Ziploc instead of stuff sack

The problem I have with ziplock-type bags is getting a consistent and complete closure after the bag has had a little use. This probably says more about me than it does about ziplock bags though.

I did that for a while but went back to stuff sacks later. The reasons were:

1. The Ziplocs were noisy when breaking camp. I am an early riser and worried that I was waking my camp mates. Silnylon stuff sacks are quieter.
2. The Ziplocs leaked and the contents tended to expand to the full size of the bag. If they didn't do it the first time they did pretty soon.
3. I decided I like the shape of stuff sacks better. Purely personal preference though.

I liked that I could see what was in the Ziplocs and miss that with silnylon. I guess that Cuben fiber sacks would offer the same benefit, but thus far I have been too cheap to spring for them.

My experience matches Charles'. A pristine, freezer-weight, name-brand Ziplock will keep out the water and "vacuum pack" in the way your photo demonstrates. However, things don't stay pristine on my trips very long and a tiny knick by a tent peg, zipper or sharp pebble and the vacuum pack aspect goes away.

More substantial is the trash compactor bag, twisting the neck closed after blurring, and placed in a nylon stuff sack – that has served me well on canoe and kayak trips, but, you know, the boat floats* regardless of an extra few pounds.

I'm liking the Outdoor Products sil-nylon dry bags sold in a 3-pack. I've only got a year of use on them, and not a super busy outdoors year, but they've worked great, are lighter and quicker than the trash-compactor-stuff-sack combo and don't cost much at Walmart.

*except when it doesn't. I was on a boat that sunk in Cook Inlet last month (rather cold salt water) and most stuff was lost, and pretty much everything got very wet. But those drybags did their job for what was inside of them.

I was more impressed by my "Lifeproof" iPad case. When I went to retrieve my iPad off a beach 5 days later, it was still just fine.

Old, single zip, non-gripper Ziplocs would hold a vacuum great. We used to pack all our travel, bike touring, and backpack clothes and they would stay flat and wrinkly. Modern ones don't work so well. They also don't work in an ice chest where the bag is swimming in meltwater.

Jim

Use 'em all the time without any problems. Stuff my base layers etc. in a big one and use a sandwich bag for small items.

"I'm liking the Outdoor Products sil-nylon dry bags sold in a 3-pack."

The price looks good.

I have a few questions…

They are listed as 7.75" x 13"; 9.5" x 15.5"; and 6.75" x 10.75" x 22". Are the first two flat dimensions or diameter and length? Is the listed length before rolling the top down or after?

Did you seam seal them?