I registered just so that I could add my 2 cents as well. I bought some XTR-level racks and panniers a little before the new 'rackless' style took off. I see how the new style is better, because pounds of pannier strapped to pounds of rack makes a "light" hardtail weigh over 30 pounds... even before you start to put things in it. That having been said, I really, really like the way my bike rides with the panniers. Maybe more importantly for the OP, my bike doesn't have eyelets for rack mounting, either. There are a bunch of racks like Spoonie's, that attach differently, work without eyelets, work with disc, even with full suspension. I have been really happy with my Old Man Mountain racks, which were originally designed for full-sus bikepacking. I did a trip on my FS bike with the Old Man racks, it worked great and the bike rode amazingly well. As a disclaimer, I do not work for OMM. I've just used their stuff for a long time, and I'm stoked on them. They hold up great, and I really can't say enough good things about them.