This surprise iPhone travel accessory has become a mainstay in my kit – and it’s priced well

Sea to Summit View Dry Bag

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The best dry bag for your electronics and precious stuff
• The clear TPU window on the front and white lining lets you see what's inside
• Can be made into a floating pouch.

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I'm sure that if Confucius were around nowadays, he'd have something to say about not fully trusting the IP water resistance rating of your expensive smartphone. 

While it's true that most modern smartphones are highly water-resistant, it's also notable that most manufacturers don't include water damage as part of their warranty. While I'm well known for letting my iPhone (and things like my power banks) be exposed to the elements, there are times when I think it's wise to give them a little extra protection. Water, dust, dirt, and sand can take their toll on things. 

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I used to be a big believer in using ziplock bags for waterproofing gear. They were cheap and plentiful. But over the years, I've noticed the bags get thinner and poorer in quality. The bags split and pierce more easily, and the zip bit is a lot more likely to burst open at the wrong moment. Sure, it's a low-cost option available in an emergency, but it's not something that I want to rely on. 

There are better options. For example, the Sea to Summit “View” dry bags. They seem boring, but for a geeky outdoor person like myself, they're worth their weight in gold! 

The View dry bags come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 1 liter (approximately three times the capacity of a can of soda) to 35 liters (enormous, ideal for sleeping bags and similar items). They're constructed from a lightweight but durable and highly waterproof polyurethane-coated 70D nylon, a roll top, and – drumroll please – a clear TPU window built into the front so you can “view” what's inside the bag!

There's nylon has a hydrostatic head of 10,000mm, which in simple terms means that you could place a column of water over 30 feet tall on the fabric and the water pressure wouldn't be enough to make the fabric leak. 

All the seams are double-stitched and then taped for complete waterproofing. Anything short of submersion, and these bags are good.

Oh, and as an added touch, the insides of the bag are white, to make it easier to see what's inside. Another nice touch. There's a roll-top with a durable and user-replaceable clip and D-ring, and there's even a tab at the bottom to hang the bag from a convenient hook. 

While these bags will keep whatever you can fit into them dry, I find them particularly useful for electronics and cables, and such. 

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It's clear that these dry bags have been designed by people who go into the outdoors and use this sort of gear, because this dry bag solves all the problems I've previously had with such bags. 

I've had these bags clipped to the outside of my rucksack for days on end, exposed to rain and shine, and I've not had a single issue with them. They've kept everything that's on the inside clean and dry. 

Another cool feature of these bags is that I've found you can pack them in one of two ways. Expel all the air before rolling them up and closing them, and you get the smallest possible pack. However, roll them up with air inside, and you get a pouch that will both float on water and offer added protection against knocks and bumps for whatever is inside. 

While these View dry bags come in big sizes suitable for items like clothing and sleeping bags, my favorite bag for those sorts of soft, compressible items is the Sea to Summit Evac Ultralight compression dry bags. 

I'm old and grey enough to remember compression dry bags before they had a valve to allow the air to escape. They were a real faff to use. 

Then I remember bags with a manual valve that had to be opened and closed to let the air out. Forget to close that valve – or if it worked its way open – and your stuff got wet. Well, these bags are not only ultra-lightweight and super thin, yet unbelievably tough, they also have a one-way fabric valve on one end that automatically allows air to escape. Put your belongings in the bag, roll the top, secure the compression straps, and cinch down to make the bag as compact as possible. 

Again, maybe it's just me, but this sort of quality engineering really impresses me!

ZDNET's buying advice

Sea to Summit doesn't make cheap junk; everything the company produces is as good as it gets, and these dry bags are no exception. Whether you're off hiking in wet weather, going for a day out on the beach, or relaxing by the pool (chlorinated pool water can be a real killer for electronics), these View dry bags will keep your precious items dry and safe from sand. 

An 8 liter bag costs $30, which sounds like a lot, but that price pales into insignificance once you have your $1,000 smartphone, house, and car keys, and wallet or purse in there!  

And if you want added security, affix an AirTag to the bag so you always know where it is.