Pick a sailing bag by what it must do: a roll-top dry bag keeps gear dry on board, a duffel or kit bag carries your clothes to the boat, and a backpack suits short trips. This guide compares dry bags, duffels, backpacks and boat bags from Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik, Rooster and Spinlock, with the capacity and dimensions the makers list.
Sailing bags at a glance
| Type | Best for | Capacity range | Brands in our range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry bag | Keeping gear dry on board | 6 to 60 L | Zhik, Rooster, Spinlock |
| Waterproof backpack | Long days and overnight trips | 40 L | Musto |
| Duffel bag | Weekend and week-long trips | 30 to 90 L | Musto, Helly Hansen |
| Kit bag and wheelie bag | Regattas and events | 65 to 100 L | Zhik |
| Backpack | One or two nights away | 20 L | Musto |
| Boat bags | Halyards, sheets, sails and spars | By size | Rooster, Harken |
How do I choose?
Think about three things: how wet the bag will get, how far you will carry it, and how much it must hold. A dry bag needs a sealed closure. A duffel needs a wide opening and carry straps. For regattas, a compartment bag keeps wet and dry kit apart.
Which dry bag should I choose?
Roll-top dry bags keep spray and rain out. Compact ones hold a phone, keys and a layer, and larger ones carry spare clothes.
| Bag | Examples from our range | Maker's notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small dry bag |
Zhik Dry Bag 6L (Black) Spinlock Dry Bag - Waterproof Pack Small (Blue Azure) |
Zhik: roll top with clips, seam-taped, phone pocket with a touch-sensitive screen, D-ring. Spinlock: waterproof, made to work with its flotation gear. |
| Medium dry bag |
Zhik Dry Bag 25L (Black) Spinlock Dry Bag - Waterproof Pack Medium (Blue Azure) |
Zhik: reflective detailing and a modular shoulder sling. |
| Large dry bag |
Rooster Dry Roll Top Bag 60L (Black) Spinlock Dry Bag - Waterproof Pack Large (Blue Azure) |
Rooster: 500D PVC Mylar with a roll-top closure. |
Which duffel bag suits sailing trips?
Musto describes its 30 L duffel as a compact option for weekend trips and its 50 L as a practical size for week-long sailing trips. Both have a separate end pocket for used footwear or wet kit. Helly Hansen's Guide Duffel comes in four sizes and converts to a backpack with hidden shoulder straps.
| Brand | Examples from our range | Maker's notes |
|---|---|---|
| Musto |
Musto Duffel Bag 30L (Black) Musto Duffel Bag 50L (Black) |
Water-resistant fabric with stitched seams, U-shaped opening, packable backpack straps, YKK zips. Packs into its own carry bag. |
| Helly Hansen |
Helly Hansen Guide Duffel Bag 30L (Navy) Helly Hansen Guide Duffel Bag 50L (Navy) Helly Hansen Guide Duffel Bag 70L (Navy) Helly Hansen Guide Duffel Bag 90L (Navy) |
600D polyester ripstop with a TPU coating, U-shaped opening, lockable zippers, mesh pockets, hidden padded shoulder straps. |
What about kit bags and wheelie bags for regattas?
Zhik designed its 65 L kit bag for events, with clear compartments, a split clam-shell opening and removable backpack straps. The 100 L wheelie bag is a half hard-shell roller with a telescopic handle.
| Bag | Examples from our range | Maker's notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kit bag | Zhik Kit Bag 65L (Black) | Water-resistant 420 denier fabric, internal compression straps, zippered mesh sections. |
| Wheelie bag | Zhik Wheelie Bag 100L (Black) | Hard-shell base and back, durable all-terrain wheels, retractable handle. |
Which backpack should I carry?
| Bag | Examples from our range | Maker's notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compact travel backpack | Musto Backpack 20L (Black) | Musto: suits one to two nights away, with a laptop sleeve and a breathable back panel. |
| Waterproof rolltop backpack | Musto Waterproof Backpack 40L (Black) | Musto: seam-sealed roll-top closure, padded laptop sleeve, compression straps. |
Are there bags for the boat itself?
Rooster and Harken make bags for halyards, sheets, sails and spars. Pick the bag by the length or size of the item it holds.
| Bag | Examples from our range |
|---|---|
| Halyard bag | Rooster Halyard Bag - Size: 13.0 x 10.4 in (33.0 x 26.5 cm) |
| Sail bag | Rooster Sail Bag - Size: 70.9 in (1.8 m) |
| Spar bag | Rooster Spar Bag - Padded - Size: 94.5 in (2.4 m) |
| Sheet bag | Harken Sheet Bag w/ Snaps - Size: 20.0 x 13.0 in (0.5 x 0.33 m) |
Which brand offers what?
| Brand | Bags in our range |
|---|---|
| Musto | Duffel bags in 30 and 50 L, a 20 L backpack and a 40 L waterproof backpack. |
| Helly Hansen | Guide Duffel Bags in 30, 50, 70 and 90 L. |
| Zhik | Dry bags in 6 and 25 L, a 65 L kit bag and a 100 L wheelie bag. |
| Rooster | A 60 L roll-top dry bag, plus halyard, sail and spar bags. |
| Spinlock | Waterproof dry bag packs in small, medium and large. |
How big should my bag be?
Compare the capacity and dimensions the makers list, shown below in centimeters and inches.
| Bag | Capacity | Dimensions | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhik Dry 6L | 6 L | 25 x 41 cm / 9.8 x 16.1 in (L x H) | 0.07 kg |
| Zhik Dry 25L | 25 L | 25.5 x 25.5 x 59 cm / 10 x 10 x 23.2 in (L x W x H) | 0.2 kg |
| Musto Backpack 20L | 20 L | 45 x 27 x 17 cm / 17.7 x 10.6 x 6.7 in | not listed |
| Musto Waterproof Backpack 40L | 40 L | 47 x 30 x 24 cm / 18.5 x 11.8 x 9.4 in | not listed |
| Musto Duffel 30L | 30 L | 54 x 28 x 23 cm / 21.3 x 11 x 9.1 in | not listed |
| Musto Duffel 50L | 50 L | 64 x 33 x 27 cm / 25.2 x 13 x 10.6 in | not listed |
| Zhik Kit 65L | 65 L | 55 x 39 x 27 cm / 21.7 x 15.4 x 10.6 in (L x W x H) | 0.965 kg |
| Zhik Wheelie 100L | 100 L | 40 x 30.5 x 85 cm / 15.7 x 12 x 33.5 in (W x D x H, empty) | 4.85 kg |
Frequently asked questions
What size bag do I need for a weekend of sailing?
Musto describes its 30 L duffel as a compact option for weekend sailing trips. Choose a larger bag if you carry foul weather gear.
What size bag do I need for a week of sailing?
Musto describes its 50 L duffel as a practical size for week-long sailing trips.
Is a dry bag the same as a waterproof bag?
A roll-top dry bag is built to keep water out when rolled and clipped shut. A water-resistant duffel is built for spray and damp conditions.
How do I close a roll-top dry bag?
Roll the top down and clip it shut, as Zhik describes for its dry bags.
Can I carry a duffel as a backpack?
Yes. Musto and Helly Hansen duffels have backpack-style shoulder straps.
Where do I put wet gear?
Musto duffels have an end pocket for used footwear or wet kit. A dry bag also keeps wet items apart.
Which bag suits regattas?
Zhik's 65 L kit bag and 100 L wheelie bag are designed for events with lots of gear.
Can my phone stay in the bag?
Zhik's dry bags have a phone pocket with a touch-sensitive screen, so you can use the phone in wet conditions.
How should I wash a Musto bag?
Musto lists hand wash at a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius, with no bleach, tumble dry or iron.
Which brand should I pick?
Zhik covers dry bags and event bags, Musto and Helly Hansen cover duffels, and Rooster makes a 60 L dry bag and boat bags.
If you have additional inquiries or need help with anything sailing related, don't hesitate to contact our experts! We'll be glad to help.
You may also be interested in
- What to Wear Sailing: Clothing Guide by Boat Type
- How to Choose Sailing Footwear: Boots, Deck Shoes and Sandals
- Clothing Guides
Last updated: November 11, 2026.