I recently switched from riding with a backpack on , to a front Wald 198 basket and rear rack .
Happy to get that monkey off my back .
My current everyday carry , is a 12 L x 13 H x 8 W re-usable shopping bag , and I prefer using the basket to the rear rack , though I haven't yet tried panniers , or a transverse saddlebag .
I also prefer 700c to 26 or 650b .