Ortlieb or Vaude Pannier

I am in the market for a set of panniers front and back, and I am trying to come up with a decision between the ortlieb back roller classic or the vaude aqua back. I am after a bag that is 100% waterproof (as near as damnit) and as indestructible as possible.

Does anyone have any views either way, is there anything to choose between the two?

Thanks

Julia

Hello Julia,

I've just got a set of Extrawheel Expert in preference to the Ortlieb and Vaude.They are arriving Monday so will have a better idea of what they are like next week.

They are huge (80L) but have detachable pockets which were the two main selling points. I have Ortlieb front rollers which I use on the back if I don't have to carry vast amounts and a terrific Carradice Bike Bureau which is excellent.I like their stuff so did consider their panniers but they aren't quite large enough. This was quite a useful review -
http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/articles/equipment/carradice-super-c-rear-pannier-review/
The problem I've found with the Ortlieb is that they are fiddly and a bugger to carry off the bike when fully laden. The lack of an external pocket is also a huge pain. I've been quite happy with Cordura for rucksacks so preferred that to the Ortlieb plastic. There is an argument in favour of having breathable rather than waterproof material as anything left inside a waterproof bag will ferment if moisture can't get out which was another reason for cordura.

I really wanted the Vaude's, but was unable to find them in the shops I visited to be able to have a look first so I ended up purchasing the Ortliebs and they are really nice so I'm happy.

As far as durability and waterproofness... both appear to be equal so you end up selecting based on capacity, looks and other functions (ease of mounting, ease of access, etc). You're selecting very like-for-like products though, so I'm sure you're going to be good no matter which one you buy.

The problem I've found with the Ortlieb is that they are fiddly and a bugger to carry off the bike when fully laden. The lack of an external pocket is also a huge pain. I've been quite happy with Cordura for rucksacks so preferred that to the Ortlieb plastic. There is an argument in favour of having breathable rather than waterproof material as anything left inside a waterproof bag will ferment if moisture can't get out which was another reason for cordura.

Ortliebs efinitely not comfy when fully laden although if you are fully laden, one would imagine that walking will not be a massive distance.
Lack of external pocket isn't really a problem for me as I have the ones with the built in internal pocket for small stuff. Anything else fiddly or small is tools and that just stays in my tool bag and easy to retrieve. I have come across people who have added velcro on internal pockets. Not a major problem.
I cycled across Canada with my Ortliebs and with a lot of rain on the way, especially on the prairies. Moisture was never a problem, partly because I was carful about what went in there but also because I was careful to air the bags out. Breathable is OK, but I think I would far rather fully waterproof and manage what is in the bag than risk water coming in from having the bags on damp ground, overwhelmed in a deluge or caught by a large splash. Breathability also tends to require something to encourage water across a membrane. Of course this is a matter of personal preference.

Yes I can't imagine walking far with them but even upstairs with the shopping is a bit of a pain.

Does anyone make an internal organiser thing for the ortlieb ?

I've gone off the Ortliebs rather so thought I'd try the Extrawheel and see how I get on. Personal preference of course tends to develop over time !

I like my Ortliebs so far, but I have only done normal commuting with it.
They also came in handy when going to Plymouth on the train with a lot of stuff.
Cycled to Kings Cross then left my bike there. When I came back after midnight I didn't have any tube trouble.

I find the shoulder strap is the weak point.
Every time you open the panniers, you have to unclip the shoulder strap on both sides to unroll the bags, and when you close it it's the same plus then put it through that guide on the bottom, which is really fiddly. I wish they had a better solution for that.

Otherwise I am happy.

I am a big Vaude fan. I have had a set of front and rear Vaude roll-top bags for 7 years or so, and they are brilliant. I like the simplicity and total water/dust proof nature of these bags and they have a huge carrying capacity. In fact we have used this one set of front and rears on a tandem and this is sufficient for warm weather non-camping touring for two people. We also use a barbag (Ortlieb, in fact) and can carry additional stuff strapped/bungied to the top of the rear pannier rack when necessry -but it usually isn't. This was more than enough storage space for a two week holiday tour for two people.

The Vaudes have proved rugged, easy to use, easy to set up for different pannier racks, easy to attach and remove with a single click. Very well made and designed. I have had to replace the hook and handle/release mechanism on one pannier but the spares were available and cheap from Vaude, and otherwise they have proved very tough. They have a huge capacity, I would say in XS of their stated 50L (rears), as you can load them high, even leaving the roll tops open for larger bulky loads. The beauty of the rolltop design also allows you to squish them down to a small size if you are only carrying a limited load.

I often use just one pannier on my mountain bike when out for a day ride as it then can take everything needed including spare clothing - but I sometimes get lumbered to carry everyone elses spare cags!!!

The Ortliebs are also very good, but I think the Vaudes have the edge

Vaude: 10/10 Ortlieb: 8/10

Oh and just an additional note on the waterproof nature of these great Vaude bags. We have floated them across rivers and streams on several occasions on wild tours in the Scottish Highlands, and the contents have remained dry. If I have had them out on the mountain bike, I will often hose them down with the bike when cleaning off. A superb bit of kit

They're both very good, but Carradice is the best pannier money can buy.

Unlike all the other top brands, they make no promises with regards to waterproofness. But they are made in Lancashire by a woman who gets paid a living wage, and there is a reasonably priced repair service for when you do damage them. Seriously, no cheap manufactured goods have a repair service. Lifetime guarantees are just another way for companies to say "See this item, we can make it very, very cheaply".

They're both very good, but Carradice is the best pannier money can buy.

Unlike all the other top brands, they make no promises with regards to waterproofness. But they are made in Lancashire by a woman who gets paid a living wage, and there is a reasonably priced repair service for when you do damage them. Seriously, no cheap manufactured goods have a repair service. Lifetime guarantees are just another way for companies to say "See this item, we can make it very, very cheaply".

I was under the impression that Ortlieb also pay living wages, offer repair service and no lifetime guarantee (theirs is five years). Where have you heard otherwise?

Actually, just looking at info on Vaude and they also seem to provide living wage and very good working conditions as well as a repair service. Not sure of their warranty conditions.

Mind you, lifetime guarantees don't just mean "See this item, we can make it very, very cheaply". Take for instance the Tilly hat, they offer a lifetime warranty based on confidence in their own product. It's a warranty that is justified by the quality of the product, like many others.

I stand corrected.

I'd still have a Carradice though.

I just ordered some Carradice Super Cs. I was looking at the Ortliebs for a while, and was leaning in that direction, until I realized there was not really anything about them that sold them to me. They just seemed like the bags one would buy if one were buying a new set of panniers (I was helped to this realization by talking to Tommy le brick last night). I'm not convinced by the benefit of complete waterproofness (when I toured in the past, I used some mid-range panniers from MEC, and just put everything in individual zip lock bags to keep stuff dry. Worked fine, and kept everything nicely organized - would have ordered another set from them and had them shipped over if the attachment system wasn't so lame), and Ortliebs look awkward when full (bulging plastic sacks).

Hopefully I don't eat my words.

+1 for super c's. despite the simple design I've never sufferd water ingress after 3 years commuting with mine.

Have you bought yet. I have a pair of Arkle GT 54 they are brilliant and big