20 Best Waterproof Backpack For Kayaking (2023 Updated)

This is a rugged dry pack, and was suitable for our short and light weekend backcountry canoe trip. Shoulder straps are detachable, and of a higher quality than some options from other brands. Doesn’t get five stars from me for one reason – it doesn’t appear that the Boundary line features PVC-free construction, which is disappointing from an environmental perspective.

It worked out as intended. I use it to carry around my camera + lens in inclement weather.

Took it out as soon as I got it and everything stayed dry despite a torrential downpour. It was also super comfortable to carry so no doubt will be invaluable on portages. Strongly recommend!

I bought this item to use in the BWCAW. While it kept everything dry, the buckle on the side broke when my wife tightened it down, not even hard, just to remove the slack. Luckily it happened when we were paddling out Dissatisfied that it failed after the first use.

Quality bag. Well made to Cary lots of stuff and keep it dry. The light colored inside material makes it easier to find things in the bag. Yellow exterior makes bag easy to find in the river if you capsize.

I’m editing a video review on this as we speak. I can’t say enough good things about this bag. Took it on a weeklong trip and used it to carry everything from clothes to scuba gear. This thing is like the Mary Poppins bag.

You can store so much stuff in it to keep it dry. The only draw back is that the front mesh pocket is a bit tight against the bag. But that’s my personal preference.

Perfect for the anyone ready to play outdoors. I’ve used these products for whitewater rafting, obstacle course (mud race) events, and even climbing to the highest point in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro. My gear is always dry and for the price, you cannot go wrong!!.

Love this wetbag. The clear pocket for your phone is not necessary. I used it once, but the sun made my phone so hot, the plastic was stuck to my phone and it was a pain to get it out. But other then that the bag is great and keeping things dry.

Bought this for fall canoe camping trip for 2 adults and 2 kids. We decided to store our clothes in the dry bag. We filled the bag maybe too much because the item of clothing at the top of the bag had a few wet spot.

Water was also dripping inside the bag going towards the clothes when we opened it for the first time. Next time we won’t fill the bag passed 3/4. The bag looks great and has a sturdy handle and strap.

Burly, tough material. I compared them to the Baja bags from Sealline as well. I prefer that the Discovery bags have the bright lining for visibility. Also the more oval shape is worth noting. The seal system is very easy to use and seems a bit more robust than most other brands I’ve tried out.

They also have great warranty etc if anything goes wrong. Considering the price difference between the Discovery and the Baja I’d likely go with the Discovery bags assuming the oval shape is ok.

At first this bag seemed like an impenetrable barrier. Designed pretty well with good materials. Got it for Christmas 2018 and havent been able to use it until recently. Figuring it was brand spanking new and didnt seem to have any issues, I put my even newer Canon DSLR wrapped in a shirt in the bag.

Sealed it up airtight and correctly (I’ve used dry bags for many years. I know how to seal them) put it in the back of the raft and strapped it top-end up to the seat. Did not use or access the bag for about 6 hours.

The bottom of the raft had a bit of standing water and apparently that was enough for the seam to trickle in water and put about an inch of water into the bottom of the bag. As it turns out an inch of water is also enough to completely ruin a brand new camera.

Used similar drybags from other brands for the identical purpose and never had an issue in years. Just beware, it may be a “dry bag” but apparently its seams are not completely waterproof. Do NOT put anything valuable or electronic in these bags.

Just watching out for other consumers. Hope this helps someone! Planning on contacting the company when I find time to see if there could be a possible resolution. I’ll keep this updated.

I love this pack. It’s made really well. High quality. The pockets are perfect for your phone and wallet, and it’s really comfortable on your back. I originally bought it for my paddle board and kayak, but I like it so much I use it to take to the beach with the family because it’s so comfortable to wear.

Also, I received a personal email (not an automated email) from the Founder of the company making sure it was delivered on time and if I was happy with the backpack. Wow!!! It’s rare to buy something today at this price point that’s made so well with incredible service.

Highly recommend it.

This is a great bag! I took this bag touring in Myanmar, and it’s perfect. It fits easily as a carry-on bag on small aircraft and survived some rough handling throughout the trip. The back support is just enough while keeping the bag lightweight.

Inside and outside pockets are super useful for keeping track of small things in a large bag. Many people have asked me where I got my bag. I’m very happy with my purchase. And you can’t beat the price point.

Used these bags to store my clothing during my recent paddling trip on the Bowron Lakes circuit. They made finding my clothing easy. They were pulled in and out of my hatches at least once a day, for 7 days, without issue (no tears or punctures).

They rolled up easily and compressed really well! And of course everything stayed dry.

I am an avid whitewater kayaker in the SE (ocoee, Tellico, etc). I bought one of these dry bags for my first aid kit. First one lasted a few months then started leaking. Got a replacement since I bought it from REI but the replacement started leaking a few months later as well.

I would not consider this drybag suitable for consist use in a whitewater environment. Both times it ruined my medical gear due to everything getting soaked.

This bag is really nice! Kept my phone and wallet dry during a kayaking excursion. Easy to open and close, and has a nice “burp” feature to remove unwanted excess air in the bag. Also nice that is clear so you can see where the item is you may want to get out.

I bought this bag because I am an avid outdoors girl and a photographer living in the PNW. Some of my favorite days to explore are the early mornings in the spring and fall. Here, when it rains, it RAINS.

I needed something to keep my camera gear safe and dry both during rain and also during those stream crossings and near lakes and rivers (you never know when an accident will happen)…and the Panga has never let me down!! It is hands down, the best bag on the market.

I load it up with no less than 20 pounds of gear and hiking essentials and it feels SO NICE on my small frame. The weight is distributed so well due to its shape and it keeps my expensive gear dry during those WA rainstorms.

No matter where I adventure—rain, snow, waterfalls—I know the Panga has got my back. Thank you for a product that allows me to adventure to my hearts content. Yeti has nailed it with this product.

Got this bag two years ago. Historically, I went through work backpacks at a rate of about 2 a year. This bag will likely last longer than I will. Some may not like that it’s just a big opening without many organizers.

Get a yeti packing cube or two. It holds more than a traditional backpack and looks as good today as the day I bought it. I like the new backpacks but there’s no way it will last like the Panga. I get a lot of comments and questions – opportunities to share my love of this bag.

I commute 15 miles to work on my bike and can fit everything I need for the day. It’s very comfortable and the straps are adjustable to get the fit just right. I like the simple design and just enough room but no more -for a change of clothes, purse, phone and lunch.

Very well made.

Awesome water proof backpack! I pirchased 4 of the Guide Gear Draybag Backpack for my family. Our first hiking trip was on the Blue Ridge Mountain in Virginia. We went on a two day hike. Three days before our trip the weather outlook turned to rain for the weekend.

My wife kept asking are you still going on the trip the boys dont want to go in the rain. I told her that just becuse the weather dosent cooperate does not mean it wont be fun besides we have these nice waterproof backpacks, what a great time tonsee how they work.

These backpacks made a 12 mile hike over two days and it rained the entire trip. Forkview mountain was a great experence and all of out stuff in the backpack stayed nice and dry. These backpacks performed above my expectations! Thank you guide gear for such a great product!.

I do a lot of paddling and carry quite a bit with me. What I like about this pack is that stands up by itself so you just open and dig out what you need. The 30L has lots of room. It is super comfortable with the waist belt keeping most of the weight on your hips.

The front pocket I usually just slip a map in there as it is small. The lid is very bulky and seems kind of useless and I was going to cut off. It was suggested it would be good to quickly store something like a jacket ( just tuck under lid and clip) when portaging.

All that being said, I have not dropped in water but I expect it is water proof. All in all works for me.

The materials in this pack (webbing, buckles, pack material) all feel cheap, but the pack did it’s job on a recent canoeing trip. We had rain for 7/7 days that we were out, and 2 days we got caught on open water when it started pouring, and everything was soaked and sitting in water in the bottom of our canoes.

However, my DSLR camera inside this pack never got wet, and it was relatively easy to open/close when opportunities arose for quick photos between rain showers. With water bottles, camera, binoculars, etc.

I had over 20 lbs. in this bag, and carried it on several portages comfortably. However the frame isn’t stiff enough/long enough for the waist belt to take much weight off your shoulders. Most of the guys in our group, who all have top-of-the-line hiking gear, liked my pack and asked where I got it.

Minor design flaws: the loop on the side is useless because the clasp wont close with the webbing fed through it. And the buckles on the bag are wider than where the webbing is sewed on the cover flap, so the straps go out at an angle.

The zipper is my main issue. It doesn’t slide as well as I think a zipper should. I feel like I’m going to break it. I applied the gel to the end piece to see if it helps. I love how it looks. Light weight.

And a good size to pack a picnic and towel or for a weekend SUP trip. I wish there was a description of all the loops and straps and how they are used. I haven’t had a chance yet to test it out on a paddle.

Heading to cocoa Beach this weekend and will try it.

This is a wonderful addition to my gear when setting out on the water. This backpack is easy to carry and keeps the contents bone dry. The straps on the side can help me carry my fly rods to my destination and the bolle attachments allow me to carry my tools of the trade.

This backpack keeps a good form and is comfortable to wear for an extended period of time. Lastly. this thing looks awesome! I’ve gotten several comments on this pack.

Exceptionally fast shipping and this bag is epic. I use it for kayaking and hiking around. Love how sturdy it is. The zipper does need some love with the grease to make it run smoothly but overall excellent quality.

Bought this yesterday as my day and emergency pack for a canoe trip to hold essentials and things I need to stay dry my n case of capsize. I tested it at home to make sure it’s waterproof. I put things in, made sure I rolled it as instructed, and put it in a bath partially filled with water, then swished it around in the water for a bit to replicate what would happen if I capsized.

I dried the outside before opening it. When I unrolled the top, water had clearly seeped in from my gère in spite in the rolls. And the insides of the entire bag felt moist to the touch, with drops of water.

Water had clearly seeped in either through the fabric or a seam. I definitely do NOT recommend this bag if you expect it to keep your things dry. I did the test a second time just to be sure, with the same result.

Very disappointed.

Really great waterproof pack! It’s the perfect size for a day trip paddling -I can fit snacks, an extra layer, sunscreen, a bathing suit and towel in there easily. I usually keep the pack stuffed into the bungee cords on the front of my paddle board, and it usually gets completely soaked, and I have yet to notice any water inside.

As with any like. roll-down dry bag, I wouldn’t expect it to be 100% waterproof if it ever fell into the water because water would DEFINITELY leak in through the top, but the bag itself is very waterproof.

I bought this pack for storing my down sleeping bag on kayaking trips, it also lets me use it on short hikes as a day pack. Construction is very solid, unlike other pack/drybag combo products made by other vendors.

But the roll top is a bit quirky: There’s an inch+ of fabric above the plastic horizontal tabs; if you start rolling from the very top you won’t get a watertight seal. You need to fold the two horizontal plastic tabs together, then roll.

That method produces a really good seal. Maybe everyone else already knew that, but I had to watch Seal Line’s youtube video to figure it out, not intuitive IMO. But once mastered, this is a really good product for water sports, etc.

I purchased this for marine field work. I use it daily to carry gear to intertidal sites and for open-boat travel in all weather conditions. I’ve only had it for 2 months, but it has survived, without any obvious wear, slight dragging on jagged rocks and carrying heavy loads, all while keeping my gear dry.

The volume and dimensions are an excellent ‘all around’ mid-size for day use. It is slightly bigger than the small urban backpack, fitting lots of gear, but smaller than the 35L boundary bag, so it doesn’t feel sloppy when not full.

The outside cord is great for wet gear (post surf, or soaked rain gear) and the clip at the end is a fantastic touch to keep it all neat. To make this bag perfect for me, I would add an inside pocket and optional back panelling for structure.

I was also surprised at the bag material. I was expecting/hoping for the same burly material as the older boundary bags, but it is thinner.

I purchased this to use as a day bag while canoeing, so that I didn’t have to open my main 115L pack or barrel to access certain items like camera, rain jacket or snacks. It served it’s purpose well and my wife often carried it on her front with the canoe barrel on her back and it served well to counterbalance the heavy barrel on long portages.

The material is all very durable and the seams and welds look like they will last along time. No hesitation throwing this bag in the bottom of a canoe. The straps on the front are very useful as well for keeping a rain jacket or long sleeve close at hand.

I use this puppy to carry my wetsuit down to the beach. So far so good. Really nice shoulder straps. Gets kinda sweaty if you wear it with no shirt. I bought it cause it’s made in the USA and I’d do it again for that reason alone.

I bought this product a week ago and conducted an at home water test before hitting the river with it. I concluded that this product was unable to withstand light water pressure from a large tub and failed after only a 30 minute run.

Depending on how you use it, this product may fit your needs but fails to fit mine. I bought this product with the idea of being able to submerge it and use it as a float while keeping my stuff dry. My test consisted of moving the pack back and fourth on top of the water, creating minor waves.

I did not, however, test submergibility due to the fact that surface water was enough to penetrate it. I rolled the pack 3 times before folding and clipping it shut. If you were to fold it 4-5 times before clipping it, then it may withstand additional abuse.

I wish to return the product as new as possible so I only tested it once in clean water. Some of you may have different results than what I experienced, but this pack is simply not suitable for my needs compared to some of the other products on the market.

I am a life long fan of Bass Pro/Cabelas due to the quality of their products. This leads me to believe that this product is targeted towards a different consumer, rather than it being a low quality product.

I bought this pack in July 2017 for a 8 day Quetico fishing trip. With any gear use in the outdoors, things can happen. After 2 days into the trip, a tear developed in the top of the pack and a perforation appeared in the middle of the pack.

During the entire trip, I took care when packing and unpacking each time, to make sure no sharp objects were exposed in the pack or around the outside of the pack. Once the tear started, I used duct tape to seal the large tear at the top of the pack and on the area of the perforation, to maintain the dry integrity of the pack for remaining portion of the trip.

I returned the pack 1 week ago and Cabela’s declined an exchange. In my letter I received back , it stated the pack was not defected but deteriorated from use. Give me a break! I used it on one trip and returned it, just little over 90 days after I purchased it.

I expected more from a Cabela’s product and their customer service department. Just a piece of advice spend a little extra money and buy sea line boundary pack, the other guys on my trip had seal lines’ packs and there were not problems, and they laughed about my cabela’s pack tearing after the 2nd day of the trip.

The material on the sealine packs are heavier gauge than this pack. Oh well, you live and learn.

I bought this bag looking for a little more dry storage in my boat while on a week long fishing trip. My boat lacks dry storage and I was going to have a few extra people in my boat, which means more gear.

I figured I put all our rain gear and additional hoodies in there to keep them dry and easily accessible. Well, it rained overnight and when I opened the bag everything in it was wet! Thankfully our rain gear was inside another shell, but the hoodies were soaked.

Not sure how the water got in after rolling it over four times and locking the clips??.