Ortlieb panniers?
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- Posts: 2914
- Joined: 9 Jun 2008, 8:06pm
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
My mate's yellow Ortliebs are not in a good way, being chafed and failing at the seams
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
You obviously look after your panniers in a damn sight better way than you do your domestic appliances and laptop computers.gbnz wrote: ↑26 Sep 2021, 8:23am Anyone know why Ortlieb panniers last indefinitely?
Suppose mine are now 14 years old. And yet as I stuffed approx. 12-15kg of food shopping into one (I.e. 12 pints of milk), I can't quite believe they're still not showing the slightest sign of fabric wear, the straps are still in place, the draw cords haven't needed replaced. Quite incredibly, the tiny plastic "snap on" fittings the panniers are attached to the rack with, still haven't shown the slightest issue, despite the fact that they've done thousands of fully packed journeys over 14 years carrying 10-15kg as a matter of routine.
It just seems incredible. A modern fridge lasts 3-4 years, a washing machine 2-3 years, a laptop several months, karrimor boots one walk.. If Ortlieb panniers were made by most modern suppliers, 3-4 weeks of use would be a "good life"
How on earth do Ortlieb do it?
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
(Backroller Classic QL1) I find the bolts holding the main rail to the pannier (ones with the plastic captive nuts on the inside) can work lose over time and if you don't spot it you can lose them. Happened once to me mid tour (an end one) but local French village garage managed to find a screw that fitted OK.
Ian
Ian
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
I have a pair of those I bought last century. Ditto used for lots of shopping - look almost new. The original hooks were a pain - inserts kept dropping out - but at least I could buy and retrofit the new 2.1 ones - inserts go in from the side. They are brilliant - will be using on a wild camp later this week - I really like the fact that you can no trouble leave them outside a tent in pouring rain if you have to.
Sweep
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
No. In fact, with the regular cleaning of filters on the washing machine and ensuring it's precisely levelled, defrosting of the fridge, anti viral programs and defragmenting on the laptop, they have far more maintenance than the Ortliebs.
Though it is my intention to wash the Ortliebs one day - has been for several years, but it will happen at some stage
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
What brands of appliances do you buy? Get Miele next time you buy and they'll last 20 years or more.gbnz wrote: ↑29 Sep 2021, 8:54amNo. In fact, with the regular cleaning of filters on the washing machine and ensuring it's precisely levelled, defrosting of the fridge, anti viral programs and defragmenting on the laptop, they have far more maintenance than the Ortliebs.
Though it is my intention to wash the Ortliebs one day - has been for several years, but it will happen at some stage
Carradice saddlebags and panniers made before Ortlieb was founded in 1982 are still in use, so Carradice is proven to be longer lasting. Most of their products are made from sustainable, natural materials too.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
Do the boots and computer you buy not carry warrantees? 12 months is a legal requirement . If we were still in the EU you could claim up to 6 years for electrical items.
John
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
I like Carradice products and that's largely because of the waxed cotton material, but they do contain a lot of plastic as well: the hooks, backing plates and bottom stiffeners on the panniers, the lining that's on the lid of the saddlebags, the inner flaps and their drawstrings, the reflectors... It's a lot less than Ortlieb or most other manufacturers, who use plastics for every part, but it has to be pointed out that even Carradice are not really sustainable or natural. Perhaps they still were as late as 1982, I don't know (ignoring the thorny question of whether leather and metals are sustainable... !)pete75 wrote: ↑29 Sep 2021, 9:00amWhat brands of appliances do you buy? Get Miele next time you buy and they'll last 20 years or more.gbnz wrote: ↑29 Sep 2021, 8:54amNo. In fact, with the regular cleaning of filters on the washing machine and ensuring it's precisely levelled, defrosting of the fridge, anti viral programs and defragmenting on the laptop, they have far more maintenance than the Ortliebs.
Though it is my intention to wash the Ortliebs one day - has been for several years, but it will happen at some stage
Carradice saddlebags and panniers made before Ortlieb was founded in 1982 are still in use, so Carradice is proven to be longer lasting. Most of their products are made from sustainable, natural materials too.
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
They contain some plastic but I wouldn't call it a lot. The bulk of most panniers and saddlebags is cotton. The saddlebag lid lining appears to be cotton.Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑29 Sep 2021, 11:01amI like Carradice products and that's largely because of the waxed cotton material, but they do contain a lot of plastic as well: the hooks, backing plates and bottom stiffeners on the panniers, the lining that's on the lid of the saddlebags, the inner flaps and their drawstrings, the reflectors... It's a lot less than Ortlieb or most other manufacturers, who use plastics for every part, but it has to be pointed out that even Carradice are not really sustainable or natural. Perhaps they still were as late as 1982, I don't know (ignoring the thorny question of whether leather and metals are sustainable... !)pete75 wrote: ↑29 Sep 2021, 9:00amWhat brands of appliances do you buy? Get Miele next time you buy and they'll last 20 years or more.gbnz wrote: ↑29 Sep 2021, 8:54am
No. In fact, with the regular cleaning of filters on the washing machine and ensuring it's precisely levelled, defrosting of the fridge, anti viral programs and defragmenting on the laptop, they have far more maintenance than the Ortliebs.
Though it is my intention to wash the Ortliebs one day - has been for several years, but it will happen at some stage
Carradice saddlebags and panniers made before Ortlieb was founded in 1982 are still in use, so Carradice is proven to be longer lasting. Most of their products are made from sustainable, natural materials too.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
The underside of the saddlebag lids is non-canvas cotton but I think there is a thin plastic layer there too. Possibly I'm mistaken about that. I expect Carradice would let us know if we contacted them. But details aside, my point is that although Carradice (the classic products at least) use a lot less plastic than other luggage manufacturers, they can't truly be described as "sustainable".
- SupermanVsSnowman
- Posts: 36
- Joined: 23 Sep 2021, 7:56am
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
Good to hear this. I got one small pair of ortliebs and one large pair. The small pair I use for general commuting, and I use both pairs for weekly shopping. I relish reliability. I don't intend to change them any time soon.gbnz wrote: ↑26 Sep 2021, 8:23am Anyone know why Ortlieb panniers last indefinitely?
Suppose mine are now 14 years old. And yet as I stuffed approx. 12-15kg of food shopping into one (I.e. 12 pints of milk), I can't quite believe they're still not showing the slightest sign of fabric wear, the straps are still in place, the draw cords haven't needed replaced. Quite incredibly, the tiny plastic "snap on" fittings the panniers are attached to the rack with, still haven't shown the slightest issue, despite the fact that they've done thousands of fully packed journeys over 14 years carrying 10-15kg as a matter of routine.
It just seems incredible. A modern fridge lasts 3-4 years, a washing machine 2-3 years, a laptop several months, karrimor boots one walk.. If Ortlieb panniers were made by most modern suppliers, 3-4 weeks of use would be a "good life"
How on earth do Ortlieb do it?
OH CACK! I just dropped my d-lock, shattering the JWST primary mirrors! I'll just say I was on the toilet when I heard something smash.
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
Why on earth would they want to put a plastic layer underneath a waterproof outer? What is your definition of sustainable?Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑29 Sep 2021, 1:05pm The underside of the saddlebag lids is non-canvas cotton but I think there is a thin plastic layer there too. Possibly I'm mistaken about that. I expect Carradice would let us know if we contacted them. But details aside, my point is that although Carradice (the classic products at least) use a lot less plastic than other luggage manufacturers, they can't truly be described as "sustainable".
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
I can confirm they are not invulnerable to fairly speedy lowside 'offs'. One of mine has had a couple of holes abraded into the fabric as a result, do need to patch those up now summer is over.
The contents of this post, unless otherwise stated, are opinions of the author and may actually be complete codswallop
Re: Ortlieb panniers?
Does sustainable need defining? It means capable of being sustained indefinitely. The production of Carradice luggage in its current form involves fossil products – plastics and metals – and is therefore by definition unsustainable. At some point we will reach the last drop of petroleum and lump of iron ore. It's certainly "more sustainable" than most luggage and definitely more easily adaptable to a sustainable design (for instance the plastic parts are fewer and could be replaced first by metal, which is recyclable, and ultimately perhaps even by wood; but people probably won't be cycling when we reach that stage!)
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Re: Ortlieb panniers?
Carradice design has been improved in some respects over the years but there has been some cheapening, with riveted buckles (used to be stitched in) and straps that crack at first use, unless you diligently rub Proofide into them a few days in advance. The nylon drawstring "mouth" of current bags is also going to be unrepairable compared to the old flaps and ties.
There's not much money in making a slightly more expensive product that lasts for ever, in a mature market!
There's not much money in making a slightly more expensive product that lasts for ever, in a mature market!