Roll It Right. Keep It for Years.
A dry bag fails for one of two reasons: it was closed badly, or it was stored badly. Both are avoidable, and neither takes more than a minute of attention.
Fill the bag about three quarters full, press the opening flat, fold the stiffened band down against itself at least three times and clip the buckle. Rinse in fresh water after salt, sand or silt, wash by hand with mild soap, and always store it dry, unrolled and out of direct sun.
How do you close a roll-top dry bag?
- 01Pack to about three quarters full so the top can fold cleanly.
- 02Press the opening flat and align the two edges of the stiffened band.
- 03Fold the band down against itself at least three times — four in rough water.
- 04Clip the buckle so the folds are locked and cannot unwind.
- 05Press the bag gently: trapped air means the seal is holding.
Cleaning
Rinse with fresh water after any contact with salt, sand or river silt — salt crystals are abrasive and will wear the laminate over time. Wash by hand with warm water and a drop of mild soap, using a soft cloth on the outside and turning the bag inside out to reach the base.
Avoid solvents, bleach, washing machines and dryers. Heat and harsh chemicals attack the TPU laminate and the welded seams — the two things keeping water out.
Drying and storage
Always store a dry bag dry and open. Turn it inside out, hang it in the shade until there is no moisture left, then store it unrolled and loosely folded in a cool, dark place. A bag stored sealed and damp grows mould; a bag stored in direct sun degrades from UV, not use.
Do not crease the closure band in the same place every time — vary the fold so the material does not fatigue along a single line.
Field repairs
Small punctures can be patched with a TPU-compatible repair patch on a clean, dry surface. Clean the area, apply firm pressure, and let it cure fully before the next trip. Most bags are retired long before the fabric fails — usually because the closure was neglected.
New to dry bags? Start with how they work.
The TECTON Expedition System
Three purpose-built waterproof dry bags — 2L, 5L and 10L — engineered to work together as one modular system. Designed in Australia.