Im Clueless

Hi Guys,

I`m planning on buying a new set of panniers for my touring bike (A Specialist Awol Elite Tourer). I`m thinking of going for some Ortileb Panniers but wanted to know if anyone has any opinions of them, positive or negative, before I make the purchase.

Kind Regards,

boomhauer

If you plan to tour yearly they are worth it.

Unfortunately, I waited almost 30 years before I decided.

elcruxio

We've been using ortlieb back and front roller panniers for years now. I honestly have nothing bad to say about them. They are durable, spacious, easy to use and waterproof enough to use as flotation devices.

They aren't indestructible though. I've broken a few. One front roller was pretty much destroyed when I tried to acquaint myself with the side of a mountain.
Another was punctured when I fell on the only descent in the Netherlands. That was an embarrassing moment... But I managed to repair it with this weird PVC fix stuff so now it's ugly but as functional as ever.

The old QL1 attachment system they used was prone to failure if you overtightened the hook mounting screws, but that's been since fixed with the QL2 system. It's actually pretty hard to find bags with QL1 nowadays.

I don't know about the competition that much. Some offer lighter weight (but aren't waterproof), some offer better compartmentalization but I haven't found that to be an issue since we compartmentalize with smaller ultra light bags inside the pannier.
Personally I don't see any benefit for a pannier not to be waterproof. Some argue that wet clothes/gear will start to mildew inside a waterproof pannier and that isn't an issue in a 'breathable' pannier. But my experience with moisture, breathable packs and gear is that even if the pack was made of mesh, stuff won't dry inside it. For drying air needs to circulate and that just doesn't happen inside a pack stuffed with gear. What will happen though, if you pack wet gear, is that the moisture will spread to all the other gear inside the pack.

So don't pack wet gear if you can avoid it. Dry stuff out of the bags whenever possible.

I suppose there's a reason why Ortlieb is the De Facto pannier in Europe and you'll need to go out of your way to find something else. Their base models just work. Attaching is easy and secure, they keep the water in and they are really quite durable against abrasions etc.

indyfabz

Love mine, but as noted, they are not indestructible. Punctured one of the outside pockets negotiating one of those cattle gates on the Mickelson Trail. Doesn't affect performance.

fietsbob

I use mine all the time .. even around town .. it's only dry here for a few months of summer...

79pmooney

I haven't used the big panniers nor toured with them, but I have been using the front rollers for 20 years, both in front and in back. Bought my first pair for my rain/winter/city fix gear for commuting. 10 years later I "retired" them, replaced the hardware, set them up as rear panniers and bought a new pair.

Issues I've had: The hardware doesn't last forever but any bike store (and probably us) can order new for ~$35. I use two different LowRider racks with different diameter tubing and get a loose fit with the smaller unless I change out the filler pieces which I won't bother with. I punctured one of the old panniers with a very sharp kitchen knife. Called a local rafting company and they walked me through a permanent repair. (If it were rafting season, I'd duct tape both sides of the rip and call them when the water is low. 3M waterproof duct tape would make a temporary repair that would get you through the next 5 years. Home Depot.)

I love that they last virtually forever, the company supports them, the fabric is completely repairable, they are completely waterproof (I could use my 20 year old ones to carry water across the Sahara with a better rack and hardware - they'd be very heavy!) and the access and seal system is so simple and reliable. Also that they go on and off so easily. I lift them off when I shop, dump them in the shopping cart and have the checker put my food back in the cart. I find a quiet space, load the bags and drop them back on the bike. Carry into the kitchen to load the shelves and fridge. (Paper bags and my car is not easier.)

Oh, a comment on Ortleib and customer service - granted 20+ years ago: I bought the Otleibs because they offered yellow at a time when every body was making panniers in black, blue or red. Bright just seemed like on of those little things that might just save my life once and I would never know, but still a good idea. So I asked about yellow panniers at a few bike shops. (I was new in town.) One, a coop, told me that a shop in the city north of here had asked Ortleib to do a run of their panniers using the yellow fabric they were using for their rafts. Ortleib did. I asked the coop to order me a pair. They did and more. Now everybody makes yellow panniers and I see them all over town. (I've been trying the same with SKS and their road width fenders but no luck so far.)

My next panniers will be Ortleib - except I don't expect to live that long. Maybe the big ones if I tour again, but just maybe. I really like the idea of keeping the back of the bike light, loading the fronts with all the heavy stuff. So those small old fronts may just stay on as rear panniers that don't attract weight. (Tent and bag on the rear rack.)

Edit: elcruxio said it! "Attaching is easy and secure, they keep the water in and they are really quite durable against abrasions etc." Yup, if you do choose to carry your water that way. Seriously - another plus - if you are carrying food (shopping) they clean up like a pot. That easy. Hang them upside down on a clothesline of hanger from the bottom hook to dry.

Ben

jlaw

I use the Ortlieb Rollers on my 2015 AWOL with a Tubus Tara front rack. The bike handles a low-slung front load well. I've never tried them on the back rack (took it off).

The Rollers are simple and waterproof with good volume. I also like them for around-town errands because I can leave them unrolled and stuff even more volume into them as compared to when they are rolled.

indyfabz

Wonder if the Ortlieb user hater will show up and tell us how we all wasted our money. I remember him telling us that his budget-concious panniers kept his gear "reasonably dry." I mentioned that I didn't know that "reasonably dry" meant. Another user suggested "frugally damp."

fietsbob

There is an add on mesh pocket.

it can fit your helmet in it or wet stuff that you stow outside of the pannier,

so don't get your dry things wet..

timdow

Many years ago, I tried a few other, less expensive brands, then I bought Ortileb panniers. That was the end of my search - they do everything I want them to do. The only thing that might sway me to a different system would be wanting to go ultralight, or possibly bikepacking with a seat bag instead.

debade

Thousands of miles with mine and wife's Ortliebs. Not sure what ours are called but they are not the roller style. I recently added an outside pocket attached to the side which was a nice addition for my just completed 1,800 mile tour. I strongly recommend the Ortlieb but I do not have a comparison since I started with them.

Im Clueless

Thank you all for your input. I've decided I'll go for some lagoon blue roller Ortileb panniers! They should look really nice on my white bike.

fietsbob

lighter colored side panels does help you see inside ... better than Black..

daoswald

I've never heard anyone say they wish they hadn't gotten their Ortlieb panniers because they would have been better off with something else.

I have the stupidly named Ortlieb Bike Shopper panniers, with the 2.1 mounting system. They affix easily to my Tubus Fly Evo, and my Tubus Cargo Evo racks, and lift back off the bike with the pull of a handle.

I use them for commuting and general carry purposes. A typical commute means a change of clothes, laptop, tablet, and some other odds and ends. But I also use them when I take the kids to the park, to tote along lunch, or really anytime I need to carry something somewhere by bike. They're waterproof and durable.

(I dislike the name because it feels like it undersells their quality and value. When I think of a shopper I think of canvass re-use grocery bags and rattly wire baskets.)

Steve B.

Well it's a German company I believe. It's typical of the Germans to be precise and I assume the label is the way to tell you it's designed for shopping.

Tandem Tom

We are currently cycling across Europe and our older Ortlieb panniers are still going strong. My only complaint is with my handlebar bag map case. I am on my 3rd. Ortlieb bag and each has had a different system for attachment. The current one,in my op is absolutely terrible and I have written Ortlieb about it. I mentioned that with German Engineering they could do better.

fietsbob

Their plastic gets cloudy real fast exposed in the sun...


Their old bag in version 3 used the plastic for convertible car top windows ..

Another map cover source: for Sail Boats .. navigational chart covers..







...

waddo

I have a pair. Not so fond of them. They are too heavy. The plastic is not flexible and you have to fight with it. Mine have no external pockets. Previous ones are no longer available but they were better. They were not waterproof but we organised all the stuff with plastic bags so they don't really need to be. The best thing about the Ortlieb is the shoulder strap which we need when carrying bikes in train stations.

Tourist in MSN

You did not say if you are getting the City version or the regular (more expensive) version.

The regular ones have a strap over the top. I often store rain gear on top of the front panniers held on with that strap. And that strap is used on the back if you get the 31 liter duffle to hold the duffle (I think they call it a rack pack) to the tops of the panniers.

A friend of mine has the City version, which is lighter. He is happy with them. I think the City version lacks the shoulder strap too, but I am not sure.

Mine are the regular ones in photo below, now about a decade old.

BigAura

Here are my Ortliebs (Front & Back Roller Plus series). They are 11 years old, 17,000 touring miles, plus periodically used around town for shopping.

The logo and reflector appliqués have started to peel, very-very-slight color fading, but they remain waterproof and perfectly functional. They are amazingly well built, I highly recomennd.


Picture from my Texas hills tour Spring, 2019