Which Ortlieb pannier to choose

[BryterLayter]

I was looking at my old Altura Dry Line panniers yesterday and they are looking decidedly tired. So I have decided to replace them with a pair of Ortlieb panniers. I have been interested in these for a while and most cyclists who have had experience of them rate them highly.

My dilemma is which one to buy. There is the Back Roller Plus, the Back Roller Classic and the Back Packer Plus.

I intend to use them for everyday shopping trips to the supermarket and trips out camping when I have the chance.

Any guidance/advice would be great.

[Justin]

I use the Ortileb Bikepacker Plus panniers for touring and I'm very happy with them. Personally I wouldn't use a pair of £140 panniers for daily shopping trips. I wouldn't feel comfortable about leaving such expensive panniers unattended on a bike on a regular basis. I would rather keep them specifically for touring and buy a cheap and cheerful set for shopping. Older, secondhand ones can often be found for little more than a few pounds.

[Richard Barrett]

Any - IMHO they're all excellent. I have a pair of Back Roller Classics and a pair of Sport Packer Plus and they are all universally good with no faffing around with liners or covers. The only time I have met anyone who had problems with Ortliebs is when they were attached to a poor quality rack that abraded the fabric.

They are well worth the money but I would go for whatever you can get some discount on - or whatever there is on Ebay if you're going for second hand ones. As long as they are not totally abused by throwing them down on gravel, they will last for years.

Once asked Capt Mark Philips about Nick Drake as they went to Marlborough School together - and he asked me how he was these days!

[BryterLayter]

That is a good point, about using a cheap pair of panniers for shopping. What I could do is try and patch the wear on my present pair and use them for shopping only, doesn't matter if they not entirely waterproof.

The remark Captain Mark Phillips made me smile

[Trigger]

I'm not sure any of the Ortliebs have the capacity of the Alturas, do they?

I must admit I'm really impressed with my Drylines, but I too would rather find something cheap just for general fetching/carrying/shopping etc, but what 56L cheap panniers are available?

[gilesjuk]

Back roller classic are heavier, seem sturdier but have a less flexible mount on the back, less positions for the lever on the bottom (that stops them swinging about). They're also less environmentally friendly.

Back roller are lighter, have the newer mount on the back, slightly more expensive and are made of an environmentally friendly material.