Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 10
Location of Test: Canoeing and rafting PNW & a bike tour in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands
Duration of Test: Summer 2018
Product Name: Dry bag with pocket
Product Brand: Wilderness Technology
Best Use: A stand alone all purpose dry bag. Water sports, camping, bike packing, hunting, you name it.
Sizes: 10L, 20L, 30L
Colors: red, yellow, blue, green
The Full Review:
Wilderness Technology does it again with this top-notch dry bag at an always great price. This is your basic, timeless roll-top dry bag design with a couple added features to make it just a bit more versatile. Made of a durable PVC, when closed properly, the main pouch of this bag will be fully watertight (see our helpful video on sealing a dry bag https://nextadventure.net/blog/video-how-to-seal-a-dry-bag/). With these bags, Wilderness Technology added an external zip pocket for easy access to smaller items that don't need to stay completely dry. It also includes a basic shoulder strap to more easily carry the bag on portages, at the campsite, to and from the car, or around town.
I used this dry bag all summer for canoe camping and rafting, but also on a three-week solo bike tour. What I really appreciate about this bag is its durability. I also am a big fan of the Wilderness Technology line of Lightweight Dry Bags but I don't trust them to be strong enough as a standalone bag and instead will use them inside another pack. The PVC is durable enough to be used on its own.
The obvious application for this is water sports and canoe/kayak/raft camping so you can toss it in the boat or on the ground at the campsite. It served me very well as a bike packing bag too. The 20L nestled nicely it between the two panniers on my rear rack and clipped it around my seat post. The zip pocket facing up gives quick access to smaller items and flipped the other way, the attachments for the shoulder strap were a great place to secure my portable solar panel. This was an excellent alternative to costly bike-specific packs.
The Good
Durable, waterproof, simple, affordable.
The Bad:
The thicker PVC is maybe a bit bulky and stiff if you do plan to use it inside of other packs. The zipper pocket is not waterproof but this is of minor importance.
The Bottom Line:
This is a great versatile and simple dry bag at an excellent price.