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So, you’ve assembled a bunch of gear and a comfy pack to carry it all — but if you don’t have dry bags to protect it from the elements, you’re asking for trouble. A little bit of rain can destroy electronics. Wet clothes can invite hypothermia in surprisingly mild temperatures. If your plan is to stuff a week’s worth of socks into a grocery bag and trust your $1,000 phone to a sandwich baggie, I’d encourage you to reconsider.
Dry bags are some of the cheapest insurance you can get. For about $50, you can make sure that you have dry clothes and functional electronics in the field. They come in a wide range of sizes, so you can keep small items organized or protect all your gear. I even found one that can be worn as a pack and follow you anywhere. Before you start packing for your next field exercise or weekend adventure, make sure you have a dry bag that’s up to the challenge.
- Best Overall: Sea to Summit Dry Bag Set
- Best Value: SealLine BlockerLite Dry Bag
- Best for Kayaking: Sea to Summit Hydraulic Dry Pack
- Best for Backpacking: SealLine Discovery View Dry Bag
Best Overall
Sea to Summit Dry Bag Set
Pros
- Excellent materials and build quality
- Set of three bags
- Very tough and reasonably light
Cons
- You may not need three bags
- A few more muted color options would be nice
Product Specs
- Capacity: 4, 8, and 13 liters
- Materials: 70-denier nylon coated with polyurethane
Why It Made The Cut
- When it comes to waterproof bags and packs, Sea to Summit is as good as it gets. This three-bag set makes it easy to keep your gear dry and organized.
Best Value
SealLine BlockerLite Dry Bag
Pros
- Thin, 20-denier nylon makes this bag super light
- Wide range of sizes to choose from
- Get all the premium features you want without overpaying
Cons
- Super light, but not as tough as our other picks
- Hopefully you like bright blue and bright green
Product Specs
- Capacity: 2.5, 5, 10, 15, or 20 liters
- Materials: 20-denier nylon coated with polyurethane and silicone
Why It Made The Cut
- You don’t have to spend a lot to get a dry bag you can count on. This dry bag is perfect for gram-counters who want to stay light and fast.
Best for Kayaking
Sea to Summit Hydraulic Dry Pack
Pros
- Shoulder straps and enough room to be your main pack
- No other dry bag comes close in terms of toughness
- Strip it down when you don’t want to use it as a pack
Cons
- Very, very expensive for a dry bag
- Bulky if you want to pack it inside something else
Product Specs
- Capacity: 35, 65, 90, or 120 liters
- Materials: 600-denier nylon with thermoplastic polyurethane coating
Why It Made The Cut
- If you’re going to an extreme environment, this is the dry bag for you. Its toughness is unrivaled and it can even serve as your main pack.
Best for Backpacking
SealLine Discovery View Dry Bag
Pros
- Easy to see what’s inside and stay organized
- Air valve for compression
- Reinforced base improves durability
Cons
- Not as robust as the other dry bags here
- Is that air valve ever going to leak?
Product Specs
- Capacity: 5 or 10 liters
- Materials: Polyurethane film
Why It Made The Cut
- This clear bag lets you see what’s inside before you open it, so you don’t have to rummage through all your dry bags to find the gear you need.
Things to consider before buying a dry bag
The first thing you need to think about is the amount of trust you’re going to put in your dry bag. It’s all that stands between you and a bricked phone or a week of wet socks in the field, so buy accordingly. This is not the time to experiment with knock-off gear.
Secondly, think about the volume of gear you’ll be trying to keep dry. Are you looking for a do-it-all waterproof pack, or a few small bags to organize a few key items? In general, it’s best to have a few small or medium dry bags that you can mix and match to suit your needs. The exception would be if you’re traveling by water — in that case, keeping everything airtight is a good idea.
FAQs about dry bags
Q: What is a dry bag used for?
A: Dry bags are used as a layer of waterproof protection for clothing and sensitive equipment.
Q: What size dry bag should I buy?
A: This will vary from person to person and activity to activity, but it’s nice to have several small dry bags. This approach allows you to keep gear organized and easy to pack.
Q: Are dry bags fully waterproof?
A: The good ones are.
Final thoughts
There are several good brands to choose from when you’re shopping for dry bags, but you can never go wrong with Sea to Summit. I’ve been very impressed with every Sea to Summit product I’ve encountered, and this three-bag set is a great way to set yourself up for success.
Methodology
Protecting your gear from water is a high-stakes endeavor. Because of that, I took extra care to limit my search for the best dry bags to brands and products I know and trust. Even though I haven’t used all of the products on this list myself, I have used the brands you see in my greatest hits list of waterproof backpacks. Are there other decent dry bags out there? Of course — and I invite you to share your own experiences in the comments section — but I can personally vouch for the dry bags that made the cut for this gear guide.
Outside of manufacturers, I looked for dry bags in a range of sizes, because there will be times when you want to stuff all your gear in a dry bag, and times when you just need to protect a few valuables or spare sets of socks. Unique features like see-through material or removable shoulder straps got special consideration, too.