Dry bags are essential on rafting and kayaking trips and a failed bag can put a serious damper on your trip. Waterproof dry bags will keep your gear safe and dry while you splash down the river. The best bags should be fully submersible while maintaining a watertight seal. Bags come in all types of shapes and sizes and it’s nice to have a few good ones. I personally like having a big duffel style bag, a few small ones for personal items and a mid size or two.
NRS Dry Bags
They have a wide range of options and they are all very well made. I’m a big fan of my Bill’s bag. It has heavy duty backpack straps that really come in handy while hiking gear into launch sites like the Chukar Trail on the Gunnison River.
If you hike into river or lake sites and need a heavy duty bag, this is your best choice. The outfitter bag is similar but it has a simple sling strap. If you’re primarily moving the dry bag from the boat to camp and back.
It doesn’t have the bulky straps so it won’t hang up on other gear in the raft either. They also make several small and mid-sized bags with the Hydrolock, MightyLight and Tuff Sack designs. A mixed grouping of these will have you covered for just about any raft trip.
Watershed Dry Bags
Watershed has some really exceptional designs and they are loved by everyone who owns one. They have backpacks, duffel style dry bags and a bunch of unique technical designs. They even have a rifle sheath.
The company uses a really cool seal that is super easy and similar to a sandwich bag in some ways. After grabbing the initial seal, you can then roll the top for additional security. I really like the Animas and Westwater backpacks and the Yukon duffel for bulk goods.
They have a bunch of really cool designs and are popular among raft guides and experienced whitewater folks for a reason. Nobody wants a soggy sleeping bag at camp and these bags are exceptional at keeping out water.
SealLine Dry Bags
I have a few of these that I’ve used for years and they are solid bags. Durable, simple and effective designs that really seem to last. I have a friend who has used a backpack version for years as well with multiple guide seasons in Alaska included. I believe it’s the Boundary Waterproof Model that they still carry and sell. The fact that the straps are still intact and the material is not worn through is a testament to the design quality. The actual material seems a bit thinner than NRS dry bags and Watershed models but it’s still really nice stuff.
Jack’s Plastic Welding
Don’t be fooled by the outdated website and media. Jack’s makes killer products and their dry bags are solid. They use high quality materials and build all of their boat tubes and plastic products in-house in New Mexico. The company is very specific in their designs and all of the products they build. You will need to find a dealer who carries their bags because they don’t sell them directly.
Fishing Specific Dry Bags
Dry bag designs have been integrated into the fishing world in the form of backpacks, boat bags and other gear storage specific options. Some of the designs are really nice, especially if you want internal pockets and more functional bag for organizing accessories. SIMMS Fishing, Fishpond, Orvis and Patagonia all have some really great options. I don’t see these are viable replacements for your general dry bags like the NRS Outfitter bags. Use the traditional models for your bulk gear and plan on these taking more abuse than the technical bags. The fishing bags are often durable but they have more seams and typically use thinner materials. They also come with a higher price point.
Luggage Style Options
Along the same lines as the fishing world, there are plenty of luggage style bags meant for travel. Big waterproof duffel bags have become increasingly common and there are some killer designs for packing a ton of gear. These offer new options for river trips but pay very close attention to the fine print. Many of these bags are built with waterproof materials and they are ideal for walking through a rainstorm but not necessarily capable of being submersible.
You have no shortage of options when it comes to buying dry bags but I recommend going with a trusted brand that specializes in whitewater gear for you bulk gear storage. Keeping your clothes, sleeping bag and tent dry is extremely important and you don’t want to cut corners. Go with an NRS or Watershed model whenever possible.
