Ortlieb Quick Rack Light: Practical luggage rack with on/off system in the test

Ortlieb, the specialist for waterproof panniers, also has a pannier rack in its range. Pannier racks are usually permanently attached to the bike. Either always on or never. With the Quick Rack, Ortlieb has taken a new approach and created a rack that can carry up to 20 kilos and can be attached to and removed from the bike in seconds after initial adjustment. For example, the gravel bike quickly becomes a commuter bike and vice versa.

There are two versions of the Quick Rack, more on this below. We tested the light version without a platform.

Quick Rack Light at a glance

The Ortlieb Quick Rack Light weighs 440 grams. Side bags from Ortlieb and other manufacturers can be attached to the ten millimetre diameter side struts. Visually, the Quick Rack Light is clean and discreet. It is suitable for bikes from 26 to 28 inches; for 29ers, the maximum tyre width is 2.35 inches, i.e. 59 millimetres. The manufacturer states that the rack can also be used on full-suspension bikes. The practical test is still pending.

The scope of delivery includes a mounting kit. For an extra 20 euros, the rack can be extended with one of three mudguards depending on the tyre width - we tested this directly. Permanently installed mudguards also fit under the Quick Rack.

• Weight: 440 grammes
• Maximum payload: 20 kilos
• Price: 85 Euro >> at Rosebikes available

How to mount the Ortlieb Quick Rack on the bike

Matching mudguard: Quick Rack Mudguard

The Quick Rack Mudguard is attached to the Quick Rack or Quick Rack Light with plastic struts and rubbers. It not only protects the bike, bags and rider from moisture and dirt in theory, but also in practice.

Sizes and price:

• 38 millimetres: Suitable for tyres up to a maximum of 32 millimetres / 26 to 28 inches
• 50 millimetres: Suitable for tyres up to a maximum of 45 millimetres / 26 to 28 inches
• 72 millimetres: Suitable for tyres up to a maximum of 2.3" / 26 to 28 inches
• Price: 20 Euro >> at Rosebikes available

Quick Rack Light and Mudguard in a practical test

The Quick Rack Light keeps your back free. After a year of long-distance commuting (26 kilometres each way) with a rucksack on the back, the Quick Rack is a real relief. With the quickly mounted Ortlieb rack, the bike remains flexible and turns from a commuter bike into a gravel and bikepacking bike in just a few seconds.

Ortlieb promises that the pannier rack can be fitted to the bike in just 15 seconds. In the video, it took us just under 19 seconds and we endeavoured to work quickly but not in a rush. So there was still room for improvement.

In practice, both the pannier rack and mudguard are stable, even though we have a fully loaded bag, Ortlieb Vario PShung on it. The system even withstood extreme loads over rooty single trails without any problems.

As expected, the paintwork did not stand up to the stresses and strains. You could quickly see the marks where the bag sits on the rack. We are also familiar with this problem from competitor luggage carriers for fixed mounting, such as the Tubus Fly. Ultimately, it only affects the appearance, but not the usability of the rack.

Big brother: Ortlieb Quick Rack - without light

The Quick Rack Light has a sibling. The Ortlieb Quick Rack*. This pannier rack has two mounting levels and a platform. This means that side panniers and a basket or similar can be used and attached at the same time. The mudguards can also be fitted here as an option and ensure that the rider stays clean and dry - at least as far as splashing water is concerned.

• Weight: 580 grammes
• Maximum payload: 20 kilos
• Price: 90 Euro >> at Bike components available