Comparing compact options before you buy? See how waterproof crossbody bags compare.
Best Waterproof Bag for Boating
Activity guide / Boating
On a boat, water reaches your gear four different ways. Only one bag type handles all four.
The best waterproof bag for boating is a small sealed bag worn on your body for your phone, wallet and keys, plus a roll-top dry bag stowed or clipped aboard for towels and layers. A water-resistant tote is fine for snacks, not for anything you can't replace.
The problem
Four ways water reaches your gear on a boat
Rain is the problem most bags are designed for. A boat adds three more.
01
Spray and wake splash Sudden, direct, from any side
Bow spray and a wake slapping the hull hit gear with a sheet of water, not a drizzle. Fabric that sheds a light shower can let a direct splash through seams and zipper teeth.
02
Deck water The bag you set down
Swim-platform drip, wet towels and rinse water collect on the cockpit floor. A bag that sits in it for an afternoon is partly submerged, even on a calm day.
03
Rain and changing weather Often on the ride back
The National Weather Service warns that weather and wave conditions can change suddenly, and tells boaters to get the latest marine forecast before setting out and to note any Small Craft Advisories. A flat morning can mean a wet, choppy run home.
04
Over the side The one waterproofing can't fix
A phone on a bench seat or a bag on the gunwale can slide off when the boat turns or hits a wake. A sealed bag protects what's inside it; it doesn't keep the bag aboard. That job belongs to a strap on your body or a clip on something fixed.
Organized by SKÖ
The exposure ladder: which bag handles what
Read down your column. The higher the row, the more water the bag sees.
| Exposure | Water-resistant tote | Roll-top dry bag | Small sealed bag, worn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Spray and splash | Light spray at best; open tops and stitched seams let water in | Handles it when rolled and buckled | Handles it when the closure is fully sealed |
| 02 Deck water | Soaks through from the bottom | Handles it when sealed | Doesn't touch the deck; it's on you |
| 03 Rain | Depends on the fabric and how long it rains | Handles it | Handles it |
| 04 Over the side | Lost, and wet | Stays aboard only if clipped to something fixed | Stays with you |
| Best job | Snacks, sunscreen, things that can get wet | Towels, a dry layer, a change of clothes | Phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses |
Organized by SKÖ from how each closure type is designed to work. Any bag is only as waterproof as its maker's stated rating and how well you close it. See roll-top vs. waterproof zipper closures and waterproof vs. water-resistant.
The bag on you
What the worn bag needs to do
It has to be sealed, not splash-resistant, and it has to stay on your body when the boat moves. The SKÖ Waterproof Crossbody is one example of that job.
Capacity~1.14 L
Weight~13 oz
Material1680D TPU
ClosureWaterproof zipper
Where it fits
- Phone, wallet, keys and sunglasses, worn across the body instead of left on a seat
- Designed to be waterproof and submersible when the zipper is properly closed and sealed
- Off the deck, so it never sits in cockpit water
Where it doesn't
- Towels, clothes or a cooler's worth of food: use a dry bag
- It isn't a life jacket, flotation or any required safety gear
- No published depth or time rating
Questions
Boat bag FAQ
Is a regular dry bag enough for boating?
For towels, clothes and layers, yes, if it's sealed properly and clipped or stowed so it can't slide. It's a poor fit for a phone you check all day: every time you open it, you have to reseal it, and the bag still sits wherever you set it down.
Does a waterproof bag help if the boat capsizes or I fall in?
It can keep the contents dry if it's sealed, but only a bag that's on you or attached to something stays with you or the boat. It does nothing for your safety in the water. That's what the life jacket is for.
Where should the dry bag go on a powerboat or pontoon?
In a storage compartment or clipped to a fixed point, off the open deck and away from the bow. Don't leave it loose on a seat or the swim platform.
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