Small dry pack suggestions?

[Deathcricket]

After my "ziplock bag in a tupperware container" failed this weekend in Orderville. I've been looking for a small dry bag to hold a cell phone and camera. I might even get 2 since I really want to have my camera out pretty often and my cell phone would only be for "emergencies". So I would just drop in into the bottom of my pack and forget about it. Ya it probably wouldn't work in most canyons, but I'm thinking I can get one bar before I find another person most of the time.

I've seen several mentions in other topics but can't find any good ones via the search function. I was thinking of something like these guys but wondered if anyone has some brands they really do or don't like and are willing to share the love with a noob.
http://www.marine-products.com/gear/dry_paks.jsp

If my camera doesn't dry out, I might just buy a waterproof camera this time. But I'm thinking it will survive the small amount of water that got in there while floating down the narrows or jumping in the awesome pools of orderville.

[accadacca]

I'll take one of those. :lol8:

http://www.marine-products.com/images/marine%20access2/m-dpv96.gif

Actually I like these Otterboxes: http://www.otterbox.com/waterproof-case

You can also read my review: http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=749

[abirken]

I have a small dry box I love...........get 'em at any outdoor sporting store. It's kept my camera, keys and new pipe all nice and dry on my last raft trip. :lol8:

[Deathcricket]

Ahhh yeah!

Thanks guys, exactly what I was looking for.
:2thumbs:

[trackrunner]

Pelican makes a good box too.

Since your in St. George stop by the Outdoor Outlet and have Bo hook you up with a good dry box or bag. I've noticed the dry bags he carries in canyons are real nice. I have also noticed Wal-Mart carries some dry box/bags, but not the nice stuff, but still works.

[Sombeech]

I've got a small camera drybag, it has a clear vinyl face on it for checking the conditions inside the bag. It cost about 10 bucks I think.

But I don't use it anymore since my camera is waterproof.

I'd go with the bag, cuz when you fall on your box.... it hurts.

[JP]

Actually I like these Otterboxes: http://www.otterbox.com/waterproof-case
:ne_nau: :haha:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/Zukimog/pageno.jpg

[hank moon]

I've been looking for a small dry bag to hold a cell phone and camera.

These are the best drybags i've used - the valve allows you to minimize bulk and enhance waterproofness better than any other bag:

http://tinyurl.com/5ehcku

When stuff absolutely positively has to stay dry (think: your down bag in Heaps):

http://tinyurl.com/68wo2q

[Scott Card]

I've been looking for a small dry bag to hold a cell phone and camera.

These are the best drybags i've used - the valve allows you to minimize bulk and enhance waterproofness better than any other bag:

http://tinyurl.com/5ehcku

When stuff absolutely positively has to stay dry (think: your down bag in Heaps):

http://tinyurl.com/68wo2q
X2, what he said, and ditto.

[Win]

The style you originally were looking at work very well. We still have one I had on my boat for years. We kept a handheld in it and used it with an inflatable boat. It was always getting wet and held up with no leaks. Would be perfect for the cell phone or camera.

Win

[Deathcricket]

Cool.. Just wanted to say thanks again for all the great advice. I love you guys! *sniff* *sniffle*

[skianddive]

These are the best drybags i've used - the valve allows you to minimize bulk and enhance waterproofness better than any other bag:

http://tinyurl.com/5ehcku
A word of caution from personal experience on using these dry bags .....

The POE Pneumo bags are prone to leaking caused by abrasion within your pack. The material is tough, but it won't hold up to the continuous wear caused by hard objects, such as those on your harness.

You won't find big gaping holes in them, just small pinpricks, but if you get too many and the bag deflates, leakage can occur if your pack is submerged. I have used them now for at least 3 years and in various sizes, from 5L to 25L, and they all have the same problem. If you inflate the bag before you go to bed and it is deflated in the morning, you likely have small holes.

But they are easy to find and fix. I inflate the bags and submerge them in a sink or bathtub and look for small streams of bubbles. I then mark the holes with a black Magic Marker and seal them individually with a small dab of neoprene cement/glue. Repeat until there are no more bubbles.

[Scott Card]

These are the best drybags i've used - the valve allows you to minimize bulk and enhance waterproofness better than any other bag:

http://tinyurl.com/5ehcku
A word of caution from personal experience on using these dry bags .....

The POE Pneumo bags are prone to leaking caused by abrasion within your pack. The material is tough, but it won't hold up to the continuous wear caused by hard objects, such as those on your harness.

You won't find big gaping holes in them, just small pinpricks, but if you get too many and the bag deflates, leakage can occur if your pack is submerged. I have used them now for at least 3 years and in various sizes, from 5L to 25L, and they all have the same problem. If you inflate the bag before you go to bed and it is deflated in the morning, you likely have small holes.

But thy are easy to find and fix. I inflate the bags and submerge them in a sink or bathtub and look for small streams of bubbles. I then mark the holes with a black Magic Marker and seal them individually with a small dab of neoprene cement/glue. Repeat until there are no more bubbles.

Huh.... I have never had that happen. Maybe it has but I didn't notice it. I think I will go check the bags I have. Thanks for the tip oh how to check and fix them. :2thumbs:

[skianddive]

Huh.... I have never had that happen. Maybe it has but I didn't notice it. I think I will go check the bags I have. Thanks for the tip oh how to check and fix them. :2thumbs:
You're welcome - and I kid you not.

BTW, I analyzed this problem because after a canyon trip, I saw that my inflated bags had lost some air. That's when I did the overnight test which confirmed that they were losing it.

Maybe I'll try and take a pic of my favorite 5L bag that contains my first aid kit and is usually found at the bottom of my pack. It looks like an orange with pimples - small black circles with a dab of Clearasil in the middle of each one! :haha:

[ratagonia]

I'll take one of those. :lol8:

Actually I like these Otterboxes: http://www.otterbox.com/waterproof-case

You can also read my review: http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=749

Otterbox failed on me the first trip. It was Heaps, but still...

I like the POE drybags. But you can't toss it in the bottom of your pack and never think about it. The bottom of your pack can take a lot of hits. I would put it INSIDE your other drybag.

Tom

[Iceaxe]

FWIW: I've seen dry bags leak, I've seen otter boxes leak, I've seen kegs leak when the lid cracked.... in other words, nothing is idiot proof.

A little hint.... I now toss a bandana into the bottom of whatever drybag I'm carrying my camera in. it will soak up any leakage unless it's severe. I believe this little trick has greatly increased the life of my cameras. YMMV.

:cool2:

[Brian in SLC]

FWIW: I've seen dry bags leak, I've seen otter boxes leak, I've seen kegs leak when the lid cracked.... in other words, nothing is idiot proof.

A little hint.... I now toss a bandana into the bottom of whatever drybag I'm carrying my camera in. it will soak up any leakage unless it's severe. I believe this little trick has greatly increased the life of my cameras. YMMV.

Ditto that. Usually I forget to tighten my barrel lid...

I use one of them MSR super absorbant towels on top of, and beneath my camera in my dry box. That way, my dripping hands contact the towel first if they're wet, and, it pads the camera too.

-Brian in SLC

[Pubalz]

I bought my dry box at wal-mart it fits my video camera just fine. It's taken alot of abuse and it's still water tite and only cost about 5 bucks. :mrgreen:

[tanya]

Bo taught me to always double bag my dry bags and one will always have a towel in it to keep things dry. I drag my camera out a lot while in wet canyons. I will take a look at the brand shortly...


Bo just got me a new one too that is suppose to be a really nice one!

[trackrunner]

Bo just got me a new one too that is suppose to be a really nice one!

Was that the one he handed to you for Water Canyon, that was nice. :nod:

[tanya]

Bo just got me a new one too that is suppose to be a really nice one!

Was that the one he handed to you for Water Canyon, that was nice. :nod:

Yep... Sea to Summit....

Just looked and its the same brand we always use only this one is more rugged. I love how they fold up tiny and they hang on my belt or backpack holding my very heavy camera.. they are easy to get in and out of. I have had other bags... the ones you can shoot photos through.. hate those!!! They scratch and make the photos dark. I have the Big hard case for my big camera.... talk about a pain in the rear! I took it when rafting the Grand Canyon and did not even use it there. The photos are just too dark.

I take my chances of taking the camera in and out of the dry bag each time.

http://www.travelcountry.com/shop/sea-to-summit/dry-sacks/sea-to-summit-lightweight-dry-sacks.html

Bag hanging.... plus guys... gives you more stuff hanging to impress the women!

http://www.bogley.com/forum/files/finalrap.jpg

[ratagonia]

Bo just got me a new one too that is suppose to be a really nice one!

Was that the one he handed to you for Water Canyon, that was nice. :nod:

Yep... Sea to Summit....

Just looked and its the same brand we always use only this one is more rugged. I love how they fold up tiny and they hang on my belt or backpack holding my very heavy camera.. they are easy to get in and out of. I have had other bags... the ones you can shoot photos through.. hate those!!! They scratch and make the photos dark. I have the Big hard case for my big camera.... talk about a pain in the rear! I took it when rafting the Grand Canyon and did not even use it there. The photos are just too dark.

I take my chances of taking the camera in and out of the dry bag each time.

http://www.travelcountry.com/shop/sea-to-summit/dry-sacks/sea-to-summit-lightweight-dry-sacks.html

Bag hanging.... plus guys... gives you more stuff hanging to impress the women!

http://www.bogley.com/forum/files/finalrap.jpg

I find the Sea-to-Summit bags to be too easily dinged, too fragile. Especially if you hang them from your harness, as in Illustration 103. The POE ones are more robust, yet still fold up nicely.

Tom

[skianddive]

I like the POE drybags. But you can't toss it in the bottom of your pack and never think about it. The bottom of your pack can take a lot of hits. I would put it INSIDE your other drybag.
OK, next time I'm in my pack, I'll take a picture of the POE drybag that contains my 10 Essentials. It stays on the top of my pack and only has 5 small pin-prick holes. But it has a couple of hard items in it which have caused friction points.

The bottom line: If you use POE bags, as well-constructed as they are, they are bound to develop some small holes that you will not be able to see - that is, unless you handle them with kid gloves which few canyoneers will. A few holes will not make the bag leak - only lose air slowly like a balloon. The more the holes, the more likely that the bags will leak if they are submerged.

YMMV

[hank moon]

A word of caution from personal experience on using these dry bags .....

The POE Pneumo bags are prone to leaking caused by abrasion within your pack.

Yes, any drybag is vulnerable to poor packing choices...

[skianddive]

Yes, any drybag is vulnerable to poor packing choices...
Drybags are especially vulnerable to people who think they know better.

You can be as careful as you want and place your drybags in the middle of your pack surrounded by cushioning. If your packs are tossed, dropped, ziplined, or dragged across walls and/or canyon bottoms like most canyoneers do, your drybags will come in contact with hard objects, and these will eventually wear small holes in them. The POE's, however, seem to have some of the best resistance, but they are not a panacea.

[hank moon]

Yes, any drybag is vulnerable to poor packing choices...
Drybags are especially vulnerable to people who think they know better.

You can be as careful as you want and place your drybags in the middle of your pack surrounded by cushioning. If your packs are tossed, dropped, ziplined, or dragged across walls and/or canyon bottoms like most canyoneers do, your drybags will come in contact with hard objects, and these will eventually wear small holes in them. The POE's, however, seem to have some of the best resistance, but they are not a panacea.

While true that any piece of equipment will wear out and/or fail given enough use, I have yet to experience a keg failure of any kind (though others have). I have had only one drybag failure ever (pinhole failure in Heaps) with a *very* lightweight fabric drybag, but damage to contents was negligible.

Careful packing helps a lot! One-wear accelerating practice I've seen : packing drybags to be "canyon-ready" a long time before hitting the water. This subjects the bags to needless wear.

Other drybag packing tips:

Triage/segregate: put stuff that can get wet into its own bag (i.e. lip balm, sunscreen, etc.). Some use ziplocks for this - I'm a re-use freak and like the lightweight sea to summit bags for this. Put more critical stuff in a better drybag (e.g. POE) and save the keg for the most critical (sleeping bag, electronics, etc.)

Please add to the list!

[skianddive]

While true that any piece of equipment will wear out and/or fail given enough use, I have had only one drybag failure ever (pinhole failure in Heaps) with a *very* lightweight fabric drybag, but damage to contents was negligible.
I have never had a POE failure because I was able to see, diagnose, and then fix a potential problem with the various bags that I own (3 different sizes, around 8 bags). I not only use them for canyoneeering, but also backpacking and hiking where water and/or rain may be an issue.

The intent of my prior posts was to warn others that the POE's are not as indestructible as some might make you believe, and that they do require some regular minor maintenance to keep them airtight.