This $13 Dry Bag Survived The World’s Biggest Water Gun Fight — And Now It Lives In My Suitcase

ConradTravel2025-07-173290
James Barrett

Every April,Thailandturns into a literal splash-happy frenzy. I’m not talking about one city or even one festival ground – the entire country gets wet. You’ll see people lining the streets with buckets, water guns, hoses and even inflatable pools. Whether you’re in the heart of Bangkok or on the island of Koh Samui,Songkrantakes over with joyful chaos.

As I packed for Thailand’s famously splash-happy festival, there was one thing I refused to leave home without: a $13 dry bag that I recently bought on Amazon.

Songkran is Thailand’s traditional New Year celebration. James Barrett

Songkran is Thailand’s traditional New Year celebration and comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “passage of the sun,” according to National Geographic Kids.

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Traditionally, people would clean their homes, visit temples, and gently pour water over elders’ hands as a blessing for the new year. While those traditions still happen, Songkran today also means turning the streets into a countrywide splash zone.

This year Thailand welcomed over 666,000 tourists for the New Year events. The festival was even featured on the latest season of “The White Lotus,” where the characters Jaclyn, Kate and Laurie get soaked as they walk down the street. I went to experience it firsthand, and I can say with confidence: no one makes it out dry.

I can say with confidence that no one makes it out dry. James Barrett

All around me, hoses sprayed from balconies, strangers ambushed me with buckets of water, and kids squirted me point-blank with giant neon water guns. But inside my bag? My phone, cash, and passport stayed bone-dry. I even pulled my phone out mid-fight to snap a photo, and the inside of the bag was as dry as the Nevada desert.

I was able to experience all the festivities with my personal belongings safe and dry – and with me at all times. If my phone got water-damaged thousands of miles from home, I’d have been screwed.

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Beyond Songkran, I’ve already used this dry bag on beach days, boat rides, and even just rainy city walks – anywhere you need to keep your stuff dry without worrying.

My phone, cash, and passport stayed bone-dry. James Barrett

My bag was easy to carry as I ran through the festival grounds with my super soaker.

Even with a giant water gun slung over my shoulder and dodging streams of water from every direction, the dry bag never got in the way. The adjustable strap let me wear it crossbody, so my hands were free to reload and fire back at unsuspecting strangers.

It was lightweight enough that I barely noticed it, yet sturdy enough to take a few splashes itself without slipping or sagging. By the time I ducked into an alley for a breather, it was still comfortably in place, my essentials dry and secure.

The translucent material helped me find my belongings quickly.

When you’re dripping wet in the middle of a water fight, the last thing you want is to fumble around for your phone or cash. The clear design made it easy to see exactly where everything was at a glance, without having to dig through pockets or unpack the whole bag.

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I could grab my phone to snap a few soaked selfies, then tuck it right back in, all in seconds. The bag also comes in various sizes — from 5 liters and up to 40 liters — and 11 colors. It comes with a special waterproof case for your phone too.

Most importantly, it gave me peace of mind in absolute chaos.

As fun as Songkran looks, there’s always that little worry in the back of my mind about protecting my phone. What if it gets ruined? What if I lose my cash or my passport? Having everything covered up and waterproof let me fully lean into the madness without stressing about what could go wrong.

Instead of clutching my pockets or trying to dodge every splash, I could just laugh with my friends and get completely drenched from head to toe. I’m already looking forward to returning to the festival next April — and you can bet I’ll have my dry bag with me.

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