DE
Back to the article

A4 checklist with all illustrated steps. Tick the boxes on paper as you go.

FeatherSticks · Gear

Dry Bags & Waterproof Packing: Keep Your Kit Dry in Any Rain

Your backpack is not waterproof. Here is how to pack as if it were.

Quick facts

Time
10 minutes to pack waterproof
Weight
Liner + 3–5 dry bags: roughly 150–400 g
Best for
Rain, river crossings, canoe trips, snow
You need
Pack liner, 3–5 roll-top dry bags, zip bags

What you need

  • Pack liner (heavy-duty bag or dedicated liner)
  • 3–5 roll-top dry bags in different colours
  • Compression dry bag for the sleeping bag (optional)
  • Zip bags for phone, documents and first aid dressings
  • Separate stuff sack for wet things
  • Rain cover or poncho (optional)
  • Spare buckle and round patches

Step by step

  1. Line the pack first

    1 Line the pack first

    Open a waterproof liner inside the main compartment before anything goes in. Everything that must stay dry goes inside it.

  2. Sort into coloured dry bags

    2 Sort into coloured dry bags

    One colour per job: sleeping bag, dry clothes, first aid, food, electronics. You find each bag fast, even in the dark.

  3. Squeeze out the air

    3 Squeeze out the air

    Press the air out before closing. A flat, firm bag packs smaller and does not balloon when the pack is squeezed.

  4. Roll three times, then clip

    4 Roll three times, then clip

    Straighten the top, roll it at least three tight turns over the stiff edge and close the buckle.

  5. Pack in the right order

    5 Pack in the right order

    Sleeping bag at the bottom, heavy items against the back, clothing around them, liner closed, tarp and rain jacket on top.

  6. Keep wet and dry apart

    6 Keep wet and dry apart

    Wet clothes and the wet tarp travel outside the liner. The dry set stays sealed until you are under the roof for the night.

Common mistakes

  • Relying on a rain cover alone – water enters through the back panel.
  • Rolling a dry bag only once or twice, or overfilling it so it cannot be rolled.
  • Putting wet clothes or the wet tarp inside the liner with the dry kit.
  • Opening the dry set during the day for a quick warm layer.
  • Packing the closure facing down into the bottom of the pack.
  • Storing dry bags damp and closed until the next trip.
  • Trusting a "waterproof" phone bag without a second zip bag on river crossings.