The Best Dry Bags of 2024

Dry bags have a single goal — keeping your gear dry. Whether your raft gets flipped, you take a spill in a creek, or you get caught in an unexpected downpour, it’s essential that clothing, sleeping bags, electronics, and other necessities stay dry.

If your gear has ever been soaked in the wilderness, you know how difficult — or even life-threatening — it can be, taking a toll physically and mentally. We’ve been there, and it inspired our hunt for the best tool for the job.

Whether you’re backpacking, paddling through a gorge or down a coastline, hunting with a fourth-season elk tag, carrying emergency supplies, or linking up national parks by motorcycle, there are plenty of adventures where a dry bag is foundational.

Editor’s Note: We updated our Dry Bags buyer’s guide on December 17, 2024, with a Price & Value section.

The Best Dry Bags of 2024

Dry Bags Comparison Chart

Scroll right to view all of the columns: Price, Closure, Capacity, Dimensions, Weight.

How We Tested Dry Bags

On top of extensive research, we enjoyed putting these dry bags to the test. Our GearJunkie field testers ranged from a professional outdoor photographer to search-and-rescue personnel, expert and recreational standup paddleboarders, and expeditionists setting records.

Our Expert 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 four friends. As a backcountry skier and bikepacker, Tilton has used dry bags on hut-to-hut trips and endurance rides in a range of climates, from the high alpine to the desert.

Among other contributors, gear tester Sean Jansen tested dry bags while paddling a SUP 1,000 miles along the Baja Peninsula on two expeditions. Former Managing Editor Mary Murphy is an avid single-day and overnight paddleboarder, as well.

Our Testing Grounds

These dry bags protected our overnight apparel, camp gear, and electronics on back-to-back water-travel days throughout the West from Utah to Colorado’s central mountains, Washington to Montana, and even down to Baja, Mexico.

Our Testing Process

We took these dry bags on morning and afternoon outings, as well as multiday and month-long river trips. They were companions in whitewater and on flat water through canyons and ravines, across wide-open lakes, or down coastlines.

Our metrics included waterproofness, ergonomics, ease of use, and flexibility. We examined accessories such as pockets and padded straps, simplicity of closure, and durability across a range of sizes and price tags. To find the best-made goods for testing, we also considered the highest-rated, most popular, and top-selling dry bags on the market.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Dry Bag

Dry bags might seem simple, but they’re incredibly diverse. Each design complements specific water activities, outdoor needs, and personal preferences.

Size & Fit

A few primary factors to consider when choosing a dry bag are the shape, capacity, and straps. Will the bag fit where it needs to be stowed, and how far will it need to be carried? When the bag is loaded, is the carry system ergonomic for the bag user?

Some larger dry bags have backpack straps for easier transport that are also removable. Removing straps can decreases the chance of a snag.

For storage, it’s essential to consider how easily the bag can be packed down, rolled, or flattened. That’s especially important for folks without a garage or much storage space.

Our favorite dry bags check the boxes for a vast range of size options (in liters):

• SealLine Pro Dry Pack: 70, 120
• NRS Bill’s Bag Dry Bag: 65, 110
• YETI Panga Dry Duffel: 50, 75, 100
• Sea to Summit Big 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 Lightweight Dry Bag First Aid: 1, 3, 5

From the simplicity of protecting your phone to the complexity of a major expedition, a dry pack exists for most applications. And there are sizes ranging from 1L to 120L.

Closures

The closure design of a dry pack is as important as the dry bag itself. Closures vary in design and you might prefer certain types over others depending on the application.

Roll-Top

The most classic closure system is the roll-top. This simple, effective design is reliable and easy to use. With buckles on either end, it’s a straightforward method to keep your contents dry. Typically this type of closure is cost-effective because a waterproof zipper doesn’t need to be installed.

Drawbacks of the roll-top, however, can be catastrophic if the system is not correctly closed. Take it from us: Should the dry pack not be securely closed, your contents will get wet. Luckily, he was in the desert sun and could dry out his clothes. To aid, the SealLine Pro Dry Pack has instructions on the interior seam to help ensure your pack is appropriately closed.

Waterproof Zippers

Waterproof zippers have come a long way, and they’re super reliable. Similar to roll-tops, there can be user error, such as if you don’t completely close the zipper but otherwise, these beefy closures can certainly keep out water. Typically sacks with waterproof zippers have a steeper price tag.

The Yeti Panga Dry Duffel and the Watershed Chattooga have burly zippers, which allow you to quickly open the bag to grab items and eliminate the process of unrolling and rolling the top.

Typically, dry packs with waterproof zippers are submersible but most are only rated to one meter below the surface. 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 next level with a brain for extra storage. Closed via drawstring, the non-waterproof compartment is on top of the dry bag, which is a great spot for quick access and extra apparel. The Sea to Summit Evac Compression Dry Bag roll-top closure is enhanced with compression straps, which allows users to compress their soft goods.

Straps & Handles

The straps and handles of your dry bag could be a major factor for your trip. You’ll want to consider the gear volume and how far you’ll need to trek with your bags in hand. Ergonomic preferences as well as the attachment points that are needed for water travel should be considered, too.

Roll-top closures can double as a handle when they’re secured closed. Zippered closures typically have a separate, removable shoulder or hand strap for carry. Otherwise, handles are located along the side.

For expeditions, the Mustang Survival Highwater 60L Waterproof Gear Hauler has six nylon grab handles strategically placed around the pack, making this heavy hauler maneuverable. A bag is easier to grab when there are handles on the sides and base, like when the bag needs to be packed upside down on a raft.

Shoulder Straps & Hip Belts

Some dry bags have shoulder straps and hip belts for carrying heavier loads. The SealLine Pro Dry Pack offers up padded shoulder and sternum straps that are not only comfortable but also adjustable.

The NRS Bill’s Bag Dry Bag and Mustang Survival Highwater 60L Waterproof Gear Hauler both have integrated shoulder straps. In most designs, the shoulder straps or hip belt are removable.

When hiking with a dry bag, such as from your docking station to a campsite, a hip belt can be a saving grace. A waist belt is especially useful for heavier cargo or if you need to bushwhack. It’s also supportive if you need to be hands-free to carry a SUP paddle or navigation device.

We also appreciate padded straps for comfort and adjustable buckle systems. Both help the pack snug up against the body and more evenly distribute the weight load. They also help to eliminate bounce during transport.

Waterproofness

What’s the point of buying a dry bag if can’t keep your gear dry? Waterproofness is the common denominator across dry bags. However, some designs are waterproof and others are water-resistant, submersible, or non-submersible.

From a manufacturing standpoint, the material of the product as well as the seams and closure design are the largest factors that determine whether a dry bag is fully waterproof and totally submersible. Generally, the more waterproof, the greater the cost.

At a minimum, dry bags are water-resistant. Nylon, polyester, polyurethane, or any combination of those textiles is usually what comprises a dry bag.

Levels of Water Protection

If a dry bag is labeled as splashproof, waterproof, or submersible, that means the seams and closure are built to withstand that level of moisture. Here’s a rundown of that progressive protection:

• Splashproof: Water can splash onto the exterior, rain, and snow can fall onto the surface, cannot be submerged in water
• Waterproof: Water can splash onto the exterior, rain and snow can fall onto the surface, often can be fully submerged in water (however, some waterproof products cannot be submerged, so be sure to read the manufacturer’s claims)
• Submersible: Water can splash onto the exterior, rain and snow can fall onto the surface, can be fully submerged beneath water (though, this isn’t an excuse to take it scuba diving. Many packs are rated to a depth of one meter)

Waterproof dry packs need stitched and welded seams to seal out moisture. Many dry bags have double-welded seams, which means that the reinforcements are doubled.

Presently, zippered dry packs will not be submersible. Zippers have come a long way, but they still can’t quite hold it together when the pressure of the water takes over. The Yeti Panga Waterproof Duffel and the Watershed Chattooga 22L are exceptions. Roll-top closures are typically submersible.

Sustainability

Sustainable manufacturing in the outdoor industry has risen over the years, and many companies have taken this to heart. In this arena, there’s been an increased demand and use of recycled materials. We’ve also seen an uptick of durability, so the bags last longer and prevent end-of-life waste.

Dry packs made with recycled fabric typically derived the material from recycled plastics. Upcycled waste material from other dry packs or discarded marine waste could also be used to make dry bags.

Many dry bags now carry a PVC-free or PFC-free label. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a synthetic polymer of plastic. It’s toxic, and therefore something consumers and product developers are steering away from. 

SeaLine, for example, has rid itself of vinyl to reduce its environmental impact. Sea to Summit has steered away from PFCs (perfluorinated chemicals). PFCs are what many outdoor brands traditionally applied to products to establish waterproofness.

Price & Value

For some dry bags, you could pay a relatively small sum for maximum storage capacity. You’ll find that other bags with a high cost have minimal room. The quality of the material and technology plays a huge role in the price in addition to the size.

Budget

Down a notch, in the $100-200 range, are the Watershed Chattooga, NRS Bill’s Bag Dry Bag, and the Mustang Survival Highwater. These products range in size from 22L to 65L. The Chattooga is the smallest and priciest choice, due to the high-end, burly material and tenacious closure system. The Highwater is a unique 40-liter waterproof pack with a 20L additional drawstring wet storage compartment on top.

The Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bag First Aid ($20), for instance, is small with an identifiable bright color and global first-aid symbol, roll-top closure, and a clear TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) window. To pay slightly more in the budget tier for the Sea to Summit Big River Dry Bags ($40-$80) give you a versatile size range, roll-top closure, waterproof, 420-denier nylon, lash points for tie-downs, and a tear- and puncture-resistant material.

Mid-Tier

Closer to $200, you’ll find a variety of smaller dry bags for specific applications. A range of specializations exist from see-through polyurethane to a first-aid kit dry bag. In this rung, SealLine has a patented dry seal roll-top closure design. Sea to Summit offers versatility and a huge collection of different volumes.

The Watershed Chattooga 22L ($190) has a huge opening for easy access and is submersible. It has heavy-duty lashing hooks, convenient straps for easy grabbing, and UV-resistant and heavy-duty polyurethane nylon. The NRS Bill’s Bag Dry Bag 65L ($180) offers a versatile size, padded shoulder straps with a removable backpack harness, roll-top closure, and heavy-duty TobaTex material. The Mustang Survival Highwater Waterproof Gear Hauler ($165) dishes out a roll-top closure, padded backpack straps, six grab handles, 420-denier nylon coating, and an easy-to-access 20L external brain compartment with drawstring closure.

Premium

In the $200-350 range, you’ll find the YETI Panga and SealLine Pro Dry Pack. YETI has a three-year warranty along with high-quality construction for rugged trips. SealLine offers a high volume with the Pro Dry Pack, as well as padded, removable shoulder straps and a waist belt.

To point, the YETI Panga 75L Waterproof Duffel ($350) is fully submersible up to 1 m with a 3-year warranty, heavy-duty zipper closure, burly grab handles and straps, plus backpack straps. The SealLine Pro Dry Pack ($340) has a DrySeal roll-top closure, is submersible, and boasts a huge amount of storage, padded and removable shoulder and sternum straps, plus a reinforced bottom.

Frequently Asked Questions