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We've tested some of the best dry bags available from Yeti, Watershed, NRS, SealLine, and more to help keep your essentials dry, no matter the adventure
Looking for a dry bag to keep your essentials safe in wet environments? We've been testing dry bags since 2018 and have tested over 30 unique bags with the best 17 in the following lineup. From leisurely paddles to deliberate submersions, we went out of our way to use and abuse each bag to learn which will keep your gear safe and dry. We scrutinized features, packed and unpacked our belongings, and evaluated how easy it is to find what you're looking for in a hurry. We carried these bags down trails, dragged them behind inner tubes, strapped them to SUPs, and stuffed them into kayak hatches. We took every opportunity to load these bags to their maximum capacity to truly assess ease of use, portability, and durability. Whether you're packing for a month-long river trip or an afternoon of paddle boarding, we've found the perfect dry bag for you and your wallet.
Keeping your precious items dry isn't the only important consideration when out on the water. You're definitely going to need a good life jacket to keep you safe (also known as a PFD), as well as a pair of the best sunglasses and a top-rated sun shirt to protect your eyes and skin from sun damage. We've got the scoop on all the best water gear for your aquatic adventures.
Editor's Note: We updated our dry bag review on August 16, 2024, adding the HEETA dry bag and SealLine Pro Zip Duffel to our testing lineup, as well as the updated NRS Expedition DriDuffel. We also repurchased and rested the Marchway Floating 20L, Sea to Summit Big River, and Earth Pak Original.
4 side handles, removable backpack straps, 10 looped attachment points along side. Two handles to support with closing. 4 attachment points along each backpack strap
Yeti is well-known for its rugged and durable products, and the Panga Backpack 28 does not disappoint. It's constructed from thick, laminated, high-density nylon and closes via a sturdy, easy-to-use HydroLok zipper. The seams are RF welded, ensuring a practically bombproof construction that not only keeps water out but traps air in. This all but guarantees the dryness of even the most sensitive objects, like your expensive camera or laptop. The wide shoulder straps spread the load when carrying this portable pack, and an internal laptop sleeve and mesh pouch help keep your items where they need to be. The Panga is at home, no matter your adventure style- lashed to your canoe through rapids, strapped on your back in a snowstorm, or in the urban jungle.
Impenetrable to water even after an overnight soaking, this exceptionally durable and easy-to-carry design comes at a cost. The Panga Backpack 28 weighs 62.4 ounces when empty and costs an arm and a leg. However, these drawbacks are minor if you transport electronics in wet environments or simply value the versatility of one bag that can cover all your needs. If you are looking to carry lots of weight in hot conditions, your back may get sweaty, but rest assured this won't harm your precious cargo. Bottom line, if you are looking for a seriously waterproof, cover-all-your-bases backpack for your next adventure, this one is hard to beat. If you prefer a duffel-style bag, Yeti also makes the Panga Duffel with a removal carry strap.
Rainstorms are no concern for the submersible Yeti Panga backpack.
PVC free 12 oz polyurethane film body; 300D 18oz polyurethane-coated polyester bottom
Style
Dual-strip fold down w/ purge valve
If you're on a budget and just want to keep your essentials dry and easily accessible, the SealLine Discovery View is our first recommendation. It has a double-banded fold-down closure and a purge valve, enabling you to squeeze all the air out. The translucent non-PVC material makes identifying what's inside your bag a breeze, and it is also more durable than other options at a similar price. With fully welded seams and a durable buckle clip, the Discovery is designed for seriously wet day adventures without busting your wallet.
Under intense pressure (i.e., a direct hose), a few water droplets can seep into this bag via the purge valve. It is also important to take a few extra seconds to ensure your closing folds are wrinkle-free and that there are three of them if you want to ensure the bag is watertight when dragged through a lake. With this little bit of attention to detail, this small-capacity sack is seriously waterproof. We had the Discovery clipped to our SUP as we made our way through five miles of class 3-4 rapids, and our spare layers and notebook stayed dry inside. If the purge valve gives you cause for concern, consider the watertight Watershed Aleutian Deck Bag.
With a double-banded roll-down closure and welded seams, the Discovery View is a reliable option if you don't expect extended submersions.
1 plastic small D-ring and 1 fabric loop on base of bag
Material
40D recycled ripstop nylon
Style
Roll-top
The Osprey Ultralight Drysack is a simple dry bag at a palatable price point. Made of very thin 40D ripstop nylon, this 20-liter sack weighs less than many with a quarter of the volume. Ultrathin sides allow light inside the rectangular-shaped bag, so you can more readily locate your belongings. The Ultralight lacks the extra features and frills of other options, but you won't need these with this bag stuffed inside another bag — which is how it's best used. The lack of features also keeps the weight low and the bag easy to use.
Of course, by utilizing such a thin fabric, the Ultralight is not built to withstand abrasion. Up against rocks, sand, or even years of heavy backpacking use, two of the four versions of this bag that we've tested developed tiny holes. Thanks to the ripstop pattern, the bag still retains an impressive level of water resistance, but a hole is a hole. If you want a dry bag you can strap to your kayak deck or drag to the beach, this one isn't quite up to the task. But if you're ready to upgrade your packing system for travel, backpacking, or camping, this modestly-priced ultralight dry bag is an excellent addition we've enjoyed using for years of adventures. Others embarking on adventures with more turbulent waters will need a heavy-duty option like the rugged Watershed Colorado Duffel.
This ultra lightweight model provides perfect protection for your sleeping bag or clothes inside your backpacking pack. However, it's not meant to be submersible.
2 plastic D-rings at top, 4 on the sides, 2 on base. Side carry handle. Removable shoulder strap
Material
Bottom: 0.02 inch PVC material. Side:0.01 inch the side
Style
Roll-top
The Heeta 20L is a budget boater's best friend, keeping your essentials dry and your bank balance afloat. Although quite similar to a few other options we tested, the HEETA took the ticket thanks to its extra attention to detail. It offers two carry straps, so you can carry it backpack-style or over one shoulder. It also sports a side carry handle, which would be particularly helpful for heavier bags. In addition, the translucent materials make locating items in your bag that much easier than the opaque options on the market.
The roll-down closure system is straightforward to use; however, it is harder to get a smooth roll compared to similar bags made of thinner, more malleable materials. The HEETA isn't designed for submersion, and after some heavy use, we noticed our items getting slightly damp during testing. If you don't expect heavy water exposure and are looking for something cheap to get you out on the water, the HEETA is a great option. For an upgrade choice of this style, take a look at the SealLine Discovery View.
Easy to attach to your paddle board and easy to locate your items, this budget bag makes water play stress-free and straightforward.
If you're headed out on big waters for a long adventure, the NRS Expedition DriDuffel has got you covered. The watertight and easy-to-use zipper provides one of the most accessible bags we tested that is also fully waterproof. With wide openings on all the bags, we think you could make one that fits your winter sleeping bag, tripod, yoga mat, and ukulele without any issue. With four multi-point attachment strips, a detachable shoulder strap, two large looped side handles, and a flat base stackable design, your friends will envy the ease with which you pack your gear and secure it for the next river day.
The DriDuffel's lack of compartments makes it hard to keep organized. To maintain order, we like supplementing this bag with smaller stuff sacks. A few carrying options are available thanks to multiple attachment points and versatile straps. When not in use, the side handles are kinda large and felt like they needed some sort of control. A perk of this bag is the thick TobaTex construction with double-sewn and welded seams; this double-duty construction will keep your things dry through most aquatic misadventures. You may also like the rugged Panga Backpack 28, which is easier to carry and just as waterproof.
The DriDuffel survived extensive submersions during testing and showed no signs of letting any water in.
You can expect your gear to stay dry no matter how rowdy the water gets with the Watershed Colorado Duffel. This bag is built with rugged performance in mind and is one of the few bags we tested that remained fully dry after a prolonged submersion, thanks to its innovative ZipDry seal closure. The classic duffel design makes it perfect for overnight river trips. When you are ready to set up camp, unpacking is a breeze thanks to the wide mouth, and the comfortable neoprene grip makes hauling your gear to shore an easy task. Six well-placed heavy-duty Duraflex D-rings provide numerous options for attaching the Colorado to your craft, and its updated and refined durable material easily holds up to the wear and tear of regular use, no matter your water sport. We know many river lovers with Watershed bags that are still watertight after ten years of regular use.
Purging a bag before closing helps to reduce its bulk, and Watershed offers an optional additional purge valve that can help with this. At 75 liters, the Colorado Duffel is big for day trips and takes up quite a bit of space in a kayak or on a paddleboard. Watershed makes a range of similar smaller duffels, including the very popular 10.5-liter Ocoee. Compared to the average dry bag, watershed bags are expensive. However, for the serious river adventurer, the Colorado Duffel is worth the investment, especially if you plan multi-day trips or carry expensive hydrophobic equipment like a camera or electronics. This model is the perfect bag for the diehard rivergoer and is one of our very top products in this review. If you like the duffel design but want easier access, the 50-liter YETI Panga Duffel offers quick zip access with similar performance and ample attachment points, though it's slightly heavier.
The purge valve is useful on the large Watershed bags like the Colorado as it lets you remove the last bits of excess air from your bag
Additional attachment points to secure spare paddle or pump
See-through window
REASONS TO AVOID
Designed for very particular needs, not general purpose
Excess of features can feel cluttered
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight
23.0 oz
Closure Type
ZipDry
Attachment Points
6 plus mesh and bungee cord
Material
Polyurethane-coated nylon
Style
Deck bag
The Watershed Aleutian Deck Bag is designed specifically for the water-bound adventurer who likes to have everything readily accessible. With a handful of well-designed attachment points, the Aleutian can be secured to the deck of some kayaks, SUPs, or the thwart of a canoe. There are additional attachment points for your bilge pump or spare paddle, an adjustable mesh bag for your water bottle, and a bungee cord for further items you want to keep close at hand. The ZipDry closure is fully watertight and can be opened and closed easily to access your belongings.
If you're a minimalist, the many features attached to the Aleutian might make you feel flustered. We have witnessed many users opting to cut most of the external extras off this bag. If you plan on storing this bag in a kayak hatch, consider some of the other more streamlined options. But with RF-welded seams, Watershed's impenetrable ZipDry closure, and a tough coated nylon exterior, the Aleutian is dependable. It may be a great choice for adventure enthusiasts, instructors, and guides. If you're looking for a simple dry bag without a ton of features, check out the Sea to Summit Lightweight View or the SealLine Discovery View, which both feature totally decent waterproofing and are more affordable.
The Aleutian is a great choice for keeping flares, first aid kits, and maps close at hand.
Credit: Sara James
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The bags were tested on a variety of crafts and lashed in multiple creative ways in order for us to tease out which were most suitable for particular activities.
Credit: Sara James
How We Test Dry Bags
For the last eight years, we have spent hours scouring the market for new and updated products, pinpointing the best and most promising dry bags to test. After purchasing the most exciting options, we spend months testing each product side-by-side. We examine every detail of their waterproofness by spraying them with a hose, submerging them in bodies of water, and dragging them behind boats. We pack them full and rummage around for specific items. We take them for afternoon outings, long-distance travels, and extended trips. We check the usability of their features and use them extensively to see how well they hold up. From backpacking to paddling to traveling, we put these bags through their paces to see which ones are right for what job. For more detailed information on our dry bag testing process, see our full How We Test article.
Leaving these bags in water for 24 hours and then checking for leaks gave us a clear idea of which ones are truly waterproof.
Credit: Sara James
Our testing of dry bags is divided across four different metrics:
Waterproofness (50% of overall score weighting)
Ease of Use (25% weighting)
Quality of Construction (15% weighting)
Features (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
This review is led by lifelong water sports enthusiasts Maggie Nichols and Sara James. Maggie has spent her summers and free time on and in the water since she was a small child. From canoeing across choppy Midwestern lakes to raging down Western whitewater, exploring quiet swamps, and journeying between islands, she is critical of the gear she brings with her and the need to keep it protected. Sara has also grown up in the water, from rafting on the big water rapids of the Nile and Zambezi to whitewater kayaking trips around Europe, the Himalayas, New Zealand, and the Western States. She has spent the last decade of summers working on the rivers in California, coaching, guiding, taking photos of commercial rafting trips, and putting all kinds of gear to the test. Whether skiing in the mountains, paddle boarding on rivers, or kayaking on lakes, she usually has a dry bag with spare layers, a notebook, and a camera.
Getting serious about testing the limits of waterproofness.
A whole bunch of bags hanging up to dry after a day of testing.
Dry bags inside dry bags inside dry bags.
Our rigorous testing reveals what each dry bag can do.
Analysis and Test Results
There's more to the performance of a dry bag than just how dry it keeps your belongings. We identified testing metrics designed to push each contender to the breaking point. All metrics are weighted according to their importance to the performance of a dry sack. In what follows, we break down each metric and discuss which bags do best in specific areas and situations.
Value
As with any gear, the cost will influence your willingness to buy it. Everyone needs something a little bit different to best suit their needs, and some products offer better performances for lower prices, making them high-value items.
The SealLine Discovery View is a seriously high-value item. It performs well across the board and costs a lot less than similarly high-performing models. The Sea to Summit Big River is another high-value dry bag. Its slightly more generic design is quite versatile, with high-quality protection and easy-to-use features. The Marchway Floating 20L stands out for being affordable while still being relatively useful.
The Marchway Float offers a competitive value for keeping some essentials dry out on the water.
Credit: Sara James
If you're searching for affordable organization and internal protection, the Osprey Ultralight Drysack offers quality water resistance and impressive packability inside your travel kit for a comparatively low price. Finally, the Outdoor Products 3-Pack is a very low-cost set of sacks with decent protection, great for many casual, non-technical uses.
The Sea to Summit Big River series costs more than your average roll top bag, however with a finer attention to detail, this bag is likely to last you longer than our very best budget offerings.
Credit: Sara James
On the flip side, sometimes you need the best of the best and want to know if it's worth the investment. If you're trying to protect large, expensive electronics — like a laptop or a DSLR camera — the large capacity Yeti Panga Backpack 28 offers some of the best water protection around. Compatible with cube-based camera storage accessories, it is ready to make the ultimate adventure photography travel pack. The Watershed Colorado runs a close second, with its smaller cousin, the Ocoee, being popular amongst kayaking photographers worldwide. The padded liners you can purchase for these bags make them particularly convenient for protecting your most precious goods. When it comes to protecting thousands of dollars of sensitive equipment through harsh, wet conditions, the investment in these dry bags pays for itself.
Stay confident that the dry sack you're using is up to the challenge of whatever adventure you have planned.
Credit: Sara James
Waterproofness
The primary purpose of all of these products is right in their name — to keep your stuff dry. Therefore, waterproofness is by far the most heavily weighted metric in this review, and the winners in this category took home the greater share of our awards. You might assume anything carrying the name “dry bag” is intended to keep your stuff 100% dry 100% of the time, but performance in this category varies widely. While some products are designed to keep water completely out, others are meant to be splashproof and aren't rated for prolonged submersion. All the contenders we tested protect contents against the mild splashes experienced riding in small watercraft, but to really dive deep into each model's waterproofness, we pushed them farther than most are meant to go. We used them for our favorite water sports (e.g., white water stand-up paddle boarding) and subjected them to specific tests designed to push their limits, including a 24-hour submersion test. Some products lived up to their name, while others didn't fare as well.
The NRS Expedition DriDuffel, the SealLine Pro Zip Duffel, the Yeti Panga bags we tested, and the Watershed dry bag designs kept our stuff bone dry throughout all testing. This is no mean feat after being put through extensive submersions and heavy use over time.
Thanks to its easy access T grip zip, the SealLine Pro Zip is easy to open, even in cold conditions when your hands don't have much dexterity.
Credit: Sara James
We went the extra mile when testing these bags and really tried to get the contents wet, with no success. There is good reason we see these designs on the equipment list of seasoned river professionals.
After 24 hours with their zippers exposed underwater, the SealLine Pro Zip and the Watershed bags were still 100% dry.
Credit: Sara James
The Panga Duffel seals with a HydroLok zipper that, even after years of use, is still as waterproof as it was when we bought it. The updated NRS Expedition DriDuffel uses Tru Zip closure technology. Dustproof, toothless, and fully waterproof, this zip construction is new to NRS but has been used in a variety of other manufacturers' dry products since 2019
The Watershed Colorado Duffel and Aleutian Deck Bag feature zip-top closures, similar to the plastic baggies in your kitchen drawer, but a thousand times more sturdy. The Colorado Duffel has an extra bit of security, as you can fold down the top and clip the sides to prevent the bag from being pulled open in extreme situations. If asked which dry sacks we'd comfortably entrust to float thousands of dollars of electronics down a river, these are the ones we'd recommend.
To open the Colorado Duffel, make a purposeful S-kink in the seal and then pull open with the tabs. To close, squeeze out the air and simply pinch the seal shut, making sure the grooves interlock all the way.
Credit: Sara James
The SealLine Discovery View utilizes a double-banded closure system that performs significantly better than similar single-banded roll-down designs on many other bags. The purge valve let in some moisture when placed under direct high pressure (i.e., sprayed with a hose), and our paper towels showed some water had been able to infiltrate the bag.
Ultralight bags are generally not designed to be completely waterproof, but the Osprey Ultralight does a remarkable job of keeping stuff dry. While our contents got a bit moist after submerging and dragging this bag around a lake, that's not what ultralight bags like this one are made for. Instead, this bag provides a great added layer of protection if used inside another bag. It is one of our favorites for keeping necessary backpacking items dry, like down jackets and first aid kits.
Despite the lightweight material, the Osprey Ultralight faired surprisingly well when left overnight in water.
Credit: Sara James
Although the Outdoor Products 3-Pack All Purpose did not fare that well in this metric when the bags were tested individually (which is how we scored them), the opportunity to double or triple them up boosts their performance considerably. Having a backup system for any dry bag is a great idea, particularly when using less durable bags and when carrying important items like electronics or sleeping gear. Over the years we've had them, the Outdoor Products dry bags have shown significant deterioration regarding their waterproofness. Our original bags from 2018 now soak up water when submerged. However, when new, these bags were able to survive brief immersions.
The Outdoor Products 3-Pack are a cheap option that will provide basic protection for your important items.
Credit: Sara James
Ease of Use
Whether you're in the middle of the river or bustling about camp packing and unpacking your gear, accessing your stuff should be facilitated, not hindered, by your carrying vessel. We set out to evaluate how easy it is to pack each dry bag, how quickly the stuff inside can be found while the product is in use, how each model carries from one location to another, and how well it can be secured to different water crafts.
The SealLine Pro Zip Duffel, Yeti Panga Duffel, Yeti Panga Backpack, and NRS Expedition DriDuffel took top points in this metric. They are easy to open and quick to seal when needed.
Thanks to the large handle and smooth zip, the SealLine Pro Zip duffel is easy to open and access items.
Credit: Sara James
The Expedition DriDuffel and SealLine Pro Zip Duffel have wider openings than the Panga Duffel and have more malleable materials, making them easier to pack. The small mesh stash pockets on the Panga Duffel make it easier to locate important items like keys. Each of these also has many attachment points to secure the bag to your craft or additional items to your bag.
The shoulder straps on the Panga Duffel are easy to secure and detach. In addition, there are multiple attachment points on this bag, although testers noted it lacked a handle/lash point horizontally across the center panel.
Credit: Sara James
The Watershed Colorado and Watershed Aleutian fared average for their ease of use. With well-placed D-rings and handles, these bags were designed to be lashed down and taken to the waters. You can also be confident they will not burst open if dragged through some waves.
The D-ring's on the Watershed Colorado stand out for how sturdy and well-placed they are. This is not a bag that will spring open on surprise, regardless of how the rapids may toss your boat around.
Credit: Sara James
Opening and closing Watersheds' ZipDry systems takes a moment to get familiar with, and it's worth following their instructions. However, it doesn't take a genius or muscle woman. If this zip gets dry after regular use, it can become difficult to close. A quick application of 303 lubricant will immediately return it to functioning as good as new.
Accessing everything we need is easy with a large opening like the one on the Watershed Colorado.
Credit: Sara Jam!es
The large mouth opening of the Colorado makes it easier to pack and find what you're looking for without having to rip everything out. On the other hand, the feature-rich design of the Aleutian enables you to have a specific spot on the outside of your bag for all your additional equipment needs.
The Colorado can take a bit of time to learn to open and close properly.
Credit: Sara James
Locating items in some dry bags is easier than others. The Watershed Aleutian and Sea to Summit Lightweight View have viewing windows to assist with this, while the HEETA and SealLine Discovery View utilize translucent materials for the whole bag, making locating items really straightforward. Often, just being able to see what was inside prevented us from having to unnecessarily open the bag to check we had packed our car keys, etc. Not only does this make life more straightforward, but it helps to prevent unnecessary exposure to the contents of your bag.
The view window on this bag is super helpful when you're out and about.
Credit: Sara James
The Sea to Summit Big River and Osprey Ultralight do very well in this testing metric as well, with simple, straightforward designs. Neither has any additional straps for carrying, but both are a good shape and are easy to pack and close. The Big River has multiple attachment points, making it easy to secure. There is an optional carrying strap that can be purchased, which we wish just came as standard. The white interior lining on the Big River brightens the inside of the bag so you can more easily see the contents and quickly locate the item you need. That said, any bag that's taller than it is wide is more challenging to root around in and pull out something hiding in the bottom, so organization is key.
We love the white interior of the Sea to Summit Big River, which makes it easier to see inside your bag and find exactly what you're looking for.
Credit: Sara James
The Yeti Panga Duffel, Yeti Panga Backpack, SealLine Pro Zip Duffel, and NRS Bill's Bag all boast convenient backpack straps. When heavily loaded, the backpack version of the Yeti Panga is the most comfortable to carry, thanks to its wider shoulder straps and load-bearing waist belt (albeit a very basic non-padded one). This made this bag very suitable for lugging weighty camera equipment. These straps are not removable, making it harder to stash in places. Unlike the Panga Duffel, which has removable straps, they are not as well designed for long carry. The Pro Zip Duffel straps are padded and removable, making them some of our favorites.
The waist strap of the Panga Backpack can be added or removed easily and clips together at the waist with a sturdy plastic buckle.
Credit: Sara James
The carrying system on the NRS Bill's Bag is adequate, includes a waist belt, and is removable. It's not designed for multiple-mile treks, but is suitable for carrying gear to camp from the raft.
Taking the backpack harness off the NRS Bill's Bag is a cinch with these large, easy-to-use aluminum hooks.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The HEETA dry bag is made of slightly thicker material than most of the bags tested; this meant we had to pay more attention to get a good clean roll when closing the bag. Testers appreciated the multiple attachment points, a removable sling, and a mobile phone carrying case.
The HEETA dry bag has a couple of extra features including side carrying handles, and a removable backpack-style carrying system.
Credit: Sara James
Quality of Construction
You can't expect your stuff to stay dry if your bag rips and tears, exposing your gear to the water. To excel at their job, these products need to be tough enough to withstand the thrashings of your chosen adventure. We evaluated the (in)destructibility of the main compartment's material and the components of each model, such as clips and straps.
The Yeti Panga bags are made of super-thick laminated high-density nylon. This material is built to handle rocks, tree branches, and river debris and can even stand up to the demands of international travel. The backpack straps on the Duffel are fixed with metal carabiner-type fasteners secured to two-ply webbing, providing confidence that the whole package will stay in one piece no matter what conditions your journey throws at you. The Panga Backpack is newer to our lineup but just as impressive, with sewn-in straps that can withstand heavy use and loads. The same zipper is used on both these bags, and it has faired well over time. We've been using one of these for years now without a single issue or complaint about its durability.
Regardless of the environment, we were not worried about the Yeti Panga Backpack, or its contents.
Credit: Sara James
The Colorado Duffel and Aleutian Deck Bag also offer outstanding durability. Their polyurethane-coated nylon is resistant to tears and scratches and has the advantage of a flexible and lightweight profile. The webbing is thick single-ply nylon, and the D-rings are made of a beefy Duraflex polymer that puts other plastic rings to shame. Watershed has a well-established reputation for well-wearing bags; our testers have owned Watershed bags that are still watertight after eight years of frequent use. If you use this bag extensively or in sandy environments, the seals on the Watershed bags can become more challenging to close. Treatment with the provided 303 Rubber Seal Protectant will help to keep the seal easy to open and close and reduce UV damage to the exterior.
If you expect your bag to be frequently submerged, the Watershed bags such as the Ocoee, Colorado and Aleutian are a reliable choice due to their waterproofness and durability.
Credit: Sara James
The updated Expedition DriDuffel is made with 840 denier heavy-duty TPU-coated nylon and RF-welded seams. NRS claims that the materials are UV—and wear-resistant and ready to handle multi-season use. During our testing, the Marchway and HEETA bags didn't maintain their waterproofness after prolonged use.
During a multi-day SUP trip, we used the Marchway Floating as a dry bag for our food and snacks. After five days on the water, we noticed it became easily penetrable by water splashes.
Credit: Sara James
Features
Specific features make each model unique, and the manufacturers of these products have adorned them with various creative and sometimes subtle additions. We evaluated the functionality of each bag's features and kept track of the included lash points, straps, closure systems, and any other unique additions and attributes like see-through windows or purge valves. This metric is important to consider when determining the perfect model for your specific needs.
The Watershed Aleutian has some of this category's most impressive bells and whistles. Sporting a reliable and submersible ZipDry closure, this bag has five attachment points to secure it down and additional attachment points for your bilge pump or spare paddle. On the outside, there is a mesh bag that can be adjusted to secure a water bottle. The see-through window is designed to carry a map or other documents like permits that you may want readily accessible and watertight.
The attachment points on the Aleutian are designed to keep everything you might need at hand.
Credit: Sara James
Our other Watershed bag, the Colorado Duffel, also features the same ZipDry closure, the best watertight closure we've seen. Either of these bags can also be easily attached to a craft using one of the 4+ D-rings securely fastened to the exterior. For an extra cost, the Watershed duffel bags are available with a purge valve, which is particularly helpful if you get a larger size.
The buckles and D rings on the Watershed bags were top quality; we were not worried about these breaking.
Credit: Sara James
Both Yeti Panga bags — duffel and backpack — also shine in this category. The closure system is also the most straightforward to use of any of the products we tested. Countless hours of testing prove that they're up for the job. The Panga Backpack 28 has wide shoulder straps for comfortable carrying, a removable waist belt to help spread the load, an internal laptop sleeve, and a mesh compartment for those extra items you don't want rolling at the bottom of your bag.
The sternum strap on the Panga Backpack is adjustable so you can ensure it's sitting at the correct height across your chest.
Credit: Sara James
If you are looking for a more streamlined design, the Panga Duffel has added versatility thanks to its removable backpack straps. It also features two internal zippered mesh pockets for stashing small items. Both Panga bags stand out for their numerous lash points, which are made of double-stitched webbing for easy, secure attachment to any craft.
The Yeti is handy for photography work on the river as you can open and close it in a flash, guaranteeing a watertight seal with little thought.
Credit: Sara James
The SealLine Pro Zip Duffel is very similar to the Panga Duffel in dimension and functionality, and both are 100% waterproof. The SealLine material is a bit more malleable, and the wider opening makes it easier to pack. Both have small mesh storage areas and are generally harder to keep organized than other bags, such as the Panga Backpack, which has a small but handy compartment sleeve. The Pro Zip Duffel and Panga Duffel both sport removable backpack straps, with the padded Pro Zip straps being the most comfortable for heavier loads.
When you pull into camp, the Pro Zip Duffel quickly converts into a backpack with the easy-to-attach padded shoulder straps.
Credit: Sara James
The 12L Expedition DriDuffel sports convenient large loop carrying handles, a removable shoulder strap, and ten attachment / tie-down points. The larger versions also sport end handles. The cubed nature of the design is supposedly to make packing and stacking easier.
Unlike the large bags, the NRS DriDuffel 12L bag does not have a velcro strap to manage (long loopy) side handles
Credit: Sara James
The Sea to Summit Big River has a more common design but features four welded TPU lash patches and two plastic D-rings at the top. With such beefy lash points, you can be confident the Big River will stay attached — as long as your rigging skills are equally matched. The bag's lip is also reinforced to form a more complete seal when rolled and secured. One of our favorite features of this bag is the white interior, a detail that makes it much easier to see what you're looking for.
The updated Big River features robust fabric overall, an extra reinforced base panel and useful lashing tabs on the sides.
Credit: Sara James
The NRS Bill's Bag has backpack straps that are comfortable enough for short haul and very quick to take on or off. Testers found the sternum strap oddly low but appreciated having the waist straps as an addition. The SealLine Discovery View is noteworthy for its compression abilities, using a one-way valve to allow the user to force air out of the bag. When you are tight on space and want to keep your gear dry, this is a handy bag to have on hand. When packing gear into the back of a whitewater kayak or the hatch of a touring kayak, we were grateful to have this feature on hand. This bag's translucent material aids in locating your items quickly.
This small sack is the perfect size for your day's essentials.
Credit: Sara James
The Outdoor Products 3-Pack set is also neat because, for one of the lowest prices of any model we tested, you get not one but three dry bags. They're a little lacking in some other departments but are convenient for keeping small items contained within larger bags. The 2, 4, and 10-liter pouches allow you to choose the size you need that day for a minimal price. The more pricey Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Set of 3 also delivers three convenient bags of varying sizes, each equipped with replaceable buckles and an extra smooth finish, making them super easy to squeeze into those tight places in your backpack or kayak.
The Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Set of 3 all use a simple roll top closure system.
Credit: Sara James
Finally, the Earth Pak Original has a single adjustable (unpadded) strap that makes it easy to carry to and from the beach hands-free. It also comes with a clear cell phone case, though it's too short for most of today's oversized smartphones. We tried both with the very tall LG V60 ThinQ and the bulky iPhone 12 Pro Max, and both were too tall to seal this little bag shut.
Whatever type of dry bag you are looking for, we have probably tested it out.
Credit: Sara James
Conclusion
From paddleboarding to whitewater expeditions, dry bags are essential to any water person's gear arsenal. Whether you are trying to protect expensive electronic equipment, need backpacking-specific gear, or just want to avoid waterlogged clothes for the drive home from the lake, we hope this review has helped you in your pursuit of the best dry bag for the job.
