Steel Pony Knock Offs - Local Manufacturer

[Digger]

G'Day Slackers,
I've worn out my Steel Pony (SP) soft bags which needed replacement. As some riders would know, SP are still in the process of organising a supplier for their materials (or something like that). I handed my SP bags to a local bloke who agreed to 'copy' them (I did not want any changes made).
The only difference between the originals and these is that they do not have any 'stiffeners' inside which i did not ask for cause i use 25 litre plastic bins inside.
They worked out a little more than the SP ($500 after negotiation) but that may be a viable option rather than import more expensive ones seeing that the AUD is not as strong anymore.
I have no financial interest in the supplier...the only reason i post this is there may be other riders who might see this as an option.
If you want to know more, let me know. Additionally, if you want to use my old SP bags as an example for your own 'local bloke' to copy then let me know. I cant use them anymore as bags.

NB - Excuse my Homer Simpson fat fingers in the photo.

[old betsy]

Well

Nice looking bags in there soon to be Pilbara Red colour.

Ahab

[Digger]

Well
Nice looking bags in there soon to be Pilbara Red colour.
Ahab

Damn, am I that predictable. Pilbara Red is a nice colour

[old betsy]

Damn, am I that predictable

Well Yes, you are what we call a " Grey Nomad " since you retired.
You follow the sun.

[Robbo]

They look good Steve, there's not many people who can say they have worn a set of panniers out.
Robbo

[reklaw]

Digger - you must have considered and dismissed Andy Strapz bags, any particular reason?

[Digger]

Digger - you must have considered and dismissed Andy Strapz bags, any particular reason?

Just a tad too small for my 25 litre Willow plastic rubbish bins to fit in to. I use the bins to give the bags some shape and too allow me to not worry when I pack objects with sharp edges in them. They also provide an extra measure of water and weather proof if I wade thru water cause even if the bag gets wet (thru pin holes and tears in the bags) the bins keep the contents dry. Jamie recently destroyed a bag on Desert Raid and although the bag was a write off (it was staked and torn by a tree root) the bin allowed the contents to stay intact for the remainder of the journey. He uses a similar set up to me.
I usually stay with proven methods and this set up works for me so the extra $$$$ was not really a consideration.