Dry bag
From KayakWiki
Gear bags that keep your stuff dry are called dry bags.
Getting air out of a dry bag.
It is possible to get the air out of a dry bag. Put your stuff into the dry bag. Fold the flap over (if it has one). Without closing, fold the closure part of the bag over the stuffed part of the bag and push down - this will squish everything and expel the air. Quickly snap the closure up and fold it over in one motion. If you do this right, the bag will look like it's been vacuum sealed. Then roll the top over two or three more time and clip the closures to seal.
In general, anything that is useless when wet, is very inconvenient when wet, is uncomfortable when wet or is destroyed when wet should be in a dry bag or dry box. There are several types of dry bags:
- Tapered dry bags
- These bags are tapered in shape. The shape makes them perfect for stuffing into the ends of a sea kayak.
- Compression dry bags
- These bags are great for sleeping bags or any other gear that can be compressed. You put your stuff into them, close them and then pull on straps to compress them and expel the air. Some have manually opened and closed air valves; others are automatic.
- Small dry bags
- You will quickly learn that lots of small dry bags are more useful than a few big ones. They can be tucked into every nook and cranny of the kayak
- Big dry bags
- You might need one of these someday. You will forever fight to get it into the storage compartments. You will forever curse the thing for blocking everything else in the kayak. You will find a substitute for whatever required you to buy this bag.
Dry bags are made of several weights and types of material. For sea kayaking, only relatively light fabric ones are required. The heavier ones that are used in canoeing are overkill. Vinyl (clear) dry bags seem like a good idea until you realize how difficult it is to deal with the sticky surface when trying to load your kayak.
You can make your own dry bags using heat-sealable fabric. Instructions are available in Sea Kayaker magazine - Issue 88, June 2002. See: How to make your own dry bag.
