What is a dry bag?
Firstly, just in case you don’t know, a dry bag is designed to keep your gear dry no matter what the conditions,
whether kayaking, canoeing, camping, sailing, at the beach enjoying the sun or even keeping your gear dry on a back of a motorbike.
If you’re into Watersports or are going to get wet, or sandy a dry bag is a vital piece of kit.
So how does this piece of kit keep my things dry? let’s look at how they work.
How does a dry bag work?
A dry bag is a very flexible container that keeps its contents bone-dry or it’s wet contents from leaking out.
With a strong top closure, some have an extra plastic stiffening blade at the top of the opening to help roll the bag tightly, the bag stays watertight and Properly sealed,
A robust bag is usually made of PVC material that is strong enough to take the knocks on a Stoney beach or Rocky shoreline, and without Scuffing a hole in the material.
There are lightweight dry bags available, which don’t need to be so tough, which is perfect for going in your camping and hiking backpack.
Are dry bags waterproof?
Yes, very much so, rain is no problem, splashing is no problem, but
Can dry bags be submerged? Are dry bags submersible?
Well yes, to a certain extent, as we see in the test, a good dry bag can be submerged completely underwater quite a few times for a few seconds at a time,
so this is why they are great for kayaking and Watersports as they don’t need to be under the water for a long time.
Waterproof phone bags/Cases and pouches can be used underwater and for long periods of time as the closure mechanisms are much tighter and a good phone case can go underwater up to 100 feet.
What are the various types of dry bags?
Dry bags come in many sizes and shapes, Depending on what you would like to do with them, and what sports you are involved in. Which will the correct choice be for you?
Tube dry bag or roll-top dry bag
Dry bag holdalls
Camping dry bags
How to fold a dry bag
To get the bag to perform properly we really need to know how to fold it correctly,
When packing the bag with what you need for the trip, you need to allow for room to fold down the top of the bag, So don’t overfill it.
The bag is usually rolled down 3 or 4 times tightly around this stiffening blade
and then clipped together at the top to Secure the bag, so you need to think of this when choosing the size of bag you need,
How to test a dry bag.
If you have an expensive piece of kit or the bag is new, you need to give yourself the confidence in your new kit with a quick test, especially if you will be using it to the maximum of its ability,
So the best thing to do is test it for any leaks before you use it. (Video of test)
To do this, you can do one of two ways.
- Fill a bath
- Put some tissue in the dry bag
- Close the bag tightly 3 – 4 times, leaving the air in the bag.
- Plunge the bag under the water and hold it under for 4- 5 seconds at a time
- Repeat up to 3 or 4 times
- Dry off the bag well so no water can drip on the tissue, take out the tissue, if it is dry your new dry bag is good to go.
Or another way to test your new dry bag is
- Fill the dry bag with water to the halfway point.
- Leave the air in and start rolling down the top applying pressure to the inside of the bag.
- Keep the pressure on the bag for a minute and if no water leaks out your good to go.
Do dry bags float?
If you need your dry bag to float alongside your kayak or on the water as you have a leisurely swim or snorkel at the beach then yes,
All you need to do is make sure you leave plenty of air in the bag when you pack it and roll down the top.
Can you swim with a dry bag?
Standard dry bags are ok for short periods of paddling and swimming,
but if your a serious swimmer then you’ll be much better off with a dry bag tow float that has the air pocket’s built-in and stays inflated for long long periods,
You can also take a break from swimming and float with your dry bag tow float, and chat with friends. But what would you need with you when you’re swimming or using a dry bag?
What do you put in a dry bag?
It might be obvious but anything you want to keep dry but also anything that keeps you safe, Out on the water,
It can get cold and very quickly, so be ready for it, this could be a fleece, or a waterproof coat, dry t-shirt, socks, anything to get you warm again,
also you can make space for your flip flops towel, sunglasses, wallet and phone.
If you’re out for the whole day and aren’t going via a pub, you will need to fit in some food and water also.
Having your phone with you is very important and keeping it safe is vital, so always keep it in a waterproof phone case even when you put it in your dry bag.
The importance of having your phone in a waterproof bag with you!
The best advice for going out on the water is to always go with family or friends.
If you are on your own while kayaking, swimming, SUP boarding or you must safely have your phone with you.
If you get into trouble you can call the coastguard, friends or family to come and get you,
things can go very wrong, very quickly on the water, getting caught in a Riptide and sent out to sea, which is a very scary thing, as is being caught out by a powerful spring tide.
If you have your phone with you it’s a simple call, if you don’t you’re in serious trouble.
So always check your waterproof phone case before you go out on your own & make sure your phone is fully charged. This is why we at ultra dry adventurer include a phone case with all our dry bags.
if you would like to know more about how to keep safe on the water the RNLI have a great resource
How to pack a dry bag?
Most dry bags are tubes, so always pack the things you probably won’t need too much first, at the bottom,
Some dry bags, like our 35l and 55l backpacks, have an internal pocket for your keys, wallet and small important things, which make them easy to get at and kept dry.
Also, they have water bottle holder side pockets and an external pocket for things that can get wet.
It can also be a good idea to have a small 5 litre bag for keeping any wet things away from and separate from your nice dry things.
How long do dry bags last?
Here we have a standard 1-year guarantee but you can upgrade to a 5-year guarantee, you just need to register your Ultra Dry bag with us.
With normal use, your Ultra Dry Bags can last a lifetime, But if you are a professional and use your bags every day you would hope they would last 3-5 years.
But not all dry bags are created equal, we might be biased but we’d like to think our dry bags are the best available.
And Finally
You know now exactly what a dry bag is, what it can be used for, its limitations, what to pack in it, and how to test it,
we also gave you some important tips on keeping safe out there, and what to take with you on your next adventure, take a look at our range here and get yourself ready.
If you’re unsure what size you need, there is a new article coming soon about just that – what size dry bag do I need?
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