've had good luck in the past using acrylic paint pens to mark nylon fabric. These work pretty well and are weatherproof once dried, though it can take multiple applications to "seal" the surface and get a good, crisp result and is permanent unless covered in some way.
So, with regard to bag labeling, what do ya? Name or no, and if so, where and with what?
Best,
Dan.
