Dry-thru bag for a bathing suit?
August 26, 2022 3:43 AM Subscribe
I’m looking for a waterproof bag that will allow my bathing suit to dry to some degree while inside. I know the technology exists because Matador has a waterproof soap bar bag that works fantastically.
I swim almost every day before a grueling job, and I need a solution for drying my suit because I can’t hang it up or lay anything out at work.
My pool has an extractor so the suit is only quite damp when I put it in the bag.
My search terms are getting me nowhere, but maybe a larger version of this type of bag just doesn’t exist.
I swim almost every day before a grueling job, and I need a solution for drying my suit because I can’t hang it up or lay anything out at work.
My pool has an extractor so the suit is only quite damp when I put it in the bag.
My search terms are getting me nowhere, but maybe a larger version of this type of bag just doesn’t exist.
You clearly don't want something fully waterproof, otherwise moisture couldn't escape. If you look at the reviews of the soap bag (which looks great, btw), people do mention that you have to be careful not to pack it up while it is dripping wet. So water can escape from the bag, but maybe not a lot at once?
I wonder if you could do something by layering a couple of cloth bags, so that some water could be absorbed from the swimsuit into the interior bag, but then not leak out the exterior bag? Luckily we're not talking about a lot of water here, since you've put the swimsuit through an extractor.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 5:23 AM on August 26, 2022
I wonder if you could do something by layering a couple of cloth bags, so that some water could be absorbed from the swimsuit into the interior bag, but then not leak out the exterior bag? Luckily we're not talking about a lot of water here, since you've put the swimsuit through an extractor.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 5:23 AM on August 26, 2022
Perhaps you could explain what you're trying to achieve? Have the swimsuit dry during the day without hanging it up to dry?
When I swam daily my objective was simply to have a dry swimsuit to put on the next day. A damp swimsuit should dry in a few hrs, i.e. over night. So I'd probably just take it home in a waterproof bag and hang it up to dry over night. If I worked very long hrs/felt I wasn't home long enough for my suit to airdry, I'd roll up the damp suit very tightly in a towel when I got home. What I mean is lay the towel flat, spread out swimsuit over it and then roll it up so that the swimsuit and the towel make a swiss roll ... swimsuit fabric does not touch swimsuit fabric directly when rolled up. That will take more moisture out of it and leave it barely damp meaning that it will be dry in the morning. And 24 hrs should be enough for the towel to dry again.
During summer months I've also been known to rely on the hot temperatures inside my parked car/boot of my parked car, to dry a few things. So if I wanted my damp swimsuit to dry I' probably just hang it over the back of my car seat. In theory, that would also work in winter. However, the inside temperature of parked cars gets high enough not to worry about moisture that evaporates from the suit making upholstery or carpets damp during the summer. That's not necessarily the case in winter so, I'd be reluctant to do that in winter, or at least to do it daily.
posted by koahiatamadl at 6:05 AM on August 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
When I swam daily my objective was simply to have a dry swimsuit to put on the next day. A damp swimsuit should dry in a few hrs, i.e. over night. So I'd probably just take it home in a waterproof bag and hang it up to dry over night. If I worked very long hrs/felt I wasn't home long enough for my suit to airdry, I'd roll up the damp suit very tightly in a towel when I got home. What I mean is lay the towel flat, spread out swimsuit over it and then roll it up so that the swimsuit and the towel make a swiss roll ... swimsuit fabric does not touch swimsuit fabric directly when rolled up. That will take more moisture out of it and leave it barely damp meaning that it will be dry in the morning. And 24 hrs should be enough for the towel to dry again.
During summer months I've also been known to rely on the hot temperatures inside my parked car/boot of my parked car, to dry a few things. So if I wanted my damp swimsuit to dry I' probably just hang it over the back of my car seat. In theory, that would also work in winter. However, the inside temperature of parked cars gets high enough not to worry about moisture that evaporates from the suit making upholstery or carpets damp during the summer. That's not necessarily the case in winter so, I'd be reluctant to do that in winter, or at least to do it daily.
posted by koahiatamadl at 6:05 AM on August 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
I believe what you’re looking for is a "breathable" waterproof bag, which is to say one that will stop liquid water from passing through but will allow evaporated water to escape.
The iconic brand/material that does this is called Gor-Tex. There are plenty of bags to choose from.
Disclaimer: I’ve been very happy with Gor-Tex jackets, but I’ve never used it explicitly for the purpose you are describing.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:59 AM on August 26, 2022
The iconic brand/material that does this is called Gor-Tex. There are plenty of bags to choose from.
Disclaimer: I’ve been very happy with Gor-Tex jackets, but I’ve never used it explicitly for the purpose you are describing.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:59 AM on August 26, 2022
Do you drive to work? I’ve found that laying things out to dry along my back windshield can be helpful.
posted by needs more cowbell at 9:02 AM on August 26, 2022
posted by needs more cowbell at 9:02 AM on August 26, 2022
Best answer: If you go to the actual Matador site and watch their video for the toiletry bag, it's clear most contemporary swimsuits will fit in there. I dunno about goggles, cap, and swimsuit, but almost definitely swimsuit. Maybe you could get a second one for goggles and cap.
posted by Don Pepino at 9:43 AM on August 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 9:43 AM on August 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
Slightly odd option— but how about the flipping the problem and get a wide mouth Nalgene bottle or wet bag and use that as a way to keep the clothes wet all day (could even pre fill it with a little sanitizing solution/detergent) and then just wring and hang up when you get home.
posted by Static Vagabond at 3:27 AM on August 27, 2022
posted by Static Vagabond at 3:27 AM on August 27, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks all, looks like the Matador toiletry bag is going to be my best bet— especially the zip-top version.
posted by octaviabutlerfan at 7:07 AM on August 27, 2022
posted by octaviabutlerfan at 7:07 AM on August 27, 2022
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posted by octaviabutlerfan at 3:51 AM on August 26, 2022