The 13 Best Sailing Bags 2025: Waterproof And Rugged Bags For Sailboats
Looking for the best sailing bags?
Waterproof sailing bags are an essential item for life out on the water. Before we moved aboard our 38ft sailboat I didn’t realise quite how much I would use one (or many!) while living on a sailboat.
Sure, I assumed I’d use a bag for trips to shore when carrying items that couldn’t get wet, but I had no idea how often I would use it as an essential piece of equipment actually on the sailboat.
If you’re looking for the best bag for your next sailing adventure then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve reviewed the top waterproof and rugged bags designed especially for sailing, to help you make the right decision for your needs.
Quick Guide To Waterproof Bags For Sailing
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- The best waterproof bags for sailing
- The best waterproof bags for adventures
- Waterproof sailing bags for smaller items
- Sailing bags for luggage
- What is a bag designed for sailing?
- How to choose your waterproof bag
Waterproof Sailing Bags For Sailing
🏆 Our top pick – Helly Hansen Ocean Dry Bag 🏆
If you’re using your waterproof bag while you’re out sailing then you’ll want it to be big enough to hold essential items but small enough to fit comfortably in the cockpit.
We’d also recommend getting one in a bright colour and having in mind some way of attaching it to something on deck so it can’t fall overboard.
#1 Tortuga Day Bag
The Tortuga range of bags is something travelers of all descriptions lust over. These bags come at a price, but the quality is second to none and they should last forever.
We’ve put this bag straight to the top of the pile as it’s perfect for the cockpit and as an adventure on-shore bag because it’s comfortable to wear and looks great.
This day bag is waterproof and lightweight. It’s made from sail material so it’s super durable too. You can use it for anything (and you’ll want to too!
Top Features
✔ Lightweight
✔ Rugged
✔ Comfortable
✅ Buy the Tortuga sailing bag here
#2 Helly Hansen Ocean Dry Bag
This is Helly Hansen’s most rugged dry bag and the perfect bag for ocean sailing.
It’s made from super durable, waterproof materials and can withstand a good dunking (though we guess this hasn’t been properly tested as they say it’s not waterproof when fully submerged!)
It has a removable shoulder strap which makes it easier to carry for long distances if you need to. The only slightly annoying thing about this dry bag is that it opens from the top, so it’s hard to find things at the bottom.
Top Features
✔ Durable
✔ Rugged
✔ Comfortable
#3 Earth Pak
Earth Pak are top sellers when it comes to dry bags. They come in a range of colours and sizes, and they’re 100% waterproof and rugged too.
The great thing about this design of a dry bag is that it will float because it’s full of air. So you don’t need to worry as much about it going for a swim!
They come with a shoulder strap, which we don’t love for everyday use, but they are the perfect bag to have on board and stow in the cockpit or use as a grab bag (we attach the strap to the binnacle so it can’t go anywhere!
If you’re using them for this then get one in a bright colour so they’re easy to find in a hurry.
Top Features
✔ Floats
✔ Rugged
✔ Bright
#4 Skog Å Kust DrySåk
If you’re after something a little more fun then these are a great choice. They come in a range of cool designs and, for a cheaper dry bag, they have some thoughtful features too.
This is a rugged and waterproof bag designed to be used outdoors. It has an outer zip pocket for quick access to things like your mobile phone which is really handy.
It also has a reflective trim which is great for night sails! It comes in a range of sizes too, so you can decide what’s right for your needs.
Top Features
✔ Unique and fun
✔ Reflective trim
✔ Handy zipper pocket
#5 Ronstan Waterproof Sailing Backpack
The bright red Ronstan Dry Sailing Bag features leak-proof welded seams and includes sturdy side carrying handles and removable backpack straps.
This is a great option for a sailing backpack to store in the cockpit because it’s bright red, meaning it will be easy to get your hands on, and easy to locate if it takes a little dip!
It’s pretty big though, so you might want something smaller depending on the size of your boat!
Top Features
✔ Useful straps
✔ Brightly coloured
✔ Rugged
#6 Gill Waterproof Sailing Bag
Gill has a great reputation amongst sailors (we love their sailing jackets). You can’t really go wrong with the quality of these bags, and they come in three different sizes to suit your needs.
Personally, we wouldn’t choose the bright orange colour for trips ashore but it’s perfect for use as a grab bag or for storing things in the cockpit, as it’s easy to see if it goes overboard by accident.
Top Features
✔ High quality
✔ Brightly coloured
✔ Rugged
Dry Bags For Adventures
Dry bags don’t have to look like dry bags anymore!
We love the fact you can now buy waterproof sailing backpacks that look like normal rucksacks – they’re perfect for trips to shore where you don’t necessarily want to be lugging around a bright red shiny duffle bag.
Your cockpit bag can probably double up as a day bag for shore, but if you live on board or sail regularly then it’s much easier to have a bag that all your sailing stuff just lives in so you can grab and go.
#7 Outlander Bag
Outlander bags are our top pick for budget-friendly adventure day bags.
The Outlander Backpack is made from highly rip and waterproof nylon fabric that provides strength and long-lasting performance with minimal weight, making it a great option for trekking or hiking.
We do find the zips a little annoying, as they’re a breakpoint that isn’t really necessary in a dry bag (but at this price who cares right!?)
One of the great things about these bags is that they can literally fold down into your pocket, so they’re perfect for things like grocery runs – fitting into a larger bag so that you have two when you get to the checkout.
They also have a load of pockets including a safety pocket which is great for travel. These are our favourite budget option as they’re cheap enough to have a few on board just in case.
Key Features
✔ Super rugged
✔ Lightweight
✔ Budget
#8 Mier Waterproof Dry Bag
The Mier dry bag is a great option for a sailing day bag. They have a roll-top closure so you don’t have to worry about metal zips and salt water and they’re 100% waterproof.
They have a compartment for a laptop or tablet which is really handy if you work from the shore. They also have several outer pockets which we find perfect for a water bottle. You can even carry extra things in the bungee cords on the front making this bag bigger than it seems.
This is one of the more comfortable waterproof bags for sailing we’ve reviewed here, with padded straps and the option to hand carry with the fold-down rubber strap at the top.
We also love the look of this waterproof rucksack – there’s a lot to love!
Key Features
✔ No fastenings to worry about
✔ Laptop compartment
✔ Comfortable
#9 Geckobrands
Geckobrands have a nice backpack for sailing day adventures on shore. It’s super lightweight but still pretty tough, and it’s waterproof of course! It has a water-resistant pocket to store smaller items, and 2 D rings to attach things like water bottles if you need.
The straps aren’t as comfortable as other bags on this list but we like the way it looks, and it’s useful that it’s so lightweight!
Key Features
✔ Water-resistant pocket for small items
✔ Lightweight
✔ D rings for extra storage
#10 Waterproof Bags For Smaller Items
There’s always something that you want to protect from the sea and rain that’s a little smaller – usually your mobile phone.
- Waterproof bag for your phone
Having lost a mobile phone to the damp of the sailboat I thoroughly recommend regularly storing your phone in a waterproof case. They’re very cheap and they work brilliantly, so it’s a win-win really.
They’re also really handy if you want to swim to shore or you can even take photos in the sea (though the quality doesn’t come out great through the plastic!) There are a million different ones to choose from and I’m sure most work great, but we love this one.
- Waterproof box
The other option you have which is especially useful for electronics is a waterproof box. We’d recommend having a few of these onboard for longer-term storage of things like hard drives and memory cards.
- Cheap waterproof bags for small things
You should also consider getting some smaller, cheaper waterproof bags for other random things like items from a medical kit (the clear ones are great for this as you can write on them in permanent marker and see the contents too).
- Lightweight waterproof bags
You can fill these with air before you roll them up – great for carrying things like keys and shoes to shore when you want to swim there and head off on a short hike.
I managed to stuff in a summer dress, my phone, keys, and wallet, then I swam to shore with my flip flops on my hands, dried off on the beach, and had a lovely day exploring the town!
Luggage Bags For Sailing
Larger waterproof bags for sailing are perfect for getting luggage on and off a sailboat. They’re also really handy as grab bags if you have a larger sailboat. They have to be able to store easily, and be easily moved on and off the boat.
#11 Peak Design Duffel
We are massive fans of Peak Design and especially their duffel bag. It’s the perfect luggage bag for sailing and feels as though it’s been designed for life on the water.
We’ll get stuck straight into the features that make this bag so well suited to sailing. Firstly, the weatherproof nylon canvas shell does a great job of keeping the splashes out. It might not be fully waterproof like some of the bags on this list but unless you’re going swimming with it, it’s going to do the job. It’s 100% recycled nylon too so no feeling guilty about the environment.
The bottom liner is waterproof, so it will be fine on leaky dinghy floors. But what we really love is the weatherproof ultrazip which is probably the most rugged zip we’ve ever come across. It won’t fail in days due to the saltwater, and it’s super rugged. It’s possibly the best feature of the bag (though that’s a tough one to decide when it has so many great features!)
The duffel comes in two sizes, 35l or 65l, so you can pick your poison depending on how long your trip is. The 35l is a great size for a weekend away or a week or two if you pack light. It folds small so will fit easily in little cabins, and it’s easy to carry too.
We also love the look of these bags. Perfect for sailing or a city break. A brilliant all-rounder.
✅ Get the Peak Design duffel here
Tortuga Outbreaker Bag For Sailing
This isn’t a dedicated bag for sailing adventures but it’s perfect for sailors and any crew they might have onboard.
It’s a waterproof backpack that opens like a suitcase, so it’s easy to stow away but you can also use it like a drawer if there’s no space in your cabin to unpack. You just flip it open and grab what you need.
These bags are made from sail cloth material so they’re super strong and durable. You’ll have no worries shoving this at the bottom of the dinghy on your way to the boat!
Plus they have some other great features like a padded laptop holder and lockable zippers, meaning they’ll happily double up as travel bags too.
They’re a great choice of bag for sailing and travel alike.
Top Features
✔ Opens flat
✔ Durable sail cloth material
✔ Padded laptop holder
#12 Helly Hansen Dry Bag
The Helly Hansen waterproof sailing bag has been designed with sailors in mind and is perfect for days out at sea. It’s a great size for packing for a week sailing holiday or for a weekend on board but it’s also a useful bag to have on board for storage and land trips as it can fold down pretty flat.
It has adjustable back straps and grab handles on the side to make it easy to get on and off the boat and it has a useful outer pocket too. This is a very well-designed bag.
Top Features
✔ Adjustable back straps
✔ Perfect size
✔ Rugged design
#13 Columbia 60l Bag
The Columbia waterproof sailing bag is a truly rugged waterproof bag with a water-resistant zipper and reinforced seams. It has multiple haul handles and lash-down points and removable padded shoulder straps that convert into a single haul handle.
One of the really great features of this waterproof bag is that it packs into a removable interior accessory pocket for easy storage on board.
Top Features
✔ Reinforced seams
✔ Removable shoulder straps
✔ Easy storage on board
✅ Buy your waterproof sailing bag now
What Is A Bag Designed For Sailing?
A bag for sailing is exactly what it sounds like. Any bag suitable for days out sailing – something practical, waterproof, and lightweight that you can protect your belongings in when sailing.
What you use it for exactly will be pretty personal, but here are a few things we use a bag for onboard Hot Chocolate.
Before we head off sailing I always grab our designated bag to keep up in the cockpit. It’s specifically for sailing days and I store in there things like binoculars, a horn, sun cream, water, and snacks.
Basically anything I think I might need if the weather gets rough and I don’t want to keep heading down below. It’s been amazing to have to hand in a number of situations.
I also have a sailing bag for day trips to the shore, to take in the dinghy. I learned quickly never to jump in the dinghy with anything less than a waterproof bag when the weather turned choppy and all my electronics got soaked on one of our first dinghy rides back!
If you’re working from the sailboat (and also local cafes and co-working spaces), then you’re going to need a decent waterproof backpack for digital nomads that has protection for your laptop and other key features.
The other things we use a waterproof bag for are our grab bag should we ever have to abandon ship, and our medical kit so that things like plasters and bandages don’t suffer from dampness.
We’ve even needed a waterproof bag to run a phone up the mast for an internet signal on a rainy workday!
Waterproof bags really are an essential item to have on a sailboat, and we’ve narrowed down the best out there to make like a little easier for you!
How To Choose The Best Bag For Your Sailing Trip
Our top tips on choosing the best bag for your next sailing adventure.
Material
You want your sailing bag to make from a material that’s super durable, especially if you’re using it for something like your grab bag. It’s no good having a bag that gets a rip in it after a few months and becomes un-waterproof.
Look for decent quality brands, like the ones listed above, that have a great reputation for producing quality sailing products made from durable material and put together well. Your bag should last you many years to come.
Waterproof
The waterproof bags on this list are all waterproof for a reason. Sailing is pretty well-known for being a wet sport (you are surrounded by water after all!) You need a bag that can stand up to getting frequently splashed and even submerged if you plan on swimming to shore a lot.
Size
If you’re using your bag while you’re out sailing then you’ll want it to be big enough to hold essential items but small enough to fit comfortably in the cockpit.
If it’s a luggage bag then it will need to be big enough to hold all your clothes and equipment while on passage. Make sure you research how much space you’ll need before you buy one that’s not suitable for your needs.
Other Features
Dry bags come with all sorts of extra features that you might find important (or not!) Things like extra pockets for things you want to reach easily, extra straps, reflective strips, or inside pockets can make all the difference.
We’d also recommend getting one in a bright colour and having in mind some way of attaching it to something on deck so it can’t fall overboard.
Conclusion: The Best Waterproof Sailing Bags
So there you have it – our top recommendations for waterproof sailing bags to make your life aboard a whole lot easier (and a whole lot drier too!) For a more extensive guide on sailing kit then check out our essential sailing gear guide.
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Bit disappointed that you review only two large sailing bags. and you only review a section of the other bags on the market. Pity you wasted a high ranking on google.
Thanks for your feedback and sorry this article didn’t give you what you were looking for.