Price: $127.99

Ortlieb Downtown Commuter Pannier

Stock status: 5+ in stock

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Overview
Features
Specs
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Downtown Perspective

The Downtown is available with both the QL2 and QL3 mounting systems. What is the difference? Read below.

Ride in style, and with maximum commuting convenience with the Downtown Commuter bag. The Downtown is the ultimate bag for cruising around town and for biking to work or school. It features a large pouch with Velcro closure that is sized to accommodate a laptop up to a 15.4" width. The Downtown also has other pockets and pouches which helps to organize your pens, notepads, and other necessary small items. A snap hook for your keys is even included so locking up your bike is quick and easy.

Sold as a single pannier, the mounting system has an innovative, rotating fixed rail so that you can easily set your bag to fit snugly on either side of your rack. This bag is also equipped with base feet and edge protectors to keep your bag looking new. Pack as much as you need, as the Downtown has three variable lid closures for overloading with an extra pair of clothes, or large books.

The Downtown Commuter is designed to look sleek on the bike, and to seamlessly transition into a professional looking briefcase style bag when off the bike. A padded, adjustable shoulder strap is also included to quickly transform the Commuter into a messenger bag. Maintain your professional look while still getting in your daily ride with the Downtown Commuter Pannier.

The QL3 attachment system features a new style of mounting component that mounts to the right or left side of your rack. This component is fully adjustable both for heal clearance and angle of your bag. The bag for the QL3 system now has a much more flush back so it's more comfortable to carry. The upper mounting clips have an auto lock so the bag stays securely mounted to the rack, simply pull the handle up to unlock the clips. The QL2 system is not compatible with the QL3 system and cannot be modified to accept the new components.

Available colors: black, white, applegreen or aubergine
Comes with either the QL2 or QL3 mounting components
Made of completely waterproof PVC fabric
Large inner pouch with Velcro closure, suitable for a 15.4" laptop
Large dual zipper inside pocket
3 open organization pouches with pen slots
Inner liner with full zipper for easy cleaning
3 variable flap closure loops to accommodate overstuffing
Designer metal closure hooks
Carrying handle
Side stiffener loops on bag with removable padded shoulder strap
Hard backing plate for rigidity
Includes 8 mm and 10 mm pannier hook inserts
Base feet for protection and stability
Inner snap hook for keys

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Dimensions: 14.2" x 14.2" x 5.5" (H x W x D)
Volume: 18L / 1098 cu.in.
Weight: 1550g / 54 oz

All ORTLIEB products are backed by a 5 year warranty against defects in material and manufacturing.

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Price: $127.99

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ASD* : Available Ship Date.

Product Reviews

2013-04-22 12:32:52

Julia T says...

Forgot to give examples of what I put in it. Example: Laptop, 6 paperback books, raincoat, bike lock. I think I've also been able to fit a 6-pack in this mofo. The buckle system has 3 levels of anchor straps, so you can expand/compress the bag as needed.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2013-04-22 12:29:18

Julia T says...

I LOVE this bag! With all caps! Reasons: 1. Perfect size, fits a shit ton without having unwieldy dimensions 2. Very light 3. Has just enough organization (2 zippered pockets, 2 velcroed pockets, pen organizer, laptop compartment) 4. Looks like a normal messenger bag when I need to carry it around, is relatively comfortable to carry with the strap pad 5. Very easy to mount and dismount 6. Rigid, raised bottom means I can plop it down on wet ground without worrying Quibbles: 1. Would prefer the velcro pockets not to have velcro. Velcro sucks and catches on things. 2. The bottom piece of the rack mount was a pain to install. 3. Buckles take some getting used to, but are very secure. I usually just use one buckle. 4. Wish there was a way to secure the shoulder strap to the outside without having to put it inside the bag. If I forget to put it inside, I spend a few more seconds having to unbuckle and buckle the bag.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2013-02-07 19:30:30

Jim G says...

This bag is a bit wider than I expected - it's roughly 6," which is nice. I store a large chain lock, book, lunch bag, maps, spare keys, quarters, umbrella, multitool, patch kit, keys, chap stick and some light rain/cold gear inside on a daily basis without issue! It's very sturdy, roomy and easy to attach/detach. The fact that the QL3 system attaches to your rack at an angle eliminates any potential for kicking the bag while riding - a very thoughtful feature. The only downside I see with this bag is that the QL3 mounting hardware on the rack makes it difficult to attach anything above it. If you want to use a bag other than this over the QL3 hardware, you either need to remove the mount or have a QL3-compatible bag. You can use this bag conveniently for the office on weekdays, but if you think you can conveniently use a grocery pannier on each side for weekend shopping, think again.

Rated 4 out of 5 Stars

2012-12-28 06:29:24

Ashley M says...

I bought this bag on a friends recommendation and have found it to be a nice change from my backpack. The cover locking system does take some getting used to and I really don't like wearing the bag since the back is solid. However, it has a solid base that keeps it upright, quality construction and good volume.

Rated 4 out of 5 Stars

2012-12-04 21:09:38

Colin M says...

great bag but I think maybe what I wanted/needed was Ortlieb's "office bag" main issue: the buckles are too fiddly if you want to quickly open the bag, get something out, and close it again. for instance, if it is raining *really* hard and you take the subway and want to get out some reading once you're on. it would be great to find one well-constructed sentence explaining the differences between these two products. at time of writing, there are no pictures on this site or Ortliebs making it clear how the office bag fastens - if you are looking, you might want to ascertain what the deal is there

Rated 4 out of 5 Stars

2012-09-19 08:23:48

Vincent I says...

Purchased with the QL3 system and have been using it for about a month now. Overall, it's a great bag and would recommend it!! The QL3 system works very well and is very easy on/off. I have only had one instance where it came loose (very heavy load +several large bumps) at all. The bag came unhooked on the bottom mount, but the top remained secure. I can wear the bag around without anything pinching or cutting into my back which is GREAT!! Although I have not fully immersed it, I have been through a downpour, sprinklers and over very wet roads (~5 mi to work) and have not seen/felt a drop of moisture inside the bag. The base is solid and it easily stands on it's own. My only real complaint is it is smaller than it looks. I fit a ~1" thick 3-ring folder, 15" Macbook, a book, incidentals (keys, wallet, etc.) and lunch fairly easily, but much past that is pretty snug!! If I wear a pullover fleece or light jacket in the morning, it rolled up and stuffed in the afternoon is awfully full and a little difficult to close. I will likely purchase a small trunk to fit on top of my rack for clothes and/or shoes when the weather turns ill. It would be better if the mounting hardware was aluminum instead of plastic in my opinion. Time will tell how long the mounting system holds up. So far, it's been worth every penny!!

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2012-09-03 13:32:40

Sue S says...

This pannier is the perfect size and configuration for my commute. Got to test out the waterproofing in a downpour on the way home from work. I was soaking wet but my laptop and clothes were high and dry. The mounting bracket is easy on/off. Ortlieb needs to include longer mounting screws! The bracket was a major hassle to attach.

Rated 4 out of 5 Stars

2012-07-10 14:14:06

Dustin S says...

Excellent bag, completely water proof, I commute in Houston, we often have monsoon like conditions, no problems at all with leaks. Excellent craftsmanship, has held up great with over 1.5 years of constant use. Fits a laptop easily and has a number of pockets and dividers on the inside. The QL3 system is leaps beyond the QL2 in the fact that the bag doesn't haven't anything protruding from it to stab you in the back. Besides the excellent water proof construction, the best surprise was the stainless steel clips to secure the flap, which offers multiple positions to make way for taller items, they are a flawless part of the design and ten times better than plastic push-clips that will inevitably bust on you. --- Finally, and most importantly, the bag fits six 12oz bottles of beer and one 750ml bottle of wine at one time, I wouldn't put more weight than that in it, but I was pleased.... 'nuff said.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2012-03-19 11:06:24

Jacob M says...

I love this bag. Solid on the bike, and I use it as my everyday around town bag. Since the bottom is more like a box than a bag it's easy to carry things like a big camera in it and you don't fish around as much. Also has many useful pockets. Even when I don't take my bike I carry a big camera and my work laptop in it daily, plus a book, notebook, power adaptor, a bike pump, other odds and ends, and it has plenty of space left. Goes on the bike easily, comes off easily (when you pull up on the handle), and there's virtually no hardware on it when off the bike.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2012-03-05 10:43:36

Tim M says...

Great pannier! Very good construction, and seems solid and will last forever. Had a tough time mounting to my 10mm Streamliner DLX rack, but it works if you squeeze the mounting brackets. I wish the included mounting bolts had been just a few mm longer. I had no prior pannier experience. I bought this to replace commuting with a messenger bag. I didn't like the weight of a laptop over 8 miles one-way, and I didn't want a backpack because of getting a sweaty back. However, there is a tradeoff with a pannier, especially when loaded with a 5lb laptop, U lock and clean clothes. My bike doesn't feel as nimble as I roam in & out of traffic. I know that with the messenger bag I still had the same weight (well, slightly less), but it felt more like it was part of my body. Now it feels like an off-center weight on the rear of my bike. I ride a single speed freewheel with 700x32 tires. That being said, I'm sticking with the convenience of the pannier. The QL3 mounting is simple to get on & off the bike. Not having anything on my back is nice. And now I have an excuse to use the bike for weekend short hops to the store & back. It's quite large and can hold a lot of stuff, but not too large.

Rated 4 out of 5 Stars

2011-11-01 07:28:01

Sheila M says...

This bag is seriously awesome. It's also a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. I bought it in black with the QL3 attachment system. I highly recommend the QL3 over the QL2. I wish all panniers came with the new QL3. Also, now this bag is at a discounted rate?! Wha??? No fair! I paid more for it, but I'm still very pleased with the purchase.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2011-09-07 11:14:02

Frank F says...

As others have said, great bag and totally waterproof (tested again today :). Like the interior setup - enough pockets for wallet/keys/glasses/computer items/whatelseyouhave. I wish it would be a tad deeper as I have trouble fitting a lunch bag together with my thin wind jacket into the bag. I have the QL3 system which is really nice. In order to achieve the needed heel clearance I had to mount the OL3 rack attachment slanted with the bottom of the triangle on the outside of the rear rack bar. This works fine though and the stability of the bag is fine.

Rated 4 out of 5 Stars

2011-06-01 16:02:50

Christian H says...

I have to say this is a great bag. I have already gotten a lot of complements with it (I got the apple green). It is smaller than I anticipated but, I can get a few office supplies, rain gear, tools, my lock in it, gloves, personal items {glasses, phone, wallet, keys, toothpaste/brush, deodorant, ect} and last lunch. It is professional enough for the office and bike enough where the avid cyclists are in envy. The office folks say...Ortlieb I have never heard of it!? The avid cyclists say...that bag is the $hit, where did you get it, at such and such shop. I say no, I got it online at BikeBagShop. The three things I do not like: 1. The closer system, I would prefer the traditional adjustable strap, though this system does not have any dangling loose straps. 2. On the clip system (QL 2) I do not like the plastic inserts for the clips, the ones that make up for the thickness of the rack you choose. I just gave up with their “cheapness” and wrapped enough electrical tape around the metal rack to give the system a secure fit. 3. I wish the carry strap had the traditional bike messenger adjustable clip for easy quick adjustments. All of these I can live with and I rate this product a 9 out of 10…and I have to say at 36years old and been riding ever since I can remember – this product is stellar! I commute everywhere and am looking forward to many years of use with this item.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2011-06-01 13:56:15

David W says...

This is a very well made bag. I had a very difficult fit with a Dahon folder. The folks at BikeBagShop were very helpful and finally got s mount that works. I would recommend this site for your all your bike needs.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2011-05-17 12:33:22

Andrea Z says...

I love this bag. I have it with the Q3 mounting system. It's really easy to secure, and you just grab the handle to take it off. It's so easy I keep looking over my shoulder to see if it has fallen off, but it's very secure until you pull the handle. It looks gerat, has been through a bit of rain with no problem, and is comfortable to carry. My only minor minus is that the inside pockets could go down deeper. I don't see much reason why they wouldn't. I love this bag.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2011-05-02 16:44:57

Andrea K says...

Superb bag! Great update with the clips on the back for when you carry it after getting it off the bike; no scratching! Easy and smart design for clipping on to the bike and easy removal only when you want it to move! Easy set up. The great design and construction doesn't stop for the inside, too.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2011-03-16 09:32:00

David H says...

I have two of the Ortlieb larger size panniers. I love them, but some times I don't want such a large bag to haul around, so I purchased one of these Downtown Commuter Panniers, in the green color. It works great. The color is highly visible to drivers. The bag has a compartment for a notebook, but I use it for newspapers and things like that. The smaller size works great. Easy on and off, of course. Two complaints. First, I wanted this pannier on the right side of my bike rack. It came fitted for the left side. In order to change it, the instructions showed simply unscrewing two screws and moving the pivot and re-screwing. However, it failed to show that first you need to completely unzip the inside of the bag and grasp the nut on the interior. I had to contact bikehbagshop to get the information. Fortunately they were very helpful and gave me the correct instructions. Second, I do not like the way the bag cover fastens. There are hooks that slide into one of three separate loops. It is a pain to use. One only has the 3 options. Some sort of velcro would have been nicer IMO. However this is a minor issue. Over all it is a GREAT BAG and typical German quality.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2011-02-18 12:47:59

Kyle D says...

I am a graduate student who bike commutes daily. Previously, I had been using a simple backpack to transport my things to and from campus, but I had wanted something that had these characteristics: 1. waterproof (since I carry a laptop) 2. taken on and off a rack easily 3. stylish to carry (preferably messenger bag style) So, with those constraints, I found this bag, and I love it. It carries everything I need for class and study, securely on my rack, and I can park, grab the bag, and go. The only drawback is that it is a tad small inside, and lacks outside pockets. I would love mesh pockets on the sides, since my water bottle and rain jacket don't need to be inside the waterproof bag. With my rain jacket in the bag, there's not as much room left over for other items. (I used to strap the jacket to the bottom of my backpack...wish there was an elegant way to do that with this bag!)

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2010-12-09 11:13:46

Indra K says...

Great bag. I love the easy on/off system that Ortlieb has for putting it on the tubus luna rack I bought for the commute and taking it off to bring in to the office, shop, etc.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2010-10-02 13:05:08

Arne F says...

Purchased this bag three months into a drought and one week from a 12" deluge on the east coast. This bag kept everything bone dry even through the heavy downpour. The key to this bags success is the design. Instead of zippers and seams that eventually leak, this bag is simply a bag where the top rolls over to create the seal. I commute with laptop, wallet, cellphone, clothes and breakfast in the bag. More than enough room. Attachment and removal from the bike is a breeze. As with almost everything you end up spending more by going cheap. I've burnt through much more money on cheap bags that eventually leaked or feel apart than the cost of this bag.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

2010-09-02 18:18:03

Ruth S says...

I just got this bag - it is awesome! Sturdy, not overly huge, easy to attach. It hasn't left the house yet, but if I were to anticipate any issue at all it might be that, when carrying as a shoulder bag, the rack mounting hardware might poke into the hip a bit. That is just the compromise you make for a bag that mounts so easily and holds its shape well. I give it two thumbs up.

Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

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