Old Man Mountain Heavy Duty Luggage Solutions

Bikepacking is booming, commuting with a gravel bike has long become routine, and the market for clever transport solutions is growing accordingly. Between lightweight, stylish systems from Tailfin, affordable options from Contec, and the well-thought-out all-rounders from Ortlieb, almost everyone can find the right setup today. Sometimes it's about quick mounting and dismounting, sometimes it's about maximum flexibility, minimal weight, or unbeatable waterproofing.

And then there’s Old Man Mountain. The US brand has been offering robust, durable cargo racks for over 25 years for those who don’t want to reconfigure their setup daily but prefer to mount it solidly once and then forget about it. Forged, partly welded metal carriers, clever axle adapters from Robert Axle Project, and numerous other mounting options make them an exciting alternative for gravel bikes, city bikes, MTBs, or even fat bikes.

Whether for the daily commuting madness or a camping adventure: Old Man Mountain luggage rack systems are among the most stable on the market and come with a lifetime warranty.

In NoPains' requirements, neither extended city tours nor epic desert adventures were included. What was sought was a durable solution for heavy picnic gear, swimwear for the outdoor pool express, and the Sunday breakfast bag from the bakery around the corner—all on the gravel bike and preferably without frequent mounting and dismounting, rattling, material fatigue, or paint damage.

The choice therefore fell on the Elkhorn Cargo Rack at the front, directly bolted to the matching Robert Axle Project thru-axles and the eyelets of the Merida Silex carbon fork. At the rear, the Divide cargo rack was used—also mounted on heavy-duty axles and firmly connected to the seatpost clamp. The result: no contact between the rack/bags and sensitive frame areas. The load is precisely where the manufacturer intended it to be: at the designated and reinforced points. The Merida Silex says thank you.

The mounting of the bags onto the racks is done using Velcro or quick-release buckles. While this is practical if done only once in a while, anyone who regularly needs to remove the panniers, for instance, to take them into the house, will eventually either become extremely dexterous or be completely worn out mentally.

The goal was to ensure a ride as quiet as possible, even on bumpy paths, which is why plastic parts were avoided. This works remarkably well; however, for everyday use, such as commuting to work, it becomes quite annoying that removing the bags is so complicated.

Old Man Mountain proves that high-quality aluminum can be used to build not only first-class but above all long-lasting luggage rack solutions. Divide and Elkhorn are two excellent examples of this. Thanks to their adaptive design, they can be mounted on nearly any bike – regardless of wheel diameter – and always deliver reliable performance. Whether on remote bikepacking adventures or as a luggage solution for full-suspension e-MTBs: both systems are thoroughly convincing.

Optional accessories such as the headlight or rear light mounts are sensible additions and demonstrate thoughtful design. Sure, there are cheaper alternatives on the market. But Old Man Mountain scores with quality, versatility, and a lifetime warranty, clearly standing out from the crowd.

We also personally liked the bags. The TPU material not only looks robust but truly is. Whether you're navigating through brush or laying the bike down in a corner taken a bit too aggressively – the panniers couldn't care less. Moreover, all straps are individually replaceable, in case the last ripped strap was one too many.

Admittedly, in terms of everyday usability and comfort, they don't quite match products from Ortlieb. Still, we find the higher purchase price justified. And for those not entirely convinced by the bags: the racks are fully compatible with Ortlieb's QL 2.1 system, and using straps works without any issues.