Review: Ortlieb Bikepacking Frame Bag
We are back from Montana! During our 5 days in SW Montana we tried a lot of different permutations of bags and racks. One of my personal favorite bags was the Ortlieb frame bag. In this video, I tell you why!
For those that would rather read than watch a video, here is the executive summary:
Pros:
-Durable construction and materials
-Waterproof
-Medium can fit smaller frames
-Narrow enough to not hit knees while riding
-adjustable velcro straps for a good fit
Cons:
-No port for hydration hoses
-Zipper on the “wrong” side
-Waterproofness can cause condensation inside bag
Actually, the zipper being on the non-drive side is an issue. At the end of the day, when you lay the bike down, you’ll (hopefully) do so on the non-drive side to prevent the rear derailleur/derailleur hanger from getting bent and then you can’t access the stuff in it. For me that is a deal-breaker.
Yep. We mention that in the review.
I also thought that at first. But when I left the bike on the non-drive side overnight and it was storming during the night, I was happy that the zip was at the bottom. It should be waterproof, but… The problem with that zip is rather the fact that it’s impossible to open with one hand while riding. It sits too firmly in the final position.
We love Ortlieb! We’ve been carrying the Downtown Bag model this year and it’s done great for us here at Quantum eBikes (https://www.quantumebikes.com/)
Cheers!