Discover the full potential of dry bags and keep your valuable equipment safe from pesky water intrusion. While their primary purpose is clear, few realize just how versatile they can be.
Dry bags find applications in water sports, hiking, camping, and more. Understanding how to use a dry bag goes beyond keeping your gear dry on rainy days or during water-based adventures. This knowledge can be a lifesaver during expeditions in remote and challenging terrains. For overnight wilderness excursions, having a system of color-coded dry bags is simply essential.
In the past, a high-tech solution to keep gear dry involved using plastic bags and knotting them closed. However, this had several downsides, from bags tearing to the environmental impact of using multiple plastic bags. Today, even though most hiking backpacks are water-resistant, the importance of using dry bags remains as crucial as ever. Luckily, there is a wide range of options available, from watertight carry sacks perfect for kayaking to Velcro cases that protect your maps.
Knowing how to use a dry bag has become simpler. The best dry bags are affordable, user-friendly, sturdy, readily accessible, and come in various designs, weights, and sizes. Modern materials and innovative features have elevated dry bags to essential pieces of equipment for campers, backpackers, cyclists, canoeists, and kayakers, offering value and versatility that outweighs their weight and cost.
Those with outdoor experience will recognize the significance of dry bags, especially when caught in heavy rain with a night of camping ahead. Now, before you face the elements, let's delve into how to use a dry bag effectively.
How to Use a outdoor research dry bag: The Basics
Select a dry bag that can accommodate the items you want to keep dry, and consider getting several if you have a lot of gear, such as camping tech. Leave about a third to a quarter of the bag empty to roll it shut properly. Avoid placing sharp objects inside the bag or next to it, as a punctured dry bag will lose its waterproof ability. It's wise to use smaller waterproof bags inside the main bag for crucial gear.
Using the reinforced strip or strips found at the top of most dry bags as a guide, roll the top of the bag over once and then 'burp' the bag by pushing out the excess air with your hands or knee. Such as earth pak -waterproof dry bag，If you're using the bag in a boat or on a board (canoe/kayak/SUP), leaving some air inside can make it float in case of accidental overboarding.
After burping the bag, proceed to roll the top over at least two more times (a total of three rolls) to achieve a proper waterproof seal. Bend the top around so that the plastic D ring (commonly featured on dry bags) is on the outside and clip the ends together.
If you're in a boat, secure the bag by clipping a carabiner onto the D ring or running a rope through it. The D ring provides a more secure attachment point than simply passing the rope through the loop formed by the clipped-shut bag.
As a Packliner: Use a large lightweight dry bag as a liner to make your favorite backpack fully weather-proof. This can be more economical, lighter, and versatile compared to a fully-featured waterproof rucksack. For wetter adventures, consider using another light dry bag to protect down sleeping bags and silk liners.
For Organization: Utilize different sized, super-light dry bags inside the main liner bag to organize gear. Dedicated bags can help keep electronics, fire-starting tools, spare base layers, and down jackets dry and organized. Use color-coded bags for easy identification.
For Orientation: In rainy conditions, a clear plastic waterproof map case becomes invaluable for navigating with printed maps. Opt for the largest size available to accommodate not only the map but also some essential items like a bar of chocolate.