Jamie has been testing Ortlieb’s 9L waterproof handlebar bag on all sorts of bike packing trips lately. Time to see how it performed.
With another Welsh epic in the bag, Traws Eryri, Jamie checks in with how the Ortlibe 9L waterproof handlebar bag fared.
Photos by Jamie Edwards
Key features:
- 9L handlebar bag (also available in 15L)
- Roll closure ends
- Waterproof material
- 3M Scotchlite reflectors
- Carbon-bar safe
- £120.00 RRP
- Ortlieb.com
I don’t think there are many better ways of hauling gear on your bike than the Ortlieb Handlebar Pack – it’s quick and easy to fit, it’s rock solid on the most technical of trails, it looks good and it’s simple to use. It’s waterproof, which really matters in the UK.
It’s one of the very best bike-packing products that I’ve encountered to date.
So what makes the Ortlieb handlebar bag so good?
First up, it’s remarkably simple to get on and off your bike.
Bikepacking gear can often be a right hassle to fit to your bike, and remove again. The Ortlieb Handlebar Pack takes seconds to fit, is very quick and easy to set up and is no more hassle to remove. Once it’s off the bike, there are no mounts or brackets left lurking around getting in the way.
When you’re rushing to get out of the rain and into your tent, or hurriedly breaking camp in the morning that ease of fit and removal is a real bonus. I just know that when I crawl out of my tent, I don’t have the stressful job of getting my bike set and that it won’t take any effort to get it tight, secure and comfortable. There’s nothing more annoying than having to stop 15 minutes into a ride to re-adjust your gear.
I also like the fact that it can be removed quickly and doesn’t require any mounts or brackets to be left on your bike. Loads of bar bags leave behind a cradle or harness when the bag is removed, which is just added hassle when you want to flip your bike back out of ‘bikepacking mode’. Not the case here, just whip the bag off and your back to a clean, uncluttered front end.
The roll-closure, dry-bag style system is nothing new but works great. It makes it easy to stuff kit into the bag and is no hassle to use with cold hands, in the dark or when the bag is stuffed full. Just roll the ends down tight and clip shut.
By having openings at both ends of the bag, you can make sure your gear is really stuffed in tight, and any little leftover spaces can be filled with bits and bobs to really maximise the available space.
A really nice feature is the small air-release valve which helps to make stuffing gear into the bag easier, and helps you reduce bulk once you’ve rolled and clipped everything in place. I really like that feature.
The Ortlieb is also really secure on the trails. I’ve ridden some really rough, rocky, bumpy trails with it and never had any worries about the bag shaking loose, damaging my gear or brake hoses or falling into my wheel. You simply strap it onto your bars, cinch up the straps and clamp everything down tight. There’s no flapping around, no instability and no movement at all.
The foam spacers offer plenty of protection for your paintwork and move the bag nicely away from your bars, creating room for your cables. It’s all really simple, it’s quick and easy, it’s perfectly secure. Fit and forget.
And how about capacity? The Ortlieb comes in two sizes, 9L and 15L. I chose 9 because I prefer to keep weight on my bars to a minimum and use it for bulky but relatively soft and light items.
The 9L will fit a sleeping bag (in my case an Alpkit Pipedream 400), a tent inner and outer, a down jacket and a small first aid kit. I suspect that for longer trips or particularly cold, wet ones you might find the 9L a bit snug, but for two or three-nighters it’s perfect, especially when teamed up with a seat and frame pack.
Last but not least, the Ortlieb bar bag is waterproof, reflective and feels very robust against the elements. I’ve dragged it through some pretty wet conditions so far and it’s kept my warm layers and sleeping bag safe. That offers real peace of mind and I know that when I arrive at camp I won’t be faced with a damp, miserable night.
What Do We Think?
Love it. The Ortlieb Bar Bag is super easy to install, use and remove. It’s both incredibly simple and super effective. It’s one of my favourite bike-packing products to date.
We Love:
- Quick to install and remove
- Rock solid fit makes it secure on rough trails
- The air-release valve helps keep it low bulk
- Tough, waterproof and reflective
Could Do Better
- 9L size isn’t a vast amount of space (but a 15L option is available)
