Why do you need a dry bag? To keep things dry, obviously! But they actually do more than just that.
Here’s why I think every adventurer should own at least one.
Why do you need a dry bag for hiking?
When you set off on a long hike, never forget to take a dry bag with you. Few backpacks are really waterproof in heavy rain.
If, like me, you insist on taking your phone and camera into the wilderness you’ll be grateful for a 100% dry place for your valuables.
I took a summer hike on the Great Wall of China last year and was caught in a heavy rainstorm for a few hours. I ended up carrying everyone’s tech to keep it dry and made a few friends!
Why do you need one for kayaking?
If you’re going kayaking a dry bag is a must to keep your valuables dry but, this time, there’s an added bonus.
Roll up your dry bag with a little air inside and you won’t have to worry about it falling overboard. An air-filled dry bag will float a surprising amount of weight!
What about for surfing?
Oh, the last minute surf before a long flight home… so tempting! And I always give in if the waves are looking good.
The trouble is that I’m then the proud owner of a soggy wetsuit, bikini and towel – with nowhere for it to go but my travel bag.
A drybag unfortunately won’t do anything about the extra weight from the water, but it will at least keep the rest of your stuff dry. And if it’s a really long flight the airtight dry bag will contain that funky smell!
Just don’t forget about it when you get home, ok? I’ve made that mistake…
And if you aren’t planning to get wet?
Use a dry bag to separate your laundry
When I’m travelling I’m always forgetting which t-shirts I’ve already worn and which are clean.
I used to resort to the smell test. Then I wised up to looking back through my iPhone selfies. And finally I learnt to separate the clean from the dirty!
That said, I have been known to forget to pack an extra bag for laundry. Then I’m grateful for my extra bag!
Some can even double as a compression sack, allowing you to squeeze air out of the bag once it’s full.
Use a dry bag as a makeshift travel pillow
The same way that an air-filled dry bag is a great flotation device, it also makes a pretty good pillow. You’ll be glad I told you that the next time you’re stuck in an airport waiting for a delayed flight!
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