While you can’t live without water, having it go where you don’t want it can make things messy! When you plan the perfect outing — whether canoe camping, a bike trip, kayaking, or shopping — and the weather turns unpredictably nasty, you’ll feel good about your decision to buy a waterproof dry bag.
Whether you use it to protect your food from bears, in your canoe, or on a beach to keep your stuff dry while you surf, you need to trust your pack will perform.
That’s where we come in. We checked out the Vitchelo 30L Dry Backpack to see if it lives up to its claims and put it through our 3-phase waterproof test. Read on to learn more about this dry bag and whether it’s really waterproof.
The Basics
Made of vinyl tarpaulin, the Vitchelo 30L Dry Backpack has welded rather than sewn seams, adding to its water-tightness. If you’re looking for environmentally friendly material, vinyl consistently scores better than other materials in many environmental and economic performance categories. Weighing a light 2.05 lbs — or 900 grams — this bag is built to be strong, durable, and abrasion-resistant.
This dry bag has a roll-top closure system and measures 26.8” x 12.6” x 7.1” when the roll top is fully open. Its elasticated front webbing and meshed side pockets give you extra storage for water bottles and waterproof cameras.
As with many dry bags, this one has a one-handed reinforced strap at the top but also comes with adjustable shoulder straps so you can carry it as a backpack. It has adjustable chest & waist straps to keep it from moving around and a minimally padded back. The scrim-reinforced vinyl bottom should add to its durability.
The Vitchelo dry bag is made of black & bright yellow material, making it easily visible both day and night — especially if you roll your kayak or canoe under a moonless night sky. All this sounds pretty decent for a dry bag, but how did it do in our waterproof testing? Let’s find out.
Waterproof Testing Results
The Waterproved mission is to keep you and your belongings dry. Since the standards for what makes something “water-resistant” and “waterproof” vary, we put all the products we test through a 3-phase process - The Mist, The Rain, and The Dunk.
Here’s how the Vitchelo 30L Dry Backpack fared in those tests and why we’ve dubbed it one of the best waterproof backpack for kayaking and water sports.
The Mist
The easiest of our waterproofing tests had this dry bag sit in our “mist tunnel” for 30 minutes. It passed with flying colors, meaning that everything inside stayed nice and dry. So, at the very least, if you take this bag through a sunshower or the mist of Niagara Falls, your belongings should remain snug as a bug in a rug.
The Rain
Like Eric Clapton sang on his 1970’s single, in this test, we “let it rain, let it rain” on the Vitchelo Dry Backpack for 30 minutes. When we checked the contents, they were as dry as can be. Again, this bag lived up to its claim of being waterproof. But the last and most demanding test was yet to come. Any bets on how it did? Read on to find out!
The Dunk
This test always reminds me of that awesome game at local fairs that saw your teacher or parent perched on a chair above a tank full of water. You got three chances to hit the target with the ball and make them dunk, which was always a shocker and great for a laugh.
Our test was a bit more subdued in that we submerged just the Vitchelo dry bag for a few seconds in a tank filled with water. We loved that the backpack popped up quickly and floated well and everything inside stayed mostly dry. Once we tightened the roll-top and re-submerged the bag, all the contents stayed very dry, so it’s good to note that this small adjustment can make a real difference.
Other Features We Like
The best features of this bag are listed below and make it a little extra special compared to other dry bags in its price range:
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
- Roomy interior
- Durable seams
- Strong material
- Touch-friendly phone protection case included
Additionally, at under $50, this waterproof bag is a good deal for what you get. As a dry bag, the 30L Vitchelo functions well. However, as a backpack, it leaves a few things to be desired.
Complaints
While we like many of this bag’s features, a few things are lacking. Since its primary function is to act as a dry bag for your food and valuables, the added selling point of being a backpack warranted our look-see.
While the straps’ webbed material could provide breathability, we found the lack of padding on the shoulder straps, plus the fact that there isn’t a hip belt means this will be an uncomfortable pack for serious hikers. It also had a serious off-gassing odor when first unpackaged.
Who Should Get The Vitchelo 30L Dry Bag Backpack
On the other hand, we think this dry bag is a great option for all types of paddlers, anglers, and other outdoor sports enthusiasts. As this Vitchelo dry bag has numerous exterior straps and tie-down points to help secure it in place, it will do well in all kinds of boats and watercraft. It would also serve you well at a waterpark or if you decide to jump into a fountain on a whim.
Final Verdict: Is The Vitchelo 30L Dry Bag Backpack Waterproof?
While the Vitchelo 30L Dry Bag Backpack passed our three waterproof tests, it isn’t easy to call any basic rolltop backpack 100% waterproof. We are comfortable saying that the Vitchelo 30L Dry Backpack is a good waterproof backpack for budget shoppers. It even made it onto our Top Waterproof Backpacks list, where we awarded it Best Waterproof Backpack for Kayaking and Water Sports!
Until next time, stay dry out there.
