Do you intend to sail at sea aboard a boat, or do you want to practice a specific nautical activity (canoeing, paddle, etc.)? Whatever your plan to go outdoors or on the open sea, you will need to protect your belongings from splashing water by choosing a sufficiently waterproof boat bag. Discover in this article the main criteria to take into account when choosing your bag.
Choose your boat bag based on its level of waterproofing
Your boat bag will allow you to protect your personal belongings from splashing water. So you should first choose it based on its waterproof level.
The waterproof level of a boat bag is determined by several parameters:
The materials used for its design
Boat bags are generally made from synthetic materials like polypropylene or nylon. These materials are particularly renowned for their resistance to abrasion, friction, stretching, and even UV rays.
Whatever the material of your boat bag, it will not be sufficiently waterproof if its weight is not heavy enough. The weight of a fabric refers to its thickness. Boat bags made from fabric weighing more than 600 g/m2 will be more waterproof and more resistant to the risk of tearing.
Its protection index
The protection index (IP) of a boat bag is a determining parameter for evaluating its level of waterproofness in the most objective way possible. This indicator is an international standard allowing the level of protection offered by a bag to be evaluated according to specific and objective criteria, from simple protection against light rain to resistance to total immersion.
The protection index measures the level of waterproofness of a boat bag on a scale of 0 to 8. An IP of 0 means that the bag offers no protection against humidity. An IP of 8 indicates that the bag can withstand prolonged immersion. If you are looking for a boat bag that is perfectly resistant to immersion for diving, a waterproof bag with a protection index of 8 will be the model best suited to your needs.
A boat bag is considered waterproof when its protection index is equal to or greater than 4. An IP of 4 indicates that the bag is waterproof against splashing water. Choose your boat bag according to its protection index:
- IP 0: no protection against humidity
- IP 1: protection against rain falling vertically
- IP 2: protection against rain falling at an angle of inclination greater than 15°
- IP 3: protection against rain falling at an angle of inclination greater than 60°
- IP 4: protection against splashing water
- IP 5: protection against jets of water from the garden hose
- IP 6: protection against short-term accidental falls into water
- IP 7: protection against temporary immersion (up to 1 m submersion)
- IP 8: protection against prolonged immersion
Feelfree protection factor
At Feelfree, we have 3 waterproof ratings:
- Level 1 (IP 4) Rain Proof, corresponds to a waterproof bag which will protect you against light rain.
- Level 2 (IP 5) Weather Proof, will be a “water resistant” bag, which will guarantee you protection against all bad weather.
- Level 3 (IP 7) Water Proof, 100% waterproof level will protect you against brief immersions.
These three levels of waterproofing have been designed to simplify the more technical characteristics of the international “IP” standard so that you can more easily select the bag that suits you best.
On all of our products, you will find these labels throughout your customer experience. All you have to do is choose yours!
Its type of closure
The level of waterproofing of a boat bag finally depends on the type of closure it is equipped with. A suitable closure system is in fact essential to guarantee the waterproofness of a bag, but also to offer it more practicality in use. Choose your boat bag based on the closure system that seems most practical for you to use on a daily basis:
- The zipper or zipper: this is an essential closure system. Boat bags that are equipped with a patented TIZIP® zipper are perfectly resistant to temporary immersion.
- The folding closure: easy to use, this type of closure will provide optimal waterproofing for your boat bag, whether against simple splashes of water or against temporary total immersion. You will only have to close the top of the bag by rolling it three turns and clipping it to lock the closure.
Choose your boat bag according to its capacity
Your boat bag doesn't just have to be waterproof. It must also be practical enough to use to perfectly meet your needs. The practicality of a bag is not limited to the type of closure it has. It is notably determined by its capacity.
Boat bags can have varying capacities, depending on the size of the bag, but also depending on the type of bag it is. The dry tube bags have a volume of between 1.5 L and 20 L, while the waterproof backpacks have a capacity of 15 L to 60 L depending on the model.
Choose the volume of your boat bag according to the number of items you want to take with you during your sailing trip. A waterproof bag with a small volume (up to 20 L) will be sufficient for a simple post-day getaway. Your boat bag should be large enough to allow you to carry all the things you need, but not so large that it takes up too much space.
Backpack or dry tube? Choose based on the type of boat bag it is
Not all boat bags are the same, and you can choose yours from different models. The main ones are backpacks and dry tube bags. They differ as much by their design as by their characteristics. The choice of one or the other type of bag will therefore depend on your aesthetic preferences and your specific expectations in terms of practicality and comfort in use.
Backpacks
Backpacks are very practical boat bags to use. You can easily carry your belongings on your back, which will allow you to keep your hands completely free. Available in several sizes, waterproof backpacks are suitable for all uses. They know how to make themselves indispensable during nautical outings.
Dry tube bags
Dry tubes are very common and popular models of boat bags due to their ease of use and elegant design. Very practical, they can be worn on the shoulder or across the body and thus adapt to your preferences, for maximum comfort of use.
