Dry Bags Keep the Moisture Out of Where it Does Not Belong
Whatever type of fishing you do, fresh or salt, you are by definition around water. Lots of water.
That’s good for the fish, but not good for many of your belongings. Water can cause immediate and long-term damage to your clothing, cameras, phones and other critical gear. That’s why we take dry bags on just about every vacation (even the rare non-fishing trip). They’re so omnipresent that it took me until now to realize that I haven’t previously blogged about them.
It’s Just Water: What’s the Harm?
Protecting items from water exposure is crucial to preserving their functionality and longevity. When even a drop seeps in, it can cause any of the following types of damage:
Rot and decay are caused by water exposure over time which may lead to potential collapse or failure.
Mold and mildew can grow over time on materials such as paper and certain types of plastic. Mold and mildew can cause discoloration, odor and even health problems.
Electrical Damage, such as short circuits, fires and damage to electronics.
Corrosion can happen when exposed to water forming rust. This can weaken the metal or material that it has encountered and can cause malfunctions.
Warping, fading and stains can happen when water is absorbed, and this can prevent your belongings from every looking the same again – or worse.
Reasons to Use Dry Bags
On all our travels I always pack at least one or two dry bags -- they don’t take up much room, even the larger sizes. Here are some of the critical reasons for carrying at least one:
Waterproof protection – it’s easy to forget that you’re around water. Sometimes we get sloppy or careless, and having this means of preventing water from entering the bags ensures your gear remains dry and useable now and moving forward.
Electronics and Valuables – without our phones, especially when traveling, we can’t take pictures of our memories, communicate with our loved ones and blog. Dry bags are excellent for protecting your phone, camera and items that just can’t get wet under any circumstances.
Clothing and Gear – during outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, days at the beach and camping it’s important to keep extra clothing items and gear dry. If they get wet, they could lose insulating properties, not only sacrificing comfort, but possibly safety.
Document Protection – If you have to have your travel documents, passports, money and other essentials with you on the water, failure to protect them can be a nightmare.
Dirty or wet gear – on those last days of vacation when you have dirty laundry, muddy or wet items that would ruin your luggage and other clothing, dry bags are a smart way to bring these items home. These bags will also keep their smell from spreading to other gear.
Our Dry Bag Uses in Alaska
We were lucky to receive a selection of dry bags from Sea to Summit this summer. They sent several different sizes, colors and styles were sent for our group to use. That was good, because none of our fellow travelers brought or even had a dry bag, so I felt like I was doing them a service – possibly one that could save their trip – without much effort.
I brought along the Lightweight Dry Bag Set that contains a 3L, 5L and 8L in blue, yellow and orange.
Our friend Carl Vicars used the 8L orange dry bag to put his camera in and then placed it in his backpack. He felt so much more confident that if he slipped and fell in while wading in swift streams (something I did two times -- it happens, the rocks are slick) that the camera would survive.
Jason and Douglas used their Big River Dry Bag 20L for laundry and then all the extras that they purchased that didn’t fit in their tiny suitcases (what were they thinking bringing only carry-on bags for a long trip?). They checked the dry bag on multiple flights, and it stood up to the expected airline baggage beatdown – no damage, leaks or other problems.
Pete and I used our Lightweight Dry Bag View 8L (it features a clear window to see what is inside) and attached the Dry Bag Sling to make it like – well, just like the name states, a sling. I brought my camera, GoPro, wallet and snacks on the full day halibut charter going out of Seward and I felt assured all the humidity and salt air wouldn’t get to the equipment. It proved to be more than up to the task.
All good things come to an end, but I am not an ungifter, the couples asked if they could keep their bags – basically they told me they weren’t giving them back anyhow. Now that is a good sign of a great product. Incorporating a dry bag into your packing routine could enhance your travel experience by offering an effective solution to the challenges posed by water, moisture and over-purchasing and under-packing.
Your belongings will thank you for it.
Sea to Summit offers a 10% off on your first order. Even if you don’t go on rugged excursions, their bags are great for all sorts of travel.
My “Want” List
Here are some of their other items I am thinking about purchasing for our future adventures:
