Top 5 compared
The best dry bags
Phone, clothes and lunch kept dry on a kayak, at a soggy campsite or on a day at the beach.
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The top 5 at a glance
A dry bag closes by rolling: the top is folded down three or more times and clipped, which seals the water out. Tough PVC and tarpaulin bags take knocks on a deck or a beach, light nylon sacks weigh next to nothing and keep gear dry inside another pack, and roll-top backpacks carry like a hiking pack.
It’s worth reading what each maker promises, as waterproof means different things on different bags. Osprey says plainly that its sack isn’t for submerging (its IPX5 rating covers jets of water); others cope with a wave or an accidental dunk but not long spells underwater, and MARCHWAY’s bag floats when sealed if it goes over the side.
What matters
- About 5 liters for phone and keys, 20-plus for clothes.
- Welded or sealed seams as well as a roll-top.
- A D-ring or strap to clip it to the boat.
- A shoulder strap, or backpack straps on the bigger sizes.
#1Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag with Phone Case (20L)
$20–$30
A 500D PVC roll-top with an adjustable shoulder strap and a separate IPX8 phone case with clear windows on both sides, so photos can be taken from the kayak without opening anything. It comes in sizes from 5L to 55L, and from 30L up it carries like a backpack.
What owners say: Nothing gets wet inside, owners report, and the bag stands up to rough use, with stitching that impresses. They also like how much it swallows and how easily it carries.
A closer look: Hang the phone case around your neck for photos while the bag stays sealed, and loop the shoulder strap around a seat so the bag can’t slide overboard. The 20L size takes a towel, a change of clothes and lunch with enough left over to roll the top properly; let it dry open after a trip.
- Phone case clear both sides
- Fits phones to 6.5 in
- Five-year warranty
- Weighs 13.6 oz
Best for: Kayaks, boats and rafting
- Size (range)
- 20L (5L to 55L)
- Fabric
- 500D PVC
- Shoulder strap
- 24–42 in shoulder strap
- Phone pouch
- IPX8 case
- Maker’s waterproofing
- Waterproof roll-top
#2Earth Pak Waterproof Backpack (55L)
$50–$75
A 55-liter roll-top in PVC that carries like a hiking pack, with a padded back panel, contoured shoulder straps, a sternum strap and a waist belt to take the weight off the shoulders. A splash-proof zipped pocket on the front keeps grab-and-go things handy, and inside there’s a zipped pocket, a mesh pocket and a key ring.
What owners say: One owner’s pack came through a three-day kayak trip bone dry, and another’s phone survived two days under three feet of water. It swallows a two-person tent, a folding chair and clothes for a night away, and people like the look and how comfortably it sits on the back.
A closer look: Fold the top down three or four times before buckling it, and pack heavy things low and close to the back so the waist belt carries the load. D-rings on the shoulder straps and the webbing loops give somewhere to clip it into a canoe, and a rinse after salt water keeps the buckles working.
- Splash-proof front zip pocket
- Padded back panel
- Sternum strap
- Inside zip and mesh pockets
- D-rings and webbing loops
Best for: Carrying a full day’s gear
- Size (range)
- 55L (or 35L)
- Fabric
- PVC
- Shoulder strap
- Padded straps and waist belt
- Phone pouch
- Case included
- Maker’s waterproofing
- Waterproof roll-top
#3Osprey Ultralight Dry Sack (6L)
$20–$30
A 6L sack in recycled 40D nylon with waterproof-coated fabric and seams, weighing about 1.1 oz, for a first aid kit, spare layers or electronics in a daypack. Osprey rates it IPX5: proof against rain and splashing, but not for submerging.
What owners say: The workmanship gets the praise, along with how well it organizes day-hike gear, and one owner took it snorkeling; the thin fabric dries quickly. Some say it kept everything dry, while others aren’t convinced it’s waterproof.
A closer look: Its rectangular shape packs neatly against the other gear in a daypack instead of rolling around like a round sack. After a wet day, hang it open by the D-ring so the inside dries before it’s packed away.
- Weighs about 1.1 oz
- Rectangular, packs neatly
- Waterproof-coated seams
- D-ring for hanging to dry
Best for: Rainy-day hikes
- Size (range)
- 6L (3L to 30L)
- Fabric
- Recycled 40D nylon
- Shoulder strap
- No
- Phone pouch
- No
- Maker’s waterproofing
- IPX5; non-submersible
#4HEETA Dry Bag with Phone Case (5L)
Under $10
A see-through PVC roll-top, so the towel, snacks or phone inside can be found without unpacking, with a thicker base, adjustable straps, a side handle and a touch-screen phone case in the box. It comes in 11 colors and sizes from 5L to 40L.
What owners say: The 5L size suits a river float without getting bulky, and people like the clear, stylish look on the beach. Durability is mixed, though: some call it very tough, while a few had one tear the first time out.
A closer look: HEETA says it copes with an accidental dunk but shouldn’t stay underwater, so clip it to the kayak rather than trailing it behind. Being clear, it’s also handy as a pool or water-park bag where a phone needs checking without getting wet.
- Base thicker than the sides
- Side carry handle
- Touch-screen phone case
- Comes in 11 colors
Best for: Beach days and river floats
- Size (range)
- 5L (5L to 40L)
- Fabric
- Clear PVC
- Shoulder strap
- Adjustable straps
- Phone pouch
- Case included
- Maker’s waterproofing
- Accidental dunks only
#5MARCHWAY Floating Dry Bag (5L to 40L)
$10–$20
A tarpaulin roll-top with welded seams that floats when it’s sealed and not overfilled: the round base traps air as the top rolls down, so a bag knocked off a kayak stays on the surface where it’s easy to spot. A reinforced D-ring and strap clip it to the boat in the first place.
What owners say: Kayakers and beachgoers say it keeps things dry and swallows plenty, the 30L especially, and the straps feel sturdy. Durability divides them, with a few seeing seams come apart.
A closer look: Floating depends on the air inside, so spread the round base open before sealing it and leave a little space rather than cramming it full. The 5L and 10L sizes hang across the body on a removable strap; from 20L up it carries like a backpack, and every size folds into its own pouch when it’s not in use.
- Welded seams
- Round base traps air
- Folds into its own pouch
- Reinforced D-ring and strap
- Roll the top 3–5 times
Best for: Gear that might go overboard
- Size (range)
- 5L to 40L
- Fabric
- Tarpaulin
- Shoulder strap
- Crossbody or backpack straps
- Phone pouch
- No
- Maker’s waterproofing
- Floats; not for long submersion
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Earth Pak 20L | #2Earth Pak 55L backpack | #3Osprey 6L | #4HEETA 5L | #5MARCHWAY floating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | Best for small essentials | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 |
| Price | $20–$30 | $50–$75 | $20–$30 | Under $10 | $10–$20 |
| Size (range) | 20L (5L to 55L) | 55L (or 35L) | 6L (3L to 30L) | 5L (5L to 40L) | 5L to 40L |
| Fabric | 500D PVC | PVC | Recycled 40D nylon | Clear PVC | Tarpaulin |
| Shoulder strap | 24–42 in shoulder strap | Padded straps and waist belt | No | Adjustable straps | Crossbody or backpack straps |
| Phone pouch | IPX8 case | Case included | No | Case included | No |
| Maker’s waterproofing | Waterproof roll-top | Waterproof roll-top | IPX5; non-submersible | Accidental dunks only | Floats; not for long submersion |
| Best for | Kayaks, boats and rafting | Carrying a full day’s gear | Rainy-day hikes | Beach days and river floats | Gear that might go overboard |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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