Ortlieb Bikepacking Kit
Posted by Chris Futers on Jun 06, 2024
Bikepacking has grown in popularity, with many specific bikepacking routes being developed over the past 10 years all over the world. Whether you fancy a 100-day adventure on the European Divide Trail, from the cold Arctic shores of Norway heading south through Europe to Portugal's Atlantic coastline, or, one or two nights on the C2C from England's North West coast to the North East coast (Whitehaven to Newcastle), cyclists looking for that sense of adventure are spoiled. No matter your journey, the same question needs to be answered; ‘’where am I gonna put my stuff?''.
With the emergence of bikepacking popularity many new brands have popped up offering solutions to this question, however there's one brand that has true heritage in the world of bikepacking with 42 years of experience under their belt, Ortlieb. Ortlieb has been manufacturing the highest quality and innovative bikepacking bags since Hartmut Ortlieb’s (Ortlieb founder) UK bike tour in 1981 ‘allowed’ him to experience continuous rain. Lo and behold, it wasn’t the most enjoyable experience, especially when all his gear got wet inside his bikepacking bags! The story goes that whilst Hartmut on a hilly roadside in southern England getting truly drenched, he observed a HGV laden with goods that were, no doubt, dry and unaffected by the deluge that was literally dampening his spirits. This got Hartmut to thinking…
Upon his return to Germany, he started experimenting with truck tarpaulin material, making early prototypes for himself and his friends in an effort to create truly waterproof bike bags. Starting with handlebar bags and rear panniers, Hartmut soon found a demand outside his friend group, with retailers showing interest in what he created. Hartmut with his friend (Peter Wittwer) founded the Ortlieb brand in 1982, offering a small array of bike bags. Ortlieb was soon overwhelmed with order requests, proving what a good product they had on their hands. Not one to rest on their laurels, Hartmut was to improve Ortlieb products, making waterproofing and durability a priority for what they produce, this still rings true today.
The next iteration of Ortlieb bags utilised a new welding technique (High Frequency Welding), this made Ortlieb bikes bag unparalleled in the world of waterproofing. Whilst I am sure this has been developed further throughout these early years, it is a technique still found on Ortlieb bags today and is a closely kept industry secret/process. Since the mid-80’s the development of the attachment systems on Ortlieb bags has been a key notable factor towards the reason to choose Ortlieb over other brands, with the first Quick-Lock (QL) system for panniers making mounting and dismounting your bags incredibly easy.
Ortlieb’s Current Range
Now in 2024 with over 300 employees and now with version QL3.1 of the mounting system available, the same key principles are synonymous with the brand; Waterproof, Durable, easy to use, all expertly made in Germany. Now that we’ve convinced you of Ortlieb's heritage, innervation and quality, which packs should you buy?
Considering the terrain, the type of bike you plan to use and how long the duration of your trip is, you can start to build a bag list that will be better suited to your needs.
Gravel/Hybrid Setup
Weight is spread evenly from front to back, with heavier items stored in the frame bag for better balance. The bike should still be agile enough for some technical/changeable terrain, but not so much that it can’t take on a downhill single track. This type of setup is best utilised for 2–14 days with regular opportunities to resupply.
A multitude of bags can be used for this set-up, however, avoid overloading the rear as changes in terrain are more common with this type of riding and more weight towards the rear will hamper your uphill efforts. A good seat pack goes a long way in improving your riding experience, Ortlieb’s selection from my experience is easily the best.
The key component cyclists look for in a good saddlebag is stability, as the dreaded ‘tail wag’ (swaying caused by an acute fixed point on the seat post and seat ensued by the side-to-side bike motion) is often a common drawback on this bag option. However, with innovation and well-thought-out designs, Ortlieb has been able to minimise ‘tail wag’, and, in the case of the Seat-Pack QR, totally expel this issue, thanks to the Seat-Lock attachment system.
The Long Haul
This will be a heavy bike, with most of the weight loaded at the rear. Bike handling will be diminished and therefore terrain will be, more often than not, resigned to well maintained tracks, trails and tarmac. Not to say that you can’t hop out of the saddle to push past any rougher going/impassable terrain. This setup is for those looking for long, totally self-supported adventures lasting multiple weeks/months with no guarantees for resupply.
For long days in the saddle having easy-to-reach items in your handlebar bag comes in useful, I find ‘top loading’ handlebar bags more useful in this scenario, however if you prefer a roll pack Ortlieb's modular design allows you to attach their Accessory Pack 3.5L (my favourite most used pack) to access items you want to hand whilst riding.
Shop All Ortlieb Handlebar Bags
For increased loads, the addition of a rear pannier rack will be essential for travelling this way, not only allowing you to accommodate pannier bags but also larger holdalls such as Ortlieb's Rackpack Holdall (found on our sister site - Basecamp Gear).
Shop all Ortlieb Panniers Here
Off Road/Mountain Setup
Very little weight on the rear and front of the bike to allow for a more agile/sharper handling. Most of the mass is best centred on the bike via the rucksack and/or frame bag (full suspension bikes may be unable to accommodate a frame bag) so to better balance the bike on technical terrain. Usually trip lengths of 1–2 days for this set-up.
For this setup, I would recommend a frame pack and a top tube bag, along with the addition of a rucksack if out for multiple days or if your bike frame cannot easily accommodate a frame pack.
Ortlieb Repair Service
The durability and longevity of Ortlieb packs are unquestionably fantastic, however, wear and tear still does occur over time. Whether you have had your handlebar bag for 20+ years and need a buckle replaced or you’ve taken a spill and your bags are worse for wear because of this, Ortlieb most likely will be able to assist with a repair. The sustainability of this approach is one of the true hallmarks of Ortlieb. For more Information, visit Ortlieb Repairs here.
Last year I visited the UK supplier for Ortlieb, Lyon, and was able to watch a few repairs in progress. Trained by Ortlieb, all UK repairs are done at the same standard as if done in Ortlieb's home factory.
Ortlieb has it all covered for those looking to embark on a backpacking trip. Well-designed, large selection, easy to use, fully waterproof, durable and sustainable products, and breathe… To view all we have to offer from Ortlieb, have a look HERE and enjoy your next biking adventure!
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Chris Futers |
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About the author: Chris fully immerses himself in many outdoor sports and challenges. Whether it's Multi-day hikes, Rock Climbing, Kayaking, Trail Running or Bikepacking, the allure of the outdoors is his true passion. Chris likes to test himself against the wilds, taking on multiple challenges/events such as the Lakes Travers Trail Race, TGO Challenge and Cycling the Coast to Cost (C2C) to name a few. Having worked and volunteered as a coach/instructor for multiple outdoor sports and pursuits, Chris likes to help others achieve and connect with the outdoors, always eager to pass on his knowledge and experience. Chris is our Customer Service Team Leader, joining the UOG team in 2020. |
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Bikepacking has grown in popularity, with many specific bikepacking routes being developed over the past 10 years all over the word. Whether you fancy a 100 day adventure on the European Divide Trail, from the cold Arctic shores of Norway heading south through Europe to Portugal's Atlantic coastline, or, one or two nights on the C2C from England's North West coast to the North East coast (Whitehaven to Newcastle), cyclists looking for that sense of adventure are spoiled. No matter your journey the same question needs to be answered; ‘’where am I gonna put my stuff?’’.