If you’ve ever stood at the start line of a trail race, adventure race, or even a whitewater kayaking competition, you’ve probably noticed runners and athletes shoving everything from waterproof phones and snacks to extra layers into bulky, crinkly dry bags. As someone who’s spent the last eight years running a small, family-owned dry bag supply business (and testing hundreds of these bags myself on local trails and rivers around the Pacific Northwest), I get it—dry bags aren’t just a “nice to have” for competitors. They’re a lifeline for keeping gear dry, protected, and functional when weather takes a turn for the worse. But for a long time, I was asked a question way more than any other about our products: “Are there any real regulations about dry bags in competitions?” DRY BAG
I’ll be honest, for years I gave a pretty vague answer. Back in the early 2010s, when our business launched, most competition governing bodies barely mentioned dry bags in their rulebooks. Races would reference waterproof gear, but leave the door wide open to what that meant. But over the last decade, as outdoor competitions have grown in popularity and safety standards have gotten tighter, that’s changed a lot. Today, the answer isn’t a simple “yes” or “no”—it depends entirely on the type of competition, the governing body, and even the specific rules of the race you’re signing up for. Let’s break this down, because as a supplier, my job isn’t just to sell bags—it’s to help athletes and race directors understand what’s actually required (and what’s just recommended) to avoid disqualification on race day.
First, let’s split competitions into the two biggest categories where dry bags matter most: land-based adventure and trail races, and water-based competitions like kayaking, rafting, or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). The rules for each are drastically different, and I’ve seen this play out firsthand at races I’ve sponsored or supplied for over the years.
Starting with land-based competitions, which have loosened up a lot but still have specific rules when it comes to gear storage. Adventure racing, for example, is a perfect case study. Races like the Eco-Challenge, or smaller regional ones like the Pacific Northwest Adventure Race (PNWAR), have very specific guidelines about what gear you need to carry, and how it has to be stored. A few years back, we supplied dry bags for the 2021 PNWAR, and I sat in on a race director meeting where they explained why dry bag regulations were non-negotiable that year. That year, a runner’s makeshift waterproof pouch split during a 10-mile stretch of rain-soaked trail, ruining their GPS, phone, and emergency blanket—forcing race support to rescue them, which delayed the entire race’s cut-off time. So they updated their rules: all gear that needs to stay dry (emergency supplies, navigation tools, extra clothing) has to be stored in a “certified waterproof dry bag” that meets a minimum durability standard. The bag can’t just be a cheap plastic trash bag or a flimsy drawstring pouch—it has to have a roll-top seal that’s taped or glued to the body of the bag, and a reinforced seam along the bottom and sides.
Not all land-based races are that strict, though. Smaller 50K or 100K trail races, for example, usually just require that you carry a way to keep your gear dry during stream crossings or unexpected rain. Most of these races don’t have specific regulations about the brand or size of your dry bag—just that it works. I’ve had a few customers come to me saying they got disqualified from a local race because they used a dry bag that wasn’t “packed correctly,” not because the bag itself was invalid. That’s another thing I learned early on: a lot of race rules are less about the bag itself and more about how you use it. For example, some adventure races require that your dry bag has a specific size (usually 10L to 20L, depending on the race) because they want to limit bulky gear that slows athletes down. I remember a guy named Jake, a regular customer of ours who does local adventure races, told me he got told at a race last year that his 25L dry bag was too big—so he downsized to a 15L, fit all his gear, and finished the race without a hitch. That’s a key detail I wish more athletes knew: check the gear list and size guidelines for your specific race, not just general rules.
Now, water-based competitions are where dry bag regulations get really specific—and where I’ve seen the most chaos, especially with new competitors. Let’s start with the most obvious: whitewater kayaking and rafting. Competitions like the International Canoe Federation (ICF) World Championships, and even local whitewater races, have super detailed rules about dry bags. The ICF, for example, requires that all emergency gear (EPIRBs, first aid kits, spare parts, phones) be stored in a dry bag that is “flotation-certified.” Wait, that’s a big one—regular dry bags that keep water out don’t always add flotation, and water-based competitions often require that your gear bag also helps keep your upper body afloat in case you capsize. The ICF rulebook states that any dry bag used for carrying non-watertight gear must have a minimum of 50N of flotation—enough to keep 5 kilograms of gear above water—so if you fall in, your emergency gear doesn’t sink. I’ve had a lot of kayak racers come to us confused about this, because they bought a cheap dry bag online that says “waterproof” but has no flotation rating. Those bags get thrown out at the start line of ICF-sanctioned races, no exceptions.
Then there’s SUP racing, which has exploded in popularity over the last decade, and has its own set of rules from groups like the International Stand Up Paddle Association (ISPA). Most SUP races require that you carry a dry bag (usually 5L or 10L) for your phone, snacks, and a small first aid kit, but the rules here are more about safety than anything else. I’ve helped supply SUP races in Florida and California, and what I’ve seen is that most SUP race directors don’t care about the brand of your dry bag, as long as it works—but they will disqualify you if your bag isn’t secured to your board. In rough water, a loose dry bag can become a hazard for other racers, so most rules require that you attach your bag to your board with a tether or a strap, so it doesn’t go flying if you fall off. That’s a simple rule, but it’s one that catches a lot of first-timers off guard.
What’s interesting, though, is that not all water-based competitions follow these rules. For example, casual open-water swims or triathlons usually don’t require dry bags at all. Most triathlons provide transition bags, and if you need to keep something dry, you can use a waterproof pouch that fits in your transition bag. I’ve spoken to race directors for local sprint triathlons, and they say they’ve never had a rule about dry bags, because most racers only need to keep their dry clothes in transition, and those bags don’t go in the water. So that’s another key point: the type of water you’re racing in, and how much time you spend in it, makes a huge difference in whether dry bag regulations apply.
Over the years, I’ve also noticed a shift in how governing bodies and race directors approach dry bag rules. Ten years ago, rules were almost non-existent, and when they did exist, they were vague. Now, it’s becoming more standardized, but there are still a lot of gaps. For example, there’s no global standard for what counts as a “certified dry bag” across all competition types. The ICF has its flotation standards, but adventure racing groups might have their own durability standards, and trail races might have no standards at all. That’s why I started writing a free guide on our website a few years ago that breaks down dry bag regulations for over 50 common competitions, from the ICF World Championships to local 5K trail races. It’s become one of our most popular resources, because athletes don’t want to show up to a race with the wrong bag and get disqualified.
I also want to talk about what these rules mean for suppliers like us, because it’s not just athletes who have to follow them. When we supply dry bags for races, we have to make sure every bag meets the specific requirements of that competition. For example, when we worked with the 2022 Eco-Challenge, we had to label every bag with its flotation rating, reinforce the roll-top seals to hold up during the 7-day race, and include a size tag that matched the race’s 18L maximum. If a race doesn’t require flotation, we can offer a lighter, cheaper bag without the flotation panels. That’s why working with a supplier that understands these rules is so important—we don’t just sell a one-size-fits-all dry bag; we tailor our products to fit the specific needs of races and competitors.
Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule. I’ve seen a few races that allow “homemade” dry bags, as long as they meet the basic requirements of being waterproof and durable. Last year, a small regional trail race in Oregon allowed competitors to use homemade bags made from waterproof material, as long as they tested it by submerging it in water for 10 minutes before the race. But that’s rare—most races don’t want to deal with testing every athlete’s gear at the start line, so they stick to using certified products from reputable suppliers.
One thing I’ve learned from talking to race directors over the years is that most of these regulations aren’t about being strict for the sake of it—they’re about safety. When an athlete’s gear fails mid-race, it can lead to serious issues: getting lost, getting stranded in bad weather, or even needing rescue that could put other competitors at risk. I remember an incident at a rafting competition in 2019: a racer’s cheap, uncertified dry bag split during a Class III rapid, and their GPS and first aid kit sank to the bottom of the river. The racer had to swim to shore, and race support had to spend two hours searching for the missing gear, which delayed the entire race’s cut-off time. Since that incident, that race now requires all dry bags to be ICF-certified with 50N flotation. That’s the kind of thing that pushes race directors to update their rules—they see the real-world consequences of cutting corners on gear standards.
So, if you’re an athlete getting ready for a competition, what does all this mean for you? The most important step is to do your research before you buy anything. Don’t wait until the week before the race to ask about dry bag rules—look at the race’s official website, download the gear list, and even send an email to the race director if you have questions. For example, if you’re doing a whitewater kayak race, confirm that your dry bag has the required flotation rating, and that it’s the right size. If you’re doing a small trail race, check if there’s a size limit or durability requirement. And if you’re not sure, reach out to your supplier—we always tell our customers to send us the race details, and we’ll help them pick the right bag that meets all the regulations.
As a supplier, I’ve also seen a lot of athletes make the mistake of buying cheap dry bags from big-box stores or online marketplaces, thinking all “waterproof bags” are the same. But in competition settings, that’s rarely the case. I’ve tested hundreds of generic dry bags, and most of them fail the durability test after just a few uses—their seals split, their seams come undone, or their flotation is nonexistent. Investing in a quality, race-approved dry bag isn’t just about following the rules; it’s about peace of mind. You don’t want to be standing at the start line, worrying if your bag will hold up when you’re 10 miles into a race in pouring rain or churning water.
Looking ahead, I think dry bag regulations will only get tighter as outdoor competitions grow in popularity and safety becomes a higher priority. More governing bodies will adopt standardized rules, and race directors will become more specific about what they require. That’s a good thing for everyone—athletes will be safer, race directors will have clearer guidelines, and suppliers like us can keep building better products that meet those standards.
If you’re a race director or an organization looking for reliable, competition-approved dry bags, we’re here to help. Our team has worked with dozens of races across the country to supply gear that meets all their specific rules, and we offer custom labeling and bulk ordering for events of any size. Whether you need 10 bags for a small local race or 1,000 for a national championship, we can tailor our products to fit your requirements and keep your competitors safe on race day. So reach out to us to learn more about our bulk supply options and how we can partner with your competition.
Paper Backpack References:
- International Canoe Federation. (2023). Official Rulebook for Canoe Sprint and Slalom Competitions. International Canoe Federation.
- International Stand Up Paddle Association. (2022). SUP Competition Gear and Safety Guidelines. International Stand Up Paddle Association.
- Adventure Racing Association. (2021). National Adventure Race Rulebook. Adventure Racing Association.
- Pacific Northwest Adventure Race. (2022). Gear List and Equipment Standards. Pacific Northwest Adventure Race.
- Outdoor Industry Association. (2023). Dry Gear Safety and Competition Trends Report. Outdoor Industry Association.
Xiamen Goldenway Enterprises Co., Ltd.
Xiamen Goldenway Enterprises Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional dry bag manufacturers and suppliers in China. We warmly welcome you to buy high-grade dry bag at competitive price from our factory. We also accept custom orders.
Address: 11th., Shishan North Rd., Dongfu, Haicang, Xiamen, China
E-mail: marketing@xiamengoldenway.com
WebSite: https://www.isocoolbag.com/
