Dry bags - Keep equipment dry and organized on trips and travels

Dry bags are waterproof bags that help you keep track of your gear when the environment is wet, dusty or muddy. They are often used to protect electronics, extra clothes and sleeping gear, but they are just as good for keeping your backpack organized and separating wet from dry.

Imagine adding an extra layer of security to your gear: That's the essence of a waterproof bag. In practice, dry bags are used to shield the contents from moisture from the outside, but also to insulate items that are themselves wet so that the rest of the pack is not affected. This makes them relevant on trips where you switch between activity and breaks, and where equipment is often quickly packed back up.

Dry bags are especially useful when you're packing in layers and want to avoid one wet item affecting everything else. They also act as a simple way to sort your gear so you always know where essentials like a change of clothes, first aid kit, or electronics are.

Many dry bags use a roll-top closure because the principle is robust and easy to understand: you roll down the opening and close with a buckle. It’s not about “overpacking”, but about giving the closure the right conditions. When the bag is not filled to the brim, it’s easier to roll correctly and get a more stable closure.

Keep the edge clean of sand and dirt before closing. And pack the things you need most often in a separate dry bag so you don't end up opening the same bag over and over again in humid conditions.

Waterproof packing bags are a simple way to create structure. Instead of one large bag, several smaller ones can make it easier to prioritize access: One compartment for dry base layers, one for food, and one for anything that needs to be damp. For example, if you're bringing a towel on a trip, it can be nice to keep it separate from your sleeping gear after it's been used.

A quick-drying towel can also be practical with dry bags, because it often dries by hanging up, without you having to wring it. If the towel also has an antibacterial treatment, it can be an advantage when it is packed tightly and needs to be washed less, which saves water and reduces unnecessary consumption. See for example Outdoor Towels .

For activities like kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding, a dry bag is often as much about control as it is about protection. You want to be able to secure the bag, keep your gear together and quickly find the most important things. It can also make sense to have one bag for “on the water” and one for “land only” to minimize the time the bags are open near water.

When choosing gear for trips, small choices can make a difference: fewer disposable bags, less unnecessary packaging and gear that can be used over and over again. Combining dry bags with textiles that can be washed less often due to antibacterial treatment can also be a practical way to save water without compromising hygiene.