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Ortlieb Back-Roller Free Panniers – Review

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Ortlieb back-roller free pannier

As someone who loves cycle touring when Rutland Cycling gave me the chance to try Ortlieb’s Back-Roller Free their newest waterproof panniers, I was happy to get a chance give them a try. While cycling across Canada a lot of cycle tourers we met were using them, and they seem to be the panniers of choice for tourers and commuters around the world and I was keen to find out why.

My first impressions of the Ortlieb Back-Roller Free panniers were good. When I took them out of the box they had a solid feel despite being thinner than I expected and as a bonus, they were also lighter than I expected (65.3oz/1.85kg each). I noticed thoughtful features such as an outer hard plastic edging to protect the lower inner corners from damage and the reflective details. The bags feel like they are high quality, they’re sturdy, and the waterproofing seams are so well done they are invisible. The quick release pull for putting the bags on and off the bike was intuitive and easy to use, they are a favourite feature for many and I can see why.

Ortlieb back-roller free pannier

My first attempt at attaching the bag to my bike did leave me a bit confused. It was obvious how to attached to the top of the rack with the quick pull hooks, but the correct position for the bottom bracket (used to stabilise the bag) was less intuitive. After a few rides, I’ve since figured out what works best on my rack.

The panniers seem to have a lot of straps and hooks, not all of which I could see any obvious benefit. When using the over the shoulder strap to secure the bag shut I found it made it difficult to quickly access the inside of the bag due to the extra faff of the strap dangling and the hook needed to secure the strap. As well, the fact the strap isn’t connected to the pannier means it’s pretty likely I’ll loose it. In the end, I decided to store it in the handy internal pocket for the times I might need it and just clip the buckles together over the top of the bag like my Crosso Panniers. When I’m touring, I rarely take the panniers off my bike, so the strap is most likely to be used when running errands or commuting.

Rear Pannier Ortlieb PVC free

Ortlieb is an outdoor company, and they consider the environment when manufacturing their products. Part of that consideration is making products that last. These bags have a 5-year warranty, but as I’ve seen and heard in my travels, they last well beyond that. The materials used are also part of the company’s thoughtfulness for the environment, for this particular bag the Free in the name of these panniers refers to being PVC free.

My overall impression of the Ortlieb Back-Rolller Free is very good. The only thing I would change is the shoulder strap closure; I would do away with the hook on the front of the bag used to attach the strap and have the strap include it as an add-on accessory. To me, it seems an over-engineered way to add a shoulder strap to a bag.

I would highly recommend the Ortlieb Back-Roller Free if you are looking for a hard wearing waterproof pannier with a large capacity (they expand up to 40L).
Ortlieb Back-roller free pannier

How to go from Commuting to Cycling Continents

cycling Canada coast to coast
I’d been commuting by bike for 6 months, I’d just bought a second bike, a road bike and was enjoying the longer rides I’d started doing on the weekends, to train for my first sportive, London to Oxford. Then a question, a question from nowhere, popped into my mind; I wonder how long it would take to cycle across Canada?  So how does one go from commuting by bike to touring across continents? It’s really just 3 easy steps.
cycling Canada coast to coast

1. Make a plan

I’m Canadian, and I’ve driven across Canada. I did the math and it could be cycled in a summer.  I googled cycle across Canada and came across a bunch of blogs. I started reading. I became captivated with the idea. If these seemingly normal people could do it why couldn’t I?


Two weeks later I proposed the idea to Nathan, he thought I was joking.  A couple weeks of my going on about the idea he realised I was serious and agreed he would be up for it, not wanting to get left behind.


That was July.  By Christmas we had the time booked off work, plane tickets, touring bikes, had chosen what camping gear we need and had a long shopping list. The start date was set, June 11th a year from when the question popped into my head.  We’d average about 100km a day with 1 rest day a week and I’d added a week buffer in case something delayed us along the way.


We had a huge map of Canada on our living room wall along with all the todos on post-it notes. Our living room was command central.  The enormity of what we were about to do staring us in the face every day.
 cycling across Canada BC

2. Create a list of everything you need

Once I realised we’d be camping (the budget and the distances between some places determined this) I researched camping gear. I’m a “cold” sleeper and I don’t function well without a good nights sleep.  Getting the best gear we could afford was a high priority.  I read loads of reviews and blogs and learned so much from others who’d done it already.
As well we had to choose bikes, panniers and clothes! Again back on the internet for more research.  I looked at the many packing lists people put up on their blogs to make sure I’d have everything I’d need but not too much, having read about many who part way through the mountain ranges of BC started purging stuff to lighten their loads.


3. Cycle, Cycle Cycle

This one is pretty obvious. Get your body ready to sit in a saddle and cycle every day.  Get used to cycling on tired legs. Make sure that saddle is the ONE and get out on an overnighter and test your gear.


Some cycle tourers we met use the first few weeks of their tour as training, building up distances as they go.  Because day 3 out of Vancouver is the biggest climbing day of the ride I wanted to be ready and in shape at the start. I also figured the better shape I was in the more I’d enjoy the experience.


Was I nervous, yes! Mostly about camping I’d never camped in a tent before and certainly not in bear country. Then there were the mountains, the hills of Surrey still scared me! But that nervousness is all part of the fun, it makes you feel alive and it’s the thing that keeps you motivated during the preparations and if it doesn’t scare you at least a little it isn’t really a challenge.
cycling Vancouver to Toronto what an achievment

Watch – Cycling Across Canada in 13 minutes

The summer of 2016 I went on the adventure of a lifetime and cycled across Canada. From Vancouver to Halifax self supported with Nathan (my now husband!). It was 6650km/4100miles which took us 74 days, 60 of which were spent on the bike. We created a weekly video diary of our trip which you can watch here, this is the abbreviated version cycling across Canada in under 14 minutes.