Buying Guide

If your hiking pack or bike panniers always end up in a mess, or you're trying to keep your gear dry, then some dry bags or storage sacks teamed up with a few straps and clips may be what you need to keep your hike or bike kit organised and dry no matter where the trail takes you.

Stuff Sacks

These draw top bags are excellent for keeping your gear organised and compartmentalized. They are largely waterproof but the draw top closure does not create a watertight seal so they are best used for inland dry weather activities, or for gear that can handle a little bit of moisture should the weather turn sour.

Mesh versions of these bags are ideal for storing wet items to allow water to escape like microfibre towels, beach gear, shoes or dirty clothes that need to air out when not in your backpack.

Dry Bags

These have a roll-top closure that makes them watertight. They will not handle being submerged but if they are used to organise gear inside a pack then you can be sure that everything but the outside of these bags is going to stay dry. There are various versions including the superlightweight, heavy-duty and some with 'view windows' so it's easy to identify what is inside.

Compression sacks

These take the regular stuff or dry sacks mentioned above and incorporate straps that enable you to compress the bag and its contents so you can fit it easily into a pack. They are ideal replacement sacks for down or synthetic sleeping bags, or for compressing clothing so it takes up less room. 

Straps and Clips

Whether it's for hiking or bikepacking, some lightweight straps and clips are incredibly handy for securing gear to a pack, or as attachment points in the campsite for clotheslines, anchor points for tents on platforms and of course to secure equipment to a bike frame for lightweight riding adventures. A couple of these are useful additions to any adventurers kit.