Ortlieb

How did Ortlieb bicycle bags and trolleys come about?

Southern England, spring 1981. There is a prolonged downpour between the green hills. Not bad for this area. And between the hills is a young cyclist with frizzy hair and a packed bicycle. The water runs down his clothes, hair, face and bag. He was looking forward to the bike ride, but doesn’t feel like spending the night in a soggy sleeping bag. Meanwhile, a truck drives by and everything in it stays dry. And that gives the curly-haired young man, Hartmut Ortlieb, an idea. Once back home, he sits down behind a sewing machine and makes a bicycle bag himself. This one attracted more and more attention from the other residents: “Hey, can I have a few of those too, so I can sell them in my shop!” And so the first distribution strategy and bag line began.

The rear bag is followed by a front bag. Demand continues to grow and Hartmut enlists the help of family and friends. This is how the Ortlieb brand was born in 1982. With the thought of a soggy sleeping bag in mind, developments continue. Somehow sewn materials weren’t good enough anyway, so Hartmut tries his first weld. This ensures strength and material retention. In the end, the Ortlieb panniers became 100% waterproof, without impregnation or taped seams. That was the first milestone. This was quickly followed by the roll closure for a guaranteed dry bag that is not only waterproof, but also floats. Today you can call Ortlieb a synonym of waterproof.

Ortlieb sells various panniers, bags and trolleys. Ortlieb products are characterized by a sturdy and reliable closure, such as the roll closure and waterproof zippers. Numerous design features are protected by patents and continue to set new standards in the cycling and outdoor market. The high-quality products with special design features are developed by a multidisciplinary team that is based on the wishes of the market, and therefore the requirements of end users. And, the innovations just keep coming and are awarded almost monthly by independent juries and trade journals.