Reviews of Ortlieb Sport-Roller City Front Pannier: Pair; White/Black (Formerly Front-Roller City)

Pros

These panniers are great
the top rolls down like a dry bag
Completely waterproof most other brands are not
They mount to most racks, locks to top bar easily and stays put
Just lift by handle and they come off
Can be used front or rear

Cons

No outside pockets

Other Thoughts

I purchased these to match my rear panniers and use these on front lowriders
They can be used on rear racks also,
this is handy if you need a smaller panniers on a kids bike or other type of bike.

Pros

Water tight
Easy to install
Durable

Cons

Not easy to access items in the bottom without removal

Other Thoughts

I used them as coolers and they never leaked water after the ice melted. Extremely water tight and durable.

Pros

I have used these bags primarily during the course of going to/from work, so no major trips, but they have held up extremely well--they look brand new and have been through several extremely heavy rainstorms. Everything inside was completely dry. They are easy to wipe clean if needed; most of the time I can just shake out any debris (I use them to carry gardening tools sometimes).

The sides are sturdy enough that you don't need to roll down the top--if you want to fill them up (i.e. with tall groceries) and leave the top open you can do that without really risking anything.

The quick release mounting system is easy to set up and easy to use.

Cons

They do not come with a shoulder strap, which might be nice to make it easier to carry them indoors. There are D-rings though, so you could add a strap.

Other Thoughts

They are also slightly smaller than I expected when rolled up, but the capacity is pretty good. No pockets or weird angles means you just have a big open space to pack--pros and cons to that. I often use smaller bags within the Ortliebs if I need to keep things sorted.

Pros

These bags are completely dry from impact of water in any direction. I believe that if packed tight enough, they would even stay dry when submerged. They are easy to open and close, and have a great capacity to hold plenty of gear. They are not breathable at all, and become sails in the wind!

Cons

The Plastic can get caught on things, and pop out the hardware, although it seems to be a rare occurrence. If you put things that are damp or smelly in the bags without properly drying them out, I can see how they would start to create a bad environment inside the bag, being as they are not breathable when shut tight. They are not breathable at all, and become parachutes in the wind!

Other Thoughts

These are absolutely great panniers. I used them to hold all of my camping equipment on a long tour, including a tent, tarp, bug net, hammock, straps, rope, stakes, towel, and a bunch of other goodies. I highly recommend them, and although they are different from the more expensive Ortlieb fronts, I never once felt like I wished they were any better. Once the plastic mounting got stuck on something while riding and popped a screw out of itself, disconnecting the plastic from the fabric. I held the plastic back to the fabric easily with some cord until I got a common screw and fixed it.

Pros

Nice economical bags and my stuff stayed dry even after a day of riding in the rain

Cons

No straps but that was in the discription

Pros

Quality

Cons

Size

Other Thoughts

Guess I expected these to be a bit bigger, though these are my first front panniers so I have nothing to compare them to. Not a whole lot of room once you have to fold down the top to buckle them. Still, they are solid Ortlieb quality and I expect them to last a while.

Pros

Simple, tough, waterproof, sized well, easy on/off, reliable latches

Cons

not the lightest (but durable waterproof is really hard to get light).

Other Thoughts

I've borrowed other Ortlieb and similar panniers and picked these when it came time to buy. The attachment is great, they are reliably waterproof, and although at first I was concerned that they'd be too small, they're not. I run these on the front of my Tandem bike and a city roller set on the back. The front two carry all the camping stuff (2-person tent, 2 pads, 2 40F sleeping bags). One of the rear panniers carries clothing and the other food and personal items. That's for 2 people on week long trips (assuming you can buy food every day or two).

Pros

Water proof
Reflective section build in
Roll top x3 (depending on how full bag is)
Low profile for front rack. Not too bulky width wise.
Big enough for work (food for 12 hr shift, rain jacket, phone/light power cords, and spare tire stuff) - This is just one, sometimes it's a tight fit so I end up using both.
Easy attachment (lift handle and it opens clips, let go of handle and it closes clips)
Bottom tab (to secure lower portion to the rack) is adjustable 360 and over a 6 in arc. I'm sure it would fit the majority of racks.

Cons

No strap included for over the shoulder carrying.

Other Thoughts

Get it. It's a good choice.

Great bags - we got these for the rear racks on my child's bike. Waterproof, durable, spacious. The fasteners are secure and the bags are light are portable - plus they can be made to fit almost any racks. I have owned a pair of Ortliebs for myself and one pair for my wife for over 15 years. Same ones - they last and I expect this new pair that I purchased will last too.

Pros

Durability. Compact, lightweight, single compartment design. Totally waterproof. High visibility color. Easy on and off bike. Has hooks for carry strap and makes a good shoulder bag. Super price!

Cons

None so far. Hope the plastic closures last as long as the bag.

Other Thoughts

I just have an Arkel trunk bag on my rear rack and my Ortlieb Front-Roller Citys on the front. With a medium sized backpack that I actually like to wear I have enough storage to go summer camping without bloating up my bike too much. And if you really need more space you can use these "unrolled" and fit in lots more crap that you don't need to take.

Pros

Fairly minimal design which I like. Easy to take on and off, and initially adjust to fit my rack. First bag I found that did not get kicked by my heels, as it seems my road bike was made more for racing than carrying a bag. They fit plenty of stuff for my needs.

Other Thoughts

I usually just clip one clip for my commute if it's not raining.

Pros

100% waterproof, flexibility to install on front or rear rack, clean looks, simple to setup and install.

Cons

Closure is a bit awkward. Things tend to feel disorganized in the the bag.

Other Thoughts

On a four bag setup I personally would opt for 2 large Ortlieb bags. This could cover clothes, camping gear, and other large items. Then I would probably opt for a bag with multiple pockets in the front to keep small items organized.

Perfect bags for a two or three day bike get away. Easy on easy off. Brilliantly designed. Love them.

Durable, functional, repairable. Good value