If you only ever carry a phone, a pouch may be enough; here's how a waterproof crossbody compares with a phone pouch. Weighing several crossbody options? See how waterproof crossbody bags compare.
Best Waterproof Bag for Water Parks
Activity guide / Water parks
At a water park, the slide decides where your bag goes. Plan around the ride rules, not the pool.
The best waterproof bag for a water park is a small sealed one you wear between rides for your phone, key and card, backed by a locker or a non-rider who holds it while you're on the slides.
The rules, side by side
What the parks' posted rules say
Three parks, three wordings, one pattern: loose items stay off the slides.
| Park | What its rules say |
|---|---|
| Volcano BayUniversal Orlando | "Please leave any loose articles with a non-rider or in a locker." Lockers are at the front of the park and in three villages; additional fees may apply. |
| Fallsview Indoor WaterparkNiagara Falls, Ontario | Cameras and camera phones are "NOT permitted on any of the waterslides"; loose bracelets and long necklaces aren't allowed on any slide. Day lockers are available to rent. |
| Great Wolf LodgeMason, Ohio | Under "Secure loose articles": some attractions require you to remove footwear, loose jewelry or eyeglasses. Rental lockers are available, and the lodge says it isn't responsible for items lost, damaged or stolen. |
Quoted from each park's own rules pages, checked October 5, 2026. Rules vary by park and by attraction; read the sign at the ride entrance.
Routine
Your bag through the day
Organized by SKÖ from the park rules above.
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Arrive: split the gear
Towels, dry clothes and anything you won't need in the water go straight into a rented locker. The waterproof bag gets only what you'll want between rides: phone, room key or car key, one card.
Why: the Center for Young Women's Health suggests a locker unless an adult can keep an eye on your things, and a big bag is exactly the thing nobody wants to watch.
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Between rides: wear it
Lazy river queues, the food court, the walk across the park: this is where a sealed bag worn across your body beats a wet pocket or a phone left on a lounge chair. Check each pool's posted rules, since some attractions have their own.
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At the slide: hand it off
Give the bag to a non-rider in your group, or use a ride-side locker if your park has them. Don't plan on riding with it.
Why: Volcano Bay asks for loose articles to go to a non-rider or a locker; Fallsview bans camera phones on every slide.
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After: rinse and dry
Rinse the outside with fresh water at home, then leave it open to dry. Our guide to cleaning a waterproof TPU bag covers the details.
The bag on you
Choosing the bag
Truly waterproof, not splash-resistant; small enough to hand off; snug enough not to bounce. The SKÖ Waterproof Crossbody is one example of that job.
Capacity~1.14 L
Size7.5 × 4.7 × 2 in
Weight~13 oz
ClosureWaterproof zipper
Where it fits
- Phone, key, card and sunglasses, worn hands-free between rides
- Designed to be waterproof and submersible when the zipper is properly closed and sealed
- Small enough to pass to a non-rider or fit in a locker
Where it doesn't
- On the slides, where parks want loose items off
- Towels, clothes and sunscreen: that's the locker's job
- It isn't a flotation aid or safety equipment
Questions
Water park bag FAQ
Can I take my phone on water slides?
Usually not. Fallsview bans camera phones on all of its slides, and Volcano Bay asks for loose articles to be left with a non-rider or in a locker. Even where a park is silent, a phone can come loose on a fast slide. Plan to hand it off for the ride.
Is a locker enough on its own?
For towels and clothes, yes. The trade-off is walking back every time you want your phone or card. A small sealed bag worn between rides covers those moments, and goes in the locker or to a non-rider when you head up a slide tower.
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