Dry Bag vs Pillow Dry Bag: Which Zpacks Option to Pack?
By Zpacks | Level Up Your Next Adventure | Published: 2026-11-05
Category: Guides d'achat
Compare the Medium-Plus Dry Bag and Medium-Plus Pillow Dry Bag on weight, dual use, and packed size. Learn which one earns a spot in your ultralight pack.
Quick answer
Choose the Medium-Plus Pillow Dry Bag if you want one item to protect your gear and serve as a camp pillow; choose the standard Medium-Plus Dry Bag if you already carry a pillow or prefer to save the price difference for other gear.
The real trade-off: dual use vs. simplicity
The Pillow Dry Bag adds a soft micro fleece lining to half of the interior, so flipping it inside out turns your dry bag into a pillow. That dual purpose eliminates a separate pillow from your pack list. The standard Medium-Plus Dry Bag does the same waterproof packing job without the fleece, which keeps it simpler and less expensive. Neither option is inherently better; the right pick depends on whether you value one less item to carry or one less feature to pay for.
What the catalog does and does not tell you
Both bags share the same Medium-Plus size, so packed volume should be comparable. The catalog does not list exact weights for either model, so we cannot quantify the weight difference between the fleece-lined pillow version and the standard dry bag. If gram-level weight is your deciding factor, treat that missing specification as a reason to test both in person or ask the store before ordering.
Decision rules for packing either option
- If you want one item to do two jobs: Pick the Medium-Plus Pillow Dry Bag when you would otherwise bring a separate camp pillow. The fleece lining adds comfort without a second stuff sack, but you give up the lower price of the standard bag. Count the items you would leave at home; if it is one or more, the pillow version earns its place.
- If you already sleep fine on a stuff sack: Choose the Medium-Plus Dry Bag and use a spare layer or your jacket as a pillow. You keep the same waterproof capacity and spend less, but you give up the built-in fleece surface. No separate pillow means no extra item to track at camp.
- If packed size is your main concern: Both bags are the same Medium-Plus size, so volume should be similar. The catalog does not give exact weights, so compare them in person if every gram counts. Treat weight as unverified until you check the spec sheet or handle both bags.
Product facts
- Medium-Plus Pillow Dry Bag: Soft micro fleece is sewn to one half of the interior, and the bag flips inside out to become a pillow. You get a camp pillow without packing a separate inflatable or stuff sack pillow.
Medium-Plus Pillow Dry Bag - Medium-Plus Dry Bag: This size fits multiple clothing items or an average-sized sleeping bag, and a reviewer notes it fits perfectly into the Arc Blast sideways. It works as a primary clothing or sleeping bag stuff sack that slides into a side pocket or pack compartment.
Medium-Plus Dry Bag
Which should you pack?
Best for
- Backpackers who want a camp pillow without adding a separate item
- Anyone who values multifunctional gear and is willing to pay a little more
Not for
- Hikers who already carry a pillow or sleep comfortably on spare clothing
- Budget-focused packers who want the lowest-cost waterproof option
