Ortlieb Duffle Lite 60L lightweight waterproof travel bag

Ortlieb Duffle Lite 60L — sixty litres that weigh less than a jacket

The number worth dwelling on is 850 grams. That is sixty litres of fully waterproof luggage weighing less than a winter coat, and 330 grams less than the classic Duffle at the same volume. On an airline that weighs your bag, that is a third of a kilo of clothing you get to bring instead of paying for.

The saving comes from the fabric. PS33 is a PU-coated nylon, free of PVC, BPA and PFOA, and it replaces the rubberised tarpaulin of the classic Duffle. What it does not replace is the sealing: the Lite carries the same IP67 rating, dust-tight and proof against a metre of water for half an hour.

Light, not fragile

PS33 is a tear-resistant fabric and the Lite adds a reinforced base where the wear happens. It handles boat trips, canoe portages and weekends down rough tracks. That said, if your bag spends its life being dragged across gravel, the classic Duffle with its PD620 body and PS620C Cordura base is still the tougher tool. The Lite is built for travel, not for abuse.

Organisation, which is where it wins

A removable inner compartment with zipped flat pockets lifts in and out. Pack it at home and drop it in, or take it out entirely when you want the full sixty litres uninterrupted. Ortlieb's own tip: lay the inner compartment under the zip when closing, and it shields your contents from being caught.

• Removable inner compartment with zipped flat pockets
• Internal compression strap to stop the load shifting
• External zip pocket on the front for quick access
• Two daisy chains on the top for lashing extra gear
• Padded removable shoulder straps, also usable as two carry handles
• Zip ends fixable, and usable to compress the bag down
• Reinforced base

Waterproofing, precisely

IP67: dust-tight and protected against immersion in one metre of water for thirty minutes. The rating depends on the TIZIP being closed all the way to the end stop. Worth knowing before you own one: this zip is deliberately stiff. Hold it square, run it steadily, and never yank it. A lubricant stick once or twice a year keeps it running; we stock the Ortlieb one (E134).

Specifications

• Volume: 60 litres
• Dimensions: 29 × 58 × 35 cm (H × W × D)
• Weight: approximately 850 g
• Material: PS33, PU-coated nylon — free of PVC, BPA and PFOA — with reinforced base
• Closure: full-length waterproof TIZIP, lockable, ends fixable for compression
• Waterproofing: IP67, dust-tight and immersion-proof to 1 m for 30 minutes
• Removable inner compartment, internal compression strap, external zip pocket
• Padded removable shoulder straps for backpack carry
• Colours: black, dark sand, rooiboos
• Country of manufacture: Germany
• Warranty: 5 years

Frequently asked questions

Lite or classic Duffle?
Identical volume, identical IP67, identical zip. The Lite saves 330 g at 60 litres and uses a PVC-free PU-coated nylon; the classic uses rubberised tarpaulin with a Cordura base and absorbs more punishment. Take the Lite for flying and travel, the classic for expedition abuse.

40 or 60 litres?
40 L is a week for one person and fits many cabin allowances. 60 L covers two people for a weekend or one for a long trip, and at 850 g it costs you almost nothing in weight to go bigger. If you are hesitating, the extra 90 grams is rarely the deciding factor.

Will it pass as cabin luggage?
No. At 58 × 35 × 29 cm it is a hold bag. Take the 40 L if cabin travel matters.

What does IP67 actually mean?
Dust-tight, and protected against immersion in one metre of water for thirty minutes. A genuine step above the IP64 on our roll-top bags, which covers splashing only. It is not rated for prolonged submersion or diving.

The zip feels stiff. Is something wrong?
No, that is normal for a TIZIP and it is what makes the seal work. Hold the bag either side of the slider, pull steadily, and lubricate it once or twice a year. Forcing it at an angle is the one thing that damages it.

Can it be repaired?
Yes. Ortlieb supplies replacement straps, buckles and TIZIP lubricant, and the bag carries a five-year warranty. Our workshop at L'Hirondelle Bike Shop in Meppel handles repairs and orders parts.