Pack Liners vs. Dry Bags for Backpacking

Pack liners and Dry Bags are great ways to protect your outdoor gear.

Lightweight, waterproof, and can be used in almost any weather condition, these two bags are essential gear for any outdoor enthusiast. In this article, lets find the answer for the age old debate of Pack Liners vs. Dry Bags.

Here is the main difference between pack liners and dry bags:

Pack liners are made of a waterproof and/or breathable material that helps keep your gear dry inside your backpack. Dry bags, on the other hand, are made of a waterproof material that can be used to store gear inside or outside of your backpack.

Material:

Pack liners are made from PVC-free plastic film, allowing water vapor to escape while keeping moisture out of your gear.

On the other hand, dry bags are made with a waterproof fabric like vinyl or polyurethane laminate that keeps the water completely out of the bag.

Size:

Pack liners come in a tiny package and can be folded and placed in a pocket or bag. They are incredibly lightweight, with the smallest size weighing only 2 ounces and the largest size weighing 5 ounces. The pack liner comes in three sizes to fit various needs. The smallest size is great for carrying around your keys, phone, wallet, etc., while the larger sizes are great for bringing camping gear or other items that need to stay dry.

Dry bags also come in multiple sizes, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs. If you plan on going out on the water often, then I would recommend investing in a few different sizes.

Primary Use:

Pack liners are most commonly used inside a backpack to keep gear and other belongings dry during activities like hiking and biking.

Dry bags are used primarily for keeping items dry during water activities such as kayaking or canoeing. And they dont need to be inside a backpack.

They also come in multiple sizes, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs. If you plan on going out on the water often, then I would recommend investing in a few different sizes.

Which one is better: Pack Liners or Dry Bags?

The answer to this question depends on personal preferences and what type of activity you will be using the pack liner or dry bag for. Some people prefer pack liners because they are lighter weight and can be easily removed from the backpack for cleaning. Dry bags are more durable and offer better protection from the elements, but can be more difficult to remove from the backpack.

Dry bags are typically made of PVC or Nitrile rubber and made with a roll-top closure system. They offer waterproof protection for your valuables and electronics by preventing moisture from seeping into the bag.  These are great for keeping your phone, wallet, and other electronics dry if you plan on getting caught in the rain or having your stuff get wet while kayaking or rafting down a river. 

They also work well as a small daypack if you don’t want to carry large backpacks all day.

Which Has The Best Water Proofing capabilities?

Dry bags are much more likely to keep your gear dry from rain and water exposure.

But I am not talking about water resistance here, I am talking about waterproof. And the two aren’t necessarily interchangeable terms.

Pack liners are waterproof bags made from a PVC-like material. They are very lightweight, flexible, and highly durable. They also have an extreme resistance to abrasion and puncture, making them perfect for strenuous outdoor activities like hiking or camping.

Dry bags are mostly-waterproof bags made from polyester fabrics like nylon or polypropylene (eVent). These materials are highly water resistant but not wholly breathable as they will keep some moisture inside the bag.

The Osprey Drylite has a roll-top closure that seals completely, with a locking buckle and roll-top closure. The pack liner does not have a roll-top closure and does not seal completely. In addition, a lot of dry bags, like Osprey Drylite have internal pockets for organizing smaller items like keys and wallets; pack liners don’t have this feature.

What Are Pack Liners Good For?

Pack liners are a great way to keep your gear dry and organized in side your backpacks. They’re not just for backpacks. You can use them in your car, boat, or even your closet.

Boat owners love using pack liners because they allow them to store their valuables inside their boats, without worrying about them getting wet in rain or waves splashing into their craft.

To effectively use a pack liner, you do need to roll it tightly enough to force air out.

They come in two styles: roll-top and zip-style.

• Roll-top Pack liners: These are ideal for keeping food and other items dry and protected from the elements. They’re made of waterproof fabric, which means they’re completely windproof and watertight. The roll top closes tightly to keep everything inside securely sealed. They come in several sizes: large, medium, small, and extra small.
• Zip-style Pack liners: These are great for keeping things like electronics or toiletries dry on rainy days or while traveling. These bags have zippers along one side that allow you to open them up completely (as opposed to rolling up) so that you can access everything inside easily without having to take everything out first.

What Are Dry Bags Good For?

Dry bags have a much higher likelihood of keeping your gear dry. Dry bags are an essential piece of equipment for any water sport. 

Dry bags are great for boating, Kayaking, canoeing or white water rafting. They can be used as storage containers to keep things like clothes and food safe from moisture. You can also use them to keep electronics safe.

Dry bags come in two main styles:

Zippers with gaskets: Some dry bags come with zippers that have gaskets to ensure that no water can get through this opening either.

Roll Top with Velcro or Buckle: Others have roll tops secured by Velcro or buckles, so nothing gets inside once it’s properly sealed. 

Dry bags sizes:

• Large dry bags (8L-20L) – These large-sized dry bags are ideal for storing clothing, towels, or other bulky items that don’t compress well inside small dry sacks. They’re also a good choice if you need extra space for packing food or other supplies on your trip.
• Small dry sacks (0.5L-2L) – Smaller dry sacks are great for storing documents like passports or money and smaller electronics like phones and cameras.

Pros & Cons Of Pack Liners

Pros:

• They’re light and easy to pack.
• They have a large capacity; some bags will allow you to store more items than dry bags.
• Cheaper than dry bags. A pack liner costs around $20, while a decent-sized dry bag can easily cost $50 or more.
• Easier to use than a dry bag because all you have to do is roll up your clothes and put them inside the pack liner before rolling it up completely. You don’t have to worry about sealing each seam as you do with a dry bag.

Cons:

• Pack liners are not entirely waterproof or water-resistant, so they might not be able to keep your items dry in case of a leaky bag or flooding.

Pros & Cons Of Dry Bags

Pros:

• Dry bags are mostly-waterproof and highly water resistant, making them perfect for keeping items dry. 
• Dry bags come in many different sizes, making them ideal for storing a variety of items from shoes and clothes to electronics and valuables.
• Dry bags are much more likely to keep your gear dry from rain and water exposure.
• Dry bags can also be used as floats when floating down rivers or lakes.

Cons:

• Dry bags are heavier than pack liners, making them harder to carry around than their lightweight counterparts.
• Some materials are not suitable for electronics because of breathability.

Frequently Asked Questions

I hope this article has helped you decide which type of bag is best for your next adventure. 

Both types of bags have their place, and both bags have the potential to do a great job keeping your gear dry when you are out on the water. 

However, each bag has its unique advantages and disadvantages that may make one option more suitable than the other, depending on your needs and preferences.