Waterproof Bags Anyone?
 

Hi all,

Has anyone had any experiences with waterproof bags? If so, any recommendations?

I am due to go to the islands in a couple of months and wanted a good bag that can be used to store stuff for day trips. However, I did want it to be as waterproof as possible. Last time we were there and on a boat, it was difficult getting off the boat holding a phone, wallet etc, so it would be handy to have a bag to hold everything. Also would like to not worry if the bag got wet. Obviously wouldn't go diving with it, but if it fell into the water there is no worry of stuff getting wet.

A quick google search found the below items but wanted to get people's thoughts.

Dry Bags


Many thanks in advanced.

There's a few roll top water resistant bags which are packable and would probably survive an accidental dunk:
https://seatosummitusa.com/products/...l-dry-day-pack
https://thescrubba.com/products/scrubba-stealth-pack
https://www.decathlon.com/products/h...&source=search

Backpacks with water resistant zipper are usually not casually immersible due to the zipper pull not fully closing that last little gap (which you seem aware of, but just putting that out there for others).

Really water proof to the point of immersion does trend towards kayaking or diving. Nite Ize also introduced an interesting "RunOff" series with Tru-zip waterproof zipper TruZip ? WaterTight Zipper wallet, phone, keys would fit in the toiletry pouch https://www.niteize.com/product/RunO...iletry-Bag.asp or the 3-1-1. It is "waterproof to IP67 (withstands immersion in water 1M deep for up to 30 min)"

I have this bag from Matador for times we are out in the rain on vacation.

https://matadorup.com/products/matad...nt=40333702662

I use a SeaLine Baja for my dry bag (I see it in the REI link; can't remember if I got mine at REI, West Marine, or Cabelas). It's served me well on coastal/deep-sea fishing and general boating trips. If I ever replace it, I'd probable get a backpack-style version for ease of carrying.

I own a couple of dry bags but they have yet to actually be called on in use.

I've used dry bags extensively on boats and while hiking. They are water resistant as long as you don't over stuff it and allow enough room to fold the sealing lip at least 3 times. They are generally not water proof for submersion but you don't really need this. A backpack style bag is easier to carry if you need to climb over railings and edges to get in and out of the boat. If you don't have a lot of items to protect consider staffing a smaller dry bag inside your regular bag or get a water resistant duffel such as this one: https://www.rei.com/product/155771/p...ole-duffel-55l

I did say total immersion protection is probably not necessary but I was getting off a ferry once where large suitcases were being unloaded with a small crane and cargo net. The crew accidentally dropped one person's softsided suitcase into the water which was not fully secured by the net. Unbelievably, it floated at the surface and was retrievable. I'm guessing not everything inside was soaked because the bag was still floating. It would probably not stay dry inside if there was a constant rain though.