Ortlieb Duffle RG 85L wheeled waterproof expedition bag

Ortlieb Duffle RG 85L — expedition volume, on wheels

Eighty-five litres is more than one person should carry, which is the entire argument for this version. The wheels and the aluminium frame turn a load you would otherwise drag across a car park into something you pull with one hand — and unlike an ordinary roller case, it keeps working once the tarmac runs out.

It is waterproof in the way Ortlieb means the word. A sealed polyester body and a 10 mm TIZIP Masterseal, the heavy-duty drysuit zip, keep the contents dry in rain, spray and a wet quayside. Very little luggage at this volume can say the same.

Built for ground that isn't flat

Large wheels, a stable aluminium frame and an impact-proof underside give it real off-road handling: gravel tracks, cobbles, grass, the back of a pickup. It stands up on its own whether full or empty, which is what you want when you are packing at a trailhead rather than on a hotel bed.

Three ways to move it

• Pulled on the telescopic aluminium handle
• Carried one-handed by the grab handle
• Worn on the back with the removable shoulder straps — though at this volume, that is a short-distance option

Waterproofing

Ortlieb publishes no IP figure for the RG range, unlike its roll-top bags at IP64 and its TIZIP Duffles at IP67. We do not quote one it has not stated. The sealed polyester and the TIZIP Masterseal keep contents dry through sustained rain and spray.

Specifications

• Volume: 85 litres
• Dimensions: 29.5 × 83 × 40 cm (H × W × D)
• Material: waterproof polyester, aluminium frame, impact-proof base
• Closure: 10 mm TIZIP Masterseal waterproof zip
• Telescopic aluminium handle and large wheels
• Removable shoulder straps for backpack carry
• Free-standing when full or empty
• Colour: black
• Country of manufacture: Germany
• Warranty: 5 years

Frequently asked questions

34, 60 or 85 litres?
34 L is the cabin size. 60 L is the two-week bag. 85 L is expedition volume: a full kit list, or one bag serving two people on a long trip. All three share the frame, the wheels and the zip.

Will an airline take it?
As hold luggage, yes, but check the size limits. At 83 × 40 × 29.5 cm it is a large piece and some carriers charge an oversize fee. It is nowhere near cabin dimensions.

Can I really carry it on my back?
The straps are there and they work, but eighty-five litres loaded is beyond comfortable back-carrying for most people. Treat the backpack mode as the option for the last two hundred metres when wheels will not do.

Does it have an IP rating?
Not one Ortlieb publishes for the RG. Our roll-top bags are rated IP64 and our TIZIP Duffles IP67; for this model the manufacturer states waterproof construction without an IP figure, so neither do we.

Does the zip need maintenance?
Yes, like every TIZIP. Pull it steadily rather than yanking, and lubricate it once or twice a year. We stock the Ortlieb lubricant stick (E134).

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