How to Choose a Dry Bag for Kayaking

Not every dry bag described as waterproof is designed for the demands of kayaking. A bag on a kayak deck gets hit by paddle drip for hours, sits in the water that collects in the cockpit, and has a real chance of going over the side if you capsize. Those are three different problems, and a bag that handles the first does not necessarily handle the other two.

This guide covers what actually matters when you are choosing a dry bag for kayaking: how to read the waterproof rating, which seal to trust, what size to buy for the paddling you do, and how to keep the bag attached to the boat.

What Kayaking Demands of a Dry Bag

Three things separate a kayaking dry bag from a general outdoor one.

Sustained exposure rather than brief contact. Rain stops. Paddle drip does not. Over a four-hour paddle the top of your deck bag is wet more or less continuously, which is a harder test than a downpour.

The risk of full submersion. If you roll or swim, the bag goes under. A bag that resists spray will not keep water out under that kind of pressure.

Saltwater, if you paddle the coast. Salt is harder on seals and coatings than fresh water, and it builds up in the closure over a season.

Reading the Waterproof Rating

Waterproof is not a regulated word, so it appears on bags that have never been tested. The IP rating is the part worth reading, because it comes from an actual test to the IEC 60529 standard.

The dry bags in this guide are rated IP66, which means they float and can handle quick submersion. That covers what kayaking throws at a bag: sustained spray, sitting in a wet cockpit, and going under briefly if the boat goes over. It does not mean the bag is built to stay underwater for long periods.

If you need something that stays sealed at depth for an extended time, that is a case rather than a bag. The waterproof rating system page sets out what each class is tested for. A bag with no IP rating at all has not been tested, whatever the listing says.

How the Fold Seal System Works

Everything else on a dry bag is fabric. The closure is the only moving part, and it is where water gets in.

OverBoard uses the Fold Seal System™: roll the neck tightly over the plastic fastener three to four times, purging some air if required, then secure the clips. Combined with high-frequency welded seams rather than stitching, there is no needle hole anywhere in the bag for water to find.

Roll it properly. Three rolls is the minimum and four is better, with the clips secured firmly. Taking a moment over the closure is what creates the waterproof seal.

Sizing for the Paddling You Actually Do

Day Paddles

A 20 liter bag covers one person for a day: a change of clothes, a rain shell, lunch, a towel and a phone. It fits most deck spaces without interfering with your stroke.

Many paddlers carry a second 5 liter bag for the things they want without unpacking, such as a phone, keys and snacks. Splitting the load that way is more useful than buying one larger bag.

Kayak Camping

Overnight and multi-day trips are better served by several medium bags than one large one. Two or three 20 to 30 liter bags distribute weight through the hull, which affects how the boat trims, and they let you keep the sleeping bag separate from wet gear.

Splitting the load across several bags also makes it easier to organize your gear and to find what you need without unpacking everything on the water.

What Size Not to Buy

Leave enough room at the top to roll the closure three to four times and secure the clips correctly. That roll is what creates the waterproof seal, so a bag filled to the brim is harder to close properly.

Shape Matters More Than You Would Think

Capacity tells you volume. Shape tells you whether it will fit your boat.

Dry tubes are cylindrical and slide into the bow and stern of a sea kayak, where the hull narrows. They are the standard shape for a reason. See the dry tube range.

Dry flat bags pack flatter and fold down to almost nothing when empty, which suits sit-on-top kayaks and anyone who needs the bag to disappear when it is not in use. The dry flat range uses a lighter nylon ripstop with a TPU coating.

Deck bags sit on top of the boat in front of the cockpit and stay open to you while you paddle. The 20 Liter Kayak Deck Bag is shaped for that position rather than for stowing below.

Check That It Floats

If a bag goes over the side, you want it staying where you can see it. Every OverBoard dry bag carries an IP66 rating, which means it floats and can handle quick submersion.

Roll the closure correctly and secure the clips, and the bag will sit on the surface rather than disappearing into the water column.

Securing the Bag to the Kayak

A dry bag loose in a cockpit becomes a projectile in a capsize and floats away from an upturned boat. Clip it in.

• Use the deck bungees for anything you want to reach while paddling, and run a short leash through the bag's grab handle as backup.

• Clip stowed bags to an internal D-ring rather than relying on the hatch to hold them in place.

• Keep the bag you need most on deck and everything else below, so you are not opening hatches on the water.

For a phone you want to reach without unclipping anything, a waterproof phone case on a neck lanyard works better than digging into a dry bag mid-paddle.

Materials, and Why They Differ

OverBoard uses three materials across the range, and the choice is about weight against toughness.

• PVC tarpaulin: the heaviest and the toughest. Standard on dry tubes, where abrasion against a hull matters more than packed weight.

• Nylon ripstop with a TPU coating: lighter and folds down small. Used on dry flat bags, better suited to trips where you carry the bag as well as paddle with it.

• Eco-friendly TPU: used where flexibility matters, including cases and lighter packs.

None of these is better in every situation. A sea kayaker dragging bags across rock wants PVC. A backpacker who paddles occasionally wants the flat bag.

Looking After It

Dry bags last years with almost no maintenance, and fail early without it.

• Rinse with fresh water after every saltwater trip. Salt left in the seal track is the main thing that shortens a bag's life.

• Check the closure for grit and sand, which stop the roll seating properly.

• Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap. Avoid harsh chemicals and never machine wash, as both damage the coating.

• Air dry fully, then store with the closure open rather than rolled.

Before a trip that matters, check the closure is clean and that you can make three to four firm rolls with the clips meeting securely.

The OverBoard Range for Kayaking

A few options depending on how you paddle:

• 20 Liter Dry Tube: the default day bag. Fits most decks, holds a change of clothes and lunch. View the 20 Liter Dry Tube.

• 5 Liter Dry Tube: the reachable bag for phone, keys and snacks. View the 5 Liter Dry Tube.

• 30 Liter Dry Tube: overnight capacity, or a day out for two. View the 30 Liter Dry Tube.

• 30 Liter Dry Flat Bag: same capacity, packs flat, lighter to carry. View the 30 Liter Dry Flat Bag.

• 20 Liter Kayak Deck Bag: shaped to sit in front of the cockpit. View the Kayak Deck Bag.

• 60 Liter Backpack Dry Tube: for group gear and long carries from the parking lot. View the 60 Liter Backpack Dry Tube.

All of them use the Fold Seal System™ with welded seams, carry an IP66 rating, float when sealed, and are eligible for the 5-year extended warranty.

Where to Start

For a first kayaking dry bag, buy a 20 liter tube and a 5 liter to go with it. That combination covers a day on the water for one person and keeps the things you reach for out of the bag you have stowed. Add capacity when you start staying out overnight, and buy a second medium bag rather than one large one.

You can see the full kayak and SUP bag range and the wider paddle sports collection at OverBoard.