dry bags for whitewater rafting and kayaking

Let's Talk Whitewater Dry Bags

Let’s be honest, dry bags are something that all of us water lovers need. But, we all also probably have a love/hate relationship with them. We love how it keeps our things dry, but the design is just plain frustrating (or vise-versa). You likely have a few dry bags in your repertoire, but you may be questioning if it’s time for something new. 


Out with the old, and in with the new, it’s time for that dry bag to get an upgrade. Finding a high quality dry bag is something that every river rat needs in their possession. You can usually start your river career with something that is going to “do the job”. It may be more appropriate to name this bag a “damp bag” but it did the trick for what you needed.


However, as you continue to venture out on longer or bigger trips, keeping the things inside that dry bag completely water-free is essential. If you are somebody who prioritizes photography in whitewater or somebody who spends their time alongside rafts in a kayak, there may seem like there aren't very many options. However, there are a few that you can rely on out there. It can be hard to trust a piece of equipment to keep your important things dry, but you came to the right spot. 


These bags are tried and tested and we have some opinions on the best dry bags AND the best dry bags for kayakers. 

Purple dry bag for rafting.

RSG Dry Thwart Bag 

Here at River Station Gear, we are serious about having high quality, functional, upgraded gear. Our new dry thwart bag is a game changer for river runners. The design is truly iconic and the standard has been changed with the versatility and convenience of the RSG 2024 Dry Thwart Bag. The name is the game—this bag keeps your things dry and attaches smoothly to a thwart. 


If you are a person who spends their entire summer or all their free time on the water, this bag makes life so much easier. It has built in cam straps to wrap around the thwarts, while also doubling as a backpack. These cam straps can make attaching a strap bag or rigging a k-pump that much more accessible. Trying to find the perfect strap to attach to a bag can be a pain sometimes (we know you don’t roll your straps). So take it from us, it’s a special design that makes rigging even easier.


That’s not all though. The true convenience of this bag lies within the fact that you don’t have to remove your bag from its attachment point in order to open or close it. You simply just have to roll and clip the bag without the hassle of completely de-rigging. 

best dry bags for whitewater rafting

As a river guide, this bag is incredibly convenient. It is great for every-day use to hold your extra layers, throw in customer keys in the zipper pouch, or for storing your medical kit and phone. 


On overnight trips, this bag is sweet! It doubles kind of like a captain's box and makes all of your essential things easily accessible without the hassle of tearing apart your beautiful “rig to flip” job. When it is time to set up camp for the night, the backpack feature makes your transition to the beach extra smooth, like the first day of school. 


We love this bag for its functionality, fun colors, AND for keeping our things dry. We’ve spent some time with these bags fully submerged in the water and can confidently say that they hold up well. 

dry bags for whitewater rafting

Watershed Ocoee Bag 

Watershed has long been the top of the line dry bag brand, and for very good reason. Their bags are made out of high quality materials with airtight and watertight closing methods. This bag closes without a roll, which allows you to store more and remove the maximum amount of air before closing the watertight seal.  


In particular, the Watershed Ocoee Bag is the smallest bag from Watershed and it provides kayakers with the ability to fit things in the nose of their kayak while still keeping them dry. It is about the size of a lunch bag and can fit a few items, but it is a bit bulkier depending on the size of your kayak. It is a great option for a kayak dry bag, and one of the few that truly keeps your belongings dry in case of a swim. 


The design of the Watershed Ocoee comes with multiple attachment points in order to make sure that your gear is “rigged to flip”. There are multiple places to put cam straps through, as well as built in attachment points. These bags are built to stay put and stay dry. 


Watersheds come in all different sizes, most of them being pretty large and suitable for longer river trips. They are incredibly high quality and their prices tend to reflect this, being a bit of an investment. These bags are worth it for the quality, but can often only be justified if you’re committed to the sport. If you’re just entering into whitewater or if you’re trying to save money on your next big trip, it can be hard to make sense of all that money on a bag you’ll hardly use.  However, we will say that these dry bags will not let you down if your gear finds itself upside down. 

Dry bag for whitewater rafting

NRS Tuff Sacks Bags 

These bags are your classic. You’ll see them on almost any boat, no matter how long somebody has been boating. These bags are the most affordable of dry bags and are the classic starter option for first year guides. Or just a simple option for guides on a budget because they often come in sets of three.


When using these bags you want to really make sure that you roll them as tightly as possible and are very diligent about this. They tend to be difficult to perfect and usually, more than likely, become more of a “damp bag”, especially over time. 


However, for some items, getting them a little bit damp is not the end of the world. One thing that is nice about the NRS Tuff Sack Bags is that they are conveniently found in many different sizes, which makes organizing things a lot easier. The different sizing also allows for them to fit well in a kayak. Not only that, but their price point makes them a lot more appealing. These bags are sturdy and they come with a d-ring on the closing point, making it possible to add two points of contact to your raft. 


The Tuff Sack, while not the best option for your most valuable things, is a great dry bag to have around. You can’t beat the price and you’ll surely find something to put in it, we know we always do (even though we might not need it). 


INTRODUCING RSG Kayak Dry Bag 

Now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for—whether you know it or not. 


The introduction of the River Station Gear 2025 Kayak Dry Bag. 


Alas, the dry bag you small boaters have been dreaming of. If you’ve been looking for a portable, small dry bag to fit inside of a kayak it is finally in the works. Not only that, but if you are somebody who spends a lot of time river surfing or SUPing, this dry bag is the one that you have been waiting for. 

Best dry bag for kayaking

The design of this bag is about the size of a Nalgene water bottle. This kayak dry bag has a 100% watertight, submergible zipper. Meaning that you can be rest assured that your things are going to be protected, from all sides of the bag. You can keep a phone, keys, camera, or any other smaller items into this dry bag. 


In terms of size, it will fit swimmingly into the cup holders of most kayaks. Not only that, but it will also come equipped with D rings and a detachable strap. This strap can also double as an adjustable waist strap, similar to our quick release throw bags. This strap allows you to wear it around your waist on a SUP or while spending any amount of time near or on the water. This feature can provide you some peace of mind. You can keep an eye on all of the things that matter to you the most without taking away from enjoying your moment on the water. 


Out with the Old and in with the New

If you’ve been thinking, dreaming, or hoping for a new dry bag, now is the time! With so many upgraded materials and designs there is more than likely an option for you nowadays. If you are a small craft boater or spending time on rafts, these new updated dry bag designs are a long-awaited change and we are HERE FOR IT. 


If you’re curious or have questions about these designs, don’t hesitate to reach out! We are excited and passionate about them and would love to talk about it. 


Make sure you keep an eye out for the release date of our Kayak Dry bag. You’re going to want to be there when it happens. 


Happy Boating! 

 

By: Sam McKiernan

 

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Watershed dry bags at River Station Gearblue dry bag for whitewater rafting and kayaking.
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