These reliable dry bags keep your precious gear safe in the harshest environments and stave off other elements too, like dirt and dust.
Dry bags provide a safe haven for food, clothing, electronics, and any other essentials you want to keep safe and clean. Whether you’re heading for an island picnic in kayaks, backpacking in a downpour, overlanding on a dirt road, or bike commuting in foul weather, waterproof bags are a must.
True dry bags keep moisture out even if they get submerged, say, if you get overturned while whitewater rafting, as well as block out dirt and debris in dusty conditions like mountain biking out west.
What to Consider When Buying a Dry Bag
Buy a dry bag that’s appropriate for what you want to pack and where you’ll use it. Consider volume, attachment points, and how the bag carries. Make sure this waterproof bag is meant to be used on its own against the elements—or inside another bag or pack.
A waterproof compression stuff sack, for example, will keep your sleeping bag and clothes moisture-free and minimize the space those things take up inside your pack. Because you’re using the bag inside a pack, it doesn’t need to be as durable as a waterproof backpack that can get scraped against rocks and abraded by other gear. So your waterproof stuff sack shouldn’t weigh much.
A dry bag backpack can be perfect for cycle commuting. Choose one that’s comfortable on your body and that holds the gear you’ll pedal with, whether that’s a computer, your workout clothes, lunch, or all of the above. A kayak dry bag should have lash points for strapping to a boat deck—unless it’s shaped to match your bow or stern to easily slide inside a kayak hatch. A smaller ziplock-style dry bag can protect your passport and other important documents or electronics from getting wet, while a hip pack can be the perfect accessory to keep extra gear dry while you’re fishing or paddleboarding.
What to Look for in Dry Bags
The best dry bags have secure, waterproof closures, whether that’s a roll top or a waterproof zipper. They should be tough enough to withstand the environment where you’ll use them; a waterproof zipper won’t help you if you have a hole in your bag. The closure, whether that’s a zip or roll, should be secure and easy to manipulate.
After that, it’s personal preference. Dry bags come in all shapes, sizes, and prices—and there's sure to be one that’s perfect for you. Here, we've selected some of the best waterproof bags available to take on your next adventure, wet or dry.
9 Best Dry Bags
1. Mystery Ranch High Water Hip Pack
Best for Versatility
At just under a pound, Mystery Ranch’s High Water Hip Pack is one of the most versatile dry bags you can buy. With a capacity of 305 cubic inches, the pack can hold a jacket, lunch, gear for a day on a motorcycle, and more. It provides full protection from rain, dust, and moisture thanks to a welded construction and truly waterproof zippers on both the main compartment and front zippered pouch. Designed with a waistbelt worthy of a backpacking pack, you can wear it as a hip pack or cross-body bag.
High Water has lash points on the bag, D-rings for a shoulder strap, and MOLLE attachments on the padded waist belt. Light but tough, it's constructed from 840D ballistic nylon with a double-sided, waterproof TPU coating that's highly resistant to abrasions, tears, and high temperatures. (Note it’s still easy to operate in the cold.) We love the toothless, self-healing zippers, which slide smoothly and are fully waterproof when submerged.
[$169; mysteryranch.com]
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2. Seal Line Baja View
Best for Boating
If you’re sick of searching for your swim trunks or toothbrush inside a crammed dry bag on a rafting, kayaking, or sailing trip, try Baja View. The fully submersible, roll-top bag, which comes in 5-, 10-, and 20-liter sizes, is made from a transparent 12-ounce polyurethane film. Because you can see in from every angle—even when the bag is stuffed—you can locate your book, sunglasses, sunscreen, and anything else you need.
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Don't let the transparency part fool you. These clear dry bags are every bit as rugged as other Seal Line dry bags and ready for adventure. Bonus: Tie-downs keep the bags onboard if you flip or roll.
[From $30; seallinegear.com]
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3. Granite Gear Event Sil Compression Drysack
Best for Backpacking
Event Sil Compression Drysack protects your sleeping bag, down puffy, and other compressible items in your pack from moisture and dust. Aside from being waterproof, these also compress gear to take up minimal space so you can go farther and stay out longer. The silky Event Sil Compression Drysack is made from seam-taped 30D silicone-nylon Cordura, and has minimalist compression straps.
Fill the Drysack with gear, then cinch it down using the side straps, which expels excess air through a breathable panel at the bottom of the bag (it lets air out but no water in). When it’s time to load your Drysack into your pack, the feather-light fabric helps the bags slide in smoothly so you can fit more in less space. Each compression sack only adds 2.8 to 3.8 ounces to your load. Sizes range from 10 to 25 liters.
[From $30; granitegear.com]
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4. Orvis Pro Waterproof Backpack
Best for Fishing
Made for fishermen—which means it's good for anyone who wants to keep their gear dry—Orvis’s abrasion- and puncture-resistant ballistic nylon backpack sets a high standard for waterproof fishing packs. The submersible pack has a well-padded, highly breathable back panel and shoulder straps, and a broad hip belt for comfortable carrying whether hiking into a remote riffle or sprinting through a New York City downpour.
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We love the dual stretchy hip belt storage pockets; easy-access, water bottle-friendly stuff pocket; and the retention leash, which makes it a cinch to reach specific gear without exposing the rest to the elements. Fishermen will appreciate the rod tube cam straps on the right side, clips on the chest straps that attach to Orvis’s Chest/Hip Packs, and the fly docking station.
A lot of waterproof packs feel out of place away from the water, but with organizer pockets and a slim profile, this supple, handsome pack is equally at home when you’re commuting as when you’re casting.
[$329; orvis.com]
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5. Matador Freerain 28 Backpack
Best for Travel
The ultimate packable backpack, Freerain was designed for alpine summit bids, but it's just as useful for more pedestrian pursuits, like holding gear for a hike or café hopping. Its seam-sealed, roll-top main pocket is spacious, and hip belt pockets keep snacks and phones handy. The pack uses innovative materials, including an Ultra Tear Strength coating on the 70D nylon bag that makes it 30 percent more wear resistant without any notable weight gain. The pack's main compartment is fully waterproof with sealed seams, and all tether points are heavily reinforced.
This bag has all the technical bells and whistles: YKK sealing zippers keep the wet out while nylon monomesh shoulder straps, chest strap, sternum strap, removable hip belt, and load lifters keep it light and comfy to wear. Together, the zippers and tough-but-light straps give the bag a secure fit for serious adventures.
Packed in its storage sack, Freerain 28 weighs 10.6 ounces. Expanded, this pack carries groceries, gear for a summit push, and everything you'll likely need for a day hike or an afternoon at the lake.
[$100; matadorup.com]
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6. Sea to Summit Big River Dry Pack
Best for Boating
A spacious roll-top dry bag outfitted with a sturdy backpack harness, Sea to Summit’s Big River Dry Pack is the perfect portage pack, and a great bag for hauling everything you need for a day at the beach or on a boat. The 420D ripstop nylon pack is tough and comfortable to carry, thanks to well-padded shoulder straps and a webbing hip belt.
We love that the side closure clips can be moved up and down webbing loops on either side of the bag. The ovalized shape is also less likely to roll than a round one. Light and spacious, we packed all our personal gear for a multi-week trip into the Big One, including sleeping bag and pad, clothes, shoes and slippers, toiletries, a compact tent, and more. The Big River Dry Pack comes in both 50 and 75 liters.
[From $170; seatosummit.com]
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7. Uncharted The Vault Duffel
Best for the Backcountry
Backcountry trips, whether during dry and dusty or wet and wintery weather, require tough gear like The Vault. Made from 840D TPU-coated nylon, this 65-liter, 100-percent waterproof duff is packed with features that'll keep all your essentials moisture-free and clean. You get two internal pockets for extra organization, plus two external waterproof pockets with waterproof zippers.
Equipped with an air valve to compress lofty items like puffers and sleeping bags, the duffel's valve also doubles as a water spout that actually lets you use the bag for water storage—or any liquid for that matter (keg on the go?). Portability is achieved by ergonomic shoulder straps with a sternum strap and a few attachment points to accommodate different body sizes, while also serving as spots to lash the duffel down to attach to your recreational vehicle of choice.
[$159; unchartedsupply.com]
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8. Front Runner Typhoon Duffel
Best for Overlanding
A duffel that doubles as a roof box, Front Runner’s 90-liter Typhoon is made to withstand the elements and be carried inside or outside your vehicle. The heavy-duty bag has a double-reinforced base to ward off wear and tear. It also comes with a removable internal tray to stabilize storage boxes if you use this duffel for that.
A cavernous opening offers unrestricted access to gear of all shapes and sizes. Seal the roll top VELCRO® closure to keep out water and dust—then use the purge valve to eliminate excess air. That keeps the bag compact, low profile, and aerodynamic whether it’s in your trunk or on your rack.
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Lash points on all four sides will let you strap this bag securely to a roofrack. I also used these lash points for securing this bag in the bed of my UTV. When it was time to transport gear to a campsite or back into the garage post-adventure, comfy carry handles made it easy to tote around.
[$136; frontrunneroutfitters.com]
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Ortlieb Big Zip
Best for Epic Trips
The lightest, waterproof rolling gear hauler you can buy, this 3.5-pound, 140-liter bag holds an expedition’s worth of gear, and it’s tough enough to survive months at basecamp, at sea, or strapped to the back of a camel. Made from tear-resistant coated polyester with a waterproof zipper and padded backpack straps and handles, Ortlieb’s Big Zip is a duffel with a boxy shape. Its seams are welded and reinforced, and its polyester fabric is highly wear-resistant. It’s also easy to clean when there’s been an electrolyte powder explosion.
Unlike most rollers, this bag’s wheels can handle rough terrain. We pulled this bag loaded with 70 pounds of climbing gear more than a mile and a half along a dirt road in East Greenland. Even on rough roads, internal compression straps keep the gear inside in its place. Don't think this bag will sit idle between big trips. We also use it to haul hockey gear to the rink.
[$265; ortliebusa.com]
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from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/tY8Ipdr
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