Cycling UK Forum

I have Ortliebs but i use an Altura Fusion for everyday commuting. I like the Fusion but I think Altura have stopped making them.

Bought a used set of carradice outlanders a few years back. Upgraded to the newer superc clips and they have been excellent. Got a set of altura universal panniers bought from new that I have never used. Obviously the oldrr fixing clips as they're useless and just kept bouncing off the bike. Unlike the carradice I am unable to upgrade the fixings.

Nobody mentioned Llidl Ortleib clones yet? I've been using them in winter conditions for years, commuting and touring in summer. I bought a new set when they came back in but the originals are still serviceable. Very tough and waterproof.

I've used Altura Orkneys (pretty much identical to the Drylines) for a few years, and they've been great.

For my tour this year I decided to fork out for the Ortlieb Back Rollers, and to be honest have regretted it. The handle release system is a bit of a pain in comparison to the Alturas klickfix release, and the roll closure is a nightmare every time you want to get anything out...

On the plus side, they are a bit smaller and lighter than the Alturas (ok, smaller obviously being a debatable benefit, but in my case it was what I wanted). Possibly harder wearing but time will tell. After five years of day in day out use, I'm still using my Alturas but I was unsure whether they would stand up well to another full tour (this was largely just an excuse, the Ortliebs are red, and look a lot better on the bike )

I'm quite tempted to sell them and replace them with some of the BikePackers which I think would suit me a lot better. But then I'd still have to put up with the silly handle thing - why does everyone rave about this?! It looks great on paper, but in reality, when putting it on the bike, it never goes on evenly because the handle's not central, so you have to hold the bag, which stops the handle from releasing, so you have to push the bag down while pulling the handle up at the same time as trying to guide it on. It's downright awkward. As opposed to the Klickfix which has a simple one way catch, with a button to release it when you take it off, and the handle is small and fairly stiff making it easier to guide the bag on.

Benethi wrote:I've used Altura Orkneys (pretty much identical to the Drylines) for a few years, and they've been great.

For my tour this year I decided to fork out for the Ortlieb Back Rollers, and to be honest have regretted it. The handle release system is a bit of a pain in comparison to the Alturas klickfix release, and the roll closure is a nightmare every time you want to get anything out...

On the plus side, they are a bit smaller and lighter than the Alturas (ok, smaller obviously being a debatable benefit, but in my case it was what I wanted). Possibly harder wearing but time will tell. After five years of day in day out use, I'm still using my Alturas but I was unsure whether they would stand up well to another full tour (this was largely just an excuse, the Ortliebs are red, and look a lot better on the bike )

I'm quite tempted to sell them and replace them with some of the BikePackers which I think would suit me a lot better. But then I'd still have to put up with the silly handle thing - why does everyone rave about this?! It looks great on paper, but in reality, when putting it on the bike, it never goes on evenly because the handle's not central, so you have to hold the bag, which stops the handle from releasing, so you have to push the bag down while pulling the handle up at the same time as trying to guide it on. It's downright awkward. As opposed to the Klickfix which has a simple one way catch, with a button to release it when you take it off, and the handle is small and fairly stiff making it easier to guide the bag on.

Pleased to hear I'm not the only one who doesn't like Ortlieb rollers. I use my old panniers in preference. They have a lid top, pockets, a short sturdy carrying handle, clip on and off without any problems and they don't rattle like the Ortliebs.

+1 for Ortlieb

On my second set - i got bored of the colour of the originals after 10 years! Stick to the Classics tho, the City side buckles are too fiddly which is why i chose Ortliebe over Vaude in the first place!

As for them rattling - clearly the fitting parts weren't installed and the hooks not adjusted properly. Mine don't make any noise even bouncing across rocky trails and no i haven't 'customised' anything!

diapason0 wrote:Got to be Carradice Super Cs! Cotton Duck is waterproof, durable and always looks good. Great company to deal with as well.

+1 still use mine had them 25 years and still going strong

loafer wrote:

diapason0 wrote:Got to be Carradice Super Cs! Cotton Duck is waterproof, durable and always looks good. Great company to deal with as well.

+1 still use mine had them 25 years and still going strong

They're brilliant. My Barley looks as though it came over on William the Conqueror's bike, but still does the job and stays waterproof.

I also swear by my Super C's, they're characterful and practical. I like the idea that I'm supporting part of what remains of Britain's manufacturing industry, too. I bought some Ortliebs for my wife, as she decided that they were the ones to go for, but I wouldn't be surprised if my Carradice bags outlive me!

Used my Kelbrook satchel tonight - another great Carradice bag. It seems to swallow stacks of sheet music and books and is comfortable to wear.

Polish brand, fully waterproof: Crosso Expert.

I use these (from Decathlon) and they seem pretty good so far: decent price, easy to get on and off and seem pretty waterproof

I'm not doing serious touring yet, so have a small £15 pair from SJS that are always attached to my all-purpose bike - if I carry a tent and sleeping bag, those get put in bin bags and stand up vertically and are bungeed to my rear basket.
The one problem I've had is them abrading the alloy struts of my rather expensive rack.
Luckily I spotted it before it got too bad.

Ortliebs, say no more, the best.

I still use the Agu Sport Quorum panniers I bought with my bike - both 25 next year! They are not waterproof any more, so I use a sturdy plastic bag in each. They are probably quite heavy and I've been meaning to replace but haven't got round to it... also do like the design, the outside pockets are useful. The (originally) waterproof bag cover stuffs into the lid, actually this makes a comfy pillow when I'm camping! Bit fiddly to get off the bike, mainly because I broke off one of the fastenings the first time I used them and have been botching it for 24 years...
I've also got a pair of Lidl bags, the 'Ortleib clones' which have also been amazing value for money. For 5 years they've been used several days a week for commuting and shopping, and have only recently started falling apart - but they look repairable. All for £11 each (or the pair? Can't remember!)
I've also got an Altura bar bag, in many ways very pleased I got it as it's SO much better than the small rucksac I'd been using for years - but it's like a sponge when it rains. So I tie a plastic bag round it - Co-op ones are good as they are transparent and I can still see the map through it!
Sometimes I must look a real sight! Thinking of when it's so wet I've got plastic bags over my feet too!