Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Ortlieb Flight 27 backpack review

Here are some pictures and first impressions of the Ortlieb Flight backpack (rucksack). I had trouble finding any personal opinions of this bag when I was trying to decide on one, so I thought it would be nice to give mine.

Ortlieb is a well-known German company that manufactures high quality waterproof / weatherproof products such as bike panniers, backpacks, dry bags, camera cases, and various other bags and storage equipment. The Ortlieb Flight is a waterproof backpack that is designed to on and off the bike comfortably. There are two different sizes a 22 L and a 27 L bag. I have the 27 L. Some of it's features are a helmet holder, hydration bladder opening, suspended mesh back, and waterproof tizip zippers.

The main reasons I chose this bag over others is becasue I wanted a bag that was waterproof for commuting, more comfortable than a messenger bag, and it has the mesh back which will keep me cooler and less sweaty in warm weather. Some of the other backpacks I considered were the Deuter Trans Alpine 30 (http://deuterusa.com/products/productDetail.php?packID=transAlpine30&sub=hydration&tert=long) and a Freight Baggage backpack. While this was definitrely not the cheapest of those (that would be the Deuter Trans Alpine at $120, both the Freight and Ortlieb set you back about $200), it had all the features I wanted.

Immediately after opening the package with the bag in it, I took everything out of my Chrome Metropolis and proceeded to stuff it into the Ortlieb. The Ortlieb is smaller, but it's not considerably smaller. I like the fact that it has a large front pocket too. I'll keep tools in there.

I went around the block with the bag loaded up. It felt comfortable, but I'll reserve judgement until I've had more time with it. I'll post more pictures and impressions after using the bag more.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/posteriorview.jpg

I'm a little over 5'10" (about 179cm), so this should give you an idea of how large the bag is. The side pockets are made of neoprene and the Kryptonite Mini just fits. I believe they are intended for water bottles.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/anteriorview.jpg

The front view.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/sideview.jpg

Here you can see the suspension system holding the bag away from my back. Most of the weight is on the bottom (lumbar) section of the bag and my shoulders when I am standing up. It is more evenly distributed across my back when on the bike. Note the chest strap can be moved up or down.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/cheststrapcloseup.jpg

A closer view of the chest strap. The left side is bunched up a little because the bottom strap is elastic, so it has some give while you're wearing it. The top strap is there to reinforce the elastic strap, and it is the same nylon material as the strap on the right side.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/frontpocketopen.jpg

The front pocket filled with some tire levers, Topeak Road Morph, Clif Bar, tube, 15mm wrench, and a Rudy Project sunglass case.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/maincompartementopen.jpg

The main compartment has a box of Cheese Nips, some Q-tips, a large shampoo bottle, two bottles of lotion, a notebook, folder, long-sleeve shirt, and various other small items inside. Sorry, I don't have any large containers of alcohol to stuff in it at the moment. The total volume of the bag is 27 liters, 7.59 adorable kittens, or 1648 cubic inches.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/tizipcloseup.jpg

This is a closeup of the main compartment TiZip zippers that keep the bag totally weatherproof.


If you have any questions or picture requests, I'll be happy to oblige.

I made my purchase from the online retailer wallbike.com (http://wallbike.com/). They have excellent customer service, and I highly recommend them.

Ortlieb Flight product page (http://ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lang=en&produkt=flight#)

It looks like you have boob(s).

Go ahead, make fun of my man breasts. Even if you don't say it, I know you want to touch them.

Hm.. nice looking bag, thanks for the writeup.

Now. What's with the labia/snake-headed thing on your shirt?

You know, I've been looking at that backpack daily for the last week, but waiting until I could find out more. I don't think you could have posted a more timely review, even if you tried.

I'm currently using a Chrome Citizen, and wanted to ditch it for a backpack. This pack sounds slightly bigger, and has the functionality I want. Tell me a few things, if you wouldn't mind:

- How does it feel with a heavy load? Does it stay suspended? Does the metal frame dig in at all?
- Does it have a blinky loop?
- Would you mind terribly taking a flash picture in the dark, or otherwise show the reflective bits?
- Does the hydration pocket fit a standard Camelback bladder? If not, does it come with one?

Thanks a bunch. Awesome review and pics.

Oddly enough, I'm also in the market for one of these bags. Can you let us know when it rains, so schnee and I can see if your stuff got wet before we buy?

- How does it feel with a heavy load? Does it stay suspended? Does the metal frame dig in at all?
- Does it have a blinky loop?
- Would you mind terribly taking a flash picture in the dark, or otherwise show the reflective bits?
- Does the hydration pocket fit a standard Camelback bladder? If not, does it come with one?


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/suspensionstrap.jpg

I was wearing the bag, with all that stuff in it, for 20-30 minutes around the house and it never felt uncomfortable. It was comfortable during the quick ride that I did too. I'll need some more time to tell you for sure though. I pushed my hand into the mesh suspension as hard as I could and it still didn't touch the metal frame, so I don't think that will ever be a problem. I just noticed that there is a velcro strap going down the middle of the back (pictured above) to tighten or loosen the suspension as you see fit. Very cool.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/blinkyloop.jpg

This is the blinky loop.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/reflectivestrips.jpg

This was taken with the flash in almost total darkness.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/reflectivescratch.jpg

Unfortunately a very small portion of the reflective material has already come off as you can see. This leads me to believe that it will wear off easily.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Tassnor/hydrationport.jpg


The hydration port has a cap on the inside, and it is made of a hard rubber material. The material has a little stretch to it, but not much. You will probably only be able to get a hose through it, so if the Camelbak hose isn't detachable from the bag (or if the bite valve doesn't come off), you won't be able to get it through there. I'm using a Deuter 2 L bladder with mine because it doesn't come with a bladder. The Deuter bladder probably isn't ideal for this bag because the bite valve doesn't come off, so I have to leave the reservoir in the backpack when I fill it.

Do you work for obrliet?

Do you work for obrliet?

No, I already pointed out a flaw in the design of the bag, and I mentioned it's expensive. I also miss the pen pockets on my Chrome Metropolis. Why would you ask that?

No, I already pointed out a flaw in the design of the bag, and I mentioned it's expensive. I also miss the pen pockets on my Chrome Metropolis. Why would you ask that?

Don't go on the defensive, I just wondered, not much else. It was quiet the detailed report ~ you should write for periodicals, you've got a talent for it.

Definitely. You also just sold me on the bag. Thanks for the info and pictures, they really helped.

Only thing I'm debating is the gray or mustard yellow... a bit more understated, or visible. I'm leaning towards visible.

This Japanese site has the best pictures I've seen of them if you want to compare.

http://www.selectit.jp/item_acce/xpac-bag_ortlieb-flight.html

I'll definitely report back on the waterproofness. Something else to keep in mind is that the TiZip zippers take some force to open. Apparently they need lube frequently, which is included with the bag. I was worried about this at first, but then I realized that Ortlieb uses them on a lot of their products. I couldn't find any major complaints about the zippers online.

if the Camelbak hose isn't detachable from the bag (or if the bite valve doesn't come off), you won't be able to get it through there.
FYI, on my Camelbak the bite valve comes off.

Thanks for the detailed review. I have been wanting to get a waterproof backpack and was considering one from the Chrome line. Did you consider something like the Chrome Ranchero? I'm particularly interested in finding out if the suspension design actually does allow your back to stay cooler.

Honestly, I didn't really consider the Chrome. I don't like the shape of their messenger backpacks. The Freight Baggage backpack, although more expensive, seems to be a better designed bag for various reasons. I like the idea of having a water reservoir in my bag too (something both of those bags lack), even though I've never used one before. I like my Chrome Metropolis, but I wouldn't buy any of their bags now because there are better alternatives that fit my needs.

sweet shirt.

thanks for this review. i got in an accident recently and my neck & shoulder have been giving me problems, so wearing my freight messenger bag is doing a number on me. i think i'm going to try and sell or trade it and get this.

thanks for the review. i agree with the other posters, you did a pretty professional writeup. i have a few questions:

1) have you tried putting a laptop in it?
2) the japanese product site has a picture of a mesh helmet holder. is this included?

sweet shirt.
Vintage T shirts seem to be the thing around town. I had an Atari shirt from WAY BACK WHEN (yeah, I'm old) and some guy paid me 50 bucks cash at Home Depot.

I went home without a shirt, but 50 dollars in hand.

Crazy.

It wasn't even clean...

Yea, how about an updated review now that you have had it over a month? Does it prevent sweaty back syndrome?

Vintage T shirts seem to be the thing around town. I had an Atari shirt from WAY BACK WHEN (yeah, I'm old) and some guy paid me 50 bucks cash at Home Depot.

I went home without a shirt, but 50 dollars in hand.

Crazy.

It wasn't even clean...

I hear that fixed gear bikes are popular now, too.

I've been using it to commute by bike to work for over a month. My route is 39 miles round trip, I do it twice a week, working up to 3x.

The bag rocks. Here are my thoughts, good and bad.
- The zippers take some effort to open and close, but with some practice it becomes easy. I have the sense I can almost go swimming with this thing and everything inside will be dry.
- The suspended back thingy reduces back sweat better than any other backpack / bag I've ever had. It's shocking to go back to a lightly-loaded Chrome and feel the difference.
- The waist strap is the best thing ever. All the weight is carried on the hips. Very little on the shoulders. It unfortunately falls right on the top of my jersey pockets, so I usually have to work a bit to get stuff out of them. Very stable, only bounces around a bit when I'm at my fastest RPM and I have bad form.
- I usually leave the shoulders fairly loose when standing, so it's snug when I'm tucked over the bike. When I'm really in an aero tuck flying down a hill, the back of my helmet bumps the top of the backpack, it's annoying but not a show-stopper.
- I'm 6'-3", so my clothes are big, and I can fit shoes, jeans, long-sleeved shirt, socks, underwear, big shower towel, dop kit, extra jersey, extra socks, wallet, keys, etc. in the main compartment and it's still ready for more.
- The outside vertical pocket fits a mini morph, spare inner tube, multi-tool, levers, and two sets of sunglasses, and still has room. Stuff tends to collect at the bottom, but if you pack it right, it's fine.
- The blinky loop on the bottom makes the pack a bit harder to stand up straight when it's on the ground. I call it an OK trade-off for having the blinky in the perfect place when riding.
- The outer shell is tough, and holds it's shape well. It's definitely more rigid because of the waterproofing.
- The stretchy outside pockets are really high up and difficult to get to when riding, so I use them to hold extra food and Gu packets.

Hope that helps.

- It fits my Macbook and padded sleeve just fine.
- The mesh helmet thing is included. It folds into a pocket. I always forget to use it.

After using the backpack for several weeks on and off the bike I still like it, but there are aspects of the bag I dislike.

The waist belt should be detachable. I just got back from a trip to SF, and I didn't have a bike while I was there. My primary means of transportation were muni and walking, so the waist strap was just annoying most of the time. The lumbar padding is essential to the design of the bag, but if the waist strap threaded through that, being able to take it off would be nice.

Due to the suspension system frame of the backpack the rear inside portion of the bag is curved inwards. I don't like it, but it's unavoidable because of the way the suspesion system is designed. Unlike a messenger bag or messenger-style backpack you can't pack this bag to capacity if you have a lot of heavy things with rigid shapes. I bought a couple school books yesterday which weighed about 20-30 lbs (roughly 10-14 Kg). They made the bag difficult to close, distorting the shape of back panel from curved to flat (basically flattening the spring steel frame). This made it extremely uncomfortable on the bike because there was a piece of the frame pressed against the middle of my back.

There are redeeming qualities I've noticed too.

Adjustability is superb on this backpack. The above picture of the velcro strap under the mesh panel shows that the bag can be adjusted to fit a wide range of people. I previoulsy stated (incorrectly) that this strap tightens the mesh on the back. That strap is actually connected to the shoulder straps, which are thread through a part of the frame. It is used to adjust the shoulder strap length in conjuction with the front shoulder strap ends. Although it's not something you need to change after you find a good spot for it. The mesh panel is actually tightened or loosened with a horizontal strap attached to a buckle that can be found underneath the lumbar padding.

I still haven't had a real oppurtunity to test the bag's waterproofness. I was in a light rain with it and nothing got wet, but like schnee said, you could probably submerge this thing and it would be fine. I just went outside, turned on the hose, and soaked it for about two minutes. There wasn't any water inside afterwards.

The suspesion system works well while riding. It's not amazing, but it does alright. After getting off the bike it provides a considerable difference. When I've just finished riding is usually when I get the sweatiest because my body is trying to cool down, but there is no more wind to keep it cool. While I was using the backpack in SF my back never got soaked in sweat like it would have with a normal backpack. I did still get some sweat marks on my shoulders and lumber region (where the paddding is) on one occasion, but I was running / rushing to meet someone when that happened.

The mesh helmet holder in the bottom pocket is a nice feature. I used it to carry a light package that was too big to fit in the bag one day (not it's intended use, but it worked well). The helmet holder can be left out all the time too. It won't interfere with the rear pocket too much because the pocket opens vertically.

I have a question for the people that own this bag. I'm currently trying to decide between the 22 and 27 liter models and I was wondering whether people felt that this bag was awkward to carry when it wasn't fully loaded. Can it be compressed? For the OP, does it feel too tall at all? (we are about the same height is why I'm asking)

When using my Freight messenger bag, it felt fairly unwieldy at times. While I liked that I could fill it up with lots of groceries and whatnot, I didn't like that it was a pain in the butt to bring into a bar or any place that is crowded, which is everywhere in NYC, even when I didn't have much inside the bag

So I'm leaning towards the 22 L bag. My experience bicycle touring seems to have taught me that I carry too much when I have the opportunity to carry it, so maybe it's best to cut that option off at the beginning.

Thanks for any help.

The waterproof coating on the inside gives the backpack a rigid shape. It doesn't compress very well. It's desgined to be aerodynamic, so it is tall, thin, and deep. The height has never been a problem, but the way the bag can stick out was annoying, especially on the bus or in a crowded place. I'm not usually in situations like that though, which may have been the reason I noticed it. Keep in mind that the 27 L is only 2 cm (0.8 inches) deeper than the 22 L.

.pdf link for Ortlieb Flight specs (http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/images%5Cpdf%5Cflight.pdf)

does it still accentuate your titties as nicely?

If I could do it again, I'd get the smaller size bag. I doubt I'll ever ride with this one completely full.

does it still accentuate your titties as nicely?

God, I hope so.

My initial thoughts after a week:

I got the smaller of the sizes. It's pretty small, and tough converting to after having a large Freight messenger bag. I bought it though because I wanted to stop lugging around everything in the world, and given that, it's met my expectations. I can fit most of my school and bike stuff and have enough room for lunch and that's about it. If I want to carry shoes or groceries, then it requires emptying things to make room.

It does a great job of keeping the bag off my back. I love that. It was worth the money alone for that since I really enjoy not being completely gross when I get to work. The bag also has tons of straps for adjustability and making sure that the bag fits well when riding. I have a really low gear on my bike and spin at a high RPM and I still have found it to be comfortable. The negative to this is that there are so many straps hanging off me. I think this is mainly because I'm kind of skinny. I plan on cutting down some of the straps and burning off the edges.

The neoprene pockets fit a Kryptonite Mini like Ken Wind says and a water bottle on the other side. However, it seems like there is some tearing on these pockets. I can understand the one with the lock since it's not really designed for that, but the other pocket has only held a water bottle so that seems weird.

The pocket for the helmet carrier is really out of sight, which is a good thing. In fact, I had a hard time finding it until I randomly stumbled upon it. I haven't used the carrier though, so it hardly matters.

The zippers are difficult to open, but not too difficult. I like that it takes some effort, because it means that when I'm out at a concert or something, people can't randomly dip into my bag from behind.

Another thing I like is that I've found that when I tilt my head back a bit when riding, I can push the frame of the bag off my back. This is nice when I'm starting to sweat and want to feel some air on my back.

I think that's about it. Overall, I like this bag. It seems like it will take a beating for quite a while (aside from the reflective material on the front, which seemed to be coming off in the box it was shipped in).

-Itty

Unlike a messenger bag or messenger-style backpack you can't pack this bag to capacity if you have a lot of heavy things with rigid shapes. I bought a couple school books yesterday which weighed about 20-30 lbs (roughly 10-14 Kg). They made the bag difficult to close, distorting the shape of back panel from curved to flat (basically flattening the sping steel frame). This made it extremely uncomfortable on the bike because there was a piece of the frame pressed against the middle of my back.

i ordered a 22L bag and i've been using it to carry my locks, my laptop (in a tom bihn brain cell sleeve), books, etc. i've noticed the same thing with the frame uncurving under load and pressing uncomfortably against my back. anyone have any suggestions for minimizing that?

other than that, the bag's quite cool so far.

Take the stuff out, and bend it back. I think that if it is flattened like that too much, then it needs to be bent back the other way. I've learned not to overpack the bag when it's really heavy.

Somebody should post a review of the new Rapha backpack. That thing seems pretty cool, but I don't think it's weatherproof. I'm confident that I could leave the Ortlieb outside all summer, and the only water that would ever get inside would be from condensation. I wonder when Swobo will make one.

7.59 adorable kittens
Metric kittens, or British?

Both the wife and I have got the smaller version (22L) and we are both happy with it. Even if I'm a head taller than her it was easy to adjust our bags to fit both of us. A couple of notes:
- The T-zip, a previous poster commented that he had the feeling he could go swimming with the bag. Well, my sea kayaking drysuit has the exact same zippers, and I regularly end up in Arctic water and come up dry.
- I am not a fan of hip belts, and have tucked mine away behind the back mesh.
- I would have wished that the inside pockets were a bit wider.

Erling.

any updates on the long term use of the bag? i was considering this or a chrome ivan roll top bag

I thought this was posted by Ken Cox, and I thought if I could look like that at his age, I'd be way ahead of the curve.

that when I'm out at a concert or something, people can't randomly dip into my bag from behind.

coatcheck dude. seriously

Im a strong supporter of the ortliebs bags... i may just have to add this one to my collection.

A few posts above, I doubted I'd ever get the use out of it. Boy, was I wrong.

Packing up for an epic MTB day - 4-1/2 hour, 30-miles through the middle of nowhere - and the bag shined. I had room for all the extra layers of clothes, full camelback bladder, extra water bottle, first aid kit, tools, and food with room to spare. Much nicer than having to stuff my MULE to exploding.

Looks like a great backpack but like Ken Wind said, I too would like it to have a removable waist belt. I have currently been using the ArcTeryx Arro 22

http://www.arcteryx.com/images/popups/Arro-22-Black.jpg

but would like to know if anyone has any experience with the expensive and tiny (11L) Rapha fixid backpack?

http://www.rapha.cc/images/products/backpack_primary.jpg

I'm really close to buying one of these, but I think for the price I might be happier with 11 or 12 Jansports.

any updates on the long term use of the bag? i was considering this or a chrome ivan roll top bag

It is in excellent shape, and there is still reflective material on the back. Something I noticed is that the ortlieb logos on the straps are also reflective. The side pockets are surprisingly strong. I carry a Kryptonite Mini (probably wouldn't work with a bigger U-lock) in them almost every day, and they are great for anything that needs to be easily accessible, such as a phone. The waist straps can be tucked behind the support webbing, but I still wish they were removable.

It's not much bigger (32.75 L vs. 27 L), but My Chrome Metropolis can probably carry twice as much stuff because the chape of the Flight is weird. The bag is really meant for small loads. Sometimes I need a bigger backpack for school and commuting, and unfortunately, Ortlieb doesn't have any that I like. They did just introduce a new larger backpack this year. It looks similar to their messenger bags, but it has a zipper instead of the roll-top. I'll probably end up getting a Freight Baggage Backpack.

I have a pair of Ortlieb Back Roller Classic Panniers that I love, but the rolling and unrolling can get annoying. I wouldn't want my backpack to have a roll-top unless there was a chance it could be submerged in water. The Flight could probably withstand that just as well though.


...would like to know if anyone has any experience with the expensive and tiny (11L) Rapha fixid backpack?

http://www.rapha.cc/images/products/backpack_primary.jpg

Rapha claims that it is water resistant, which is just like every cordura bag out there. I decided when I got my Chrome Metropolis that all my bags would be weatherproof, so I would never consider the Rapha. It's pretty small too.

One year later...

The backpack is still going strong. It's been on a number of cross-country flights, and it has endured rain, snow, and general abuse. It is still completely waterproof, and there is a sufficient amount of reflective material remaining on the back.

The helmet holder is ingenious. I use it to carry lightweight packages that wouldn't be able to fit inside the bag. It is also very good for a jacket or wet clothes or (naturally) a helmet.

I've stopped putting a U lock in the side pockets because of the tearing, but it might not matter because the tearing stopped at the point where the pocket is welded on.

The zippers were only lubed twice, and they are great. I actually prefer them to regular zippers now, at least on a backpack.

Ortlieb made a fine waterproof backpack, but there is room for improvement. I want a bigger backpack without the mesh suspension system, so I can stuff as much as it will hold inside it. The neoprene pockets on the side are great, but they need more reinforcement or a better design. Even though the waist belt is integrated in the design, I would still like to be able to remove it. I'm confident this bag will last a long time.

Hi All,
I got my Flight 27 recently and have done 5 commutes with it. I unfortunately will likely ask the bicycle shop or Ortlieb to take it back. I am really uncomfortable with the frame digging into my back when the pack is loaded even with just my clothing and a laptop. To no avail, I experimented lessening the load and pushing out excess air after it is loaded.
While the pack has a lot great features, if it can't hold my things it is all moot. Pretty disappointing.
I am thinking of trying an Ortlieb messenger backpack.
Paul

It's definitely not made to hold large, rigid items, such as a laptop. I recently got a medium size Freight Baggage Backpack that is awesome, but it is considerably larger than the Flight. If you like the Ortlieb Messenger Backpack, check out the Seal Line Urban Backpack as well. Deuter makes some very nice backpacks too. They aren't waterproof, but many of them do come with rain covers.

Hi All,
I got my Flight 27 recently and have done 5 commutes with it. I unfortunately will likely ask the bicycle shop or Ortlieb to take it back. I am really uncomfortable with the frame digging into my back when the pack is loaded even with just my clothing and a laptop. To no avail, I experimented lessening the load and pushing out excess air after it is loaded.
While the pack has a lot great features, if it can't hold my things it is all moot. Pretty disappointing.
I am thinking of trying an Ortlieb messenger backpack.
Paul

Did you try tightening the mesh? It's adjustable with a couple allen wrenches. Maybe it was just sold to you too loose.

This Deuter pack seems like a good alternative

http://www.altrec.com/deuter/futura-28-backpack-closeout?cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Froogle-_-Deuter-_-16565-240559-B&mr:trackingCode=F7E940F2-2783-DD11-B9C3-0019B9C2BEFD&mr:referralID=NA

or this one

http://www.altrec.com/deuter/racexair-ii-backpack-w-reservoir

I actually mistook the Deuter packs for the Ortlieb ones from this thread when I went to check them out in a store. The mesh system looks and feels like it would work very well on them.

Does anyone have experience with them?

i have been using my jansport for a while now and it holds up great and is just big enough for a change of clothes and lunch and whatnot...i will start shopping for something else when this bag falls apart
the rapha bag looks nice but it is way too pricey IMO

Hey,

For all you folks who bought either the 22 or 27, I am about 5'7" with a shorter torso . . . I want the 27, but am afraid that i will be bothered by hitting my helmet on the top of the pack all the time. I will also be carrying a laptop in a sleeve, and wondering if anyone has any pointers or more positive experiences with that.

Anymore thoughts on this pack from those who have been using it for a while? If you had to do over again, would you buy this bag again, or a different one? I'm mostly commuting.

(also, would consider trading my black baileyworks large for one of these if I could try it for a while--looking for gray color)

sfh

I've been using a Freight Baggage backpack (medium) for almost a year now. It has become my main bag because it is much larger than the Flight. When I do use the Flight, it is obvious that the ergonomics and ventilation are much better than any of my other backpacks or messenger bags. I also like the fact that is fully waterproof, unlike most messenger bag and backpacks. All Ortlieb backpacks utilize a roll top closure or the Tizip zippers found on the Flight. I love these zippers! They are truly waterproof. The top of the suspension frame may hit your helmet, but it depends largely on how you ride. If you have drops that are well below the level of your seat, and you frequently ride in them, it will probably be a consistent problem. I notice it when I'm riding, and I get in the drops. If you do order this backpack, I recommend ordering from a local store or an online store with a good return policy, in case it doesn't work well for you.

There are a few alternatives. Deuter (http://deuterusa.com/) makes a bag, the Transalpine 30 AC (http://deuterusa.com/products/productDetail.php?packID=transAlpine30AC&sub=hydration&tert=long), that uses a similar suspension system, called Aircomfort, as the Ortlieb (I think Deuter leases it's designs to Ortlieb). It is not waterproof, but it comes with a rain cover, and it has a slightly larger capacity. It also has the advantage of being the cheapest one out of the three. Deuter makes the same bag without a suspension frame (no AC on the end of the name). Instead it has ventilated mesh stripes, called Airtstripes, on the back of the bag, which I've heard work quite well. I don't like the idea of using a rain cover when the weather gets nasty, but the Transalpine line gets consistently good reviews.

Ergon (http://www.ergon-bike.com/) makes a backpack, the BC3 (http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/backpacks/bc3.html), that is roughly the same capacity, waterproof, and it also has a suspension system (it is completely different though). The BC3 looks very interesting, and the the bag is sold with different sized frames depending on the size and gender of the rider. It may work better for you than the one size fits all suspension frame found on the Ortlieb and Deuter backpacks.

Well that was quick (< 2 years) and in a spot where I wouldn't have expected a problem. All I keep in that outer pocket are a few tools (nothing sharp), my mini pump, and a spare tube. I put the bag on today and heard some noise. When I went to look at it, I noticed the hole. Anyone know what Ortlieb's customer service is like?

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KuPYDgUhjys/SiCo9h5N6GI/AAAAAAAAAz8/AF1DGa2SoDU/s400/IMG_0608.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KuPYDgUhjys/SiCo-GBaSYI/AAAAAAAAA0A/CYGrvgVjJfM/s512/IMG_0609.JPG