Best Dry Bags of 2026

Quick picks: the best dry bags compared

Best overall: Sea to Summit Big River Dry Bag 13L

The Big River is the heavy-duty one: extremely durable ripstop nylon, fully taped seams, an oval base that doesn’t roll away and sturdy lash loops down the side, so it can be strapped to a roof rack, a kayak or a motorbike.

It’s heavier than a lightweight dry bag, it isn’t made to be held under water, and the carry sling is sold separately. It’s also the dearest dry bag here. If the bag will be tied down outside and knocked about, it’s the one to get.

Best with a window: Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bag View 8L

The Dry Bag View has a clear window down one side, so you can see what’s inside without unrolling it. It’s recycled nylon with fully taped seams, an oval base and a replaceable buckle, and it packs to almost nothing when empty.

The thin fabric isn’t for rough use, and the carry sling is sold separately. For organising a pack or a drawer, where you want to tell your bags apart at a glance, it’s the one.

Best that stands up: The North Face Base Camp Dry Bag 8L

The North Face Base Camp is made from the thick fabric of The North Face’s Base Camp duffels, so it feels very sturdy, and its flat base lets it stand up on its own in the car, on a rock or on the sand, which none of the Sea to Summit bags here do. A Hypalon collar and webbing loops on the side finish it off.

The thick fabric is stiff to roll and buckle, the black inside hides small things, and at 229 g and $70 it’s heavy and pricey for 8 litres. If you want a tough bag that stays upright while you fill it, it’s the one.

Best ultralight: Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bag

The Sea to Summit Lightweight weighs almost nothing and is made from recycled nylon. The oval base stops it rolling away and the white interior makes small items easy to find.

It’s small and it isn’t made for submersion. For hikers who want small items kept dry at almost no weight, it’s ideal.

Best for compressing: Sea to Summit Evac Lightweight Dry Bag 5L

The Sea to Summit Evac Lightweight has a yellow base that lets air out but keeps water from getting in, so you can roll it shut and squeeze clothes or a sleeping bag down small. The white inside makes things easy to find, and its base and fabric feel sturdier than the Ultra-Sil’s, at 53 g on our scale.

It costs more than a plain dry bag, and air slowly creeps back in if you leave it loose. For packing soft gear small and dry, it’s the one we reach for.

Best for first aid: Sea to Summit First Aid Dry Bag

The Sea to Summit First Aid Dry Bag is made for a first aid kit: high-vis red, with a clear window so you can see what’s inside and a white interior for finding small items.

It isn’t made for full submersion, the roll top needs three rolls to seal, and it comes without medical supplies. For keeping a first aid kit dry and easy to spot, it’s the one.

Best budget: Adventure Kings 15L Dry Bag

The Kings 15L dry bag is very tough PVC with a watertight roll-top, big enough for a change of clothes, and it comes with an adjustable shoulder strap.

The strap is basic webbing, there are no outside pockets and the PVC stiffens in the cold. For boats, beaches and wet weather, it’s cheap protection for cameras and clothes.

Lightest per litre: Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 8L

The Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil holds 8 litres and weighed just 42 g on our scale. The thin, slippery 30D nylon slides easily into a full pack, and the taped seams and roll-top keep the rain out.

The fabric is much thinner than the Evac’s, so it feels less secure, and it’s orange inside, so small things are harder to find. As a cheap, light pack liner and organiser, it’s hard to beat at $24.

Best compact: IDRYBAG Dry Bag 2L

The IDRYBAG 2L is tough PVC with welded seams and a rotating clip for hanging. It floats and is sized for a phone, keys and wallet.

It’s a roll-top, so it isn’t made to be fully submerged, and it needs three rolls to seal. It’s a small, tough bag for the valuables you can’t afford to get wet.

How to choose a dry bag

Start with what goes in it and where the bag goes. A phone and keys need a small bag; a change of clothes and a towel need a much bigger one. Don’t buy too big, though: a half-empty dry bag is harder to roll shut. And not everything needs to be waterproof: for drawer bags, organisers and spare wheel bags, see our 4WD and camping storage bags guide.

Then think about where it travels. A bag that lives inside a pack or a drawer can be light and thin; one strapped to a roof rack, a kayak or a motorbike needs tougher fabric and lash points. Dry bags come in three sizes:

• Small

  1–2 L

  A phone, keys and wallet, or a first aid kit.

  Holds

  Valuables and small kit
  Like

  IDRYBAG 2L, Sea to Summit First Aid
• Medium

  5–10 L

  A jacket or warm layer, or the clothes for a day trip.

  Holds

  A layer or two
  Like

  Sea to Summit Dry Bag View
• Large

  13 L+

  A change of clothes and a towel, or a sleeping bag.

  Holds

  Clothes and bedding
  Like

  Sea to Summit Big River, Kings 15L