Ortlieb Gravel-Pack QL2.2 29L pair of bikepacking panniers

Ortlieb Gravel-Pack QL2.2 — panniers that do not spoil a gravel bike

Loading a gravel bike is a compromise. Add luggage and you usually lose the handling that made you buy the bike. The Gravel-Pack is Ortlieb's answer: a pair sized at 29 litres combined, designed to sit low on a fork or lowrider rack so the weight stays close to the axle and the bike still turns the way it should on loose ground.

Everything that could be stripped out has been. No internal organiser, no shoulder-strap padding. At 640 grams per bag, what remains is a lightweight, abrasion-resistant PU-coated nylon that shrugs off rock and gravel, and a roll closure that keeps the contents dry.

Quick-Lock2.2

QL2.2 is the evolution of the long-serving QL2.1, and the difference is worth knowing. The hooks adjust tool-free across tube diameters from 8 to 16 mm with no reducer inserts to fit or lose — on QL2.1 you had to slide in a separate piece for each diameter. The lower anchoring hook rotates and slides along the rail, and every contact point carries anti-scratch protection for your rack tube. The payload is higher too: 12.5 kg per bag against 9 kg on the older system.

Front or rear

The body is symmetrical, so the same bag works on the left or the right, and the pair mounts equally well on a front lowrider or a rear rack. Most gravel riders run them at the front and keep the rear clear for a seat pack.

Waterproofing, precisely

Rated IP64: dust-tight and protected against splashing water from all directions. That covers sustained rain and trail spray. Roll the closure down three to four times and tension it to reach the rating. The fabric is PVC-free.

Specifications

• Sold as a pair
• Volume: 29 litres combined, 14.5 litres per bag
• Dimensions per bag: 37 × 26 × 12 cm
• Weight: approximately 640 g per bag
• Maximum load: 12.5 kg per bag
• Material: PU-coated nylon, PS21R and PS33, PVC-free
• Closure: roll-top
• Mounting: Quick-Lock2.2, tool-free from 8 to 16 mm, no reducer inserts needed
• Additional lower anchoring hook, rotating and sliding on the rail
• Waterproofing: IP64
• Symmetrical shape — the same bag works left or right
• 3M Scotchlite reflective elements
• D-ring for an optional shoulder strap
• Country of manufacture: Germany
• Warranty: 5 years

Frequently asked questions

Is this the 25-litre version or the 29-litre one?
The 29-litre one. Ortlieb has sold two generations of Gravel-Pack: the older QL2.1 pair at 25 litres combined with a 9 kg payload, and this QL2.2 pair at 29 litres with 12.5 kg. If you are replacing one bag of an older set, check which system your existing bag uses before ordering.

Front or rear?
Both. The pair mounts on a front lowrider or a rear rack, and the symmetrical body means either bag goes on either side. On a gravel bike, front mounting is the usual choice because it leaves the rear free for a seat pack and keeps the load balanced.

Will it fit my rack?
QL2.2 adjusts tool-free from 8 to 16 mm with nothing to add or remove. For 18 or 20 mm tubes, common on e-bike racks, you need the QL2.1 hooks E211 or E193, sold separately.

What does IP64 mean in practice?
Dust-tight and protected against splashing water from every direction. Rain and trail spray will not reach your kit provided the roll-top is closed three to four times and tensioned. It is not rated for submersion, so a river crossing is a different question.

Why no inside pocket or shoulder strap?
Weight. Ortlieb removed both to keep each bag at 640 g, which is the whole point of this pannier. The D-ring is there if you want to add a shoulder strap, sold separately.

Can it be repaired?
Yes. Hooks, rails and buckles are all available as spare parts, and the bag carries a five-year warranty. Our workshop at L'Hirondelle Bike Shop in Meppel can fit replacements.