Ortlieb Back Roller Plus test – Best bicycle travel bags?
Here's my detailed review of the Ortlieb Back Roller Plus bike panniers, certainly among the best panniers out there to attach to the rear rack for bike touring! Top for bike travel :)
Test video summary
My summary
I liked
- Perfect sealing
- Super-practical fastener
- Easy to attach and detach
- Do not move
- Durability
I liked it less
- A little heavy
What are Ortlieb back Roller bicycle bags used for?
Ortlieb Back Roller panniers are among the best-known and most widely used by cyclists… and it’s easy to see why once you’ve tested a few!
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They’re a cut above the rest on many levels, making them a must-have for all your cycling needs.
They are suitable for trekking bikes fitted with a rear rack, or even gravel bikes fitted with a rear rack.
Features
- Volume: 2x20L or 2x23L for the latest Plus models
- Loading capacity: 2x9kg
- Weight: 2x840g
- Height 42cm, Depth 17cm, Width: 23cm at bottom and 32cm at top.
- Material: PVC for Back Roller, Cordura fabric for Back Roller Plus
- Price: around €150 per pair
- Colors: choice according to model
The Ortlieb brand
Ortlieb is a German brand specializing in waterproof luggage for bicycle touring, bikepacking and outdoor activities.
Renowned for the quality and sturdiness of its products, the company uses resistant materials and high-frequency welding to guarantee perfect waterproofing. Its panniers and bags, designed and manufactured in Germany, are acclaimed by adventurers and cyclists the world over.
Our complete Ortlieb Back Roller Plus test
Volume and weight
Ortlieb Back Roller panniers have a volume of 40 liters (2×20 liters) (or 2x23L for the latest Plus models) and are designed to carry 18kg (2x9kg), which is enough if you’re traveling without camping gear (otherwise, you’ll need to bring extra panniers ).
Also good to know, Back Roller panniers are compatible with Ortlieb Ortlieb Rack Packs waterproof bags available in several versions.
In terms of weight, the panniers aren ‘t particularly light (2 x 840g), but I’d much rather have truly waterproof and hard-wearing panniers than save a few hundred grams 😉
Mounting
In my opinion, this is one of the great strengths of these bike panniers: Ortlieb’s Quick Lock 2.1 fastening system is superbly practical. It fits all luggage racks with a tube diameter of up to 16 mm (in other words, almost all those currently available on bicycles!) and is easy to use.
Carrying the bag by the handle allows you to lift the clips, which close on the luggage rack once the bag is in position, in no time at all.
To remove them, simply grasp the handle and the panniers come off, freeing the clips. The clips can be adjusted to fit perfectly on your luggage rack, so you can put them further or further back (and prevent your leg from banging into them!).
To ensure that the panniers stay in place, an additional hook is attached to the side of the luggage rack: simply adjust it properly the first time, and then simply slide the panniers into the right place the next time.
The advantages of this system are twofold. Firstly, the panniers don’t move, even when you’re going over bumps or riding over chaotic terrain, whereas I’ve found myself losing other brands’ panniers or having to stop and put them back! It’s a real pain, if not dangerous, so I appreciate that my Ortlieb panniers don’t move an inch!
On the other hand, the panniers are extremely easy to put on and take off, making stops more comfortable. If you have to take your panniers with you, you don’t have to allow 5 minutes to untie and reattach them as with some other brands! And since I stop regularly to do some sightseeing, I appreciate it all the more.
Last but not least, the large strap that catches on a hook at the bottom of the bag when you’re riding unhooks in a second to allow the bag to be carried over the shoulder: here again, it’s a detail that changes everything, so practical is it!
Organization
The Back Roller Plus panniers have a large main pocket, but also two small inside pockets, one of which is zipped with mesh. This is handy for storing specific items, although I often use my handlebar bag to store anything I want to have close at hand.
The large main pocket is practical, as it allows you to fit a lot in one go. I usually carry a backpack in one of them, which I can easily take if I want to go sightseeing or for a ride, leaving the bike and panniers behind but still having my valuables with me.
Finally, on the latest versions of the Back Roller Plus, there is also an additional outside pocket, which I find very practical!
After all, this also means that your belongings quickly become a bit of a mess in this large pocket, but I simply recommend sorting your belongings by putting them in different bags, with the stuff you won’t need during the day at the very bottom, as it’s not easy to access once it’s stowed away. A rain jacket, on the other hand, would be better placed at the top of the bag 😉
Material
Ortlieb’s Back Roller panniers are one of the iconic models from the famous German brand. The “Back Roller Classic” version is made of PVC, while the “Back Roller Plus” is made of cordura fabric, guaranteed PVC-free and more environmentally-friendly. In both cases, the materials are highly resistant. What’s more, all models feature reflective inserts on the sides of the panniers for added safety.
In addition to the ecological benefits of cordura canvas over PVC, I have to admit I’m a big fan of the aesthetics of Back Roller Plus. I think the canvas is really pretty, especially as the colors on offer are really nice: blue, green, red or black, they’re all good, I think!
Waterproofing
Both models (Back Roller and Back Roller Plus) are completely waterproof. In fact, they’re so waterproof that they even withstand immersion in water, meeting IP64 requirements.
They close by rolling up: you roll the fabric of the front and rear panels together for several turns before closing the whole thing with a clip, a system that’s both practical and highly effective. I’ve had some very nice showers and thunderstorms with these panniers, and have never had a single waterproofing problem: not a single drop has reached my stuff (except once, when I didn’t close them properly, but that was my fault!).
Durability
One of the other great advantages of Ortlieb bicycle panniers is that you can buy all the spare parts you need to repair your panniers. Here again, it’s more ecological… and, of course, more economical!
Once you’ve invested in these panniers, you know you’ll have them for a long time! So far, I’ve never had to use them, because they ‘re intact despite the fact that I’ve already ridden with them a lot.
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