rack for an extended trip, front or rear?

[Asposium]

Planning (well considering) a bikepacking trip across the interior of Iceland.
Given the lack of resupply points, and need for more gear I doubt regular bikepacking bags will have enough capacity.
So, thought a set of panniers.
Of the two, which would people recommend, a front or rear rack?

[TheBrownDog]

It'd be a rear rack for me. Panniers on the front make wheel lifts and hike-a-bike a lot harder. But's that's just me. Rather than panniers, what about a big old dry bag strapped to the top of the rack?

[danielgroves]

To give an opposite opinion: front. Rear only is a pain in the arse as the bike will basically try and wheelie overtime you hit a climb on any gradient. Front doesn't mess up the handling *too* much sassing you're keep the wheels on the ground, and makes the weight a lot easier to manage in my opinion.

[ctznsmith]

Neither. How about Gorilla cages/mounts for an extra 10L of capacity?

[Asposium]

Neither. How about Gorilla cages/mounts for an extra 10L of capacity?

Count those a front rack vote.

[voodoo_simon]

Looking at a lot of American sites courtesy of The Radavist, I'd say the front.

Have never tried it though, only on the rear and seems to work well enough

[Steezysix]

Depends on the bike, some handle a front load better than others. I prefer a front rack, it does make lofting the front wheel harder while riding rough terrain, but is much better going uphill, standing pedalling and pushing the bike. There are few things as annoying as having rear panniers bump the back of your legs on a long hike a bike!

Also I think that moving the weight forward off the back wheel reduces stress and the risk of broken spokes.

Also it looks cool.

[danielgroves]

Depends on the bike, some handle a front load better than others. I prefer a front rack, it does make lofting the front wheel harder while riding rough terrain, but is much better going uphill, standing pedalling and pushing the bike. There are few things as annoying as having rear panniers bump the back of your legs on a long hike a bike!

Also I think that moving the weight forward off the back wheel reduces stress and the risk of broken spokes.

Also it looks cool.

There you go, justified much better than I did. THat's basically everything that flashed through my mind when I saw the question.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Front, for all the reasons already stated ... except the looking cool part.

I'd also fit a 'platform' type rack. My thinking is you're not limited to panniers and can just strap dry bags to it as required. It'll also provide somewhere secure to dangle your mug from

[danielgroves]

It'll also provide somewhere secure to dangle your mug from