Dry bag

A dry bag is a flexible waterproof bag, typically made from coated nylon or vinyl, that seals by rolling the open top down several times and clipping the ends together. That roll-top closure, rather than a zipper, is what makes it genuinely waterproof rather than just water-resistant, and it is the standard way paddlers protect phones, wallets, spare clothing, snacks, and camping gear on the water.

Dry bags come in a wide range of sizes, from small pouches meant for a phone and keys clipped near the seat, to large duffel-style bags for camping gear stowed in a hatch or lashed to the deck. Capacity is usually listed in liters, and bags are also rated loosely by how much submersion or splash they can handle, so a bag meant for light spray protection is not necessarily the same as one rated for full submersion.

Even a good dry bag is not a substitute for careful packing: overstuffing a roll-top bag makes it harder to get enough rolls in before clipping it shut, which weakens the seal, and sharp gear packed against the fabric can puncture it over time. Many paddlers double up, keeping electronics in a small dry bag inside a larger dry bag or hatch, for a backup layer of protection on longer trips.