overnight bags
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9569
Printed Date: 06 Oct 2025 at 2:47pm
Topic: overnight bags
Posted By: jondufay
Subject: overnight bags
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 1:57pm
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I'm looking at overnight bags for self support kayak trips. I have heard great things about the Watershed Futas. Has anybody used the Wildwasser overnighters? Any other suggestions? Thanks ------------- ahh, f--- it dude, lets go boating... |
Replies:
Posted By: Jed Hawkes
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 2:32pm
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As far as dry storage anything watershed makes is superior. Their ziplock like system is just the best, far better than any roll top design. Also the quality of materials is great. I've had one of their duffel bags for years and have used it for raft guiding with it for 5 seasons and it's still working great. I've never used their Futa bags but I've heard great things about them. ------------- The line will become apparent 978-273-7723 |
Posted By: JoesKayak
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 2:41pm
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Yep, Watershed bags are the bomb. They are the only bags I've used in 25 years of extended trips that can really be called dry bags. They keep your stuff bone dry. Their one trade-off is it's a bit of work to get them opened and sealed. The SealLine zippered bags are nice too if you need easy access to your gear during the day, since all you have to do is pull a zipper open (similar to a drysuit zipper).They are pretty dry too as long as you keep the zipper pulled in tight, but not 100% dry like the Watersheds. |
Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 3:27pm
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I have both the small and large Wildwasser Overnighters and they work fine. If you are looking for ultimate dry protection go with Watershed. For less than the price of one Watershed float you get a pair of Wildwasser and then you can spend the rest on small dry bags to put inside. I would definitely recommend the Large Wildwasser Overnighters. I didn't want to spend $160 on the Futa storage floats and am happy with the $69.99 Large Wildwasser. ------------- H2Ohta |
Posted By: fiddleyak
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 3:27pm
| I wore out my pair of Wildwassers after ~10 multiday trips. Now I use the Watershed Futas and like them better. I haven't put them through as much use as the Wildwassers but they seem better built with better seams. |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 3:37pm
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Watershed seems to make the most superior drybag, to echo everyone else. Are the Futa bags the ones with the airbag valves built into them making them dual purpose as drybags/airbags? If you have walls in your boat (like most) then you should consider investing in TWO of the tapered models. Me? My Eskimo boat is admired by some and ridiculed by many. But there is no wall, nor is there a need for one. Here's my set up and it works great:
I have two air bags for bow and stern, each custon designed to fit the interior of my boat. It takes up all the space except for the cockpit zone I occupy.
I don't have any Watershed bags 'cause I'm a Dirt Bag with no money. If I was packing a video camera I'd get a small one for that.
Instead I use a variety of various shaped drybags a varying sizes and styles. I have found that I can dial in my load with these to an incredible level of precision.
The Bow: I pack some lightweight stuff like tarp and ground cloth, maybe a garbage bag into a tapered cone shaped, cheap drybag. I pack it in front of my footbrace bulkhead, then inflate the airbag underneath it so it is pressed up tight against the deck, keeping it out of the water that barely finds its way up there.
The Stern: The airbag in my stern sits toward the back as I load one or two medium sized drybags, like a Sealine roll down and a cheap ass Seattle Sports dry-duffle with a purge valve and the little clear window (t's not %100 dry, but close enough). These two bags get placed as tight behind my seat as possible. They contail my sleeping bag, pad and clothes, in addition to my Patented jPak-A-Boat back pack system.Then I inflate the rear airbag and it takes up the rest of the space in the back and prevents the load from moving around.
Hip area: Dude, the way I pack all of my basic survival incidentals that follow me on most trips I take in my creek boat is Totally Hip: A very small drybag on either side of my seat carries most of the stuff listed in the "Rescue/Bailout" thread we were going off on about a year ago http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7815 - http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7815 . These bags are carefully balanced to weigh symetricly.
Foreward of my seat: I have a central spot for the waterbottle and throwbag like a lot of boaters. I also rigged up a small bungy net on either side of the boat between the bulkhead flanges and the seat. More small bags sit here under my thighs for my food, ect. I rigged this because that space is unobtrusive to my entry/exit from the craft, and the weight sits closer to my seat where you want it. I found the whole "Drybag Between The Legs" thing to be a liablity. When you are in some class V canyon and you need to get out abruptly, what do you do with the bag each time you get out to scout? How about those turbulent micro eddies where you need to claw some vertical rock with fingernails to get purchase just to get out of your boat?
"Drybag Between The Legs" syndrom sucks.
 Nevermind having to exit your boat from a pin Like Packy Cronan On the Clarks Frk of the Yellowstone ("Packy's Crack", as the infamous seive is now named- I was there when it happened and he could have died)--How about simply loosing your foodbag because it was between your legs and you had some hairy scramble getting out of your boat and lost the bag?Anyway, off topic perhaps slightly. But the point I am making in my signature Verbose way is this:
A variety of shapes, sizes and styles may suit you better than simply zeroing in on the dryest bags. If your boat isn't a huge leaker and your skirt is also fairly watertight, your bags will stay pretty dry if you are thoughful about how you pack your boat, and how you pack the bags. Just something else to consider. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: Monk
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 3:46pm
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hope this is for the cali trip... |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 3:46pm
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Watersheds are certainly the best built. Chris' "Bag in a bag" concept is fine, too. Yoeah it's a little bulkier but it is a cheap answer in some cases.
Anyway, I know this thread is about drybags themselves, but I'd be interested to hear about methods used by others to pack thier sh*t.
Also- I'm a fan of displacing all the space I'm not using with drybags and/or airbags because I've blown my skirt twice in my Eskimo. Both times it was due to a violent throw of my body that pulled the skirt off as my torso radicaly shifted. In both cases I was able to paddle away from the falls to an eddy or to roll up in a hole and paddle out with a blown skirt and a boat full of water. This because the only area that was really swamped was the immediate cockpit area in which I was sitting. If I can carry two five gallon buckets of water up three flights of stairs to grout some Rich Bitch's bathroom, I can paddle away from danger with 15-20 gallons in my lap... ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 5:35pm
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Ive had some episodes with various bag types... but never with the Futa, I am sporting a nice new set right now that are so bad ass. I love them. The material, construction and zipper are second to none. I wish they were a bit bigger though because the stern of a boat can hold a bit more than they allow. but that aside they kick ass. Don't use seattle sports bags and despite what harms says tripled up trash bags are not a good idea either....  |
Posted By: SOPBOATER
Date Posted: 12 May 2010 at 8:52pm
| The watersheds are sweet. I have owned the wildwassers and found them to be heavy. My favorite for cost and funcion are the pacific outdoors sea bags. They are made for sea kayaking yet work really well for whitewater. I have finally retired mine this year after five years of service. They are light, dry, durable, and spacious. I will probably replace them with the same product. |
Posted By: huckin harms
Date Posted: 13 May 2010 at 7:40am
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Tripled up trash bags work great! They let just enough moisture in to give the gear a damp 'wet to touch' feel, so long as the sun is shining no worries, eh! Far more bang for your buck than those spendy Futa's. Why not keep the trip a true adventure.... ------------- |
Posted By: PowWrangler
Date Posted: 13 May 2010 at 9:47am
| I have the Wildwasser's. Can't say I'm super stoked on them, but they work ok. Would I store anything electronic and expensive in them? Probably not. |
Posted By: Erik
Date Posted: 13 May 2010 at 10:38am
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Sounds like most people are advocating a drybag/floatbag system. Sounds like Watershed are the way to go there.
However, kind of like JP said (hopefully in less words - hee hee), I've always used a variety of different sized dry-bags for my overnighters. I've always used The Sealine Kodiak bags in the 5 - 20 liter sizes. They're probably the lightest (decent) option going. Smaller sizes are good for stowing in the bow, and it's nice to be able to categorize gear in different bags so you don't have to rummage through all yer gear to get to something that's packed in the bottom of one (or two) big bag(s). I think it's essential to balance your boat properly, rather than put all yer eggs into two bags behind yer seat.
I've only had one bag rip on me...which I did a field fix with duct-tape, and am still using. Never had anything get wet either.
Hell Doof...you can borrow mine if you need them...I have an ass-load of 'em collecting dust in my basement. ------------- |