Obviously, the bag needs to be waterproof, and the closure system needs to completely keep water out — even when submerged. And to top it off, the closure should be easy to use. Both zippers and roll-top bags require you to use them properly. That’s on top of the Discovery Dry Bag’s other awesome feature: visibility (not just a plastic window) via the translucent fabric. Given the bag is uniquely translucent, it’s easy to spot gear without unnecessarily unraveling the roll top.

The HydroLok zipper performed super well, is comfortable to pull, and has lasted season after season. We’d never before used a dry bag with a zipper closure, but not a drop of moisture got into our bag on the entirety of our trips. We appreciate the ease of how the bag opens like a duffel, so we don’t need to dump all of the contents (like with a top-loading dry bag) out to find what we need.

Shipping

This assortment of bags weighs from 3 to 10.3 ounces. They are waterproof, a good balance between lightweight and durable, and just plain great for protecting your gear. Perfect for ultras, longer distances and fell running in more remote terrain when the weather can be unpredictable. What size should I choose? The design’s 70-denier nylon waterproof fabric keeps water out, and the eVent waterproof-yet-air-permeable base allows air to expel when the straps are tugged to tighten the load. Double-stitched waterproof seams are sealed with tape to keep out moisture.

One of our favorite qualities of this duffel is the variety of tie-down points, which makes rigging up the gear super easy and helps keep everything tight. In short, to keep your stuff dry! Go figure, a dry bag is a tried and trusted means to keep dirt, dust, sand, and water out of your personal gear during adventures big and small. Below we’ll break down dry bags by sport and situation- why you’d want them, what they look like, and a few of our favorites in every category. Dry Bags On the River If your gear has ever been soaked in the wilderness, you know how difficult it can be, both physically and mentally. We’ve been there, and it inspired our hunt for the best dry bags around. The dry bag also features an internal plastic skirt around the entrance of the dry bag to further increase the protection from water. Depending on your activity, you can use this to store your keys, your wallet or other small items you want to keep dry. Low-cost models such as Earth Pak’s Waterproof offer a scaled down version of everything we love from our top performing drybags. Though bags like these tend to be less durable and ultimately less waterproof, they ultimately provide more than enough protection for most day-to-day applications. There are many affordable models of drybags on the market, you don’t need to fork over massive amounts of money to enjoy the benefits. Practical Guide to Waterproofing on Dry BagsLook for an extra layer of waterproof, durable material on the bottom of the bag and where it will experience high use. Lash points can be hard or soft, and strap variations include those for carry or compression. Dry bags with multiple tie-down points helps for efficiently loading a boat or SUP, according to contributor Morgan Tilton. (Photo/Eric Phillips) Submersible Editor’s Note: We updated our Dry Bags guide on November 22, 2023, to be more reader-friendly and have the most up-to-date information. The Best Dry Bags of 2023 Waterproof dry bags over the standard 30 liters are in a different category. Due to the large size of these bags, a waterproof duffel bag is more appropriate. These bags are also called boating bags because the primary use is not for carrying like the dry bags above, they will be transported short distances then sit in a boat or kayak. Since they still need to be watertight, let’s look at waterproof zippers and waterproof roll-top duffel bags. If you paddle year round, you’ll probably want a collection of bags: a 5-10L, a 30-40L, maybe a 60L, and a few heftier ones (100L+) for the big adventures.