Hey all
I need to buy some dry bags for my Alaska trip this summer. I have been looking at bags made by Granite Gear, Cascade Designs, Outdoor Research and Sea to Summit. Can you recommend any of these? or have others you would recommend?

Thanks
Dan

also peek at the cuben one's that Lawson has at mountainfitter- nice and light :)

If you want silnylon, I can personally recommend Granite Gear eVent bags, these have kept everything dry for me so far (and are really light), but I haven't put them to the full test yet. I have had problems in the past with overstuffed silnylon bags seeping wetness through to underlying fabric when exposed to the elements (a sleeping bag in a compression sack, strapped to the outside of my pack--I know, I know now).

If you're planning on having exposed bags that must be completely waterproof, I agree with Mike's recommendation for a cuben fiber bag. I also agree with his support for mountainfitter.com, the prices are very reasonable, and Lawson is very responsive if you have any questions.

Edited by ghgeiger on 02/23/2011 21:23:04 MST.

Also look at zpacks with Joe's cuben stuff sacks!

I def am gonna want as most water protection as possible. I am gonna have dry bags for my sleeping bag, clothes, tent, and a ditty bag for small things.

Part of my trip will be backpacking so the bags will be in my pack except the tent. The second half of my trip will be kayaking in the open ocean....that is where I am gonna need the real water protection.

It sounds like that cuben bags would be the way to go?

Avoid silnylon WP stuff sacks. They will leak under pressure (low hydrostatic head). Consider the Mountain Laurel Designs Cuben sacks. Roll top and fully waterproof. Oh yes, and they are light.

I have used Outdoor Products dry bags for several years and they have held up very well.

I have some of Lawson's. Excellent work.

Based on my other MLD products, I'm sure Ron's are also of the highest quality. They'll cost you a little more than Lawson's, though.

Joe also does some great work with cuben, although I think all he has are stuff sacks, not dry bags.

I've used the Outdoor Research and Sea to Summit bags and prefer the Outdoor Research bags. I find the OR bags seal a bit tighter than the Sea to Summit bags.

Silnylon bags are OK for backpacking but if I was heading out on the ocean I'd step it up a level and use the Outdoor Research Durable Dry Sacks. They are a lot tougher than the sil bags and seal much better.... and of course are heavier but worth the extra weight since there is a much better chance of submersion if you are on the water. I have a few of the OR Durable Dry Sacks and have compared them (by complete submersion) to the OR Ultralight Dry Sacks and the roll top seals better in the heavier bags.

I suggest Lawsons at Mountainfitter. I'm actually just finishing a video review on his drybags. Love mine.

Wait, wait, wait. You're planning on using these sea kayaking? Then all of the recommendations for ultralight or lightweight backpacking dry bags are off base. These sports have different needs. I'm not sure what the state of the market is for lightweight kayaking dry bags. I'd look on a boating forum.

I agree with Jack. What works well for hiking will likely not work for kayaking. Silnylon does not keep things dry. A good, but heavier, bag is the PU coated ones.

Heavy kayak drybags are out of the question for backpacking.

You can use light backpacking drybags in a kayak, but,

Double bag important items. I use one silnylon and one cuben. I do find the Lawson bags to be very thick and durable. I can't compare to the others though.

Be gentle getting them in and out of your hatches. Keep your hatches clean. Grit can collect and be abrasive.

Condensation can be a big problem when kayaking. If you open the bags for lunch on a warm wet sunny day, any air in the bag will condense while paddling on the cold water. I always keep industrial desiccant containers in my bags and rejuvenate them from time to time in the oven, if available. Make sure you squeeze out as much air as possible when you roll them up.

How do you kayakers feel about the Sea to Summit eVac dry sacks, the ones with the
eVent bottoms that let you compress the closed sack? (http://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/64)

I used one for my bag and down jacket. It got a bit damp at times but didn't outright leak. It was also placed well above the bilges, so, I don't think the bag itself was ever in water.