Paddleboarding gear gets dunked, splashed and occasionally fully submerged when the board flips – a dry bag isn't optional kit, it's the difference between a dry phone at the end of the tour and a write-off. Best overall dry bag for paddleboarding: the Dry Sack 25 Litre – New V2. Best for short paddles and day trips: the Dry Sack 8 Litre – New V2. Best for multi-day SUP touring: the Troon Dry Bag with Shoulder Straps 70L. Best budget option: the Dry Sack 1 Litre – New V2.
- Dry Sack 25 Litre – New V2 is the best all-round dry bag for paddleboarding and SUP touring in 2026 – capacity for a day's kit without adding bulk to a deck.
- Dry Sack 8 Litre – New V2 suits short paddles: phone, keys, snack, small first aid kit.
- Troon Dry Bag with Shoulder Straps 70L is the pick for multi-day touring where you're carrying camping kit as well as paddling gear.
- Heavy Duty Kayak Bag Dry Sack (Large) uses tri-laminate welded seams for rough water and rocky put-ins.
- Dry Sack 1 Litre – New V2 is the cheapest way into a genuine roll-top seal for phone and keys.
Why this matters
A capsize on a river or a chop-hit crossing means full submersion, not just splash resistance. Standard rucksacks and drybox lids don't hold up to that – you need a genuine roll-top seal, taped or welded, rated for full immersion rather than showers.
Most SUP kit failures aren't the board or the paddle – it's a phone or car key going in the drink because the bag on deck wasn't sealed properly. Military Mart stocks the X-Lite dry sack range from 1 litre up to 140 litres plus heavier-duty kayak sacks, so the sizing question below matters more than the brand question.
What makes the best dry bag for paddleboarding
- Roll-top closure with three full folds minimum – two folds is just a bag with a crease in it, not a seal
- Welded or taped seams, not stitched-and-glued, for full submersion rather than splash resistance
- Fabric weight matched to the water – lighter tri-laminate for flat-water touring, heavier welded construction for rocky put-ins and moving water
- Capacity that matches the trip, not the biggest bag you can find – oversized bags flap loose on deck rigging
- D-rings or straps to lash the bag down or carry it away from the water
- Bright colour so a dropped bag is easy to spot if it comes off the board
Dry bags for paddleboarding: at a glance
| Bag | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Sack 25 Litre – New V2 | All-round SUP touring | Welded roll-top, right size for a day's kit | Not a substitute for a hard case on electronics |
| Dry Sack 8 Litre – New V2 | Short paddles / day trips | Light enough to clip to deck rigging | Too small for spare clothing |
| Troon Dry Bag with Shoulder Straps 70L | Multi-day touring & portage | Shoulder straps for carrying kit off the water | Bulky to lash flat to a touring deck |
| Heavy Duty Kayak Bag Dry Sack – Large | Rough water / heavy use | Tri-laminate welded seams | Heavier than the standard X-Lite range |
| Dry Sack 1 Litre – New V2 | Budget phone-and-keys bag | Cheapest genuine roll-top seal | No room beyond phone, keys, wallet |
1. Dry Sack 25 Litre – New V2: best dry bag for paddleboarding all-round SUP touring
Part of the X-Lite range, this 25-litre roll-top sack is sized for a spare layer, a small first aid kit, snacks and a phone case – the core kit for a half-day or full-day tour. Welded construction means it's rated for a capsize, not just spray off the nose of the board.
Dry Sack 25 Litre pros:
- Capacity matches a day tour without weighing down the deck
- Roll-top seal holds up through a full capsize, not just splash
- Light enough to sit under bungee cords without shifting the board's balance
- Works equally well as rucksack liner between paddles
Dry Sack 25 Litre cons:
- Not rigid enough to fully protect a camera or laptop without an extra case inside
- No shoulder straps for carrying any distance from the water
Best for: paddlers who want one bag that covers most SUP tours. Verdict: Buy.
2. Dry Sack 8 Litre – New V2: best dry bag for paddleboarding short paddles and day trips
The smaller sibling in the same X-Lite build – roll-top, welded seams, sized for keys, phone, wallet and a snack rather than a full kit list. It's the bag you clip on for an hour on the water, not a weekend tour.
Dry Sack 8 Litre pros:
- Light enough to clip to deck rigging without unbalancing the board
- Roll-top seal handles splash and short submersion without fuss
- Cheap enough to keep a spare in the car boot
Dry Sack 8 Litre cons:
- Too small for a spare change of clothes
- Not built for the repeated abuse of white water
Best for: short paddles where you're only carrying essentials. Verdict: Buy.
3. Troon Dry Bag with Shoulder Straps 70L: best dry bag for paddleboarding multi-day touring
A 70-litre roll-top holdall with shoulder straps, built for the bit of the trip that isn't on the water – carrying camp kit from the car to the put-in and back. On a multi-day SUP tour it covers a sleeping bag, spare clothing and food, while the roll-top still seals against spray once it's lashed to the board.
Troon Dry Bag pros:
- Shoulder straps mean it's carried, not dragged, over sand and shingle
- 70-litre capacity covers camping kit as well as paddling gear
- Roll-top closure still seals against spray on the water
Troon Dry Bag cons:
- Too bulky to strap flat to a touring board deck without a rack
- Overkill for a single day out with no overnight kit
Best for: multi-day SUP tours with an overnight camp. Verdict: Buy for multi-day trips, skip for day paddles.
4. Heavy Duty Kayak Bag Dry Sack – Large: best dry bag for paddleboarding in rough water
Built from tri-laminate welded fabric rather than the lighter X-Lite construction, this one is aimed at paddlers who take on faster water, rocky put-ins or repeated dunking rather than flat, calm touring.
Heavy Duty Kayak Bag pros:
- Welded seams handle repeated submersion better than taped construction
- Tougher fabric survives being dragged over rocks and gravel
- Still rolls down small when empty for transport
Heavy Duty Kayak Bag cons:
- Heavier than the X-Lite range for the same capacity
- More bag than most flat-water tourers actually need
Best for: paddlers on rivers, tidal races or rocky coastline. Verdict: Buy for rough water, hold if you only paddle flat water.
5. Dry Sack 1 Litre – New V2: best budget dry bag for paddleboarding phone and keys
The smallest bag in the X-Lite range, sized purely for a phone, keys and a wallet. It clips easily to a buoyancy aid strap or a small D-ring on the board rather than taking up deck space.
Dry Sack 1 Litre pros:
- Cheapest way into a genuine roll-top seal
- Small enough to keep on your body rather than the board
- Useful as a spare once you already own a bigger bag
Dry Sack 1 Litre cons:
- No room for anything beyond phone-and-keys essentials
- Easy to lose track of if it isn't clipped down
Best for: paddlers who just need essentials kept dry. Verdict: Buy.
How we ranked these dry bags
Each bag was judged against the six criteria above: seal quality, seam construction, fabric weight for the water type, capacity fit, attachment points, and visibility. None of these five overlap on "best for" – each owns a distinct job, from phone-and-keys to multi-day touring, so the ranking works as a decision tree rather than a straight leaderboard.
“A roll-top only seals if you get three full folds in before you clip it down – two folds is just a bag with a crease in it.”
Which dry bag for paddleboarding should you choose?
If you're not sure which to pick, start with the Dry Sack 25 Litre – New V2 – it covers the kit most SUP tourers actually carry on a day out without adding bulk to the board. Step up to the Troon Dry Bag with Shoulder Straps 70L the moment an overnight camp is involved, and add a Dry Sack 1 Litre – New V2 as a phone-and-keys bag regardless of which main bag you buy – it's cheap enough to carry as a backup even once your main kit is sorted for 2026's paddling season.
FAQ
What's the best dry bag for paddleboarding?
The Dry Sack 25 Litre – New V2 is the best all-round dry bag for paddleboarding in 2026 – enough capacity for a day's kit with a welded roll-top seal that holds up through a capsize.
What size dry bag do I need for SUP touring?
For a day tour, 8 to 25 litres covers spare layers, snacks and a first aid kit. Multi-day touring with camping gear needs 40 litres upward, such as the 70-litre Troon Dry Bag with Shoulder Straps.
Is a roll-top dry bag actually waterproof for a capsize?
A welded or taped roll-top dry bag with three full folds before the clip is rated for full submersion, not just splash. Two folds or a loose clip and water will get in.
Do I need a heavy-duty dry bag or a standard one for SUP?
Standard X-Lite sacks are fine for flat-water touring. Rough water, rocky put-ins or repeated dunking call for tri-laminate welded construction like the Heavy Duty Kayak Bag Dry Sack.
How do I attach a dry bag to a paddleboard?
Most touring boards have bungee cords or D-rings on the deck. Smaller sacks (1 to 8 litres) clip straight to these or to a buoyancy aid; larger 25L-plus bags sit under the deck rigging.
Can I use the same dry bag for kayaking and paddleboarding?
Yes – roll-top dry sacks work across both. Kayakers dealing with rougher or faster water tend to prefer the heavier tri-laminate builds over the standard X-Lite range.
What's the smallest useful dry bag for SUP?
The 1-litre size covers phone, keys and a wallet and is the cheapest way to get a genuine roll-top seal, worth carrying even as a backup to a bigger main bag.
How many folds does a roll-top dry bag need to seal properly?
Three full folds minimum before clipping the buckle. Fewer folds means the seam isn't compressed enough to keep water out during a submersion.
One last thing
Most SUP paddlers over-buy capacity and under-buy seal quality – a 40-litre bag with a rushed two-fold roll-top will let more water in than a properly-sealed 8-litre one. Check the fold count before you check the litre count.
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