Ortlieb Gravel Pack: 15,000 km Review

A quick review of the Ortlieb GravelPacks after having used them for 3 years and more than 15,000 km of bikepacking and touring.
With a tip for a small modification that makes them even better!

[@iainmoore2514]

Great long term review, the Voile strap hack is superb and really useful to note the loosening fasteners - perhaps a dab of threadlock would help with preventing that

[@wombat.vision]

Thanks Iain!
Yeah, using threadlock would probably be a great idea.

[@rastapopulus4107]

Just brought them last week, thanks for your review! I will. be happy to test them out

[@wombat.vision]

I'm sure you will be very happy with then, they have worked really well for me.

[@shannon2757]

That Voile strap modification is flippin’ brilliant!
Have you considered working for NASA?

[@wombat.vision]

Thanks!
Wish it was that easy to get a job at NASA...
:)

[@lukesayballs]

Thanks for making this very helpful review, I am considering taking these on the GDMBR and there is very little info out there about these panniers.

[@wombat.vision]

Thank you. I think you will be happy with the Gravel packs, they are a good pannier.

[@bradwilliams3278]

Great panniers I mount them on rear for tropical tours & a small handlebar bag are all I need

[@wombat.vision]

Yeah, I think they are the perfect size, Any bigger and you just carry to much stuff...

[@briancaine9130]

Very nice review. I’m looking for a lightweight bag for my vintage Pletscher rack. This looks very nice. Subscribed.

[@wombat.vision]

I think you will be very pleased with them!

[@ejinjapan]

Was sitting on the fence about getting some, but... SOLD! A convincing endorsement, and I agree about the size. I don't want to be burdoned with too much 'Stuff'. Thankyou Wombat Vision.

[@wombat.vision]

You should be very pleased with them. Just got back from a 4-day trip and mine are still working great1

[@marcolamy]

Great review, Wombat. Thanks mate.

[@wombat.vision]

Thanks!

[@DonnieX6]

Thanks for the tips! I guess I will be using some thread lock on those mounting screws then, will be buying a set of these packs for me :)

[@wombat.vision]

Good idea!

[@josh33172]

I'm going to echo everyone else about the Voile strap mod, fantastic!
Where I find where some of the rattling comes from is the plastic "bumper at the bottom making contact with the rack. The plastic backing flexes and taps the rack often.
I haven't personally resolved it myself but I think something that's more rubberized than plastic may remove some of the noise.

[@wombat.vision]

Thanks Josh!

[@thejasonparker]

Great review and awesome tip with the voile straps. How do you mount them on your front forks as I’m looking for bags to go on the front of my bike?

[@wombat.vision]

When I have used them on the front, I have mounted them on Tubus Lowe Rider racks.
For the Riverside 520, then mount on the front rack.

[@thejasonparker]

@@wombat.vision Thanks for the reply and advice on tacks it's really appreciated.

[@tommillward7171]

Thanks for the video,really wish I had watched it a month ago 🤔

[@wombat.vision]

Thanks Tom!
What would have changed for you if you had watched it earlier?

[@bimazivanovic4784]

What is the dry bag you are using for your tent? Thank you for the great review.

[@wombat.vision]

It is a 5 liter Sea To Summit Big River dry bag. Maybe not the lightest, but rugged and the perfect size for being strapped on top of the panniers. It even has lash hops pass the straps through to hold it in place.

[@weebryan]

What rear silver rack is that mounted on the drop bar bike 6.30. Been looking for a rack that mounts to stays bolted on

[@wombat.vision]

The rack is an original Riverside (Decathlon) one made for the Riverside Touring frames. It bolts onto the mounting points on the seat stays and is very solid. I believe it is rated to 40 kgs of load!

[@maxwagner9371]

Awesome modification! How do you find these vs the smaller Ortlieb Fork-Packs?

[@wombat.vision]

I actually use both!
;)
I prefer the gravel packs on the rear and really like the Fork Packs on the front. I have reviewed the Fork Packs as well.

[@maxwagner9371]

@@wombat.vision yea seems like a nicer and more agile touring setup than larger traditional Paniers on the back only

[@wombat.vision]

@@maxwagner9371 It is but still allows one to carry more than enough stuff!

[@kristenshotwell1746]

What dry bags do you put on top of the panniers? You'd say you prefer the gravel pack over the classic?

[@wombat.vision]

I really do prefer the gravel packs. Perfect size and rugged without being heavy.
The dry bags I am using are the Sea to Summit Big River bags. I like that they have mounting points that I can thread the voile straps through.

[@rolandaspetrovas6642]

Can it fit 15inch laptop? Great review, thank you!🎉

[@wombat.vision]

Yeah, I don't think that should be a problem. They are 25 cm wide so it should work.

[@knrj]

Use some tape around the rack to make the fit more snuck and less rattle?

[@wombat.vision]

Yeah, that will work for a while, at least until the tape starts wearing...
It's not a major problem, just something to be aware of if you are sensitive to that type of rattle, lots of people don't have any problem with it at all.

[@marcokalle2452]

I use some pieces of old (rubbery) shower hose that i cut to length, and then cut open in length to fit over the rack tubes. Then a layer of duct tape. Bye bye rattling 😎 Garden hose should work too i assume 😊

[@DonnieX6]

I guess you could also experiment with strips of old butyl inner tubes and see if they fit in between, cheap and easily replaceable.

[@JochenSteglich]

25 liters seem quite small. What are you carrying in them, how much fits in?

[@wombat.vision]

Yeah, 25 liters might seem a bit small for "normal" bicycle touring but is quite large while bikepacking.
You can see what I pack in 2 separate videos on the channel, the Unpacking my European Divide setup and the Bike Setup and Equipment European Divide.

[@mokotramp]

How would you rate the Ortlieb tail pack? Was thinking about trying out the 16l version.

It is ok but I have come to decide that I don't like tail packs. Much prefer a light rack. Doesn't move around and gives many more options. So I am not the right person to ask about the tail pack, moved away from it rather quickly...
:)

[@comberdale]

Maybe some tape around the tubes of the rack will quiet them down;)

[@wombat.vision]

Yeah, that would work but tends to wear out.

[@williamwellekens1790]

Do you need the an ortlieb rack to use these or can I mount them on other racks too?

[@wombat.vision]

They will fit most racks and come with different inserts to fit different thicknesses of rack tubes. Essentially like any Ortlieb pannier.

[@williamwellekens1790]

Thanks for the info!

[@thomaserts8057]

Why dry bag did you use forvyour tent

[@wombat.vision]

The dry bag is a Sea to Summit Big River

[@streglof]

6:29 that looks very familiar. Rhine?

[@wombat.vision]

Yeah, thats correct! Cycling along the Rhine on Velo 15

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Thanks, great video - I've just done the strap modification - huge improvement! Thanks for the idea :)

[@wombat.vision]

Thanks!
Yeah, that mod has proven to be really great, makes the Gravel packs even more versatile and easier to use.

[@micham2077]

@@wombat.vision where can i buy this strap ! :D