Hermetic bags: what do they look like and what are they for?

Hermetic bags are a very practical invention and are in high demand among fishermen and tourists. They are indispensable in water trips and are considered one of the most important elements of tourist equipment.

Airtight bags are a type waterproof packaging to keep contents from getting wet. This allows you to keep things, documents, sleeping bags and clothes dry, which is especially important for people involved in water tourism. After all, an accidental wetting of things can result in damage to provisions and other items necessary in the field. To avoid such situations, no experienced tourist will go hiking without a dry bag.

Such precautions are due to the risk of capsizing the kayak, scooping water into it or getting wet in the rain.

In addition to water tourism, hermetic bags are actively used by fishermen, hunters, as well as people of many professions who, for one reason or another, have to live and work in the field, for example, geologists. They are no less in demand for multi-day fishing. The hermetic bag allows you to store caught fish in it, previously sprinkled with salt.

In this form, the catch will not spoil for several days and will remain fresh without a refrigerator.This is due to the fact that, due to the high tightness of the product, there is no air exchange between its contents and the surrounding space.

Hiking enthusiasts will find the dry bag useful for storing bed linen, sleeping bags, change of clothes, tablets, flashlights, cameras, batteries, phones and documents. Moreover, there are quite roomy models in which you can easily lay a tent. Having such a bag the tourist is not afraid of fording waters, heavy rain or morning dew.

By its design, the classic dry bag resembles a boxing bag. It is a cylindrical bag with a round bottom. The upper part of the bag is equipped with two thick tapes with a fastex fastener. However, there are cheaper models that are similar in shape to a pillow.

More capacious hermetic bags are equipped with straps, which allows you to carry them on your shoulders, thereby freeing your hands. On some products, the straps are complemented by carrying handles located near the fastener or on the side of the bag. There are products with a long shoulder strap, which allows you to carry them as a travel bag.

More functional specimens are equipped with a special valve to bleed excess air, thanks to which you can fold things very compactly. Transparent inserts are also a convenient detail, providing an opportunity to determine at a glance what items are in the bag.All kinds of tightenings, pockets and additional fasteners in the form of loops and rings located on the outside are also welcome. The latter are especially valuable during water crossings, as they allow you to tie the bag to the watercraft.

Classification of hermetic bags occurs on such grounds as functional purpose and degree of tightness.

According to their purpose, hermetic bags are of several types.

• Hermetic backpack or drybag is a bag of large volume, equipped with soft straps and guaranteeing complete protection against water. Such models are very popular among backpackers who have to overcome quite long distances. Products are often equipped with pockets and an additional carrying handle.

• Classic dry bag is the most popular model and consists of a cylindrical body with a clasp located on the neck. The convenience of such bags lies in the fact that they can be used both as an independent product and as an insert in a regular tourist backpack.

• Germobaul differs by horizontal loading and is very popular among travelers. And although such models cannot provide complete water resistance, they protect quite well from rain and dirty splashes.

• Hermetic case is a compact, often transparent bag with a very secure closure, and it is designed to store gadgets and documents.

• Hermetic boxes designed to store medicines, cameras, repair kits and cameras. Models have a durable case and protect the contents not only from water, but also from shock.

• Hermetically sealed designed to fit into a regular travel backpack and is able to provide maximum protection for personal belongings from moisture.The models are lightweight and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

Hermetic bags are made from reinforced PVC, polyester and silicone fabrics such as nylon and cordura.

• PVC is a very reliable and durable material with a density of 300D or more. Due to the reinforced structure, it is very difficult to pierce or tear. Bags made from this material do not allow air and water to pass through, and their only drawback is their relatively large weight.

• Polyester Much lighter than PVC, however it pierces well and is prone to cuts. If the polyester bag is slightly hooked or torn, it will begin to unravel in the direction of the tear. But as liners in backpacks, such models fit perfectly.

• Nylon although it is a very light material, it cannot provide 100% protection against water. Nylon is made from synthetic fibers impregnated with silicone or polyurethane. Nylon bags are only suitable for hiking and can protect things from dew, muddy splashes and light rain. The density of most nylon models does not exceed 70D.

• Cordura is a material based on polymer fibers. Models made from this fabric are characterized by high strength, low weight and long service life.

The modern market of tourist equipment offers a wide range of hermetic bags, so choosing a product by size is not difficult. The size of the bag is determined by its volume and is measured in liters. There are bags of 20, 50, 60, 80, 100 and 120 liters, however, some manufacturers indicate the size in letters - L, M and S.

When choosing a waterproof backpack liner you need to be guided by the volume of the backpack itself. For example, if its volume is 60 liters, then the capacity of the liner should be 80 liters. Additional liters never hurt, and excess material is removed when twisting the neck. There are also quite miniature hermetic bags with a volume of 10 liters, however, apart from a few T-shirts and a pair of socks, it will be very difficult to fit anything else there. For example, a warm jacket, and even more so a sleeping bag, require at least 20 liters.

A modern manufacturer offers a huge number of models of hermetic bags designed for both water trips and hiking. Below are the most popular models that occupy the first lines of the popularity ratings of online stores.

Compression dry bag from the company Splav 20 l available in a transparent design and weighs only 135 g. The model is equipped with an air valve that allows you to release excess air and significantly reduce the volume. The clothes are placed in a bag at 2/3 of the height, the valve is opened and the twist is carefully twisted, while making at least 5 turns. Then they fix it with a “fastex”, while controlling that the things inside do not get into the twist.

After that, the bag is gently compressed, bleeding air through the valve, and then twist it. The result is a compact, fully waterproof package that fits into a hiking backpack or can be placed right on the boat. The size of the bag without contents is 75x35 cm, the dimensions when filled are 57x23x21 cm. The material of the product is Polyester 70D 210T Diamond R/S, the fittings are Duraflex, the cost is 1030 rubles.

The Free Wind model with a volume of 60 liters is available in red and weighs 785 g. For the manufacture of the bag, high-quality synthetic fabrics with a double-sided PVC coating are used. The seams of the model are welded, and to ensure tighter twisting and better fixation, the valve is equipped with a plastic tape that increases the tightness of the fastener. The dimensions of the bag are 34x34x106 cm, the cost is 835 rubles.

Drybag Stream 60L is available in dimensions 34x67 cm and weighs 800 g. The product is equipped with two wide straps and is made of five-layer PVC. The model is ideal for people of such professions as a speleologist and caver who spend most of their time underground, where there is a lot of water. Such a backpack costs 1840 rubles.

How to make a waterproof backpack with your own hands, see the next video.