The Ultimate Guide to Waterproof Dry Bags And Cases

General Notes

• We choose what we carry based on extensive research on what's the best value to our customers (e.g., price given performance & durability features) across all the top brands. We specifically do not carry every brand & model; for details on why we do/don't carry certain items in the following What To Use & How To Choose section
• Buy prices are MSRP with tax, i.e., what you see is what you pay. Prices may differ in-store due to change in models or discounts, but this is rare. If we don't sell what we rent, we list MSRP value with tax
• Rent prices are the starting prices; enter trip dates on our Catalog to get exact prices (based on total trip length, not per day!). We also don't charge sales tax, an automatic savings of almost 10%!

Type or style	Waterproof case	Dry bag
Model
	SealLine E-Case	SealLine Discovery Deck Dry Bag
Buy MSRP with tax	$30	$65
Rent	$5+	$6+
Capacity	7X10in 18X24cm Approved by Transportation Safety Agency (TSA) as a carry-on toiletries container	20L
Weight	2oz 60g	17oz 500g

When you rent online, you can select from available options or we'll pick out something for you. You can also write-in any preferences on the last page of checkout. This section describes the majority of our models & options, but sometimes we carry others.

Key factors

Cool zippers, new waterproofing, etc... sometimes it's easy to get lost in all the hype (over-spending happens on features). Our guide focuses on the fundamental factors you should always keep in mind (thus, this short list is similar across all items). Then only at the end do we have some questions to get you thinking about other minor features.

• Type or Style
• Price
• Capacity (size)
• Weight & size (for backpacking)

We highly recommend reviewing Type or Style first, where we review what you can use to address the Core function--a regular item you have at home may work! The other factors are secondary & depend strongly on the Type or Style you've picked.

While we encourage you to use regular items wherever possible, as an outdoor gear shop, we only carry outdoor-specific products

Type or Style

We've organized the most commonly used items people use to address the Core function below, with example images, characteristics, features, etc.

Some people use just a regular plastic bag, but given how easy they tear, we really don't recommend them & don't include them as a "valid" item below for addressing this Core function. Soft waterproof cases & dry bags often don't have an IP rating, which is reserved more for electronic devices. Besides, these soft bags aren't usually submersible (yielding interesting uses), so it's hard to evaluate an IP rating.

Our category name		Waterproof case (soft*)	Dry bag
Example qualities & features	Example images
	How to use & effectiveness	Zipper seal (like a Ziplock bag). This can open under certain conditions, but it's not very likely	Roll-top method (see Usage section), this is basically foolproof
	Is it transparent? Can you easily see where things are inside?	Generally (some may even allow you to still use a touchscreen!)	Sometimes
Effect on secondary factors	Price	$10-$40	$20-200
	Capacity	Like a toiletries bag These cases are typically more flat & less voluminous than an actual toiletries bag, they're more designed for electronics	5 to 150 liters (wide range as the largest are basically frameless backpacks)
	Weight	Up to 5oz (142g)	Up to 30oz (850g)
	Rationale	Less technical, thinner material	More technical, thicker material
Why we do/don't carry it = we rent = we sell		These are used differently, but both can be important depending on your trip

*We don't discuss hard cases here (which unlike soft cases, may have an IP rating, particularly if they're designed as underwater housing for electronic devices). There are different types of hard cases. For example:

• Protective cases: Can be padded on the inside, and being waterproof is just one feature in addition to being crush proof & fire proof
• Functional cases: A good example is underwater camera housing, a case that fits around specific cameras to allow you to operate it underwater

While these factors affect any type or style, we've only gathered specific data for dry bags. Waterproof cases have a limited range of capacities & aren't technical enough to be optimized for weight & size.

Capacity (size)

This section just talks about dry bags. While waterproof cases differ in capacity as well, there's much less variation: at their smallest they will just hold a smartphone; at their largest, they will just hold a tablet computer. As you can imagine, price, weight, & size all increase with capacity. The size of waterproof case we carry is approved by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for carry-on luggage as a toiletries bag, and measures 6x9in (15x22 cm)

Weight & Size (Compactness) for Backpacking

If you're thru-hiking 20+ miles (32+km) per day, every advantage counts! In this case, size refers to compactness. You can carry more gear in the same size backpack if all of it is very compact, or for more weight savings, you can get a smaller size pack.

Dry bags provide a level of water protection that most backpackers won't need. Those that do may be better served with a dry pack (which, per the Capacity table above, is just a large dry bag with the same shoulder & waist straps as a backpack, albeit without a frame), thereby combining the weights & functions of both dry bag & hiking backpack.

Lightweight dry bags are often differentiated and called dry sacks. They can be substantially less durable, so we'd caution re-using one for an actual water-based trip (e.g., kayaking)

Minor features that may be important

Here, we give you a list of questions to start thinking about minor features. We hope our approach of savings these features for last gets you to more critically think about what you need & not get caught up in the hype of what's cool and over-spend your budget.

• Does it have straps or is it easy to strap down (e.g., to a kayak)?

Dry bag

Click to see full size

Source: https://strikesurvival.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Waterproof_Dry_Bag_Instructions.jpg

To seal a dry bag, follow the diagram. Going clockwise from the top left image:

1. Line up the ends of the bag
2. Roll over the top at least 3 times
3. Fold the top
4. Clip together

Dry bags keep water out, so therefore they can keep water in! That makes them pretty versatile, some other uses below:

• Transport water
• Fill with water to use as a portable kettle-bell for exercise
• Separate damp clothes
• Fill with air or clothes to use as a pillow
• In a pinch, fill with air to use as a floatation device

Repairing

We can either provide parts or repair services in some capacity for the following; check our Gear Repair page for details:

• Holes, rips, or tears

Storing

Don't put it away or close any lid(s) until it's fully dry

We have a general protip on how to store & maintain gear that we highly recommend reviewing as well. If you send us video or a good photo series, we may be able to help you evaluate your repair needs.