Game Changing Gear: UL Bow Bag Dry Bag - Mindset Packs
The last few years of packrafting has seen a “battle of the bow bags” unfold on the cottage company platform. Some people prefer fully waterproof, leaving you a little SOL when your t-zip fails from constant use (which unfortunately is inevitable on a bow bag). Others swear by ultralight options that integrate seamlessly to backpacks, but have no waterproofing at all. For the past few years I have limited my filming on river to water-resistant cellphones and GoPro camera’s because I had yet to find any safe, reliable way to carry an expensive mirrorless downriver that was actually fully waterproof and easily accessible, and without adding tons of weight - until I found Mindset Packs UL DryBag Bow Bag. *(unsponsored/unaffiliated)
At a Glance:
3.6 ounces
Challenge Sailcloth EPLX200 and Ultra tape
Plastic rim stiffeners
Large grab handle
Angled seam
Flexible volume
Multi-Sport / Multi-Kit
$55.00 USD
Notice the angled seam to maximize space
Pictured with Mindset Packs UL Bowbag (also 10/10)
Field Testing
I picked up this UL dry bag on my way to a packrafting round up in Vera Cruz. I had tried a combination of standard softsided rolltop drybags, which all inevitably failed in one way or another. Based on past trips in Chiapas, I knew I needed something that could take a beating - constant water exposure, repeated opening and closing, and long days on the river - without compromising what was inside.
This bag delivered.
For five straight days, I carried a several-thousand-dollar camera, along with dry clothes, a repair kit, and food, without a single hint of leakage. Not even a damp seam. I could quickly pull my camera out between features and stash it again in seconds - fast enough to actually use it mid-run instead of treating it like fragile cargo.
I took a swim where I let myself run out the feature, the bag was fully submerged for almost a minute in the thrashing waves and my camera stayed bone dry.
I paired this dry bag with both the Mindset Packs UL Bowbag (shown above) and Sockdolager UL Bow Bag, and it integrated seamlessly with each. I used a simple “wet pocket / dry bag” system, keeping items like my pump (which stays wet all day anyway) loose in the bow bag, and storing sensitive gear like my camera in the dry bag.
My Favorite Features: Hands down the material, flexible size, and intuitive handle. The Sailcloth EPLX200 makes this thing bomb-proof. Not only is it tear-resistant and waterproof, On several days of the trip I carried this strung on a sling like a purse/bag and the integrity of the clip held up great too. The flexible size it perfect because I’m constantly changing what I need inside the “dry-bag” portion of my bow bag, and I can adjust without any wasted space or material. This also allows me to keep a truly “wet pocket” and “dry bag” separately in my bow bag. The handle made pulling it out and putting it back in perfectly, in one motion, every time.
Devil in the Details
Angled design
Fit perfectly into Mindset, Sockdolager, and Alpacka Raft bow bag
Fully tear-resistant waterproof
It can take a beating and full submersion
Intuitive side pull-handle
Makes it incredibly easy to maneuver in and out of the bow bag
Flexible volume size
I had room when I needed it, but it also didn’t waste space with extra material in the way when I had less inside
About Mindset Packs
Mindset Packs is a small, Moab-based outdoor gear company founded in 2021 by designer and guide Preston Henning that specializes in handcrafted, small-batch equipment for packrafting, climbing, and canyoneering. He designs and sews his products in-house, focusing on durable, highly functional gear like bow bags, backpacks, and technical accessories built for real-world expedition use. Mindset Packs emphasizes intuitive design, customization, and integration with specialized outdoor systems over mass production. In addition to selling gear, they offer custom builds, contract sewing, and design consulting, positioning themselves as a cottage-industry maker serving serious users who value craftsmanship and performance over mainstream branding.
I paired the Mindset Packs UL Drybag with the Mindset Packs UL Bow Bag and it will be my new running combo on the river.
GAME CHANGING GEAR SERIES IS ALWAYS UNSPONSORED/UNAFFILIATED
