Sea to Summit Dry Bags – Reliable Protection for Wet Adventures

Wendy Law 21.10.2025

Whether you’re paddling, canyoning, or chasing sea cliffs, keeping your gear dry can make or break a day outside. I’ve been putting Sea to Summit’s Ultra-Sil, Lightweight and Big River Dry Bags through their paces over the past couple of months and have taken them out for paddleboard, kayak and gorge hiking missions. I’ve had a lot of fun using these bags on various adventures and they’ve quickly earned a permanent spot in my adventure kit. Here’s why.

All Sea to Summit Dry Bags use the same roll-top closure which is quick and foolproof: roll it three times and clip it shut. Along with the fully taped seams and polyurethane coating, you’ve got a watertight seal that stands up to splashes, rain and even short dunks in the water. The clips on all of these bags are replaceable with Sea to Summit’s field repair buckles in the rare case they get damaged, and they really help with packing and protecting your gear.

Sea to Summit’s Lightweight Dry Bags have already been part of my kit for years. However, I really love the new, limited-edition range in the pastel colours. My friends and I used the set of 3, (3L, 5L, 8L) bags while out on our recent paddleboarding day. We safely stored our phones, keys, towels, clothes and snacks while we set out down the river.

The limited edition Lightweight Dry Bags also come in a 13L size which are perfect for longer day trips or to use inside my hiking pack on overnight adventures. I also use the 13L dry bags to keep my climbing gear dry, whenever we approach the crag in less than desirable weather.

The Lightweight Dry Bags made of a durable 70D nylon and compatible with the Sea to Summit Dry Bag Sling, which keeps them nice and light and easy to carry. It states in the instructions label that you should use two dry bags for sensitive electronic equipment, (which we neglected to read), but all of our gear stayed dry, even after getting soaked on the paddleboards.

For canyoning days or multi-day canoe adventures, I prefer using the Sea to Summit Big River Dry bags. They are designed for more rugged terrain with a heavy-duty 420D ripstop nylon fabric and triple coated base, which makes them puncture and abbrasion resistant.

We took the 13L Big River Dry Bag and sling, as well as the 30L Big River Dry Backpack to Northbrook Gorge for a hike and packed warm wetsuits, towels, clothes, shoes and personal electronics for all 3 of us. It was so fun to wade through chest-deep waters and float along each pool with the buoyancy of the bags. It was clear that water wasn’t getting into the bags and aside from a few scuffs from rocks and branches, the bags stayed in tact and our gear, bone dry.

While in any rough environments, where my bags could get punctured, I would consider doubling up the protection with Sea to Summit’s Ultra-Sil Dry Bag Set. The set includes 3, 5 and 8L dry bags and are made of ultra-lightweight, 30D Ultra-Sil rip-stop fabric, so adds an extra layer of protection while minimizing your pack weight. These bags are light as a feather and even a bit see through, so I found myself curious about the waterproof rating. Before I took these bags out for a long paddle, I checked that water was beading off the bags and my electronics weren’t going to get wet. I was really impressed with how effective these Ultra-Sil Dry Bags were at wicking away moisture and didn’t feel the need to double bag my phone while it was strapped to the kayak.

I’ve been trusting Sea to Summit dry bags for years and I’m really looking forward to taking these new dry bags on my next canyoning adventure and overnight kayaking trip. It really puts my mind at ease, knowing my gear will stay dry and I can just focus on enjoying the adventure.