The best dry bags 2020: from tiny waterproof packs to mammoth storage sacks

There's no getting around it: wet clothing and utterly soaked outdoor gear (that's not meant to get wet) sucks. There's no excuse for it, either. Not when you have one of the best dry bags in the outdoors for protecting your kit, whatever you're getting up to out there in the wild.

Yes, whether you're canoeing, kayaking, mountaineering, abseiling down waterfalls or trekking across streams and rivers in the pouring rain, these dry sacks and bags will protect your gadgets and clothes from water.

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The two main consideration points you’re likely to encounter in your quest to find the best dry bag for you are material and closure type. When it comes to the former, you’ll tend to see a lot of vinyl. And we're not talking the kind you spin on a turntable...

Vinyl is generally used for smaller, packable dry bags that can be stowed inside larger bags. There's also nylon, which is a little sturdier in the face of water, plus scrapes from rock and debris. 

Closure types basically come down to either zipper seals or roll-tops, both of which are pretty self-explanatory.

Our current top pick for the best dry bag is the SealLine Boundary Pack ,  chosen for its huge capacity, certified waterproofing, and its ability to perform as an all-round travel bag for outdoor use. 

To learn more about the Boundary Pack, and to pick up a few extra recommendations, check out our guide to the best dry bags of the year...

The best dry bags to buy right now

With a whopping 115-litre capacity, this tried and tested dry bag provides a watertight home for all of your outdoors kit. Best suited to canoeing and canyoneering, the Boundary Portage Pack by SealLine is built to withstand rough and tumble, on and off the water.

It's comfortable to wear and carry too, thanks to adjustable padded shoulder straps, a sternum strap and a webbing waist built to distribute the load more evenly. 

Compression straps are also on hand to help you pack in even more gear, and to keep that DrySeal roll top closure sealed tight against any rain or incoming water. Welded seams keeps the wet stuff out.

The Boundary Portage Pack is our current top pick for the best dry bags because it's hardy, built to last, fully waterproof and simply to adjust for maximum comfort.

With its backpack design, this hydraulic daypack from Sea to Summit seeks to offer one of the most comfortable carrying experiences out there. 

With proper adjustable shoulder straps and even a chest harness, it’s a neat case of 'dry bag meets hiking bag', making it ideal for long walks in the rain, or for stream crossings to a remote launch site for your paddle board. 

The Hydraulic Dry Pack features highly in our best dry bags buyer's guide because of its sturdy fabric and construction, load lifter design and sternum adjustments. That and the roll-top closure performs well as a defence against water infiltration.

While it might not have the adjustability or balancing chest harness of the Sea to Summit Hydraulic Day Pack, the Aqua Quest Mariner is an admirable option if you're after something more akin to a waterproof backpack. 

For those days when the 35-litre capacity of our previous pick might be overkill, Aqua Quest's 10 and 20-litre options may be more fitting.

There’s a duffel-like side handle to this dry bag as well as backpack-style shoulder straps. Their more portable size, as well as the versatile carry options, are just two reasons why the Mariner Lightweight should be on your radar.

If you want a dry bag that’ll swallow a whole heap of your weekend outdoor gear, take a look at the Big River sack, designed with a roll top and clip closure. The interior is white for enhanced visibility, and the tape-sealed seams are almost foolproof.

Sea to Summit's second offering in our best dry bags list offers a sizeable 65-litre storage capacity and a shell of hard-as-nails 420D ripstop nylon to ensure no water gets in and to keep it safe from tears.

65 litres is the maximum capacity you can buy this best dry bags contender in, but the Big River comes in much small versions too, starting with a dinky three-litre version, which is ideal for housing small gadgets and your phone.

The eVent dry sack from Granite Gear is a nervous packer’s dream, as it looks a little like a waterproof poncho with its colourful yet clear material that enables you to see everything stuffed inside. 

The dry bag also has the added beauty of nixing the sweatiness that some rubberised materials can cause. It does this via a breathable base that lets excess air escape even when the roll top is closed tight.