Dry bag for showers?

[caminojune2017]

Should we purchase dry bags for showers to keep valuables and clothes dry? If so, any brand or size recommendations? Thanks!

 

[mark connolly]

Should we purchase dry bags for showers to keep valuables and clothes dry? If so, any brand or size recommendations? Thanks!

nothing fancy....buy one at a dollar/pound store

 

[trecile]

No need to spend a ton of money on this. I buy these oversized ziplock bags that have a handle at the Dollar Store. Two for one dollar! After my shower I use it to carry my laundry.

 

[ratherbefollowingflechas]

While we did not use ziplock/dry bags like this, we did have sea to summit bags that we used in the shower (with a suction cup hook), to transport laundry and groceries, and to hold the important stuff when we went out in the evenings. They were very versatile and they fold down to nothing. They also worked great as a day pack during rest days or for the final vacation days after we had finished walking.
Buen Camino

 

[xin loi]

Cheap bags work fine.....But Where you going to hang it? A lot of shower stalls are missing a hook to hang things! Buy two "S" hooks at any hardware store. You will NEED them--a lot!

 

[CarlG]

What did you guys put in these bags? Things like passports?

 

[trecile]

What did you guys put in these bags? Things like passports?

All my valuables, my clean clothes for after my shower, my towel, etc.

 

[CarlG]

Would they remain dry 100%? Also where would you put them, in the actual shower cubicle or on the outside?

 

[skipronin]

Would they remain dry 100%? Also where would you put them, in the actual shower cubicle or on the outside?

Carl,

I believe that you are confusing a dry sack with a stuff sack. A dry sack is waterproof. You can put the dry sack on the floor of the shower, and the contents of the bag will remain dry while showering. This is not true for a stuff sack.

The dry sack which contains all of your valuables are taken into the shower with you. There is no point in leaving it outside the shower, as that would be the same as leaving your valuables in your backpack as you take a shower.

You can leave the bag on floor, or you can purchase a cheap S double carabiner and snap one end over the shower stall door or wall edge, and the other over where you have snapped the rolled over edges of the the dry bag when there are no kooks in the shower stall.

I hope this helps.

 

[trecile]

Would they remain dry 100%? Also where would you put them, in the actual shower cubicle or on the outside?

There's usually a little private space outside the shower where you can keep your things dry, and where you can dress.

 

[CarlG]

Carl,

I believe that you are confusing a dry sack with a stuff sack. A dry sack is waterproof. You can put the dry sack on the floor of the shower, and the contents of the bag will remain dry while showering. This is not true for a stuff sack.

The dry sack which contains all of your valuables are taken into the shower with you. There is no point in leaving it outside the shower, as that would be the same as leaving your valuables in your backpack as you take a shower.

You can leave the bag on floor, or you can purchase a cheap S double carabiner and snap one end over the shower stall door or wall edge, and the other over where you have snapped the rolled over edges of the the dry bag when there are no kooks in the shower stall.

I hope this helps.

Thanks! This does clarify things

 

[fenix]

Should we purchase dry bags for showers to keep valuables and clothes dry? If so, any brand or size recommendations? Thanks!

I have a Sea2Summit View dry bag, 8L[/B]

In my pack, it holds my silk sleep sack, my towel, and some detergent & nappy pins.

After walking, I remove the sleep sack to claim my bed, and I put in my toiletries bag, a change of clothes, and my waist pack (which carries my valuables + electronics), and I head to the shower. I hang it with a suction or S hook if necessary/possible.

After showering, wearing my fresh clothes & waist bag, all dirty clothes are put in the dry sack which is then used as a hand-wash bag,

Very useful.

I do have a few other dry sacks as well for organizing. I don't worry about my pack getting wet inside, really. They are just ultralight, much stronger and longer-lasting than ziplocks, and help with organization.

 

[t2andreo]

The least expensive solution, IMHO is a the humble ziplock bag. You will likely use one or more of these to organize your rucksack anyway. The one gallon or three-liter size should work for most all people. I use these to organize my clothing and medications.

On the other end are multi-purpose solutions like my favorite, Sea to Summit "Sling Bag." This is a zip-close, shoulder carry bag that holds 16 liters. It compresses into a kiwi fruit sized pouch that can be clipped to your rucksack harness. It can be worn cross-shoulder if desired for security or comfort.

I use mine as a carry-on bag while flying to and from, a shopping bag on my way into town each day, a day-bag for side trips, a highly water resistant carry all for shower use, a laundry bag, and when stuffed with clothing, as a pillow at night. You can find them on Amazon.com in a variety of colors.

You can also use purpose made "dry-bags." I only recommend doing this if the dry bag can be dual purposed.

My personal preference is to challenge taking every item I think I might bring, to ensure it can reasonably be used for more than one purpose. The more uses an item can be used for, the more likely it is to be carried. My definition of "reasonable" is based on what I can reasonable expect to need the item for, after having done four Caminos...and getting warmed up for number five...

I hope this helps.

 

[fenix]

The least expensive solution, IMHO is a the humble ziplock bag. You will likely use one or more of these to organize your rucksack anyway. The one gallon or three-liter size should work for most all people. I use these to organize my clothing and medications.

On the other end are multi-purpose solutions like my favorite, Sea to Summit "Sling Bag." This is a zip-close, shoulder carry bag that holds 16 liters. It compresses into a kiwi fruit sized pouch that can be clipped to your rucksack harness. It can be worn cross-shoulder if desired for security or comfort.

I use mine as a carry-on bag while flying to and from, a shopping bag on my way into town each day, a day-bag for side trips, a highly water resistant carry all for shower use, a laundry bag, and when stuffed with clothing, as a pillow at night. You can find them on Amazon.com in a variety of colors.

I have that sling bag and use it in all the same ways - very useful!

Except for laundry use. The waterproof-ness of an actual dry bag is required to wash clothes in.

 

[fenix]

 

[mvanert]

Should we purchase dry bags for showers to keep valuables and clothes dry? If so, any brand or size recommendations? Thanks!

Yes, absolute necessity, don't spend more than a couple of dollars/Euros. Get a hook too (to hang from the shower wall) in fact, get two hooks, the plastic ones. You won't regret it!

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Very helpful - thanks for posting

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Would they remain dry 100%? Also where would you put them, in the actual shower cubicle or on the outside?

I always hung my plastic bag with handles (similar to trecile's picture) from my S hook, which I hung at the top of the shower door or rod. It was high enough that water was not a problem.

 

[alipilgrim]

Our area no longer provides free thin plastic grocery bags (which I applaud) but the stores now offer quite strong, reusable plastic bags for 10 cents. They would make excellent light shower totes.

 

[t2andreo]

I have that sling bag and use it in all the same ways - very useful!

Except for laundry use. The waterproof-ness of an actual dry bag is required to wash clothes in.

By laundry bag, I meant as a tote to take my soiled stuff to the nearest lavanderia (laundromat) and back. I do not use it to contain water, although if I had a fire and needed a bucket, it might work, short term.

 

[notion900]

I absolutely LOVE Sea to Summit dry bags and I am not getting paid to say so!

The ones I use are called the 'Ultra-Sil Dry Sack' range. They come in sizes from a tiny pouch just right for a mobile phone and passport to go to the shower in, up to the pack liner range in 3 sizes. I use the pack liner, and when it's really hot, I even take the liner out and use it as a sack for bag transport. I also have a small one which goes in my pack lid. The different colours are handy for keeping stuff organised too, and they make no annoying rustling sound, unlike plastic backpack liners.

I have not tried the new 'Nano' super light range - I would be interested to hear feedback on them. I have tried one of the ones with the 'windows' ('Ultra-Sil View') like the one in the video, and they are a tiny bit annoying, as the clear plastic is not as soft and scrunchable as the main fabric part, and you end up never looking through the window anyway. I bought it by accident and have retired it to use for day hikes as it gets on my nerves a bit.

Using these I can walk in the pouring rain without a pack cover or poncho - I have a down sleeping bag and I never worry about it getting wet. You do need to periodically check the seam taping on the inside of the bags, as after months of continuous use it eventually peels off.

I think they are totally worth the money.

 

[Honora]

Very helpful...thank you!

 

[Nanc]

ziplocks

 

[FourSeasons]

What did you guys put in these bags? Things like passports?

Your passport goes in your money belt. On both my Camino’s I used a one gallon ziplock bag to put my “money belt” in. That’s all you need for the shower. IMHO

 

[Tay and I]

Cheap bags work fine.....But Where you going to hang it? A lot of shower stalls are missing a hook to hang things! Buy two "S" hooks at any hardware store. You will NEED them--a lot!

 

[Tay and I]

I can not remember seeing a hook in any shower cubicle to hang your dry clothes . Wear as little as possible to and from the shower like a sarong and then once well dry you can put on fresh clothes. Some times there is a stool outside the shower but this is in frequent. Other times people just walk around naked . We also resorted to holding clothes for a friend and passing them into the cubicle when needed.

 

[Kanga]

I've deleted several posts. Things were getting heated. A bit of miscommunication I hope.

 

[Tay and I]

There's usually a little private space outside the shower where you can keep your things dry, and where you can dress.

 

[Tay and I]

Very rare that there is a space which will allow dry clothes to stay dry in my experience .

I used a dry bag ( yes twists to a handle at the end ) as my washing bag so you could put your clean clothes in that and then once on full the bag with your dirty clothes .

Alternatively if you shower just before bed just put your pj on .

To be truthful it’s all an art and I found showers in many albergue ” gruesome”
When in a private hostel we danced for joy at towels and our own bathroom

 

[Kanga]

Me too. Both for the dry bag and the dance in a private bathroom! I take a medium sized dry bag into the showers - an ultra-sill nano. Use it to keep my clean clothes from getting wet, as well as for my valuables. The twisted top clips together and forms a handle, which I hang over the door handle if there is no hook.

 

[howlsthunder]

I like to have fancy stuff and I hate plastic crinkle noises so I bought a Sea-to-summit ultra-sil daypack - it collapses to the size of a clementine orange. I used that as a day-pack, to keep stuff in my big pack dry, and also to take stuff to the shower with me and to keep my valuables in my bunk with me if the situation called for it.

But to be honest, it's not really necessary. A cheap bag of any kind should work and can't remember any time where I was desperate to keep my stuff out of the way of spray. I had a little S-shaped double-clip carabiner to clip it up if I needed to.