Ortlieb Gravel-Pack QL2.2 25L 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 25 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. What remains is a lightweight, abrasion-resistant ripstop nylon with a PU lamination that shrugs off rock and gravel, and a roll closure that keeps the contents dry.

Quick-Lock2.2

QL2.2 is the current generation of Ortlieb's mounting system. It fits rack tubes up to 16 mm, with supplied reducer inserts for 12, 10 and 8 mm, all with an anti-scratch function that spares your rack. The upper hooks and the lower sliding hook adjust without tools, and an additional lower mounting hook holds the bag steady on rough ground — the detail that matters when the surface stops being smooth.

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: 25 litres combined, 12.5 litres per bag
• Maximum load: 9 kg per bag
• Material: PU-laminated ripstop nylon, PVC-free
• Closure: roll-top
• Mounting: Quick-Lock2.2, tubes up to 16 mm, reducer inserts for 12, 10 and 8 mm
• Additional lower mounting hook for stability
• 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

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 handles tubes up to 16 mm and the supplied inserts step down to 12, 10 and 8 mm. For 18 or 20 mm tubes you need the QL2.1 hook sets 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 the Gravel-Pack in the lightweight class, which is the whole point of the bag. The D-ring is there if you want to add a shoulder strap, sold separately.

How does it differ from the Sport-Packer?
The Sport-Packer is the touring front pannier, with more volume and a fuller feature set. The Gravel-Pack is stripped down for off-road riding and weighs less. If your route is tarmac and loaded touring, the Sport-Packer is the better bag.

Can it be repaired?
Yes. Hooks, rails, buckles and reducer inserts 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.