Ortlieb Dry-Pack 12L / 16L waterproof rack-top dry bag

Ortlieb Dry-Pack — the bag that turns a bare rack platform into luggage

A rear rack without panniers is a flat plate and a problem. Bungee cords slip, dry sacks roll off, and everything you own ends up damp. The Dry-Pack solves it in the least complicated way available: a cylindrical waterproof sack, shaped to sit lengthways on a platform, with two straps that clamp it down and stay clamped.

It is equally at home off the bike. Daisy chains run along the body, so the same bag lashes to a canoe thwart or a paddleboard deck without improvisation. That dual life is the point — most riders buy it for the rack and discover the second use later.

Open from either end

Both ends carry a roll closure. On a long cylinder that is not a gimmick: the thing you need is always at one end or the other, and you no longer unpack the whole bag to reach a rain jacket. A valve with a grip loop lets you squeeze the air out once loaded, which flattens the profile and stops the bag drumming against the rack.

Mounting

Two O-Strap Rack straps with clamping hooks are supplied. They thread through the loops on the underside and hook onto the side tubes of the rack, sized for tube diameters up to 10 mm. On an Ortlieb Quick Rack the fit is exact — the two products were designed together — but any platform-style rack with 10 mm side tubes will take it.

Details that earn their place

• Roll closure at both ends
• Compression valve with grip loop
• Two daisy chains for lashing and for attaching further gear
• Elastic cord across the top for a jacket or a helmet
• Two D-rings for lashing and closing
• Two O-Strap Rack straps with clamping hooks included

Waterproofing, precisely

Rated IP64: dust-tight and protected against splashing water from all directions. Roll each closure three to four times to reach the rating. Being a sealed cylinder with no zips and no external pockets, the Dry-Pack has fewer ways to let water in than almost anything else you could strap to a rack.

Specifications

• 12 L: 45 × 18.5 cm (length × diameter), approximately 230 g
• 16 L: 50 × 20 cm (length × diameter), approximately 250 g
• Material: PU-coated nylon, PVC-free
• Closure: roll-top at both ends, plus compression valve
• Mounting: two O-Strap Rack straps with clamping hooks, for tubes up to 10 mm
• Waterproofing: IP64
• Colours: black matt and dark sand
• Country of manufacture: Germany
• Warranty: 5 years

Frequently asked questions

Which size should I take?
12 L holds a change of clothes and a light sleeping bag; it is the size for a credit-card tour or a commute with gym kit. 16 L takes a full sleeping bag plus layers and is the one to pick for multi-day touring. The 16 L is 5 cm longer and 1.5 cm wider — on most racks, both fit.

Will it fit my rack?
The supplied straps hook onto side tubes up to 10 mm in diameter, which covers platform racks including Ortlieb's own Quick Rack. On a rack with thicker tubes or an unusual shape, the daisy chains let you lash it down with straps of your own.

What does IP64 mean in practice?
Dust-tight and protected against splashing water from every direction. Rain and road spray will not reach the contents provided each roll closure is rolled three to four times. It is not rated for submersion, so treat a capsize as a different question.

Can I use it for paddling?
Yes, and it is designed for it. The daisy chains attach to a canoe or paddleboard, and there are no zips to fail. Bear in mind the IP64 rating covers splashing, not being held underwater.

Can it be repaired?
Yes. Ortlieb supplies straps, hooks and closure parts individually and the bag carries a five-year warranty. Our workshop at L'Hirondelle Bike Shop in Meppel can source and fit replacements.

Where is it made?
Germany, at Ortlieb's own campus in Heilsbronn.