Updated May 5, 2023
A lightweight dry bag is a useful multipurpose item worth its weight in gold if you need to keep something dry. But what are the other reasons to travel with dry bags?
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What is a dry bag?
Dry bags are designed to keep gear organized, protected, and dry. They differ in size, thickness, weight, design, materials, colour, durability, intended use, level of waterproofness, and cost.
Key features relating to thickness, durability, level of waterproofness, and intended use are often reflected in the product’s name. A ‘dry bag’ more likely refers to those built for activities around snow, water, or other wet environments (e.g., Sea to Summit Big River Dry Bag). A ‘dry sack’ is more commonly used for carrying in a backpack or travel bag (e.g., Outdoor Research Ultralight Dry Sack).
‘Dry bag’ is the general term that applies to both.
Dry bags vs dry sacks
The more durable dry bags are built to withstand damage from potentially abrasive environments associated with water adventures. Picture a dry bag tossed in the bottom of a boat, carried on a snowmobile, strapped to a motorcycle, submerged in water, dragged over rocks, or brushing against branches and logs. They’re made of heavier fabric such as PVC or 200 or 300-denier nylon with a polyurethane coating. The durability and level of waterproofness of these products are more important than how much they weigh.
Dry sacks have the average traveller and commuter in mind. These bags are ultralight and easily slide into another bag. Many lightweight dry sacks are made from siliconized nylon, known as silnylon. It’s made by impregnating thinly woven nylon fabric with liquid silicone. Some companies add a polyurethane laminate. They’re not built to be submerged in water (unless they’re packed in a durable dry bag made for water adventures). Still, on their own, they’re expected to keep things dry during rain showers. Some are rated to provide protection during heavy rainfall or a continuous downpour.
Both dry bags and dry sacks feature a range of closures. Roll-top closures with an interlocking buckle are the most common and regarded as the most effective. Tightly rolling the top down with at least three folds creates a watertight seal. Doing so squeezes out air and helps compress the contents.
Waterproof pouches
A dilemma facing many travellers and holiday makers is what to do with valuables such as a phone or wallet when visiting the pool or hanging out at the beach, especially when it’s time for a swim. There are several wearable waterproof pouches on the market featuring neck straps and waist belts.
My AiRunTech Waterproof Pouch functions like a dry bag. The three zip-lock closures provide a waterproof seal, and rolling the top three times before closing the Velcro strip offers additional protection. It’s large enough to hold an iPad mini, and rated to remain waterproof when submerged up to 10 metres / 32 feet.
10 Useful reasons to travel with dry bags
1. They keep stuff dry
On my last trip to New Zealand, I expected periods of rain while hiking and cycling for several days. I had a great deal of faith in my packable Sea to Sky waterproof daypack from Arkadia Supply. However, I needed additional assurance that my phone, camera, and warm layers of clothing would remain dry. Dry bags to the rescue: they boosted peace of mind and delivered in the keeping-stuff-dry department.
I double-bagged my phone for extra insurance using two bags from the three-piece set of Outdoor Research Dry Ditty Sacks. This did the trick. It also offered protection in dusty conditions.
If a daypack, travel bag, or motorcycle storage unit isn’t waterproof, consider keeping a larger dry bag rolled up inside your bag in case of wet weather. It takes up very little space and can be used as a liner. Or get one that’s large enough to stuff your day bag inside. My 20-litre Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Drysack fits most day bags and was purchased for this purpose. It’s made of 30-denier high-tenacity Cordura nylon and is seam-sealed to enhance waterproofness.
Do you need a dry bag to protect electronics and other gadgets packed in your personal item that needs to be stowed under the seat in front during takeoff and landing? After my experience on a short flight from Halifax to Montreal, I suggest you do. I had neglected to move my personal item to rest against my own seat after takeoff and it could have been a very expensive oversight. It wasn’t until I entered the air bridge and proceeded to wear instead of carry my small backpack, I noticed it was very wet.
Inside the terminal, I removed my MacBook from its protective case that had absorbed a considerable amount of water, and my pocket camera from its wet case. Presumably, the item dropped by the passengers in front during the flight had been a full water bottle they neglected to immediately retrieve. Thankfully, it was a short flight and the water hadn’t had time to do any damage. My personal item is now lined with a dry bag on every trip to guard against in-flight mishaps associated with liquids.
When travelling in tropical climates during the rainy season when showers can appear with little notice, a dry bag offers protection for your belongings. Use one as a bag liner or keep one accessible for quickly stowing your stuff.
Is your passport protected from water damage? Is your camera safe during a sudden downpour? Could leaking toiletries damage your laptop or other gadgets? Averting these and other travel casualties are compelling reasons to travel with dry bags.
2. Use as a packing ‘cube’ or organizer
When empty, a dry bag lays flat and takes up very little space. Or it can be used as a packing organizer to keep things compartmentalized and protected. With a set of different colours, it’s easier to distinguish between different sacks.
When used as a toiletry bag, it provides a measure of protection against leaks. However, keep sunscreen and insect repellent away from your dry bag. The solvents in these products can compromise the waterproofness of the fabric.
3. Separate dirty or damp clothes
A dry bag is handy when there’s no time or facilities to dry a wet swimsuit or damp travel towel before packing for a transit day. Isolate the wet or damp items from everything else by packing them in a dry bag.
Seal in the funk and any unpleasant odours by packing dirty laundry or shoes in a dry bag. Or use one to carry your garbage until it can be appropriately discarded. Dry bags are easy to clean, and they air-dry relatively quickly.
4. Create extra storage space
Dry bags with roll-top closures are easy to attach to a day bag or backpack. Clip the interlocking buckle to an external attachment point or lash a larger dry bag to the top or bottom of a backpack or travel bag.
5. Wash clothes
Have you come across the ‘Scrubba?’ It’s a traveller’s ‘washing machine.’ The Scrubba is a type of dry bag, with a handy built-in washboard, valve, and see-through window.
A lightweight dry bag of a similar volume is more versatile and can perform the same task at a cheaper price.
Grab a laundry detergent sheet or bar of eco-friendly soap and toss the clothes in a dry bag with water. Dr Bronner’s Pure-Castille Bar Soap is biodegradable and lathers well. Rub the bar on the areas needing extra attention, such as the collar, underarms, and crotch. The process usually produces enough lather to wash the rest of the load. Agitate with your hand, close and shake, then drain and rinse. Repeat as necessary.
If you’re likely to get enough use of a Scrubba to justify the space, weight, and price, here’s an excellent review that explains how to use it.
6. Use as a bucket
If water can’t enter a dry bag, it can’t exit either. If you need to move or carry water, a dry bag can act as a bucket.
Or use one to carry ice from a hotel ice machine to your room for cooling cans or bottles of drinks. Many people shy away from using hotel ice buckets out of fear that they’ve been inadequately cleaned and sanitized. Most hotels provide plastic bags, but these are small and their single-use function doesn’t make them an environmentally appropriate choice.
7. Use as a makeshift pillow or cushion
Roll the opening three or four times and clip the buckle to seal in the air. It should create a passable pillow for a few hours. If not, stuff the dry bag with a sweater or another piece of clothing. It’s no substitute for a real pillow. Still, it’s an alternative to resting your head on airport or railway station seats of questionable cleanliness.
A dry bag, empty or stuffed, could also serve as a kneeling mat or cushion in damp surroundings.
8. A dry bag is reusable
Some travellers advocate using zip-top bags as packing organizers and to keep things dry. Some backpackers suggest using plastic trash compactor bags as internal bag liners to keep the inside of a rucksack dry.
Dry bags have the edge on durability and sustainability. They’re difficult to tear and will outlast plastic bags that need to be discarded regularly. These ‘one-and-done’ plastic options aren’t good for the environment.
In the keeping-things-dry department, plastic bags aren’t reliable. Compactor trash bag liners can suffer tears and punctures much more readily than dry bags. The seal on zip-top plastic bags can have gaps in the corners or anywhere along the closure where there are manufacturing flaws or dust or grit preventing a tight seal. The heat-sealed seams of the other three sides can quickly fail without too much pressure being applied.
9. Use as a soap or shampoo bar case
The Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case deserves a special mention because it resembles a dry bag in so many ways. It’s a game-changer for travellers who pack bar shampoo and bar soap.
Its waterproof, breathable material keeps liquid inside while the soap dries through the fabric. This feature is nothing short of miraculous. Insert the bar wet, and the next time you reach for the soap, it’ll be dry. Even ventilated soapboxes don’t do that well.
The sealing rolltop makes it waterproof in a way that’s similar to dry bags. The buckle closure means it is easy to hang or connect to attachment points.
At 11 grams (0.4 ounces), it’s three times lighter and six times more compact than a plastic soap bar case of average size. The soft-sided case adapts to the size of the bar. As the bar becomes smaller with use, so does the case. Unlike plastic and tin cases, it changes in size according to the size of its contents.
For a smaller pouch to carry shampoo and conditioner bars, check out Etsy. Look for PUL (polyurethane laminate) pouches or ‘wet bags.’ PUL is a breathable, durable, waterproof fabric designed for hospital use as it can withstand many hot washes. Unsurprisingly, it gained popularity as a protective waterproof layer in cloth diapers, and travellers have discovered it for keeping wetness contained in a travel bag. Wet bags made of PUL are useful for storing dirty clothes, wet swimwear, cloth diapers, reusable menstrual pads, and solid soap and shampoo bars. Mine are made entirely of PUL fabric from EcoAdorable.
10. Dry bags are easy to clean
To curb the development of mildew, air-dry bags after each use. Wash them if they’ve been exposed to dirt, dust, or sand. Fine particles of dust or sand can work their way into the bag’s fabric and act like sandpaper to wear away the waterproof coating. Undetected food particles can lead to mould and odours that may be difficult to eradicate.
- Wash bags inside and out with cold water from a hose or tap.
- To remove dirt, hand wash with a mild dishwashing soap such as Dawn, Seventh Generation, or Dr Bronner’s. Lightly scrub any spots or stains with a sponge.
- To dry the bags, turn each inside out, making sure the corners and inside seams are visible. Air-dry the interior first, then reverse the process to dry the outside.
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I completely agree with using dry bags for any travel, including backpacking. They inspire confidence that your electronics and clothing won’t get wet and/or ruined when on the move.
I enjoyed this post. I don’t currently have any dry bags but as soon as the travel routes start opening again, I will be looking into it. What I like most about them, from information in this post, is that they are reusable – but also that they have multi-purpose uses.
Thank you Terri for dropping by and leaving a comment. You’re right, can’t beat reusable and multipurpose. I’m trying to cut down on single-use plastic, and dry bags are definitely more sustainable.
Oh! I love dry bags. They are indispensable, especially when travelling. Used them a lot.
Here are some of the things you might want to pack in your dry bag:
– A raincoat or poncho for sudden downpours.
– A towel for when you need to dry off after a dip in the water.
– A portable water filter, so you can fill up from any fresh water source.
– Plastic bags, so you can store dirty clothes and keep them separate from the clean ones.
– An extra change of clothes and underwear.
– Insect repellent, sunscreen, and lip balm with SPF.
Thanks.
I had no idea that most of those products exist. Now I have a solution for how to deal with wet swimsuits when traveling!
I guess with all the electronics we have these days a dry bag is a must have for every traveler.