This post compares three of the best Ortlieb bike panniers for touring and commuting. We consider Ortlieb panniers to be premium waterproof panniers, and we recommend them for both touring and commuting. If you regularly ride your bike in the rain, then good, strong, waterproof panniers are no doubt important in your life. I know they are in ours. In this post, we offer suggestions for setting yourself up with waterproof bike panniers that will make your bike touring and bike commuting easier and more enjoyable. And keep your stuff dry, of course. Ortlieb panniers are extremely popular with bike commuters and bike tourers, and for good reason.
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Related Post: 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers
Ortlieb Offers a Range of Waterproof Panniers
Ortlieb offers a range of waterproof panniers, and I am featuring the best of these here. They come with a fairly large price tag for a pair of them, but their fans swear they are worth every penny. And they do have a whole lot of fans.
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Related Post: 7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Panniers
Related Post: Review of the Two Wheel Gear Garment Pannier Set
Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic Waterproof Bike Panniers
As the name suggests, these panniers are designed to be carried on your rear rack.
Key Features of Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic Waterproof Bike Pannier
- They are completely waterproof, thanks to strong polyester materials and the roll-over style closure on the top.
- The QL2.1 mounting System fits perfectly with standard bike racks, such as the Topeak Super Tourist rack. The mounts fit snugly, so the panniers are immobile and do not rattle. The QL in QL2.1 stands for Quick Lock.
- When setting them up, they can be easily adjusted to avoid heel strike.
- Once your initial fine-tuning is done, they are super quick and easy to take on and off.
- They are very spacious (40 L capacity for the pair). For example, you can transport a tent and sleeping bag on one side, and still have space for the rest of your gear on the other side.
- As a size guide: you can fit in full-size frozen pizzas!
- They have a small pocket inside for keeping your smaller items in an easy-to-find pace.
- Also, they have an internal mesh pocket at the rear, which works well for small laptops.
- They ship with both a carrying handle and a shoulder strap, which is ideal for both commuting and touring.
- The Classic has buckles that can be clipped to each other, so you can transform two panniers into one unit when transporting them off the bike.
A lot of people have figured out that Ortlieb panniers will keep your stuff safe and dry, even over long distancesOrtlieb Back-Roller City Waterproof Bike Panniers
These are very similar to the Ortlieb Back-roller Classic. They have most of the same great features. However, they are a lot cheaper because they lack a few of the features of the Classic model. If you don’t need those features, they are a great deal.
The mounting system on an Ortlieb Back-Roller City PannierRelated Post: Maggie’s Review of the Two Wheel Gear Garment Pannier Set
Related Post: Review of the Two Wheel Gear Convertible Pannier Backpack for Cyclists
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Differences between the Ortlieb Back-Roller City Pannier and the Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic Pannier
- The Classic has compression straps that double as carry handles. However, the City has no straps. You can buy a strap separately, but then you might end up paying more than you would have for a Classic.
- The City is just one big bag. The Classic has two inner pockets. It has a large, flat pocket that you can use for a small laptop, and a small zippered one that is handy for keys, wallet, etc.
- The Classic has buckles with straps so you can close them more quickly. Plus, it is quicker to access stuff if you don’t fold it down as much (for example, when it is not raining).
- The Classic has buckles that can be clipped to each other, so you can transform two panniers into one unit when transporting them off the bike. However, the City does not have these buckles.
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Ortlieb Front-Roller Classic Waterproof Bike Panniers
These are smaller panniers, designed to be attached to your front wheel. They hold 12 L each, for a total of 24 L for the pair. These are panniers that have been extremely highly rated by hundreds of reviewers over the years, and by people who do highly adventurous bike tours. The panniers sit on each side of your front wheel, designed for optimal weight distribution and protection. They feature water-proof roll closures, a shoulder strap, and of course the Ortlieb QL system (the updated and improved QL2.1 system). Plus, reflectors for high visibility.
Like the other Ortlieb panniers featured in this post, these panniers are completely waterproof. Proof of the pudding lies in the eating: take a good look the next time you see an intrepid bike tourer. Chances are very strong they will have Ortlieb panniers on their front wheels!
Bottom Line on Ortlieb Waterproof Panniers
These are not the cheapest panniers, but they are almost universally loved by those who take the plunge and buy a pair of them. I have not been able to find a single review anywhere that faults their waterproofness or their carrying capacity. So, if you commute or tour in the rain, these are likely to be worth the investment for you.
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Note: If you want more options for bike panniers, check out my post on 7 of the best bike panniers.
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