OK Talk to me about Ortlieb panniers...

[Bigtallfatbloke]

After several good soakings on the German tour recently I find myself finally swayed by the waterproof concept of these bags

So which ones are the best? I need front and rear and a bar bag. I need them to be at least as big as my carradice overlanders if not a bit bigger in terms of how much they can carry. I would rather have coloured bags as opposed to just black for safty reasons.

Anybody got a set they wish to sell?

 

[Andy in Sig]

There are two grades of material: one shiny and super thick and a much lighter version (which is what I've got and they are the mutt's nuts). You need the kind which roll down to seal them (pro-roller or something). In fact this very question was raised in Touring a week or two back and you'll probably be able to find it on page two or three.

Just checked: the thread is Actually Waterproof Panniers and is on P3 of touring. Go to P3 of the thread and see the links in Paul Smith's answer to my post.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Never understood the need for fully waterproof panniers or rucksacs. (although their classic Bar-bag is more convenient).

Large poly bags from Lakeland Plastics big enough to line the entire cavity are perfect. In fact having several of these in each pannier allow you to compartmentalise the space.

The roll tops are also the most awkward way to close a bag - again totally unnecessary unless you plan to immerse your panniers entirely underwater. Roll tops are perfect for dry bags in a canoe or caving, but inappropriate on a bike pannier.

Just got back from a ten day camping tour in continuous rain. Roll top Ortilieb panniers wouldn't have made it one iota easier. Don't spend money on 'upgrading' the ones you've got until they're worn out completely. Spend the money on going touring instead.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

..Ok..well my experience of several thunder storms in Germany was that my gear did get wet even through the bags and the liner...wet on top and damp further in. I accept this was seriously excessive rain but my riding partners ortliebs kept his kit dry.

I was thinking of flogging my bags on e bay and picking up some used ortliebs.

Using the external covers is ok, but it's a hassle and one more thing to carry and possibly lose/tear etc. ...also ridng all day with the constant noise of those covers flapping in the wind ...well...minor point I conced but the ortliebs just seemed to do the job better in bad weather on this tour.
I think it would make the difference of being confident to continue riding in the rain rather than sitting it out in a bus stop or worrying as I ride if my kit will be dry on arrival.


Andy i saw these:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Ortlieb_Back_Roller_Plus_Panniers/5360007501/

roll tops I think...?...now I need to find the mathing front bags..

 

[Riding in Circles]

Back roller plus, although all the Ortlieb are waterproof, that and the fact they are so well made is reason I sell them, I never have any come backs.

Tell me the capacity you require and I will tell you the models you want.

 

[Riding in Circles]

Fronts are called front roller plus by the way and bar bags are Ultimate 5 plus in 7l or 9l.

PM me and I can give you a price if you like, I am usually about the same as Wiggle on these, sometimes a little better.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

External covers are indeed useless - no one is trying to suggest otherwise.

But with decent plastic bag liners, your stuff will stay dry - unless your plastic they have holes in them. exactly the same story with the Ortliebs!

It sounds like you need a five quid upgrade. Don't go using a two hundred quid hammer to crack this egg!

 

[Bodhbh]

The roll tops are also the most awkward way to close a bag - again totally unnecessary unless you plan to immerse your panniers entirely underwater. Roll tops are perfect for dry bags in a canoe or caving, but inappropriate on a bike pannier.

Not got much experience of different types of panniers, as figured if was gonna get them might as well get the ones that seem to get the best writeup and hopefully they'll get a good few years use. I was a little wary of the rolltops, but having a play with both them and the backpacker type bags, did find the rolltops bit more convenient for opening and closing than the 2 drawstrings and 2 buckles of the backpacker.

Are pretty impressively waterproof from what I've seen. On way back from supermarket a badly attached pannier full of beer bottles broke loose going downhill. 1/2 the bottles smashed ofc, so I took it home and emptied the tap into it to rinse it out, just filled up like a big camelsack, no leaks at all.

 

[Andy in Sig]

..
Andy i saw these:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Ortlieb_Back_Roller_Plus_Panniers/5360007501/

roll tops I think...?...now I need to find the mathing front bags..

Yeah that looks like it, except mine are black. If Catrike can do you a decent deal, it might be an idea to sort out the details with him.

 

[Riding in Circles]

Yeah that looks like it, except mine are black. If Catrike can do you a decent deal, it might be an idea to sort out the details with him.

I just looked at the Wiggle prices and I am better than them on all the Ortlieb range, I have a special deal with Ortlieb which puts me semi OEM as I am doing a special on a model of trike with Ortlieb panniers included.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

thanks for the kind offer...but I was thinking used off ebay and cheap....one thing i think might be effective is to take the supplied orange liner bags out of my carradice bags and use them on the outside of the pannier as a rain cover...not ideal at all but cheap...I just need to get some heavy duty rubble sacks from somewhere for the inside now....that'll do short term...but I will still change ove rth ebags to ortliebs sometime over the winter.

 

[jags]

btfb do yourself a favour ,get the ortlieb panniers there a great job last forever.

 

[Cathryn]

I've got Ortliebs and I love them.

I don't think they're perfect - once they're closed, they're a pain in the bottom to open again (ie getting your waterproofs out in a sudden rain storm) but they're totally waterproof.

This is really shallow, and I freely admit it, but I loved being part of the ortlieb 'club'. There's like a nod of fellowship when you see another Ortlieb bearer. I liked that. But's silly, I admit!

Anyway, I would definitely recommend Ortliebs.

 

[Cathryn]

I honestly don't quite know what it does, but I assumed that was me!!! I tried to make them look like they do on the pictures online and hoped I got it right. I don't think it makes much difference.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

Everybody I saw in germany was using Ortliebs...and over there every other bike is a fully loaded tourer on the Radwegs along the rivers. It's a little like the BMW thing...here in the UK owning a Beamer is like a club membership, but in Germany it's just normal.

Ihave a dilema..it's called cash...having just got home from a tour all I want to do is start another tomorrow...I hav ealready toyed with jumping on a ferry to Hook of Holland and heading up along the Dutch coast for a week crashing out on the beaches as I go and taking it very easy each day...just a doddle really...or I can go into the LBS and get that Bianchi I came home for, or I can buy the ortliebs and head off to France...brain says Bianchi and stay home, heart says ortliebs and France...comprimise is a cheaper bianchi and the Dutch beaches....hmmm....I think i will end up with the bianchi, some day rides from home during the rest of the summer...may even head back up to the Norfolk coast...then swap over my bags over the winter and re fit reading for a bigger tour next year....which is the next challenge I need to get my teeth into....basically i have to avoid the depression creeping back up on me, which it is already doing since I got back....new bianchi will give me a nother reason to ride....