Dry luggage have a single aim — conserving your gear dry. Whether or not your raft will get flipped, you are taking a spill in a creek, otherwise you get caught in an surprising downpour, it’s important that clothes, sleeping luggage, electronics, and different requirements keep dry.
In case your gear has ever been soaked within the wilderness, you understand how tough — and even life-threatening — it may be, taking a toll bodily and mentally. We’ve been there, and it impressed our hunt for the very best instrument for the job.
Whether or not you’re backpacking, paddling via a gorge or down a shoreline, looking with a fourth-season elk tag, carrying emergency provides, or linking up nationwide parks by bike, there are many adventures the place a dry bag is foundational.
Editor’s Word: We up to date our Dry Baggage purchaser’s information on December 17, 2024, with a Value & Worth part.
The Greatest Dry Baggage of 2024
Extraordinarily sturdy
Glorious, ergonomic, burly waterproof zipper
Ample house for carrying attire and kit
Increased funding
Too giant for some goals
Not simply foldable for storage
Morgan Tilton
Padded shoulder straps
Lower cost level
Not as strong as different higher-priced dry luggage
High-loading means you’ll have to dig to the underside to seek out objects
Some customers famous the StormStrip closure seal was not very sturdy
Morgan Tilton
Helps to pack down space-consuming attire and kit
4 pull straps make the compression course of simple
Very light-weight
Exterior materials shouldn’t be probably the most strong we examined
Not a bag we’d belief for full submersion
Morgan Tilton
Common first assist equipment image and vivid pink shade for fast identification
Clear TPU window to see inside bag
Very light-weight
The TPU window may very well be bigger
D-ring may very well be a bit bigger
Morgan Tilton
Mega quantity
Submersible
Strengthened, sturdy basis
Morgan Tilton
Tremendous-high-quality supplies
Lengthy-lasting development
Very robust closure seal that retains out water
The closure might be tough to get open
Increased value for the capability
Morgan Tilton
Materials:
PVC-free and TPU-laminated 420-denier nylon with double-stitched and taped seams
Closure:
Roll-top plus a buckle closure
Gear capability (L) choices:
5, 8, 13, 20, 35, 65
Dimensions:
15″ x 10″ x 33″ (65L bag with high rolled thrice)
Weight:
192 g (13L)
Options:
Designed to be appropriate with a ¾-in. Subject Restore Buckle that may simply substitute a damaged buckle (with a Phillips head screwdriver), lash factors
Greatest use:
Kayaking, canoeing, SUPing, rafting, bike excursions, bikepacking
Light-weight
Pliable
Simple to move
Roll-top requires some glorious group (until you wish to dump out the contents typically!)
Not probably the most strong exterior we’ve examined
Morgan Tilton
Tremendous versatile
Varied seize handles
Submersible
Backpack straps aren’t very snug
Do not be misled: it is a 40-liter dry pack with a 20-liter exterior storage
Morgan Tilton
Tremendous light-weight
Transparency helps discover objects earlier than pouring out contents
The PurgeAir valve helps shut up the bag with out additional air
Not puncture-resistant, so watch out round rocks, cacti, or different pointy vegetation!
Don’t dunk — not submersible
Morgan Tilton
Dry Baggage Comparability Chart
Scroll proper to view the entire columns: Value, Closure, Capability, Dimensions, Weight.
Dry BagPriceClosureCapacity (L)DimensionsWeightYETI Panga 75 Dry Duffe$350HydroLok zipper50, 75, 10028″ x 15.5″ x 11″6 lbs., 10 ozNRS Invoice’s Bag Dry Bag 65L$180Waterproof roll-top closure with magnetic StormStrip seal65, 11014″ x 24″4 lbs., 3 ozSea t o Summit 13L Evac Compression Dry Bag$50Roll-top with wrap-around compression straps5, 8, 13, 20, 358.7″ x 17.6″ (13L)4.8 ozSea to Summit Light-weight Dry Bag First Assist$25Roll-top with 5/8-inch buckle1, 36.7″ x 5.2″ x 8.4″ (3L)1.7 ozSealLine Professional Dry Pack 120L$340Roll-top with 4 buckles70, 12018.5” x 12.5” x 32” (120L)2,495 gWatershed Chattooga 22L$189-271ZipDry push-closure that rolls down and consists of two buckled straps2210″ x 19.25″ x 9.5″1 lb., 10 ozSea to Summit Huge River Dry Bag$40-80Roll-top plus a buckle closure5, 8, 13, 20, 35, 6515″ x 10″ x 33″ (65L)10.3 ozMustang Survival Highwater 60L Waterproof Gear Hauler$165Roll-top buckled closure plus a drawstring6018” x 4.5” x 23”1,134 gSealLine Discovery View Dry Bag$35-58Roll-top with a buckle5, 10, 20, 3014.5″ x 8.5″ x 5″ (10L)6.5 oz.
Testing SUP gear together with the YETI Panga 75L duffel on a multiday standup paddleboard journey; (photograph/Eric Phillips)
How We Examined Dry Baggage
On high of in depth analysis, we loved placing these dry luggage to the take a look at. Our GearJunkie discipline testers ranged from knowledgeable outside photographer to search-and-rescue personnel, skilled and leisure standup paddleboarders, and expeditionists setting data.
Our Skilled Testers
Senior Editor Morgan Tilton has a self-supported first descent down the 100-mile wild whitewater of Escalante River in Utah on SUP with 4 buddies. As a backcountry skier and bikepacker, Tilton has used dry luggage on hut-to-hut journeys and endurance rides in a variety of climates, from the excessive alpine to the desert.
Amongst different contributors, gear tester Sean Jansen examined dry luggage whereas paddling a SUP 1,000 miles alongside the Baja Peninsula on two expeditions. Former Managing Editor Mary Murphy is an avid single-day and in a single day paddleboarder, as effectively.
Our Testing Grounds
These dry luggage protected our in a single day attire, camp gear, and electronics on back-to-back water-travel days all through the West from Utah to Colorado’s central mountains, Washington to Montana, and even right down to Baja, Mexico.
Our Testing Course of
We took these dry luggage on morning and afternoon outings, in addition to multiday and month-long river journeys. They had been companions in whitewater and on flat water via canyons and ravines, throughout wide-open lakes, or down coastlines.
Our metrics included waterproofness, ergonomics, ease of use, and suppleness. We examined equipment equivalent to pockets and padded straps, simplicity of closure, and sturdiness throughout a variety of sizes and value tags. To seek out the best-made items for testing, we additionally thought-about the highest-rated, hottest, and top-selling dry luggage in the marketplace.
Gear tester and Senior Editor Morgan Tilton testing dry luggage whereas in a single day SUP tenting in Colorado; (photograph/Eric Phillips)
Purchaser’s Information: Select a Dry Bag
Dry luggage may appear easy, however they’re extremely various. Every design enhances particular water actions, outside wants, and private preferences.
Measurement & Match
A number of main components to contemplate when selecting a dry bag are the form, capability, and straps. Will the bag match the place it must be stowed, and the way far will it should be carried? When the bag is loaded, is the carry system ergonomic for the bag person?
Some bigger dry luggage have backpack straps for simpler transport which are additionally detachable. Eradicating straps can decreases the possibility of a snag.
For storage, it’s important to contemplate how simply the bag might be packed down, rolled, or flattened. That’s particularly vital for people and not using a storage or a lot space for storing.
Our favourite dry luggage examine the containers for an unlimited vary of dimension choices (in liters):
SealLine Professional Dry Pack: 70, 120
NRS Invoice’s Bag Dry Bag: 65, 110
YETI Panga Dry Duffel: 50, 75, 100
Sea to Summit Huge River Dry Bag: 3, 5, 8, 13, 20, 35, 65
Mustang Survival Highwater: 60
Sea to Summit Evac Compression Dry Bag: 8, 13, 20, 35
SealLine Discovery View Dry Bag: 5, 10, 20, 30
Watershed Chattooga: 22
Sea to Summit Light-weight Dry Bag First Assist: 1, 3, 5
From the simplicity of defending your telephone to the complexity of a serious expedition, a dry pack exists for many functions. And there are sizes starting from 1L to 120L.
Senior Editor Morgan Tilton packing dry luggage for a bikepacking journey; (photograph/Eric Phillips)
Closures
The closure design of a dry pack is as vital because the dry bag itself. Closures fluctuate in design and also you would possibly choose sure sorts over others relying on the appliance.
Roll-High
Probably the most basic closure system is the roll-top. This straightforward, efficient design is dependable and straightforward to make use of. With buckles on both finish, it’s a simple technique to maintain your contents dry. Sometimes any such closure is cost-effective as a result of a water-proof zipper doesn’t should be put in.
Drawbacks of the roll-top, nonetheless, might be catastrophic if the system shouldn’t be appropriately closed. Take it from us: Ought to the dry pack not be securely closed, your contents will get moist. Fortunately, he was within the desert solar and will dry out his garments. To assist, the SealLine Professional Dry Pack has directions on the inside seam to assist guarantee your pack is appropriately closed.
Waterproof Zippers
Waterproof zippers have come a great distance, they usually’re tremendous dependable. Just like roll-tops, there might be person error, equivalent to in case you don’t utterly shut the zipper however in any other case, these beefy closures can definitely hold out water. Sometimes sacks with waterproof zippers have a steeper price ticket.
The Yeti Panga Dry Duffel and the Watershed Chattooga have burly zippers, which let you rapidly open the bag to seize objects and remove the method of unrolling and rolling the highest.
Sometimes, dry packs with waterproof zippers are submersible however most are solely rated to 1 meter under the floor. So, don’t plan on dragging your gear behind your vessel.
Drawstring, Compression Straps
Mustang Survival Highwater 60L Waterproof Gear Hauler took the roll-top to the following stage with a mind for additional storage. Closed through drawstring, the non-waterproof compartment is on high of the dry bag, which is a superb spot for fast entry and further attire. The Sea to Summit Evac Compression Dry Bag roll-top closure is enhanced with compression straps, which permits customers to compress their tender items.
Directions on the rolltop seal of a dry bag; (photograph/Mary Murphy)
Straps & Handles
The straps and handles of your dry bag may very well be a significant component in your journey. You’ll wish to take into account the gear quantity and the way far you’ll have to trek along with your luggage in hand. Ergonomic preferences in addition to the attachment factors which are wanted for water journey must be thought-about, too.
Roll-top closures can double as a deal with after they’re secured closed. Zippered closures usually have a separate, detachable shoulder or hand strap for carry. In any other case, handles are situated alongside the facet.
For expeditions, the Mustang Survival Highwater 60L Waterproof Gear Hauler has six nylon seize handles strategically positioned across the pack, making this heavy hauler maneuverable. A bag is simpler to seize when there are handles on the perimeters and base, like when the bag must be packed the other way up on a raft.
Shoulder Straps & Hip Belts
Some dry luggage have shoulder straps and hip belts for carrying heavier hundreds. The SealLine Professional Dry Pack presents up padded shoulder and sternum straps that aren’t solely snug but in addition adjustable.
The NRS Invoice’s Bag Dry Bag and Mustang Survival Highwater 60L Waterproof Gear Hauler each have built-in shoulder straps. In most designs, the shoulder straps or hip belt are detachable.
When climbing with a dry bag, equivalent to out of your docking station to a campsite, a hip belt generally is a saving grace. A waist belt is very helpful for heavier cargo or if it is advisable bushwhack. It’s additionally supportive if it is advisable be hands-free to hold a SUP paddle or navigation machine.
We additionally admire padded straps for consolation and adjustable buckle techniques. Each assist the pack cosy up in opposition to the physique and extra evenly distribute the burden load. Additionally they assist to remove bounce throughout transport.
Senior Editor Morgan Tilton makes use of small and medium dry luggage to assist set up objects inside giant dry luggage on river journeys; (photograph/Eric Phillips)
Waterproofness
What’s the purpose of shopping for a dry bag if can’t hold your gear dry? Waterproofness is the frequent denominator throughout dry luggage. Nonetheless, some designs are waterproof and others are water resistant, submersible, or non-submersible.
From a producing standpoint, the fabric of the product in addition to the seams and closure design are the most important components that decide whether or not a dry bag is totally waterproof and completely submersible. Typically, the extra waterproof, the larger the associated fee.
At a minimal, dry luggage are water resistant. Nylon, polyester, polyurethane, or any mixture of these textiles is often what includes a dry bag.
Ranges of Water Safety
If a dry bag is labeled as splashproof, waterproof, or submersible, which means the seams and closure are constructed to resist that stage of moisture. Right here’s a rundown of that progressive safety:
Splashproof: Water can splash onto the outside, rain, and snow can fall onto the floor, can’t be submerged in water
Waterproof: Water can splash onto the outside, rain and snow can fall onto the floor, typically might be totally submerged in water (nonetheless, some waterproof merchandise can’t be submerged, so you’ll want to learn the producer’s claims)
Submersible: Water can splash onto the outside, rain and snow can fall onto the floor, might be totally submerged beneath water (although, this isn’t an excuse to take it scuba diving. Many packs are rated to a depth of 1 meter)
Waterproof dry packs want stitched and welded seams to seal out moisture. Many dry luggage have double-welded seams, which signifies that the reinforcements are doubled.
Presently, zippered dry packs is not going to be submersible. Zippers have come a great distance, however they nonetheless can’t fairly maintain it collectively when the strain of the water takes over. The Yeti Panga Waterproof Duffel and the Watershed Chattooga 22L are exceptions. Roll-top closures are usually submersible.
Sustainability
Sustainable manufacturing within the outside trade has risen through the years, and lots of firms have taken this to coronary heart. On this enviornment, there’s been an elevated demand and use of recycled supplies. We’ve additionally seen an uptick of sturdiness, so the luggage last more and stop end-of-life waste.
Dry packs made with recycled cloth usually derived the fabric from recycled plastics. Upcycled waste materials from different dry packs or discarded marine waste is also used to make dry luggage.
Many dry luggage now carry a PVC-free or PFC-free label. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is an artificial polymer of plastic. It’s poisonous, and due to this fact one thing customers and product builders are steering away from.
SeaLine, for instance, has rid itself of vinyl to cut back its environmental influence. Sea to Summit has steered away from PFCs (perfluorinated chemical compounds). PFCs are what many outside manufacturers historically utilized to merchandise to determine waterproofness.
Value & Worth
For some dry luggage, you can pay a comparatively small sum for optimum storage capability. You’ll discover that different luggage with a excessive price have minimal room. The standard of the fabric and expertise performs an enormous position within the value along with the dimensions.
Price range
Down a notch, within the $100-200 vary, are the Watershed Chattooga, NRS Invoice’s Bag Dry Bag, and the Mustang Survival Highwater. These merchandise vary in dimension from 22L to 65L. The Chattooga is the smallest and priciest selection, because of the high-end, burly materials and tenacious closure system. The Highwater is a novel 40-liter waterproof pack with a 20L further drawstring moist storage compartment on high.
The Sea to Summit Light-weight Dry Bag First Assist ($20), as an illustration, is small with an identifiable vivid shade and international first-aid image, roll-top closure, and a transparent TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) window. To pay barely extra within the finances tier for the Sea to Summit Huge River Dry Baggage ($40-$80) offer you a flexible dimension vary, roll-top closure, waterproof, 420-denier nylon, lash factors for tie-downs, and a tear- and puncture-resistant materials.
Mid-Tier
Nearer to $200, you’ll discover a wide range of smaller dry luggage for particular functions. A spread of specializations exist from see-through polyurethane to a first-aid equipment dry bag. On this rung, SealLine has a patented dry seal roll-top closure design. Sea to Summit presents versatility and an enormous assortment of various volumes.
The Watershed Chattooga 22L ($190) has an enormous opening for simple entry and is submersible. It has heavy-duty lashing hooks, handy straps for simple grabbing, and UV-resistant and heavy-duty polyurethane nylon. The NRS Invoice’s Bag Dry Bag 65L ($180) presents a flexible dimension, padded shoulder straps with a detachable backpack harness, roll-top closure, and heavy-duty TobaTex materials. The Mustang Survival Highwater Waterproof Gear Hauler ($165) dishes out a roll-top closure, padded backpack straps, six seize handles, 420-denier nylon coating, and an easy-to-access 20L exterior mind compartment with drawstring closure.
Premium
Within the $200-350 vary, you’ll discover the YETI Panga and SealLine Professional Dry Pack. YETI has a three-year guarantee together with high-quality development for rugged journeys. SealLine presents a excessive quantity with the Professional Dry Pack, in addition to padded, detachable shoulder straps and a waist belt.
To level, the YETI Panga 75L Waterproof Duffel ($350) is totally submersible as much as 1 m with a 3-year guarantee, heavy-duty zipper closure, burly seize handles and straps, plus backpack straps. The SealLine Professional Dry Pack ($340) has a DrySeal roll-top closure, is submersible, and boasts an enormous quantity of storage, padded and detachable shoulder and sternum straps, plus a strengthened backside.
Dry luggage with a number of tie-down factors assist for effectively loading a ship or SUP; (photograph/Eric Phillips)
Often Requested Questions
When you want a dry bag for the necessities — telephone, keys, GPS machine — a 3L to 10L bag works nice. We just like the Sea to Summit 13L Evac Compression Dry Bag. The identical goes for newbie paddlers. If that is your first dry bag buy, begin with one on the smaller facet.
For operating longer day journeys, we discover an extra 10L to 20L bag to be useful. This may maintain something out of your additional layers to a camp chair to a packed lunch and extra. We discovered that the Watershed Chattooga 22L shined on this division.
In the end, the dimensions of the dry bag you want relies on loads of various factors. That features the size of your journey, the time of yr, and the quantity and weight of your gear. You’ll additionally wish to take into account how typically you’ll hit the water.
You’ll additionally wish to take into account components like sturdiness and value. Are you going to be utilizing that 5L dry bag on a weekly foundation? Possibly improve to a barely bigger choice. Or, spend money on one manufactured from a extra sturdy materials to provide your self (and your gear) some wiggle room.
This additionally all relies on the frequency and varieties of journeys you often take. When you solely take a river journey a few times a yr, you most likely solely want just a few dry luggage.
When you paddle year-round, you’ll most likely desire a assortment of baggage. That would embody a 5-10L, a 30-40L, and possibly a 60L. You may additionally need just a few heftier ones (100 L or bigger) for the large adventures.
When you aren’t certain which dry bag will work finest, take into account getting two sorts:
Duffel or backpack dry bag
Roll-top bag
And if you already know you want a particular dimension, you would possibly buy a pair from the beginning. Like in case you want a sufficiently small bag to slot in a rented raft, canoe, or kayak. To cowl greater mileage and rivers, you’ll need a minimum of three luggage of assorted sizes. For brief- to medium-length journeys — whether or not it’s whitewater or flatwater — we advocate:
One bag in your shelter, sleep system, and garments
One bag in your meals and range
One bag for day entry: snacks, maps, and emergency objects.
When you want a dry bag for each day use, you would possibly gravitate towards a bag that’s simple to open and shut.
On our finish, these luggage are typically three completely different sizes. And in case you plan forward, you possibly can even color-code them to assist with group. Considered one of our testers took three dry luggage on a Baja paddle journey, which included completely different sizes and colours.
It is a nice query and one each model approaches it in another way by way of design. As soon as you purchase a dry bag, there must be a tag on the highest internal portion of the roll-top bag. You may additionally discover printed directions.
The magic quantity is often three to ensure there’s an hermetic and watertight seal. However the quantity of instances you’ll roll a bag additionally relies on the quantity of drugs inside.
All the time watch out to not overstuff a dry bag — there must be room to roll it to fold that seal. When you solely have just a few objects saved in a bigger bag, be sure to roll out the additional airspace. Alternatively, you possibly can roll the bag just a few additional instances.
With any of the dry luggage on this listing, you possibly can’t go improper. For backcountry-based journeys with high-volume gear, we’re a fan of carrying solely as many luggage as we want. That’s round one to a few for in a single day and possibly three to 5 for a weeklong journey. And as many light-weight luggage as doable. So we often have just a few various kinds of luggage with us.
If you’re touring in a smaller vessel with restricted house (like a sea kayak, standup paddleboards, or packraft), we’d advocate the NRS Invoice’s Bag Dry Bag (probably the most economical giant hauler). Or the Sea to Summit Huge River Dry Baggage, which presents probably the most versatile sizes on our listing.
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