Ortlieb Bikepacking Bags Review! 6 Months of Use - How Are They?!

[@drewr34skyline18]

Nice appreciate this review and time you put in. Decent job 👍

[@thebikepackingdad]

Hi Drew, really appreciate that. Hope it helped you out 😊

[@callumbucknall]

Great review mate! I had an Apidura bike bag set, the frame and front bag are sound. but the rear bag is like you said, flops about pretty badly if you dont pack it right, I ended up getting a tailfin. But you are not the first person who I've heard say Ortilieb make good bags! Cant wait for your next overnighter video.

[@thebikepackingdad]

Hey Buck! Glad you liked the review 😃 I like the look of the Apidura stuff but I'll stick with my Ortlieb setup for now. I have the feeling it's going to have a good lifespan! It's all about the packing style on those seat packs. Away out for my June trip tomorrow night so the next video will be 10 days or so if all goes to plan! Looking forward to a camp in warmer weather haha.

[@bikepackinguk]

Nearly on the 1k subscribers keep up the good work

[@thebikepackingdad]

Slow and steady mate haha. Share with everyone you know who might be interested 🤪 Hope you’re well and that you have some trips lined up in the good weather 👍🏻

[@timporter8886]

Enjoyed that. When you first came on, sporting the studious spectacles; I thought you where going to read the news! 🤣 Your earlier post came onto my feed whilst searching for frame bags. I really like the Ortlieb non zip version. Trouble is; once I actually saw it on your bike, I realized that my mountain bike (that I want the bag for) has rear brake cable and rear mech cables running on top of the cross bar. So I'm not sure if the velcro straps would impede the cables. 😤 Anyway, after watching this review; which includes all three bags you've reviewed; the bar roll might very well fulfill my storage needs; in lieu of the frame bag not working out! Excellent review, and hats off to you for the bit of self deprecation..I.e. the crash (impressively without any expletives uttered..haha)!😂

[@thebikepackingdad]

It’s my fake ‘I know what I’m talking about look’ 😂 If your cables aren’t exposed and have cable housings (basically just a tube the cable runs through) then the straps being fastened wouldn’t cause you any issues 👍🏻 If you’re not sure send me a photo to my email ([e-mail]) and I’ll take a look! If you can’t laugh at yourself you’re doing it wrong haha. Watching it back I was also impressed at my calm response to it 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@timporter8886]

@@thebikepackingdad I'm sure the cables are exposed; and I'm keen to get home now and take a look! Thankyou for email and offer to take a look;that's really generous and thoughtful. If I think there's a chance they may fit, then I may take you up on that kind offer. If I'm sure it won't, I'll just sulk..haha!😤

[@thebikepackingdad]

@@timporter8886 you’re welcome mate. Let me know either way!

[@Bungle2010]

The seat pack has come down massively now they've brought out the new version. It's now only £105 on Tredz.

[@thebikepackingdad]

Now that is good to know! I might do a little community post to let people know about this 😊 Thankyou!

[@Bungle2010]

@@thebikepackingdad I just took advantage, but I also had a discount code so in the end I only paid £95 for it.

[@thebikepackingdad]

A solid bag for that price! Let me know how you get on with it 😊👍🏻

[@patdunne3277]

Cheers mate excelent review much appreciated 👍 new subscriber

[@thebikepackingdad]

Morning Pat 😊 Glad the review helped you out and thanks for watching! Hope you have some decent bikepacking trips 🙌🏻

[@roybailey4529]

As always great video! With the 16.5 seat pack, how much space do I need between the bottom of the saddle and the top of the rear tyre? I have a 29er MTB I am planning to use for bike packing, and the gap between the bottom of the seat and the top of the rear tyre is 25cm, is that sufficient for this bag (dont want the rear tyre catching the underside of the bag and wearing through it). Any indication much appreciated (did have a google, and maybe missed it, but could not find a definitive answer).

[@thebikepackingdad]

Evening Roy, thanks for watching and cheers for getting in touch 😊 So I’ve just been to measure from my seat rails to where the bottom of the bag rests - 21.5cm. With that being the measurement I’d like to think as long as it’s fitted well and ratcheted up securely you should fit it on with a little bit to spare 🤞🏻 Hope that is of some help and let me know how you get on!

[@benbriggs9310]

Great review. Love the channel. Would you not use the seatpackQR? Also how would you compare the Ortlieb Handlebar pack compared to the Restrap one with the holster?

[@thebikepackingdad]

Hello Ben 👋🏻 Thanks for the comment. Really appreciate it. Capacity is the main thing for me. I travel fairly light but I’m useless with the cold weather so always an extra jacket somewhere! From memory I think the QR is only 13L capacity. The Ortlieb handlebar pack is pretty bombproof when it comes to to construction and materials. I’m a big fan. Again though - the Restrap one is quite a bit bigger and the ease of getting your gear on and off the bike is a lot quicker than the Ortlieb bag. Hardcore trip with crazy terrain and poor weather = Ortlieb for peace of mind. Everything else I’m running Restrap for space and ease of use 👌🏻 Hope that helps!

[@benbriggs9310]

yeah it is 13L. i just love the secure fasteners to the rails to prevent the dreaded sway. i like the look of the restrap. i have only been overnight and stayed in b and b so size isn’t as important for one night. with that in mind im guessing you would recommend the ortlieb for peace of mind?! also the frame bag have you tried the ortlieb with a zip of just the fold over one? also do you have a favourite top tube bag? really appreciate the time you have taken to reply. so many wouldn’t. thank you.

[@thebikepackingdad]

@@benbriggs9310 Hi Ben 😊 I know what you mean about the swaying but I’ve not had too many issues. You can always use an additional strap (I think Ortlieb actually sell one specifically for this - about £7). I think if your route isn’t crazy either of the bags will do nicely. The ease of packing and unpacking the Restrap one along with not having to remove the holster is a factor you shouldn’t ignore though 👌🏻 I have a Craft Cadence top tube bag (1.2L). Good size, easy magnetic closure, waterproof, plus a cable charging port should you need it. Really handy as a snack bag! Hope that helps 😊

[@vbnxt]

loved the video! I'm prepping for a 5-day trip and just have a 40L Patagonia Blackhole backpack (15-16kg). Is it ok to carry a backpack while bikepacking or should I actively seek to put it on a handlebar pack. I'm riding the Badlands in Spain. thanks!

[@thebikepackingdad]

Hello 👋🏻 Thanks for watching and I’m glad you liked the video! If you are going on a trip for a few days I would definitely suggest getting some bags to carry your gear. Wearing a backpack can get pretty sore as it’s a lot of extra weight on your bum / saddle and down your back 😩 Get some bags and let the bike do the heavy lifting 👌🏻 Have a great trip! Let me know how it goes.

[@etseibwars]

Very useful! If you buy the large handlebar and large saddle bags, do you think you can get away without buying the frame bag? Thanks!!

[@thebikepackingdad]

Hello 😊 Glad you found the video useful! It really depends on how much you’re carrying or how long your trips are. Personally I would get a frame bag as I’d rather have extra room if I needed it. Put the heavy things in there and let the frame do the work 👌🏻

[@ak2298]

If you pack the Ortlieb that full is your knee not rubbing against it?

[@thebikepackingdad]

Thankfully not! It had crossed my mind the first time I ‘filled’ it up though. That would get annoying really quickly! It’s going to vary based on how each individual packs it.

[@io8787]

hi and thanks for the really great videos! I already have the seat pack and was wondering if the handlebar pack would fit my road bike too..I have a 40cm handlebar, classic Canyon cockpit..do you think it would fit or is too narrow? I am guessing that by folding it a bit more (loosing a bit of volume), should do the job

[@thebikepackingdad]

Hi Giacomo 😊 Glad you enjoyed the video! My handlebars are 40cm also but the ends are flared which allows more room away from the shifters. If yours are not flared it will be a bit tighter but as you say - if you don’t put as much in it would probably fit. If you have Di2 gears this allows a bit more space as you don’t need the shifters to move inwards towards the bag. Hope that helps but if not just message me 👍🏻

[@io8787]

​@@thebikepackingdad indeed I have Di2 which in this case is a "game changer"..I have just measured and the smallest distance between the handlebars is around 37-ish cm, no flare so it's just 40cm minus the the diameter of the bars+bar tape..I can indeed tolerate a loss of volume for the bag to fit, I'll probably leave a bit of margin to be sure not to impede braking

[@thebikepackingdad]

@@io8787 well that should work out pretty great! As long as you can brake you can fill it up right to the edges of your bars as you have Di2 😊 That makes this option a lot easier to work. Let me know how it goes 👍🏻

[@foti5651]

ortlieb bikepacking only in strap !! i got 2 version ortlieb bP and grey version all broken strap .

[@Stephen_Daedalus]

Ich kann aus Erfahrung die Strapazierfähigkeit der Ortliebprodukte nur unterstreichen.

[@thebikepackingdad]

100%. Very solid bags in any weather 👌🏻