Ortlieb is taking the production of its waterproof bags a step further: with Tidura, the company is introducing a material system developed in-house, which gives it greater control not only over the manufacturing process but also over the fabric used. When it launches in September 2026, Tidura will be featured in four products – including three well-known models and a completely new rucksack.
From the fabric to the finished bag
To date, Ortlieb has already developed and manufactured many key components of its bags itself or to its own specifications – including fastenings, fittings and the production processes used. With Tidura, this approach is now being extended to the bag material itself.
The fabric is woven in the Benelux countries and then coated by Gesellschaft für dichtende Systeme (GDS) in Heilsbronn. Ortlieb’s sister company is located right next to its production site – this ensures that the material, the coating and the welding processes used later on are coordinated from the outset.
Tidura is initially available in two versions. Tidura Strong is the more robust version and is designed for heavy loads and intensive use. Tidura Core, on the other hand, is intended to be better suited to everyday use, combining robustness with the best possible balance of weight and handling.
Still heat-sealed to be waterproof
Essentially, Tidura does not alter the familiar design principle of Ortlieb bags. The TPU-coated material is still not sewn in the traditional way, but is instead welded using a high-frequency process. This ensures that there are no stitch holes in the material through which water could penetrate.
According to the manufacturer, the fabric and the welded seams are tested to a water column of 100,000 millimetres. However, just how waterproof the finished product actually is also depends on the type of fastening used – and the IP protection ratings of the individual bags therefore vary accordingly.
Ortlieb also sets high standards when it comes to durability. Both Tidura models are designed to withstand more than 100,000 abrasion cycles in the relevant material test. The company also intends to supply spare parts for at least ten years after a product has been discontinued.
Starting with four products
When it launches in September 2026, Tidura will initially be used in four bags and rucksacks. Three of these will feature the particularly robust Tidura Strong, whilst the new daypack will be made using Tidura Core:
- Ortlieb Back-Roller 20L Zip-Pocket: rear pannier with QL2.2 mounting system, available in black and lavender
- Ortlieb Velocity 23L: commuter rucksack with roll-top closure and laptop compartment, available in black and lavender
- Ortlieb Duffle Zip: travel bag with a waterproof zip, available in 40 or 60 litres, in Black and Lavender
- Ortlieb Daypack 23L: new, urban everyday rucksack with a roll-top closure and laptop compartment, available in Black and Dark Sand
This means that, for the time being, Tidura is primarily available in familiar product categories. What is interesting is not so much a fundamentally new type of bag as the change behind it: Ortlieb is extending its control over its own manufacturing right down to the raw materials. This makes perfect sense, particularly at a time when supply chains are repeatedly disrupted – because the more stages of the process that are in the company’s own hands, the less it is dependent on external suppliers and global uncertainties.
Good news for anyone interested: there is no extra charge for the new material – the new Tidura products are priced on a par with comparable models made from the materials used previously. The new products are available directly from Ortlieb or from specialist retailers such as Globetrotter.
