[Closed] Ortlieb or Vaude - Panniers

I've got a pair of Ortlieb Classics I used for commuting daily for 4 years, still going strong and about to be brought back into service for touring. The Classic material is stiffer and holds its shape, makes packing easier than the Plus material that flops over.

I've heard good reports about Ortlieb's customer service, I'll update here when they get back to me about sending some reducers for the mounting system for my new rack! As ever, the go-to-cycle-emporium for all things touring, SJS sell whatever spares you'll need (but I'm not going to fork out a £tenner for 8 small bits of plastic if Ortlieb are willing to send them to me, gratis!).

I have seen reports of the fixings on the latest generation, small self tapper screws and plastic 'nuts' coming loose (I'm inclined to Loctite my wife's new set), apart from that it's a better solution than the big captive nuts on the inside of my set from c-2008.

As for Vaude, I've no first hand experience but I've seen comments that the mounting system it's as good as Ortlieb's.

70 litres is a lot of stuff on the back of the bike, is there an option to have a pair on the front and a pair of 40 regular ones to distribute the weight about the bike better?

Jamiea,
I have a pair of Altura (40 litres total). I would like something bigger as I am moving bulk rather than weight. Its only for short hops of 10 miles or less. Often I will be using them to pick up groceries too.

I think if I was moving significantly heavy stuff or doing long touring a front set might be worth considering. I dont at present have weight/balance issues with my bike, but I have never ridden with front panniers to compare the experience, so I dont know what that would be like.

Thanks also for the other info, very helpful.

You could also try Spa Cycles who do touring stuff. Spares listed at the bottom of this link
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m5b0s74p0/Bags-and-Luggage/Pannier-Bags

I've got the below. They've been superb and UK manufactured
https://www.carradice.co.uk/bags/panniers/carradry-rear-panniers-pair

Just before lockdown we went and bought a pair for my Mrs bike...they were made from the vinyl sides of curtain sider lorries so great way of recycling and made to the same standard.

https://upsobags.co.uk/

Dave,
interesting, will check these out later tonight. Thanks.

If I knew how to post photos, I'd show you the Upso ones, lovely things.
Carradice are obviously best known for their old fashioned canvas kit and I got the panniers when they first dabbled with 'tarp' material. Did a 600 mile 8 day trip from Snowdon to Ben Nevis with them in the usual mix of rain, wind, hail, sun, rain, wind....... Totally waterproof and ample space for a weeks kit. I'd happily buy again.
We went to the factory for the Upso and picked what she liked from the rack of dozens of different ones. Worth the trip just to look at the old fashioned clocking on machine (and to buy a local product)

My wife and I have a pair of each, I'd say their is next to nothing in it.
I've bought spares for the ortlieb pro classic (because they were second hand-not broken)which were easy to get hold of but never needed to with the vaude.
Slightly prefer the release/carry handle on the vaude.
I think I'd buy whichever was on special offer.

Ortlieb are in my opinion the best you can get.

However, I did have a vaude bar bag that's been used far more than my panniers and abused more and its survived everything and I can't fault it.

I bought the vaude as it was significantly cheaper than the ortlieb.

The only thing that damaged my Ortlieb panniers was deet when my bottle leaked after a crash. The panniers must have been hit hard and they were scuffed but nothing else.

You could also try Spa Cycles who do touring stuff.

Indeed, we were there picking up my wife's Wayfarer on Friday. Alas I couldn't pick up mine as the bastards had run out of frames 😠🤬

After waiting 5 weeks to get round to building it they went to the frame store only to find out they'd run out of 54s, the lad dealing with us said he's only just started to look to see if they have any frames in stock before taking a deposit, probably only after a rather straight-to-the-point phone conversation I had with the boss 🙄

So I couldn't recommend the place if you actually want what's listed on the website, I'd hope SJS have a better idea of stock control!

My wife did consider the UpSo bags but discounted them as being too expensive, I seem to remember them being priced a lot higher previously?

One thing to note is that they are sewn as opposed to being welded, thus not 100% waterproof.

I picked up a pair of Thule panniers this winter from a Facebook group for £50. Unused but secondhand with tags on.
56lt between both.
Thier attachment at the top is great - really simple and secure. The bottom on is a magnet, I'm not sure it's as secure as a clip on rough roads.
Having had a really old set of Ortileb 20 years before, I think the Thule's are better with a few simple features such as net pockets inside, light mount and reflective logo. But that may just be 29yrs of development!

I've got a pair of the Vaude's - replacing a 25+ year old set of Karrimor panniers (from when they were good and not owned by Mike Ashley!)

The Vaude's have done 4 years of daily commuting, look and work like new. Especially like the single pull handle to release. Never needed to get spares, so can't comment on availability.

I’ve had some Ortlieb roll top painters since 1997. They have been used for lots of touring. 12 years of commuting and are still almost completely waterproof.

No idea what the model is, if they die I’ll get another pair by Ortileb

My ortliebs survived ten years of daily commuting. I replaced them with an identical set about five years ago and they're still going strong. Could be tempted by Upso next time as they look to be very well made and use waste materials.

Vaude? Vaude 😀 ?

Just kidding, but I'm pretty sure the answer is Ortlieb - probably up there with the Shimano M520 SPD as an example of design perfection.

EDIT: double post, sorry.

I have ortleibs and carradry. the ortleibs are great and very easy to take off and put on - too easy if the possibility is that they get stolen., they also rattle a bit and one of the bottom mountings tore thru.

the carradry are bigger, rainproof but not throw in the river waterproof with fiddly fixings - but rattle free so better if you are leaving the panniers on the bike when its locked up

Carradry are lighter - the ortleibs really are heavy

they also rattle a bit and one of the bottom mountings tore thru.

My wife's new ones came with 10mm adaptors opposed to the 11mm ones that fit my OL1s. They fit into the hooks much more securely and mount on Tubus racks snugly. Heatshrink tubing gets around the loose fit of the older adaptors.

I have 10 mm adaptors on a 10 mm rack. The location of the hooks is not as positive as the carradry ones hence the rattle. this is used offroad tho not on road - on road they are OK

I’ve heard good reports about Ortlieb’s customer service, I’ll update here when they get back to me about sending some reducers for the mounting system for my new rack

I received an email this morning saying the request I sent to the global customer support has been sent to their UK distributor Lyon Equip., which is encouraging; I've had brilliant service from them re: MSR stoves & Therm-a-Rest in the past.

Lyon are (we're) brilliant. I've had their support on a couple of things over the years and they've been faultless.

I've a pair of Backroller Pluses, the lighter fabric 40L jobbies as they're a but lighter than the lorry tarp ones. They've been excellent and survived a nasty crash last year when my chum came across firstly them scattered across the road then the bike then me...

I've just bought a pair of the 70L Pro Classics for the tandem. They are half a kilo heavier per pair than the Pro Plusses which shouldn't be an issue on the tandem. I like the big net front pocket for wet waterproofs and the new internal pockets for bits n bobs. I miss the outer pockets my old Karrimor Kalaharis have for tools and easy to get stuff. Progress. Harumppphh...

I miss the outer pockets my old Karrimor Kalaharis have for tools and easy to get stuff

You can buy pockets to fit to Ortlieb bags: https://www.ortlieb.com/uk/outer-pocket+F91S

Also, what are they for?

If you're not carrying a lot of luggage the Ortlieb front rollers used on the rear make a lot of sense (the "city" version are cheapest and most stripped down). They're big enough to take a 13" MacBook in a case.

(reason being I really don't like riding with a single heavy pannier - the bike handles much better with weight on both sides. so better to have a pair of small ones than often running a single)

jamiea
Member
I miss the outer pockets my old Karrimor Kalaharis have for tools and easy to get stuff

You can buy pockets to fit to Ortlieb bags: https://www.ortlieb.com/uk/outer-pocket+F91S/blockquote >

Yeah cheers. I've seen those. Don't want to be punching holes in my waterproof bags though...

 

Yeah cheers. I’ve seen those. Don’t want to be punching holes in my waterproof bags though…

The ortlieb pockets come with fittings that are designed to maintain the waterproofing.

As an aside I've been using a pair of the new Alpkit duck cotton panniers for my weekly trip to the office. Seem ok so far (4 trips).

I have the Vaude, no problems with them in heavy rain and have survived a couple of crashes. Got them for half the price of the Ortliebs as well.
I keep them padlocked to my bike with the security cable, don't forget to keep the lock oiled.

I received an email this morning saying the request I sent to the global customer support has been sent to their UK distributor Lyon Equip., which is encouraging; I’ve had brilliant service from them re: MSR stoves & Therm-a-Rest in the past.

More great service from Lyon, received an email from them not long after hearing from Ortlieb, offering to send me 10mm adaptors free of charge. After confirming they'd fit my older QL1 system (they originally only accepted 8 or 11mm adaptors) the arrived in the post a wee while ago. Trying them they are a slight interference fit on the 10mm Tubus rack and provide a solid, secure fixing on to the rack, better than the newer ones on my wife's bags.

Ortlieb front rollers used in a rear Tubus rack here also. Survived quite a few 1-2 week credit card tours of the alps and Pyrenees. Still in perfect condition despite a small ‘chute’ off the Stelvio one year.

Having sold many of both in a previous job, I would say Ortlieb and Vaude quality is pretty much the same. Rarely if ever had any returns and we were selling 5 or 6 pairs plus a week at the peak. Similarly spares were never an issue for either brand.

Ortlieb here for commuting and touring for 10+ years

20 liter Front City rollers are fab for commuting and touring. Stops me packing too much.

I have 2 top tips

1) The hook you get to hook under the rack leg, buy a 2nd one for the other side of the same pannier. When you put the pannier on by pushing the bag down the v of the two rack legs (think tubus) and bam the pannier is absolutely rattle free and absolutely nailed to the rack. I do off road tours with a Front 20 litre City roller attached thus.

2) As I discovered when I used one of my wife's Altura panniers, when I got home I turned around and no pannier! This was expensive as it contained my tool kit etc. So now even with my Ortlieb panniers I use a black Velcro cable tie 150mm x 10mm like those used to tidy computer cables. The cable tidy is attached to the handle of the pannier and I wrap it around the top rail of the rack. If the fasteners ever come loose the bag is still attached and being black on black when people try to remove the pannier (helpful train staff) the bag confusingly will not come off the rack.