Best Waterproof Backpack for Kayaking
Activity guide Kayaking
A waterproof backpack earns its straps on land. On the water, where it rides matters more than what it is.
The best waterproof backpack for kayaking is a backpack-style dry bag, roll-top or waterproof zipper, sized for what you'll carry on land: across a portage, up a long path to the put-in, or into camp. If you never carry gear away from the boat, small dry bags in the hatches usually do the job better.
Organized by SKÖ
Four decisions, in order
Most people start with liters. Start with where the bag will be.
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Will you carry the load on land?
This is what straps are for. Paddling Magazine's dry-bag guide has picks specifically for paddlers who need a backpack-style dry bag for portages or travel. A day paddle from a beach launch doesn't need them.
Why: if the load never leaves the boat, shoulder straps are just extra bulk.
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Where will it ride on the water?
Inside a hatch, behind the seat, or in a sit-on-top's tank well. The table below matches each spot to a bag.
Why: the spot decides how much water the bag sees and whether you can reach it.
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How many liters?
Paddling Magazine's reviewer uses 3- to 10-liter bags for electronics and small essentials, 10 to 20 liters for clothes and a sleep system, and notes that bags of 70 liters and up tend to be backpacks or duffels that carry a whole multiday load. For kayaking, the same reviewer uses a handful of 5 to 10 L bags that fit easily into hatches. More on sizing: what size dry bag do I need?
Why: one big pack and several small bags solve different problems; many trips use both.
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Roll-top or waterproof zipper?
Both can be submersible; check the maker's stated rating rather than the word "waterproof." OutdoorGearLab's testers note a roll-top needs three wrinkle-free closing folds to be watertight. A waterproof zipper trades the rolling for faster access. Compare the two in roll-top vs. waterproof zipper.
Why: the closure, not the fabric or straps, is what keeps water out.
Organized by SKÖ
Where it rides decides the bag
| Spot | What fits, and why |
|---|---|
| Inside a hatchSea and touring kayaks | Small dry bags, packed tight. Paddling Magazine says hatches are watertight on paper but nearly watertight in practice, so seal anything that must stay dry. Paddling Mag |
| On deckUnder the bungees | As little as possible. The same guide calls extra bags strapped to the deck a hazard that can impede rescues and reentry after a capsize. Paddling Mag |
| Tank well or behind the seatSit-on-tops and rec kayaks | Where a backpack-style dry bag fits best on the water: clipped in, sealed, and ready to shoulder at the takeout. |
| On your backPortages, put-in paths, camp | The backpack's real job. Padded straps matter more here than any feature on the water. |
Organized by SKÖ from Paddling Magazine's kayak-camping and dry-bag guides. The fifth spot, on you, is below.
The fifth spot
Essentials on you, not in the pack
A backpack in a hatch or tank well can't be reached mid-paddle, and it stays with the kayak if you and the boat part ways. Your phone and car key need their own small sealed bag. The SKÖ Waterproof Crossbody is one example; it is not a backpack.
Where it fits
- Phone, keys, wallet and ID (about 1.14 L), reachable without pulling over
- Designed to be waterproof and submersible when the zipper is properly closed and sealed
- Stays on your body at the shuttle pickup or a lunch stop
Where it doesn't
- Clothes, food, camp gear: that's the backpack or dry bags
- No straps for a portage load, and no published depth or time rating
- It isn't flotation or a PFD
More on that setup: the best way to carry phone, wallet and keys kayaking, or see how waterproof crossbody bags compare.
Questions
Kayak backpack FAQ
Is a water-resistant backpack good enough for kayaking?
Not for anything that has to stay dry. Water-resistant packs are made for rain and splashes, and a kayak adds spray, water in the hull and the chance of a swim. Look for a pack its maker describes as submersible. See waterproof vs. water-resistant.
What size waterproof backpack for a weekend kayak trip?
It depends on your kayak and how you pack. Many paddlers split a weekend's clothes and sleep system across several 10 to 20 L dry bags that fit the hatches, and bring a backpack-style dry bag only if there's a portage or a walk to camp. Paddling Magazine notes packs of 70 L and up are built to carry a whole multiday load.
Can I just put my phone in the backpack?
You can, but you won't reach it mid-paddle, and every time you open the pack you have to reseal it. A small sealed bag on you keeps the phone available and the pack closed.
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