Ortlieb-Packers or Rollers, Classic or Plus?
 

I'm going to upgrade my front rack & panniers. I love the Deuter panniers that I'm using on the back, but haven't been to find the smaller version anywhere. So...I've decided to go with Ortlieb front rollers or sport packers. I'm leaning towards the packers, but would like to hear form those that use these and see what your thoughts are. I'm also debating over the classic and plus versions. Which one & why?

These threads may help, they may not, but hey are worth a look.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...hlight=Rollers
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...hlight=Rollers
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...hlight=Rollers
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...hlight=Rollers

Thanks! I guess I should have used the search function!

Search function is often less than helpful, unless you remember a thread and know precisely what you are searching for.

I got both,,packers hold more and rollers less. With the packer you can carry a med bag of charcoal covered, with the rollers it's open. With the packers you can carry a six pack of beer, bag of rolls and hamburger meat,,with the rollers a six pack and just the meat.
choices.
I got plus,,because it's says plus. If you plan on carrying tools or sharp objects I'd suggest a liner of some sort. Lately I've been using 1/4" aluminized bubble wrap .

Ortlieb panniers
 

This thread on Ortlieb panniers might be of help:

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22562

Ariane

i just recieved my set of the bike packer plus from these guys.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Or...rs/5360041587/

its crazy cheap because of the exchange rate with the pound right now. they also have a deal where if you spend more than $127 or something they ship it to you for free! thats where the real deal is. otherwise shipping is close to 30 bucks from the UK and that prettymuch negates the cheapness. i bought these panniers plus the backpack attatchment.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Or...er/5360007525/
total was around $130 american,, shipped for free and on my porch in less than 4 days!

I bought the plus panniers and was quite surprised how crappy they are. After one tour they have holes and one totally fell apart. I wish I was crafty enough to make my own.

The Classic panniers are made from thick, shiny PVC. The Plus are made from coated cordura. I have used both (in the roller models). While they are both excellent bags, I now find I probably prefer the Plus. The reasons are as follows:

1. The Plus cordura material is more flexible and easier to roll up. I find the thicker Classic is harder to roll, since it is much stiffer and tends to form peaks. I tend to fasten the Roller panniers by bringing the two buckles together at the top, rather than using the fiddly shoulder strap method. Bringing the buckles together once the bag has been rolled up just seems to be much easier on the Plus.

2. The Plus bags are lighter. It may not seem like much, but on tour you tend to want to cut weight wherever possible after the first few big hills.

3. The Plus bags are less shiny and feel nicer to handle (some think, myself included). There is also less of a plastic, PVC "smell" with the Plus.

4. The Plus handlebar bag has external mesh pockets, the Classics do not.

5. If you're looking at the Packer style panniers (i.e. lid rather than rolltop) then the Plus have external mesh pockets. The Classics do not.

6. Ortlieb claims that the Plus material will be harder wearing than the PVC Classic. I don't know how true this is, since it would look intuitively as if the thicker Classic material would be more robust. But they have maintained that the cordura is harder wearing for a long time now.

7. Coated cordura (Plus) has a less polluting production process than PVC (Classics) which apparently produces some really toxic chemicals - if you care about that sort of thing.

8. The Plus panniers all have the QL2 fitting system, which is a bit more adjustable, and you don't need allen keys to do move the upper hooks. You can also tilt the angle of the upper rail on the QL2, which can help if you have any heel strike to angle to pannier a bit away from your foot. The QL1 system on the Classics needs an allen key to adjust, and has no tilt ability.

Both types of bag are equally waterproof, at least in terms of the material itself. The bags as a whole differ in terms of waterproofness - the Rollers being more immersion proof, while the Packers are more rain/splash proof.

As for comparing the Packer and Roller styles: I have never used the Packers, but they look like very nice bags as well. On the upside, you have some more options in the way of the external mesh pockets on the Plus Packers. The benefit of the Roller design is that it is pretty much immersion proof - if the bags are rolled up properly, then water will not get in. A salesman told me the Ortlieb rep originally demonstrated this by filling the bag with water and kicking it around the store. The Packers are waterproof, but only in terms of rain and splashes. You may think that your panniers will never be laid down in water, but it can happen easily - for example I often kept the panniers outside the tent under the vestibule, and it's very common to wake up after a night of heavy rain and wind to find your panniers over on their sides in a large puddle.

On the downside, some people think that the sealed nature of the Rollers also keeps clothing from drying out properly, resulting in "swamp bag" - trapped moisture, mould etc. This may happen if you tour for many days in pouring rain without having a chance to dry everything, but I think this type of environment would be tough on any bags in terms of keeping everything "nice". My strategy is to dry out clothing on top of the rack or bungee cords over the top of the panniers. I simply do not put wet clothing back inside the pannier, unless it is itself inside a plastic bag to protect the other contents.

The final thing to consider is that being completely waterproof also means that the bags will be largely bug proof and dust proof. Depending on where you go, this can be a big factor (ants, desert wind etc).

In summary: I really like the Plus Rollers. They are light, simple, quite robust (in my experience) and completely waterproof. It's quite a nice feeling when you're riding into a big rainstorm, and you know that all your stuff will be completely ok, without having to stop and put on raincovers. Either style will be good.

Neil

Thanks Neil. That is great information. I'm leaning towards the plus version. I just don't like the looks of the shiney PVC. Not a showstopper, but I might as well get what I think looks best as long as it doesn't compromise function.

I just got the roller classics for a good deal from a local bike shop. I happened to a buy a surly too.

They seem robust and cling to the rack well. I don't have much time with them to comment in depth, but I do have quite a bit of experience with camping equipment, design, material, etc....

I don't see any reason (barring some kind of bear or squirrel attack) why they wouldn't last a long, long time.

I have no problem with one large pouch. I can organize my travel equipment well enough. If I had a pannier with multiple pockets, I would just end up forgetting what was where.
Hell, I lasted 5 months on the AT with a simple rucksack.......

I like to put a second hook onto the lower oval rail of the Ortlieb bags. You can buy the spare hooks from ortliebusa.com. The oval rails have two halves - upper and lower. Whichever half the factory installed hook is on, I add the new hook to the other one. Then you can orient the two hooks in such a way that they hug the rack struts much more tightly, which can help to prevent movement.

^^
That's a good idea. I am going to get a couple.

Beware! I have 'Plus' bags front and back, and mine have a shiny surface on the inside, which makes it very difficult to get things in and out when the bag is full. It definitely adds to the hassle.

I thought I was hard on my equipment! What were you carrying, sharp gravel and knives?

I have both the classic and plus rollers. It seems to me that the plus is a little smaller than the classic, but the QL2 mounting system of the plus is much better, so all-in-all I prefer the plus.