Ortlieb Back Roller Classic Ortlieb Sport Roller Classic Ortlieb Ultimate 6 Pro. Job done 👍🏻. I rarely use the strap to fasten though - I fasten the two buckles directly to each other.
I use Ortlieb and have found them bomb proof and easy to use. If you follow lots of long distance cyclists they are obviously very common and get great reviews
I have 2 Altura 35l bags at the rear that's all I have I use a cross bike I converted to a tourer I use a Madison rack to hang the Altura's I'm thinking about a small front bag but the Ortlieb is maybe a bit too pricey for all you get.Looks solid though.
I have a set of Ortlieb Back-Roller Plus out of the Cordura fabric for 25 years, besides the Front-Roller Plus (now renamed to Sport-Roller) + a Rack-Pack Plus size M Duffelbag to use on top of them and an Ultimate 2 Plus which I stop using now because it doesn't fit on the Jones Style Alt handle bar I switched recently from a flat bar. I use the Back-Roller literally every day all year long for commuting grocery shopping carrying lots of stuff and of course for bike touring. After this time the reflector prints wear partly off, I got on one a little puncture hole which was easy to fix with some SeamGrip and two Buckles broke but you can still get replacements from Ortlieb for the older pre '98 "Mojave" versions for a few bucks, many Bike + Outdoor Shops at least in Germany have those even in stock and a local shoemaker could fix it for me. A testament to the build quality, they last and last and last.
Wow, 25 years. That's a lot of bang for your buck I guess. I think I've had mine for 7-8 years now, and they still feel brand new. I don't use them on a daily basis, I have my Frame bag for my commuting needs. But my wife uses my Front-Rollers for her daily commute and she loves them as well.
I have a set of rear Axiom Monsoon Oceanweave 45 panniers, bought them back in 2019. They are completely waterproof roll down top that clip closed on each side, but I don't trust anything that says they are waterproof, so I inserted a brown heavy-duty yard waste bag into the bags, the bags will also keep anything that might leak inside the bag from ruining the interior of the panniers. I also put stuff I want to make sure won't get wet or leak out into plastic Ziplock bags. The last thing I want is stinky gooey stuff all over my stuff. Even though the panniers are waterproof I bought a pair of rain covers, but I really wanted them to protect the panniers from abrasion wear. All of that plastic stuff is a bit overkill I realize that, but better safe than sorry. I got mine at a huge discount which made them about $100 less than the Ortlieb's at the time, now they're about the same price. Is the Axiom Monsoon Oceanweave the best pannier? I have no clue, never had any other pannier, and so far they're showing no wearing after 2 years of use, The first 2 years was the Covid years I didn't use them at that time; they're easy to put on, and take off, I've had no negatives with the panniers. I ruled out the Carradice CarraDry due to the lack of a roll-down top, other tourists I spoke to over the years all said that any pannier without a roll-down top will leak, especially in heavy downpours. Row-down tops are also very easy to open, the complaint about that is unfounded. My pannier racks are Tubus Cargo rear rack which came with the bike, it seems to work great, no need to replace it if it works. Then the front I took off the Tubus Lowrider rack because I don't use front panniers, and instead went with the Blackburn Bootlegger on which my sleeping bag, and air mattress all wrapped up in a brown yard waste bag, get bungeed down to. I also have a Topeak Tourguide DX handlebar bag, I opted for that bag because it had the largest liter capacity of any bag I found with an 8-liter capacity. That bag is not waterproof, I did spray the crap out of it with waterproofing spray and had to spray the rainfly it came with as well because it didn't stop a downpour either, then I use a white small trash bag I cut to fit inside the bag and then roll it up, plus put stuff into Zip lock bags to guarantee not getting wet. But I wanted a large bag with a map cover, and no other handlebar bag offered what I wanted. I don't understand why Topeak won't make those bags waterproof, they know they're being used for touring, thus they'll get rained on, strange, I sent an email to Topeak 2 years ago about it but never heard a response, nor have they changed the bag. I got to work obviously, but does leave me scratching my brain over their lack of logic.
Great Video. I always rolled and clipped tight on top of the bags I never used the shoulder straps as you demonstrated. Yours is a flatter more compact and easier method. I also secure each bag to the panner using the top over the top strap and buckle. To reduce wobble, especially when off road, I have flat-elastic bungies that go through the strap retainer points on the outside of each bag and back around to attach to the rack - uprights. Great video thank you.Safe cycling.
Timely Video Mike, I ordered a rear pair of Ortlieb panniers a few weeks ago online and have been waiting and waiting for them to arrive. My wife says she's going make me some soon so she doesn't have to hear me complain about where they are! Have axiom bags on my Kona Sutra now ...recently added Specialized pizza rack and bag, looks a little funky but well balanced with loaded front panniers on! Anyway fingers crossed. Really enjoyed France trip ...looked tough well done, safe travels! 👋🇨🇦
Thank you Paul! Hope they will arrive soon and that everythings starts to go back to normal so that you'll be able to go out riding with your new panniers soon.
Great review Mike. You explained everything clearly and concisely and explained just about everything that I was curious about Ortlieb Panniers. Only other question I have is how the bottom clip hold onto the rack. An unimportant question really as if I were to see one being attached it would be obvious. I have had Ortlieb in my mind as a replacement for my “free” panniers which are rather lightweight when they finally self destruct. Keep up the great work Mike.
Thank you very much for your response Glenn! Well the function of the bottom tab is to prevent the pannier to move in a horisontal direction (i.e. mostly prevent it from going forard and hit your heel). You can basically move it and rotate it however you want depending on how your rack is constructed.
Thanks Mikael. ...the plus series looks nice, I like the adjustable hanger system. They appear to be a bit less cumbersome than that on the classic series. Enjoyed as always ....have a great one...and stay safe.
I have a couple of Altura rear panniers which I've had since 2014 still good as new I have a long chain which I connect to both panniers and run through the rack good for security at stops etc Never had a pannier bounce off but it would stop that happening as well.
I use ortleab, I got front ones replaced thorns put holes in both , i think they should have a thin pastic sheet on the bottom that comes 3 or 4 inches up the sides to deflect thorns etc from putting holes in them and to be able to put them down without worrying about the bottom getting damaged.
Can't get better than the Ortliebs. My first no-name brand rear panniers were cheap enough but my heels contacted the front of the bag with every turn of my feet. The Ortliebs have just enough clearance, thank goodness, and they are dry inside.
condensation. if you ride in areas where you get wet when you crawl out of your tent, sealed panniers like ortlieb will trap moisture as the day warms up. i had the best luck with water resistant panniers and large freezer bags. i used seam sealer on the panniers and didn't seal the freezer bags unless rain was imminent.
Good point David. Condensation is a bike tourists enemy. I tend to separate my wet things (flysheet, rainjacket and so on) and put them in one pannier so the thing that I want to keep dry don't get moist.
When looking for panniers I ended up choosing a brand which just might be superior to Ortelieb, called Carradice Carradry Rear. The reasons for my choice were: 1- while 100% rainproof, it has a top lid instead of roll opening which is much easier to open and close 20 times a day while touring. 2 -The support bar, at the back, is made of aluminium, not plastic, so it does not deform with weight. 3 - It has an outside pocket, glued on, no seams, which is very handy 4 - It has straps over the lid so you can strap a tent or sleeping mat on top. 5 - Over the lid there is another handle, not just at the back, so when you carry it it is quite balanced and hangs straight down. 6 - It has interior document pockets with zipper. 7 - It has a strong back plate for protection, the clips are adjustable and lock on to the rack. 8 - The pair weighs 1850g. 9 - The cost is less than half of Ortlieb. Now they just need to pass the test of time.
@@philiporourke7896 So far so good over a few thousand kms but then its no world tour. In reality I kind of miss my old ones which my wife now uses, made of cloth, much more comfortable to the touch, deform to the interior objects so you can stuff them, with different exterior pockets, for wet clothes, shoes or jacket and very sturdy because it is an entire continuous seam that support each bag and not just two stressed clips. As for rain they come with a waterproof pull over cover. Not too practical but effective. Sometimes simple solutions are best.
Hello, BTM~ My >ancient< Back-Roller panniers are black, shiny on the inside but with a textile look on the outside. Years ago I wanted to freshen their appearance so I sprayed them with tire black. They looked great until the dust began to stick. Can you suggest a cleaning method plus a better coating? I never need the full waterproofing for which Ortlieb is famous but I probably should protect the bags from UV & maintain the material. I'm just a city rider but these bags are great for groceries. Thanks in advance.
Hello Finley! They are completely waterproof I have never gotten a single drop of water inside of them. And I have toured in torrential downpour with them. The only chance of getting moist inside is when.you bring it in yourself, as with a wet tent or towel.
@@BikeTouringMike Just curious - why didn't you choose the classic back/front rollers? Because you liked the look of the plus version better? They certainly look very nice. The color of yours doesn't even seem to have faded (?)
I felt the fabric and found it nicer than the classic ones that are made out of PVC. They felt a little to plastic to me. I bought a new pair a year ago, so there is a 4 year difference between mine. And you can see a tiny bit of difference in color if you look closely. But if you didn't know about the age difference you probably wouldn't notice it.
I don't think you'll feel any weight difference once you're on the bike. I just went for the plus model since I liked the look and feel of them over the classic ones that are mare out of PVC.
@@BikeTouringMike I followed your lead, I did try the smaller ones but too small really as only set of panniers, so std(s) as sleeping bag mostly consumed the small ones w sleeping pad. Tent mounts to bars if needed. Good reviews and excellent ideas, thank you!
Hello Mike! I recently came back from a four day trip where I used drybags that was mounted to my seatpost, top frame bar and handlebars. They were fine, but I found it to be time consuming and fiddly to remove and reattach them every day, and finding what i was looking for took forever because they are tube-shaped. I use a road bike or a gravel bike when I go touring and I was wondering if you have any tips or recommendations for me on what kind of panniers i should choose? I really like your setup and i would actually prefer a setup like yours on my bike for storrage space, availability and stability. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Keep up the good work and keep making your awesome videos! We need them, especially in these times.
Well it depends on what type of road surface your planning on going on and how much gear your want to bring. If you're like me mostly cycling on paved roads and plan to be away for a week or so then I would really recommend getting panniers like I showed in the video. If you're planning on doing more off-road cycling and don't plan to be away for more than a couple of days a bike packing setup would be to prefer. Kind of what you had, but with bags more specified for that use. If we go back to the pannier setup. I would first recommend to get a pair of rear panniers plus a handlebar bag. For most of the bike tours I do I would be OK with just those three bags. When I'm going for more than a week and plan to do activities off the bike (such as hiking) I tend to want to bring my two front panniers as well. But get the two rear panniers first, and see how much space you need for your gear, then you can think about getting the front panniers. When you want to attach front panniers you're going to have to get front racks (lowriders) as well, and it can sometimes be a bit tricky to find a front rack that fits your bike well. Please feel free to ask more questions if this didn't make any sense or if there is something else you're wondering about.
@@BikeTouringMike Thank you for your reply Mike. Your comments and the new video, on the Ortlieb Ultimate 6 handlebar bag, made my decission easy. I have just ordered both the Back Roller Plus rear panniers and the Ultimate 6 Plus handlebar bag. I even went for the Ortlieb Saddle Bag Two for i little bit of extra easily accessible storrage. As you said the panniers were indeed a bit priceyI, but not if I can use them for more than five years and they still perform as if they were brand new! I also found a product from Thule called P'nP Tour Rack XT and P'nP Side Frames to fit the panniers on my cyclocross bike, as I don't have the correct mounts on it for a conventional luggage carrier. I'm already planning my next trip to test the new setup and can't wait! Thanks for the help, and until next time, have a good one :)
Hi, Mikael. I own a pair of Ortlieb Back Roller Plus panniers in "dark chili" (red) color and a Topeak rear touring rack. I don't have front panniers, but have an Ortlieb Handlebar-Pack, a TopeakMTX TrunkBag DX with built-in panniers, and a Topeak TourGuide Handlebar Bag DX (7.70 L).
Nicely done video mike. I bought the Ortlieb Classic, mainly because that is what the local shop stocked, and I also thought the outside material of the plus could hold water or dirt, whereas the classic can be wiped dry. Anyway I see yours look fine. I think I would prefer the plus because they look less like they are made of artificial material but I also think they might be lighter in weight than the Classic. I agree they are quite fine panniers but I don't really like that the carrying straps position when closed as they could get caught by branches etc.
I put my bike at least 20 times a day in a ditch or up against a tree to film when I'm riding by. And the panniers never get more dirty than what a wet cloth can wipe off. The classic panniers are nice as well, but I'm not that fond of PVC.
Hi Mike I’ve just bought a compact e-bike, Riese & Mueller Tinker. It can’t take any front panniers so I’m thinking I should get as big as possible on the back. The Backroller Pro is 35l x2. The bike’s rack has a 20kg limit. Do you think the bike’s handling on hills and off road will be ok? The Pro bags stick out a bit further than the 20l (26cm instead of 17cm). Is that a problem when touring do you think?
Hey Mike. I think the best of the best, available on the market is Arkel. Have you tried them? They are ridiculously expensive but the quality and the design is just next level
People from Canada seem to swear by them. A lot of people leaving comments have the same opinion as yourself. So they have to be really good. And no, I haven't tried them out. Unfortunately they are not easy to find over here in Europe. In fact I don't really ever seeing one in a bike shop over here.
I've hosted more than a hundred bike travelers and none of them had Arkel bags. Mostly people who really travel far use Ortlieb. And ofc we're in Europe, so it's a no-brainer.
@@BikeTouringMike it's a great set up! I also use the G7x, amazing little camera. For audio I'll definitely look into the Zoom. The online reviews are all positive. Thanks for sharing!
Hi George! I use two different tripods. The first one, and the one that I use most of the time is called Velbon EX-640. It's a rather bulky tripod and weighs 1,67 kg. It's one of the tallest tripods out there, but I need it since I'm 188 cm and want to be able to stand level with the camera. I mostly use it when I'm filming my videos at home, but I also bring it on my tours here in Scandinavia. The second one is a much smaller trip called Hama Star 5.This one is much lighter, it only weighs 0,5 kg. But it has it's limitations. First of all, it's only 153 cm fully raised. And second it is much more unstable than my larger tripod. And I've experienced the downside of this. I brought this tripod when I did my tour in Provence 1,5 years ago. And I had set up the camera on the tripod and was riding by for a nice sunset shot, when the wind caught the camera and flipped the tripod over. I ended up with a crooked lens and the shutter was all messed up as well. I did manage to fix it when I got back home. But I have learned from this experience and I am a bit hesitant to use this tripod if it's windy. There are smaller lightweight tripods with a hook underneath that are supposed to be more stable. You can hang a pannier or something in the hook to make the tripod stable. So in the future I might look into getting one of those.
@@BikeTouringMike Thank you so much ! It's a good idea to use the panniers for more stability. I saw that episode in France when the wind crooked the lens of your G7X Mark II .
Yes, I got these a couple of years before getting the pros. But these ones are basically the same, just a little bit smaller. Same fabric. The Pros are better if you're not able to have front panniers and need a lot of space in the rear panniers. But that might also lead to a lot of pressure on the rear wheel, so you might encounter a broken spoke or two. It's always best to balance the weight evenly over the bike.
I’ve taken these out on the road for a week trip and having real issues with adjusting the bottom tab to fit both my Ortlieb rear rack and tubus big apple front rack, when I can find an attachment point the lower tab looks totally stressed and rarely remains in place very long. I nearly lost one of my back panniers on the first day , it was hanging on by one clip, so I began feeding the upper strap through the rack frame as an extra level of security. Any suggestions?
Hey Mike, thanks for the great video! I'd love to ask you something about the Ortlieb plus series, as I'm currently trying to decide whether to get the classic or the plus ones!! :) so hard choice because they both seem to be awesome quality and I love the look of them both. I'd like to know what it's like when the bags got really wet from heavy rain and you set up camp and take the bags into your tent. I imagine that the classic ones you could quickly wipe with a towel so they'd be dry. But the plus ones? Thank you so much! I trust your advice because your videos are so honest and authentic.
So here's the deal. It has never been a problem with the Plus bags. I usually don't take more than one or two inside the tent on a normal night. And on a rainy night I'll probably leave most of them outside or in the vestibule. I don't want to get any more moist than necessary inside the tent. I just make sure that they are rolled up properly so that the moist doesn't get inside of the pannier. And regarding wiping them off, I usually just shake them off and wipe them off with my hand. They dry up really quick, just a little bit of wind will do the trick. They are almost always dry in the morning if they have been outside during the night.
Czy znasz jakikolwiek bagażnik przedni na którym można zamontować sakwy ortlieb sport roller plus? Producent podaje, że łącznie mają udźwig 18kg, ale nie mogę znaleźć żadnego bagażnika przedniego o podobnym udźwigu.
Tubus and Ortlieb are both imported to the US by the same company, the load ratings for the Tubus Tara front rack is also 18kg. I use my sport rollers along with a Neewer padded camera case that fits perfectly to transport camera equipment. It’s expensive and kinda heavy - Tubus and Ortlieb have never let me down.
Hej, Ortlieb have made the best panniers for many years now. In my opinion (which counts for nothing😁). Always very durable, properly waterproof and a good investment. Did your lost pannier ever find it's way back to you?
I always worry about theft when touring. I run a bicycle lock cable through my Ortlieb bag eyelets and then through the bike rack. Both rear bags are locked onto the bike with the one cable. I lock them on before I start cycling in the morning. It is a hassle but gives me some piece of mind when I am getting groceries.
I am looking for a dog carrying system that is cheap. My dog is good for 10 miles of running along and around with me--sometimes more. Ortlieb needs a dog compartment for a 23 pound beast on those bags. :
If you hang your backroller on the bike with the female clip pointing downwards and then connect the male clip over the carrier then it's secured, then you can't lose the bag🙂, i hope you understand what i mean🤣, i always do that.
It is a Kona Sutra. It came with the rear rack but the front rack I have added myself. But it is super easy to add. There are several mounts for it on the fork. I have a review of the bike over here: ruclips.net/video/XqYXDV8018k/видео.html
They are cycling all the time. We live in a cycle-friendly community so they ride their bikes to school every day. There are a couple videos when they join me on a couple of shorter tours, if you browse through my videos. And I hope one or two of them will join me on an overnight tour pretty soon.
I purchased the Ortlieb Classic Back & Sport Rollers and I'll try them out on my first long distance bike tour this summer :) They seem like great bags, I am just disappointed that my sport rollers make a rattling sound, even when I am riding on smooth asphalt roads :( My racks are from Tubus. I am trying to find a solution, if someone has experience with this or an idea, it would be most appreciated! :) Happy cycling everyone!
You are not going to get rid of all noise when camping or touring on a bike, there is nothing wrong with that. You could try to see what is causing the noise, and maybe use some bungee cords to fasten the bags more securely to the rack, but like I said, you will always have some sort of noise.
Looks like a sweet ride. If I were to buy an E-bike in the future I would definitely buy one with a crank motor like your bike has. Seems more logic than to have the motor in the hub.
@@BikeTouringMike i have 5 assists to ride up steep hills and when you ride on strait trails you can ride without assists just turn them off ride as normal .
Bike Touring Mike Agree, PVC is something I'm avoiding, too, for its environmental impact. Have you compared the sport roller plus model to the gravel pack? My commute is 20 kms one-way and on 95% gravel roads. Really like the plus model but mainly worried about stability and the shoulder strap possibly getting caught in twigs or branches.
The bike is solid and my Ebike conversion went great. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Very smooth ride at 30mph with no problems (135 miles ridden so far). The picture is a bit deceiving - there is WAY less space in the center of the frame than it shows. The suspension connection takes up the entire thing. So I needed to attach my battery on the bottom of the frame and my controller on the top. Instructions for assembly were lacking but honestly it wasn't too hard to figure out even though I have very little bike knowledge. Watched some youtube videos on adjusting the disk brakes but that was it. Still, I am loving it and very happy with the purchase.
I had no idea about this brand, so I had to do a google search. I think they are called KLICKfix here in Sweden. Seems like a high quality brand. Well, they are German, of course it's high quality.
What type of panniers do you use? I'm curious to know.
Ortlieb Back Roller Classic
Ortlieb Sport Roller Classic
Ortlieb Ultimate 6 Pro.
Job done 👍🏻.
I rarely use the strap to fasten though - I fasten the two buckles directly to each other.
I use Ortlieb and have found them bomb proof and easy to use. If you follow lots of long distance cyclists they are obviously very common and get great reviews
restrap.com/collections/panniers/
Hand made about 10 miles from my house!
I use Arkel panniers. Love them. Made in Canada. My bike dealer recommended them.
I have 2 Altura 35l bags at the rear that's all I have I use a cross bike I converted to a tourer I use a Madison rack to hang the Altura's I'm thinking about a small front bag but the Ortlieb is maybe a bit too pricey for all you get.Looks solid though.
I have a set of Ortlieb Back-Roller Plus out of the Cordura fabric for 25 years, besides the Front-Roller Plus (now renamed to Sport-Roller) + a Rack-Pack Plus size M Duffelbag to use on top of them and an Ultimate 2 Plus which I stop using now because it doesn't fit on the Jones Style Alt handle bar I switched recently from a flat bar. I use the Back-Roller literally every day all year long for commuting grocery shopping carrying lots of stuff and of course for bike touring. After this time the reflector prints wear partly off, I got on one a little puncture hole which was easy to fix with some SeamGrip and two Buckles broke but you can still get replacements from Ortlieb for the older pre '98 "Mojave" versions for a few bucks, many Bike + Outdoor Shops at least in Germany have those even in stock and a local shoemaker could fix it for me. A testament to the build quality, they last and last and last.
Wow, 25 years. That's a lot of bang for your buck I guess. I think I've had mine for 7-8 years now, and they still feel brand new. I don't use them on a daily basis, I have my Frame bag for my commuting needs. But my wife uses my Front-Rollers for her daily commute and she loves them as well.
I have a set of rear Axiom Monsoon Oceanweave 45 panniers, bought them back in 2019. They are completely waterproof roll down top that clip closed on each side, but I don't trust anything that says they are waterproof, so I inserted a brown heavy-duty yard waste bag into the bags, the bags will also keep anything that might leak inside the bag from ruining the interior of the panniers. I also put stuff I want to make sure won't get wet or leak out into plastic Ziplock bags. The last thing I want is stinky gooey stuff all over my stuff. Even though the panniers are waterproof I bought a pair of rain covers, but I really wanted them to protect the panniers from abrasion wear. All of that plastic stuff is a bit overkill I realize that, but better safe than sorry. I got mine at a huge discount which made them about $100 less than the Ortlieb's at the time, now they're about the same price. Is the Axiom Monsoon Oceanweave the best pannier? I have no clue, never had any other pannier, and so far they're showing no wearing after 2 years of use, The first 2 years was the Covid years I didn't use them at that time; they're easy to put on, and take off, I've had no negatives with the panniers.
I ruled out the Carradice CarraDry due to the lack of a roll-down top, other tourists I spoke to over the years all said that any pannier without a roll-down top will leak, especially in heavy downpours. Row-down tops are also very easy to open, the complaint about that is unfounded.
My pannier racks are Tubus Cargo rear rack which came with the bike, it seems to work great, no need to replace it if it works. Then the front I took off the Tubus Lowrider rack because I don't use front panniers, and instead went with the Blackburn Bootlegger on which my sleeping bag, and air mattress all wrapped up in a brown yard waste bag, get bungeed down to.
I also have a Topeak Tourguide DX handlebar bag, I opted for that bag because it had the largest liter capacity of any bag I found with an 8-liter capacity. That bag is not waterproof, I did spray the crap out of it with waterproofing spray and had to spray the rainfly it came with as well because it didn't stop a downpour either, then I use a white small trash bag I cut to fit inside the bag and then roll it up, plus put stuff into Zip lock bags to guarantee not getting wet. But I wanted a large bag with a map cover, and no other handlebar bag offered what I wanted. I don't understand why Topeak won't make those bags waterproof, they know they're being used for touring, thus they'll get rained on, strange, I sent an email to Topeak 2 years ago about it but never heard a response, nor have they changed the bag. I got to work obviously, but does leave me scratching my brain over their lack of logic.
Great Video. I always rolled and clipped tight on top of the bags I never used the shoulder straps as you demonstrated. Yours is a flatter more compact and easier method. I also secure each bag to the panner using the top over the top strap and buckle. To reduce wobble, especially when off road, I have flat-elastic bungies that go through the strap retainer points on the outside of each bag and back around to attach to the rack - uprights.
Great video thank you.Safe cycling.
Thanks for this video. It really helped me to finalize my decision in going with the Ortlieb rollers.
Glad I could shed some light. I'm sure you'll be very pleased with the bags.
I'm here after watching Ryan Van Duzers trip with Mike. Cheers Mike!!
Welcome! Watch out this Sunday and a couple of Sundays from now where we will release episodes simultaneously from our trip. Welcome to the channel!
Keep doing your thing and your love of bikes makes for good videos! @@BikeTouringMike
I'm looking to buy this set for a trip coming up in September and I appreciate your review, Mike. ATB, Tony
Glad to be of service! I think you'll really enjoy them on your tour this fall.
Timely Video Mike, I ordered a rear pair of Ortlieb panniers a few weeks ago online and have been waiting and waiting for them to arrive. My wife says she's going make me some soon so she doesn't have to hear me complain about where they are! Have axiom bags on my Kona Sutra now ...recently added Specialized pizza rack and bag, looks a little funky but well balanced with loaded front panniers on! Anyway fingers crossed. Really enjoyed France trip ...looked tough well done, safe travels! 👋🇨🇦
Thank you Paul! Hope they will arrive soon and that everythings starts to go back to normal so that you'll be able to go out riding with your new panniers soon.
Great review Mike. You explained everything clearly and concisely and explained just about everything that I was curious about Ortlieb Panniers. Only other question I have is how the bottom clip hold onto the rack. An unimportant question really as if I were to see one being attached it would be obvious. I have had Ortlieb in my mind as a replacement for my “free” panniers which are rather lightweight when they finally self destruct. Keep up the great work Mike.
Thank you very much for your response Glenn! Well the function of the bottom tab is to prevent the pannier to move in a horisontal direction (i.e. mostly prevent it from going forard and hit your heel). You can basically move it and rotate it however you want depending on how your rack is constructed.
Bike Touring Mike thanks, I think that these panniers would be rock solid then and a worthwhile purchase.
Thanks Mikael. ...the plus series looks nice, I like the adjustable hanger system. They appear to be a bit less cumbersome than that on the classic series. Enjoyed as always ....have a great one...and stay safe.
I think the newest version of the Classic model has the same mounting system as the Plus model.
I have a couple of Altura rear panniers which I've had since 2014 still good as new I have a long chain which I connect to both panniers and run through the rack good for security at stops etc Never had a pannier bounce off but it would stop that happening as well.
Sounds like a great setup!
I use ortleab, I got front ones replaced thorns put holes in both , i think they should have a thin pastic sheet on the bottom that comes 3 or 4 inches up the sides to deflect thorns etc from putting holes in them and to be able to put them down without worrying about the bottom getting damaged.
That's too bad. Have you contacted Ortlieb? They have a 5 year warranty that might cover this.
Can't get better than the Ortliebs. My first no-name brand rear panniers were cheap enough but my heels contacted the front of the bag with every turn of my feet. The Ortliebs have just enough clearance, thank goodness, and they are dry inside.
enjoy all your vids. i hope to see more be safe and have great day
Thanks for the nice comment Max. I'm going out to film a new (cold) bike overnight right now. Should drop this weekend. Have a good one!
Got the same and front handle bar type, awesome kit
Yeah, I really like them. I will probably do a review of the handlebar bag this week.
condensation. if you ride in areas where you get wet when you crawl out of your tent, sealed panniers like ortlieb will trap moisture as the day warms up. i had the best luck with water resistant panniers and large freezer bags. i used seam sealer on the panniers and didn't seal the freezer bags unless rain was imminent.
Good point David. Condensation is a bike tourists enemy. I tend to separate my wet things (flysheet, rainjacket and so on) and put them in one pannier so the thing that I want to keep dry don't get moist.
When looking for panniers I ended up choosing a brand which just might be superior to Ortelieb, called Carradice Carradry Rear. The reasons for my choice were: 1- while 100% rainproof, it has a top lid instead of roll opening which is much easier to open and close 20 times a day while touring. 2 -The support bar, at the back, is made of aluminium, not plastic, so it does not deform with weight. 3 - It has an outside pocket, glued on, no seams, which is very handy 4 - It has straps over the lid so you can strap a tent or sleeping mat on top. 5 - Over the lid there is another handle, not just at the back, so when you carry it it is quite balanced and hangs straight down. 6 - It has interior document pockets with zipper. 7 - It has a strong back plate for protection, the clips are adjustable and lock on to the rack. 8 - The pair weighs 1850g. 9 - The cost is less than half of Ortlieb. Now they just need to pass the test of time.
Lets see how the bags work 5 yrs from now.
@@philiporourke7896 So far so good over a few thousand kms but then its no world tour. In reality I kind of miss my old ones which my wife now uses, made of cloth, much more comfortable to the touch, deform to the interior objects so you can stuff them, with different exterior pockets, for wet clothes, shoes or jacket and very sturdy because it is an entire continuous seam that support each bag and not just two stressed clips. As for rain they come with a waterproof pull over cover. Not too practical but effective. Sometimes simple solutions are best.
Hi Mike I just bought the Ortlieb bag mine is a different style for the back rack.
Different how? Are they the Classic model?
@@BikeTouringMike i think so because it's very long and my rack hookup is different than yours.
@@BikeTouringMike they clip on sideways
Very helpful video - thank you!
Hello, BTM~ My >ancient< Back-Roller panniers are black, shiny on the inside but with a textile look on the outside. Years ago I wanted to freshen their appearance so I sprayed them with tire black. They looked great until the dust began to stick. Can you suggest a cleaning method plus a better coating? I never need the full waterproofing for which Ortlieb is famous but I probably should protect the bags from UV & maintain the material. I'm just a city rider but these bags are great for groceries. Thanks in advance.
Very nice video. Thanks!! How good do they keep things inside dry when you are cycling in heavy rain?
Hello Finley! They are completely waterproof I have never gotten a single drop of water inside of them. And I have toured in torrential downpour with them. The only chance of getting moist inside is when.you bring it in yourself, as with a wet tent or towel.
@@BikeTouringMike wow, sounds great!! thanks a lot for your quick reply :-)
@@BikeTouringMike Just curious - why didn't you choose the classic back/front rollers? Because you liked the look of the plus version better? They certainly look very nice. The color of yours doesn't even seem to have faded (?)
I felt the fabric and found it nicer than the classic ones that are made out of PVC. They felt a little to plastic to me. I bought a new pair a year ago, so there is a 4 year difference between mine. And you can see a tiny bit of difference in color if you look closely. But if you didn't know about the age difference you probably wouldn't notice it.
@@BikeTouringMike Nice to know! Subscribed to your informative channel.
I've always used the classics but like the idea of the weight savings, for those that have had both, what say you, worth the weight for the classics?
I don't think you'll feel any weight difference once you're on the bike. I just went for the plus model since I liked the look and feel of them over the classic ones that are mare out of PVC.
@@BikeTouringMike I followed your lead, I did try the smaller ones but too small really as only set of panniers, so std(s) as sleeping bag mostly consumed the small ones w sleeping pad. Tent mounts to bars if needed. Good reviews and excellent ideas, thank you!
@@BikeTouringMike do the classic last longer then the plus? how are yours doing so far, any holes?
I liked the classic more because it has better grip when rolling the top.
Thanks for the video Mike! I have the same bike and I'm just wondering what front racks you're using? I've been struggling to find one that fits.
Hello Mike! I recently came back from a four day trip where I used drybags that was mounted to my seatpost, top frame bar and handlebars. They were fine, but I found it to be time consuming and fiddly to remove and reattach them every day, and finding what i was looking for took forever because they are tube-shaped. I use a road bike or a gravel bike when I go touring and I was wondering if you have any tips or recommendations for me on what kind of panniers i should choose? I really like your setup and i would actually prefer a setup like yours on my bike for storrage space, availability and stability. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Keep up the good work and keep making your awesome videos! We need them, especially in these times.
Well it depends on what type of road surface your planning on going on and how much gear your want to bring. If you're like me mostly cycling on paved roads and plan to be away for a week or so then I would really recommend getting panniers like I showed in the video. If you're planning on doing more off-road cycling and don't plan to be away for more than a couple of days a bike packing setup would be to prefer. Kind of what you had, but with bags more specified for that use.
If we go back to the pannier setup. I would first recommend to get a pair of rear panniers plus a handlebar bag. For most of the bike tours I do I would be OK with just those three bags. When I'm going for more than a week and plan to do activities off the bike (such as hiking) I tend to want to bring my two front panniers as well. But get the two rear panniers first, and see how much space you need for your gear, then you can think about getting the front panniers. When you want to attach front panniers you're going to have to get front racks (lowriders) as well, and it can sometimes be a bit tricky to find a front rack that fits your bike well.
Please feel free to ask more questions if this didn't make any sense or if there is something else you're wondering about.
@@BikeTouringMike Thank you for your reply Mike. Your comments and the new video, on the Ortlieb Ultimate 6 handlebar bag, made my decission easy. I have just ordered both the Back Roller Plus rear panniers and the Ultimate 6 Plus handlebar bag. I even went for the Ortlieb Saddle Bag Two for i little bit of extra easily accessible storrage. As you said the panniers were indeed a bit priceyI, but not if I can use them for more than five years and they still perform as if they were brand new!
I also found a product from Thule called P'nP Tour Rack XT and P'nP Side Frames to fit the panniers on my cyclocross bike, as I don't have the correct mounts on it for a conventional luggage carrier. I'm already planning my next trip to test the new setup and can't wait! Thanks for the help, and until next time, have a good one :)
Hi, Mikael. I own a pair of Ortlieb Back Roller Plus panniers in "dark chili" (red) color and a Topeak rear touring rack. I don't have front panniers, but have an Ortlieb Handlebar-Pack, a TopeakMTX TrunkBag DX with built-in panniers, and a Topeak TourGuide Handlebar Bag DX (7.70 L).
Nicely done video mike. I bought the Ortlieb Classic, mainly because that is what the local shop stocked, and I also thought the outside material of the plus could hold water or dirt, whereas the classic can be wiped dry. Anyway I see yours look fine. I think I would prefer the plus because they look less like they are made of artificial material but I also think they might be lighter in weight than the Classic. I agree they are quite fine panniers but I don't really like that the carrying straps position when closed as they could get caught by branches etc.
I put my bike at least 20 times a day in a ditch or up against a tree to film when I'm riding by. And the panniers never get more dirty than what a wet cloth can wipe off. The classic panniers are nice as well, but I'm not that fond of PVC.
Would a standard sized basketball fit through the opening?
Hi Mike I’ve just bought a compact e-bike, Riese & Mueller Tinker. It can’t take any front panniers so I’m thinking I should get as big as possible on the back. The Backroller Pro is 35l x2. The bike’s rack has a 20kg limit. Do you think the bike’s handling on hills and off road will be ok? The Pro bags stick out a bit further than the 20l (26cm instead of 17cm). Is that a problem when touring do you think?
What front rack do you use on your Kona Sutra?
It's called Xtreme LR-1 Lowrider. It's a budget alternative but it has worked great for me.
Hey Mike.
I think the best of the best, available on the market is Arkel.
Have you tried them? They are ridiculously expensive but the quality and the design is just next level
People from Canada seem to swear by them. A lot of people leaving comments have the same opinion as yourself. So they have to be really good.
And no, I haven't tried them out. Unfortunately they are not easy to find over here in Europe. In fact I don't really ever seeing one in a bike shop over here.
I've hosted more than a hundred bike travelers and none of them had Arkel bags. Mostly people who really travel far use Ortlieb. And ofc we're in Europe, so it's a no-brainer.
Very nice review Mike! Good background song, and superb audio quality. Are you using a Canon G7x to record the videos?
Thank you Victor! Spot on with the camera observation. I'm using using a G7X for video and Zoom H1N/Rode Smartlav+ for audio.
@@BikeTouringMike it's a great set up! I also use the G7x, amazing little camera. For audio I'll definitely look into the Zoom. The online reviews are all positive. Thanks for sharing!
What tripod you use ?
Hi George! I use two different tripods. The first one, and the one that I use most of the time is called Velbon EX-640. It's a rather bulky tripod and weighs 1,67 kg. It's one of the tallest tripods out there, but I need it since I'm 188 cm and want to be able to stand level with the camera. I mostly use it when I'm filming my videos at home, but I also bring it on my tours here in Scandinavia.
The second one is a much smaller trip called Hama Star 5.This one is much lighter, it only weighs 0,5 kg. But it has it's limitations. First of all, it's only 153 cm fully raised. And second it is much more unstable than my larger tripod. And I've experienced the downside of this. I brought this tripod when I did my tour in Provence 1,5 years ago. And I had set up the camera on the tripod and was riding by for a nice sunset shot, when the wind caught the camera and flipped the tripod over. I ended up with a crooked lens and the shutter was all messed up as well. I did manage to fix it when I got back home. But I have learned from this experience and I am a bit hesitant to use this tripod if it's windy.
There are smaller lightweight tripods with a hook underneath that are supposed to be more stable. You can hang a pannier or something in the hook to make the tripod stable. So in the future I might look into getting one of those.
@@BikeTouringMike Thank you so much ! It's a good idea to use the panniers for more stability. I saw that episode in France when the wind crooked the lens of your G7X Mark II .
So did you get these first i watched your video on the the pro i would like to do the 70 l pro but very expensive just wondering is it worth it
Yes, I got these a couple of years before getting the pros. But these ones are basically the same, just a little bit smaller. Same fabric. The Pros are better if you're not able to have front panniers and need a lot of space in the rear panniers. But that might also lead to a lot of pressure on the rear wheel, so you might encounter a broken spoke or two. It's always best to balance the weight evenly over the bike.
@@BikeTouringMike sounds good thanks for the reply I ended up getting the pro
Is there a compatible Rack Pack material colour as Mike's.?
I’ve taken these out on the road for a week trip and having real issues with adjusting the bottom tab to fit both my Ortlieb rear rack and tubus big apple front rack, when I can find an attachment point the lower tab looks totally stressed and rarely remains in place very long. I nearly lost one of my back panniers on the first day , it was hanging on by one clip, so I began feeding the upper strap through the rack frame as an extra level of security. Any suggestions?
Great information. Thanks for posting.
Hey Mike, thanks for the great video! I'd love to ask you something about the Ortlieb plus series, as I'm currently trying to decide whether to get the classic or the plus ones!! :) so hard choice because they both seem to be awesome quality and I love the look of them both. I'd like to know what it's like when the bags got really wet from heavy rain and you set up camp and take the bags into your tent. I imagine that the classic ones you could quickly wipe with a towel so they'd be dry. But the plus ones? Thank you so much! I trust your advice because your videos are so honest and authentic.
So here's the deal. It has never been a problem with the Plus bags. I usually don't take more than one or two inside the tent on a normal night. And on a rainy night I'll probably leave most of them outside or in the vestibule. I don't want to get any more moist than necessary inside the tent. I just make sure that they are rolled up properly so that the moist doesn't get inside of the pannier. And regarding wiping them off, I usually just shake them off and wipe them off with my hand. They dry up really quick, just a little bit of wind will do the trick. They are almost always dry in the morning if they have been outside during the night.
@@BikeTouringMike BIG thank you!! :-) super awesome to get advice from you.
I have these on the back and the Carradice super c’s on the front and the Carradice are much better I think I will purchase some for the back
Czy znasz jakikolwiek bagażnik przedni na którym można zamontować sakwy ortlieb sport roller plus? Producent podaje, że łącznie mają udźwig 18kg, ale nie mogę znaleźć żadnego bagażnika przedniego o podobnym udźwigu.
Tubus and Ortlieb are both imported to the US by the same company, the load ratings for the Tubus Tara front rack is also 18kg. I use my sport rollers along with a Neewer padded camera case that fits perfectly to transport camera equipment. It’s expensive and kinda heavy - Tubus and Ortlieb have never let me down.
Hej, Ortlieb have made the best panniers for many years now. In my opinion (which counts for nothing😁). Always very durable, properly waterproof and a good investment.
Did your lost pannier ever find it's way back to you?
Haha, no it never found it's way back to me. Put I have replaced all the things that I lost. Just bought a pair of new hiking shoes about a week ago.
Bike Touring Mike I wonder if there’s a moose somewhere with a pannier stuck round it’s antlers?
Hi Mike,is there a concern with theft of these bags? I purchased the classic but scared to leave them on bike. How would you lock them on the bike?
I always worry about theft when touring. I run a bicycle lock cable through my Ortlieb bag eyelets and then through the bike rack. Both rear bags are locked onto the bike with the one cable. I lock them on before I start cycling in the morning. It is a hassle but gives me some piece of mind when I am getting groceries.
@@lambtri great tip!,thanks and I will do that too
I am looking for a dog carrying system that is cheap. My dog is good for 10 miles of running along and around with me--sometimes more. Ortlieb needs a dog compartment for a 23 pound beast on those bags. :
Rixen Kaul makes decent dog carriers I believe.
Be careful not to drop it on the way , Mike 😛
Haha!
If you hang your backroller on the bike with the female clip pointing downwards and then connect the male clip over the carrier then it's secured, then you can't lose the bag🙂, i hope you understand what i mean🤣, i always do that.
May I ask what is your bike sir? Want to buy one loke that with front and rear rack
It is a Kona Sutra. It came with the rear rack but the front rack I have added myself. But it is super easy to add. There are several mounts for it on the fork. I have a review of the bike over here: ruclips.net/video/XqYXDV8018k/видео.html
I was watching your video which captured in your home by Darren please make a video about your kids if you like i know they also like cycling
They are cycling all the time. We live in a cycle-friendly community so they ride their bikes to school every day. There are a couple videos when they join me on a couple of shorter tours, if you browse through my videos. And I hope one or two of them will join me on an overnight tour pretty soon.
@@BikeTouringMike ok i will search it
great bags! but they will not fit a lot of ebikes with the thicker built in racks. you'll need to order the 20mm clips at about and extra $40 US.
Good to know. I didn't know that they had different racks.
man, you are amazing
I purchased the Ortlieb Classic Back & Sport Rollers and I'll try them out on my first long distance bike tour this summer :) They seem like great bags, I am just disappointed that my sport rollers make a rattling sound, even when I am riding on smooth asphalt roads :( My racks are from Tubus. I am trying to find a solution, if someone has experience with this or an idea, it would be most appreciated! :) Happy cycling everyone!
You are not going to get rid of all noise when camping or touring on a bike, there is nothing wrong with that. You could try to see what is causing the noise, and maybe use some bungee cords to fasten the bags more securely to the rack, but like I said, you will always have some sort of noise.
Mike I posted my new E-bike the mustache with a BOSCH motor.
Looks like a sweet ride. If I were to buy an E-bike in the future I would definitely buy one with a crank motor like your bike has. Seems more logic than to have the motor in the hub.
@@BikeTouringMike true with the motor in the hub makes the back hub to heavy and maybe break spokes
@@BikeTouringMike i have 5 assists to ride up steep hills and when you ride on strait trails you can ride without assists just turn them off ride as normal .
Great quality German made panniers. I like PVC free plus models more then classic ones.
I agree with you there. I don't mind paying a premium to be able to avoid PVC. Plus I prefer the look of the Plus models over the Classic.
Bike Touring Mike Agree, PVC is something I'm avoiding, too, for its environmental impact. Have you compared the sport roller plus model to the gravel pack? My commute is 20 kms one-way and on 95% gravel roads. Really like the plus model but mainly worried about stability and the shoulder strap possibly getting caught in twigs or branches.
You losing one tells me they must be easy to haul if you don't notice one fell off.
Ive been using Arkel Dolphins for 6 years now. Wayyy better bags. The mounting system is superior to Ortlieb. Love my Arkels!!!
Looks nice. I have never seen those "live", but I guess they are pretty durable. They are Canadian after all!
The bike is solid and my Ebike conversion went great. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Very smooth ride at 30mph with no problems (135 miles ridden so far). The picture is a bit deceiving - there is WAY less space in the center of the frame than it shows. The suspension connection takes up the entire thing. So I needed to attach my battery on the bottom of the frame and my controller on the top. Instructions for assembly were lacking but honestly it wasn't too hard to figure out even though I have very little bike knowledge. Watched some youtube videos on adjusting the disk brakes but that was it. Still, I am loving it and very happy with the purchase.
100th comment! 🥳
Congrats!
Rixen Kaul
I had no idea about this brand, so I had to do a google search. I think they are called KLICKfix here in Sweden. Seems like a high quality brand. Well, they are German, of course it's high quality.
I watched this specifically hoping to see more about the front roller plus, but then you just say they are the same and don't show me. :sad: