8 Types of Adventures That Need Waterproof Dry Bags

Sep 24, 2024 | Waterproof Duffel Bags

You’re knee-deep in a crystal-clear stream, your backpack soaked, and your smartphone is giving you the dreaded rice-bath signal.

Or maybe you’re caught in a surprise downpour during a hike, watching helplessly as water seeps into your gear. These all-too-common scenarios share one simple solution: waterproof dry bags.

When else can these bags come in handy? We’ve got the 411. Read on to learn all about the top adventures that need waterproof dry bags.

1. Canoeing or Kayaking Trips With Outdoor Adventure Gear

Whether you’re paddling through calm lakes, navigating rivers, or exploring coastal waters. A waterproof dry bag is essential to protect your belongings from the elements.

While paddling, it’s easy for water to splash into the boat, or worse, a sudden capsize could fully submerge your gear. A dry bag ensures that vital items like your phone, camera, food, and clothing stay completely dry, even if the bag is exposed to water for an extended period.

Tents, sleeping bags, and cooking gear stay dry despite the omnipresent moisture of riverside campsites or unexpected rain showers. Some paddlers opt for a system of multiple dry bags, color-coded or labeled for easy organization of different gear categories.

Dry bags contribute to safety on these trips. In the event of a capsize, properly sealed dry bags act as additional flotation devices, helping to keep gear afloat and recoverable. This dual function of protection and potential emergency aid makes them a critical component of any paddling adventure kit.

2. Hiking in Rainy Conditions

If you’re trekking through misty forests, navigating wet mountain trails, or facing unexpected downpours, a waterproof dry bag can be a hiker’s best companion.

Rain can soak through traditional backpacks, leaving clothes, food, electronics, and other essentials vulnerable to water damage. A dry rolltop bag provides a reliable solution, ensuring that important items such as extra layers, snacks, phones, and first aid kits stay dry, no matter how much rain falls during your hike.

Beyond rain protection, dry bags serve multiple purposes in wet hiking scenarios. They can be used to collect and carry water from streams for filtration, keeping the outside of a backpack dry in the process.

3. Beach Getaways and Swimming with Gear for Water Sports

Beach getaways and water sports often involve sand, saltwater, and unpredictable waves – elements that can easily damage your belongings if they aren’t properly protected. A waterproof bag will help ensure everything you need stays safe as you frolic.

For more active water sports, such as jet skiing, snorkeling, or even swimming between breaks, a dry bag offers peace of mind. You can keep your gear on the shore or attach it to your paddleboard or jet ski, knowing it will stay dry despite the wet surroundings.

Many waterproof dry bags are equipped with straps or handles, making them easy to carry or attach to other equipment.

4. Fishing Trips

Fishing often involves unpredictable weather and wet conditions that can quickly ruin sensitive equipment and personal belongings.

On day trips, a waterproof dry bag keeps your extra clothes, electronics, and food protected from splashes, rain, and accidental dunks in the water. For longer excursions or boat fishing, larger dry bags can safeguard sleeping bags, camping gear, and additional supplies from moisture.

Fly fishers wading in rivers particularly benefit from these bags, as they can keep spare fly boxes, line, and tools dry even when partially submerged. Deep-sea fishing enthusiasts face the constant threat of ocean spray, making waterproof storage a necessity for cameras, fish finders, and other valuable items.

5. White Water Rafting

White water rafting is an amazing adventure sport that demands reliable waterproof gear, with dry bags being at the top of the list.

These adrenaline-pumping trips down fast-moving rivers with rapids and drops create an environment where water is a constant companion – and a potential threat to your belongings.

During a rafting expedition, you’re practically guaranteed to get soaked. Powerful waves crash over the raft, paddles send up sprays of water, and there’s always the chance of falling overboard.

In these conditions, waterproof dry bags are indispensable for protecting essential items. Explore a few options, and you’ll be able to find the right bag for your needs in no time.

6. Backpacking Vacations

Backpacking trips, whether through lush forests, rugged mountains, or diverse international landscapes, greatly benefit from the inclusion of waterproof dry bags in a traveler’s gear list. These versatile containers prove invaluable for protecting essentials from unpredictable weather and varied environments encountered during extended journeys.

In outdoor settings, dry bags shield crucial items like maps, electronic devices, and spare clothing from sudden rainstorms, river crossings, and high humidity. They also provide an extra layer of protection against accidental spills or leaks from water bottles and other liquids in the pack.

For backcountry campers, a dry bag can double as a bear bag, keeping food scents contained and easily hung away from the campsite.

Urban backpackers traversing multiple countries find dry bags just as useful. They offer peace of mind when navigating crowded public transportation or dealing with less-than-ideal accommodations.

A good dry bag can protect important documents like passports and visas from unexpected downpours or spills, as well as segregate wet or dirty laundry from clean items in a tightly packed backpack.

8. Caving and Spelunking

Caving and spelunking adventures often involve navigating through tight spaces, crawling over rough terrain, and sometimes wading or swimming through underground water systems. In these conditions, protecting gear from moisture, mud, and abrasion is crucial.

Caves are naturally damp environments, with high humidity and frequent water features like:

Even in seemingly dry caves, water can drip from ceilings or seep through walls.

Waterproof dry bags ensure that critical equipment such as first-aid kits, spare batteries, and emergency supplies remain functional throughout the expedition. They also protect sensitive instruments like mapping tools or scientific equipment used in cave research.

Waterproof Dry Bags: Invest Today

If you plan to head out on any of these adventures, it’s time to look into waterproof dry bags. You’ll have a safer and more comfortable time!

Are you searching for the best waterproof bags out there? Specialty Gear curates our product selection to ensure our customers get exactly what they need.

Contact us today.