Which Dry Bag Should I Choose?

Which dry bag should I choose for my next [insert activity] adventure? We get asked that a lot here.

And fair enough. We make a lot of dry storage solutions at Sea to Summit—from ultralight Nano Dry Sacks to burly 600D Hydraulics.

That’s because dry bags and dry sacks make life outdoors so much easier—especially when you have the right ones. Besides being great for organizing your pack, having a good supply on hand means you’re ready for whatever nature throws at you.

what are you using it for?

Think about where and how you use your dry storage. Will it be inside another bag on a thru-hike or strapped to your SUP or motorbike for a cross-country expedition?

A minimalist ultra-run might call for an ultralight dry sack but wild whitewater adventures will need a heavy-duty dry bag.

Here’s the rundown on all our dry storage solutions, starting at the lightest and ending with the most rugged.

ultralight dry sacks

Made from highly technical fabrics, ultralight dry sacks add almost no extra weight to your pack.

Whilst not being suitable for boating/marine use on their own, they’re great for keeping the contents of your bag dry and organized.

ultra-sil nano dry sack

1200mm hydrostatic waterhead

Oval base

Made of featherweight 15 Denier siliconized nylon with a polyurethane coating, our Ultra-Sil Nano Dry Sacks were designed for the gram-conscious backpacker. These minimalist dry sacks keep your gear dry and organized inside your pack, yet they weigh less than many non water-resistant ‘ultralight’ stuff sacks.

ultra-sil dry sack

2000mm hydrostatic waterhead

Round base

Constructed using extremely lightweight siliconized 30 Denier CORDURA® Nylon, our Ultra-Sil Dry Sacks are great for keeping sleeping bags, clothing and other gear dry and easy to locate.

ultra-sil EVENT COMPRESSION DRY SACKS

2000mm hydrostatic waterhead

Round base

Made from extremely lightweight 30 Denier CORDURA® brand Nylon with an air-permeable eVent® base, our UltraSil eVent ® Compression Dry Sacks are great for compressing soft items like sleeping bags and clothing while also keeping them dry. At less than half the weight, they’re our super-lightweight version of our award-winning 70 Denier Nylon eVent® Compression Dry Sack.

lightweight dry sacks

Both lightweight and tough, our lightweight bags have a higher denier face fabric and a higher hydrostatic waterhead rating, making them a more rugged companion for boating conditions.

LIGHTWEIGHT DRY SACKS

10,000mm hydrostatic waterhead

Round base

Made of 70 Denier Nylon, our Lightweight Dry Sacks are tough, yet still light enough to suit backpacking trips. The flexible fabric also makes them easy to stuff into tight areas. These bags are ideal for general boating and outdoor use and we’ve even made a Lightweight Sling Dry Bag with an adjustable 20mm webbing carry strap—perfect for the beach and pool.

VIEW DRY SACKS

10,000mm hydrostatic waterhead

Oval base

Our View Dry Sacks feature the same 70 Denier Nylon as our Lightweight Dry Sacks but have a welded-in clear window made of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). These are ideal for group trips or longer backpacking excursions—anywhere where you need to quickly identify the contents of your dry sacks. For this reason, we modeled our First Aid Dry Sack on the View Dry Sack—so you can get to your medical supplies fast.

event compression dry sacks + evac dry sacks

10,000mm hydrostatic waterhead

Oval base

Engineered with 70 Denier Nylon, our eVent Compression Dry Sacks + eVac Dry Sacks do double duty—compressing items like sleeping bags and clothing whilst keeping them dry. The air just squeezes out through the air-permeable eVent fabric base, but the water can’t get in.

heavy duty dry bags

Built to withstand the most wild and wet environments, these can withstand the storm outside of a pack. Simply lash them to your boat or bike and head out.

big river dry bags

10,000mm hydrostatic waterhead

Oval base

Made from tough, 420 Denier ripstop Nylon laminated to a TPU film, our Big River Dry Bags have a very high tear-strength and abrasion-resistance—making them the perfect choice for whitewater rafting, boating and motorcycle touring. Their oval shape, and lash patches on the sides, make attachment to a raft or motorcycle rack really simple.

stopper dry bags

Waterproof

Oval base

A 210 Denier Nylon with TPU lamination means our Stopper Dry Bags are abrasion-resistant and great at shedding water. The fabric is UV resistant, flexible and won’t crack in extreme cold. Despite being lightweight, they are suitable for river and marine use. These fully welded dry bags go down a treat on climbing expeditions, as well as ski touring, SUP tours and bike commuting.

clear stopper dry bags

Waterproof

Oval base

Our Clear Stopper Dry Bags are made from TPU that’s been fused to a 210 Denier laminated Nylon fabric base using radio-frequency welding. The high-strength TPU film is durable and flexible and allows you to easily see the contents of your bag. This range’s completely welded construction is ideal for boating and marine environments.

hydraulic dry bags

Heavy duty waterproof fabric

Oval base

Designed for extreme conditions that demand toughness, our Hydraulic Dry Bags are made of a 600 Denier TPU-laminated polyester. Their completely welded construction sheds water and doesn’t crack in the cold. We’ve included lash patches for secure attachment and we’ve even made a Hydraulic Drypack with removable harness—making portaging a lot easier.

construction

Design details make all the difference when it comes to good quality dry bags and dry sacks. Here are a few to look out for.

double-stitched, tape-sealed seams

Double stitching improves strength – the seam is sewn top-down to guarantee the best adhesion of the seam tape.

radio frequency welded seams

It’s the gold standard for sealing mid-heavy weight materials—like TPU laminated fabrics.

field repair buckle

Drop an anchor on your buckle? No worries—our Field Repair Buckle can be replaced on-the-go. Constructed to fit tightly against the roll-top closures of our bags, this seamless fit means the buckle won’t flip back and get caught up in the roll-top enclosure.

non-wicking closure strip

Many companies use webbing in their roll-top closures, but webbing can draw moisture into the opening of your dry bag. Sea to Summit uses hypalon on its sewn dry bags, and TPU on its welded dry bags for superior performance

other dry storage solutions

dry packs

waterproof cases