The Best Dry Bags of 2024

The YETI Panga ($350) stands out among waterproof duffel designs. It’s been a few years since this YETI bag was released, and we’ve been continuously impressed. It’s super durable, holds a ton of gear (the 75L is 11 x 12 x 15.5 inches), and is incredibly adaptable in the ways it can be strapped to a boat. The Panga comes in 50L, 75L, and 100L versions.

One of our favorite qualities of this duffel is the variety of tie-down points, which makes rigging up the gear super easy and helps keep everything tight.

Six lash points on the exterior of the bag are uniquely arranged in a line, like a daisy chain. And there are four handles — two on the top and two on the bottom — plus four points where the comfortable backpack-style dry-haul straps attach.

The HydroLok zipper performed super well, is comfortable to pull, and has lasted season after season. We’d never before used a dry bag with a zipper closure, but not a drop of moisture got into our bag on the entirety of our trips. We appreciate the ease of how the bag opens like a duffel, so we don’t need to dump all of the contents (like with a top-loading dry bag) out to find what we need.

The EVA-molded bottom is waterproof and rugged, and the laminated, high-density nylon shell is thick enough that even the long nails of an excited 60-pound husky didn’t puncture the walls.

We’ve checked the YETI Panga countless times while flying, stuffed it to the gills, and submersed it regularly. Through it all, our gear has come back dry, safe, and protected. Yes, it’s an investment, but it’s one that will last. For a wide range of uses, we’re confident it’s the best dry bag you’ll find.

The NRS Bill’s Bag Dry Bag 65L ($160) is simple, classic, and reliable — and about one-third the price of comparable bags. We like that the bag is durable, can hold all our apparel for overnight trips, and is also malleable enough that it can pack down and fit as a day bag on the front of a standup paddleboard.

Plus, the fold-down closure system is soft and easy to use, which we liked for hiking with the dry bag and also for using the bag on a mountain lake to paddle.

The adjustable backpack harness with padded shoulder straps is convenient but removable, which is key for reducing potential snags. The four compression straps of the NRS Bill’s Bag Dry Bag 65L help condense and cement gear into place, and the aluminum fasteners on the straps are dependable.

One drawback: fold-down or roll tops are easy to use, but there’s room for user error. Make sure your roll is tight, and practice before you go. Once you’ve confidently sealed the roll-top system, you’ll have one of the best dry bags for the price.

Trying to cram as much gear into your bag as possible? It’s time you met the Sea to Summit 14L eVent Compression Dry Sack ($40-61). With a simple yet innovative design, condensing gear has never been so easy.

The design’s 70-denier nylon waterproof fabric keeps water out, and the eVent waterproof-yet-air-permeable base allows air to expel when the straps are tugged to tighten the load. Double-stitched waterproof seams are sealed with tape to keep out moisture.

These dry bags are particularly useful for maximizing space with big, compressible items like down blankets or jackets. From clothing to pillows, you just cram it in and evenly cinch it down with the four straps. We even used the 14L ($33) for a large sleeping bag. The sack packed down the bulky bag with little energy and no hassle.

We’ve used the Sea to Summit 14L eVent Compression Dry Sack for several years now. Even after lots of use, it shows little signs of wear. If you’re intent on saving space while keeping essential gear dry, this might be the best dry bag for you.

If you’re ever in an emergency scenario, the last thing you want to need to remember is what box, bin, or bag carries the emergency supplies. To help make high-adrenaline moments more manageable, Sea to Summit designed a Sea to Summit First Aid Dry Sack ($20) with the universal first aid symbol, label, and bright red color.

The sizes range from day use (1 L) to overnight use (3 L) to expedition size (5 L). Of course, depending on the time of year, season, environment, group size, and risks to manage, you might need a kit that’s larger or smaller than their recommended categories.

Each bag features a roll-top closure, 70-denier nylon, and a clear thermoplastic urethane (TPU) window so you can get a glance at the contained items.

Overall, the design of the Sea to Summit First Aid Dry Sack is simple and straightforward. With three full rolls down, the waterproof bag should keep your supplies free from moisture.

The quality and durability of the Watershed Chattooga 22L ($154-222) set a high bar among dry bag standards. At 10 x 19.25 x 9.5 inches, this duffel is an ideal day bag for anytime access to important gear. We liked using the dry bag to carry goods for ourselves and others on a standup paddleboard day trip in the mountains.

Four hard lash points create durable tiedowns, and two compression straps squeeze the load together. We like that the convenient carry handle is lightly padded for comfort.

Plus, the ZipDry closure on this bag is bombproof. We could hardly get it open once it was closed, which is reassuring but can also be slightly annoying. It’s basically a heavy-duty ziplock bag closure that ensures no water, animal, or dust particle is getting inside that bag.

The ZipDry closure tab of the Watershed Chattooga 22L is made from a new, super-strong material, Armathane, which makes for an even longer lifespan. In 2020, the brand even added a clear reinforcement panel on the top of the sides for additional durability.

Sea to Summit’s Big River Dry Bags have been a staple for watergoers everywhere for a while now. The bags come in different sizes, are made with durable material, and our staff’s bags have lasted for years. We love a whole lot about these dry bags: their durability, features like lash points, and price, to name a few!

The Big River Dry Bags come in sizes ranging from 3L, 5L, 8L, 13L, 20L, 35L, to 65L ($40-80). They are made with TPU-laminated 420-denier nylon, Hypalon attachment points and lash points, fully taped reinforced seams, and an oval-shaped base to resist rolling around.

This assortment of bags weighs from 3 to 10.3 ounces. They are waterproof, a good balance between lightweight and durable, and just plain great for protecting your gear.

If you are organizing a group whitewater or river trip, or even a friends and family float trip, the Sea to Summit’s Big River Dry Bags are probably the best dry bags for easy organization and packing; with choices of six different colors across various sizes, it’s easy to color-coordinate bags with contents.

This new dry bag from Sea to Summit marries a lightweight (but still protective) dry bag fabric with the carrying convenience of a hands-free bag.

The Sea to Summit Lightweight Sling Dry Bag ($23) is 10 or 20 L, and can work for day or overnight river trips. It’s made with a 70-denier waterproof fabric with a 10,000mm water column rating, a Hypalon durable roll-top closure, and a D-ring attachment point at the buckle. At first, we were a bit skeptical of the sling design, but it carries great.

The other great feature of this dry bag is the roll-top closure and buckle configuration. The strap is on a swivel ring, so it always orients the right way — making this bag just as easy to use as any other rolltop.

As a sling bag, we wore the Sea to Summit Lightweight Sling Dry Bag against bare skin, against a swimsuit, and with a PFD on several different occasions and loved its fit, feel, and convenience.

Read our full review here.

If you’ve never used a dry bag with a valve, it’s time you tried it. Until we tried this design, we’d never been able to get this much air out of our dry bag with so much ease. The PurgeAir valve is ingenious.

We used the 20L SealLine Discovery View Dry Bag on a multiday trip over rapids, wakes, and long stretches of glassy water. The valve makes the Discovery Dry Bag ($35-58) easy to pack and unpack frequently.

That’s on top of the Discovery Dry Bag’s other awesome feature: visibility (not just a plastic window) via the translucent fabric. Given the bag is uniquely translucent, it’s easy to spot gear without unnecessarily unraveling the roll top.

One caveat: the fully welded seams are durable and reinforce waterproofness, but the exterior PVC-free material is not very durable. We carabiner-clipped a half-loaded 10L Discovery View Dry Bag to another dry-bag backpack for a steep 0.2-mile approach hike to the water’s edge. After setting down the gear for a quick water break in the heat, a bush poked tiny holes in the Discovery.

We love the soft feeling of the material and the see-through aspect, but we recommend you keep it inside another, more rugged dry bag. Between the convenient translucence and quick-purge valve, this is the bag to choose for stashing your phone, hat, puffy, or any other accessories you may want throughout the day. The SealLine Discovery View Dry Bag is a great choice to add to the dry bag quiver.