Short answer: a genuinely waterproof duffle is one of the best investments an angler can make, and the Filson is a superb one — 840-denier nylon tarpaulin coated in TPU, stout enough to last years. We stock dry duffles built from the same idea, sized by trip length, which I've listed at the end.

Tired of hauling your gear in drab bags that don't keep the water out? Let's fix that.

What makes a duffle actually waterproof?

The material and the closure. The Filson uses 840-denier nylon tarpaulin coated with thermoplastic polyurethane — ultra stout, and it'll hold up for a long time. That's the same TPU-coated construction the best dry bags use, and it's why they shrug off a day in the rain.

Here's what that means in practice. You're on a river trip, the skies open, rain pours down like cats and dogs. You open the bag and your flies, reels, and spare clothes are dry as a bone. It's not magic, it's just the right fabric and a closure that seals.

Roll-top or velcro?

The Filson uses a velcro closure on the main bag, and I like that because I work out of my bag through the day. It stays closed and waterproof even when it isn't rolled and clipped for full submersion.

That's the real trade-off with dry bags generally. A roll-top is more waterproof but slower to get into. If you're constantly grabbing things, a quicker closure is worth more than absolute submersibility. If the bag's strapped into a raft that might flip, roll it properly.

What to look for

Durable enough for the abuse — it'll get dragged over gravel, strapped to a boat, and stood on.
Spacious but compact — room for your gear without eating your entire truck bed. I keep a day of gear in mine on a drift boat, or pack camping gear and leave it outside the tent knowing rain won't get in.
Comfortable to carry — decent handles and a shoulder strap matter when you're walking it in from the parking area.

Dry duffles we stock

Ours are sized by how long you're out, which takes the guesswork out of choosing:

1-Day Overnight Dry Bag Backpack — for a single night, and it carries as a pack.
3-Day Dry Duffle Bag — the long-weekend size, and the one most anglers should start with.
5-Day Dry Duffle Bag Roll-Up — roll-top closure, so this is the one for a raft trip.
7-Day Dry Duffle Bag — a full week, lodge trips and float trips.
DeckBoss Dry Bag Duffle and the Boat Bag Dry Bag — built to sit in standing water on a boat deck without complaint.
Steel My Heart Duffel Dry Bag — if you'd like the dry bag to look like something other than a black sack.

Browse everything in dry bags.

What to keep in your dry bag

If you're carrying a dry bag, you need confidence in what's inside it. These live in mine as a just-in-case:

Dry socks. I put up with wet socks getting off the river, but just as I'm ready to slip into a sleeping bag there is nothing like dry, warm ones. The Minus33 Lightweight Over The Calf Wool Socks or the Heavyweight Mountaineer both work.
A warm hat. I treat mine as an emergency hat. Merino is the material for it — even when it's wet, it's dry. Look in hats, beanies, and neck gaiters.
A knife. Knives are crude tools when they're all you've got, and they'll get you in and out of trouble a dozen ways. Since it lives in a bag you aren't restricted to a small folder — the Scout Feather Adventure Survival Knife suits this job. Here's my full guide to knives for anglers.
A fire kit. The Fiber Light EDC Fire Kit weighs nothing and matters enormously on the one day it's needed.
Medical supplies. Look for a compact kit that moves easily from the vehicle to the dry bag to a backpack. Comprehensive beats large.

The verdict

Rain or shine, a proper waterproof duffle is your ticket to staying dry on the water — and there's a real pleasure in opening yours to perfectly preserved gear while your friends pull out soggy tackle boxes. Whether you buy the Filson or one of ours, get the closure type right for how you'll use it and don't compromise on the fabric.