If you’ve ever driven home from the beach with a soggy mask rolling around your passenger seat and sand working its way into every seam of a regular backpack, you already know why this guide exists. Snorkel gear isn’t hard to use — it’s hard to carry. Wet, salty, sandy equipment doesn’t play well with normal luggage, and most people don’t realize how much of a difference the right snorkeling bag makes until they’ve ruined a decent backpack or watched mold creep into a mask they packed away still damp.
This is where a dedicated snorkel backpack earns its keep. It’s not about having another piece of gear for the sake of it — it’s about keeping your mask, snorkel, and fins organized, letting wet equipment breathe instead of stew, and making the walk from car to shoreline (or hotel room to boat dock) something you don’t have to think twice about.
This guide is for anyone who snorkels more than once a year: families packing gear for multiple swimmers, travelers trying to fit fins into a carry-on, and boat-trip regulars who need something that can get wet without a second thought. If you only snorkel once on a single vacation, a plastic grocery bag will get you through — and we’ll be honest about that later on. But if snorkeling is a habit rather than a one-off, the difference between a purpose-built bag and a regular backpack shows up fast, usually the first time you pack gear that’s still wet.
Below, we’ll walk through what actually separates a good snorkel bag from a bad one, give you real picks for different situations, and help you land on the one that fits how you actually snorkel — not just what’s popular.
Table of Contents
- Quick Picks: Best Snorkel Bags at a Glance
- 10 Best Snorkel Backpacks & Snorkeling Gear Bags
- Snorkel Bag Comparison Table
- How to Choose the Best Snorkeling Gear Bag
- What Should You Put Inside a Snorkeling Bag?
- Do You Need a Special Snorkel Backpack?
- Can You Put Wet Snorkel Gear in a Backpack?
- How We Selected These Snorkel Bags
- Snorkel Bag Care Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict: Choosing the Best Snorkeling Bag
Quick Picks: Best Snorkel Bags at a Glance
Top Rated Snorkel Bags
Our favorite gear haulers for every type of trip.
| Category | Best For | Bag Type | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Most snorkelers | Backpack | Fits fins (including long ones) + organized storage |
| Best Budget | Beginners, occasional trips | Mesh bag | Affordable, lightweight, breathes well |
| Best Travel | Frequent flyers | Packable backpack | Folds flat, airline-friendly |
| Best Waterproof | Boat trips, valuables | Dry bag | Keeps phones and cameras dry |
| Best for Kids | Families | Small backpack | Lighter materials, smaller fit |
A few notes before you skim the table and click away: price generally tracks with material quality and zipper hardware more than brand name, capacity matters more than people expect (a bag that’s slightly too small will frustrate you every single trip), and “waterproof” and “mesh” solve two completely different problems — one keeps water out, the other lets water drain. You’ll want to know which one you actually need before you buy, and we’ll cover that in detail further down.
10 Best Snorkel Backpacks & Snorkeling Gear Bags
Best Overall
1. Best Overall Snorkel Backpack: Cressi Piovra / Cressi Gorilla Pro XL
Cressi has been making dive and snorkel gear long enough that their bags are designed by people who’ve actually had to pack fins after a dive, not just designers working from a spec sheet. The Piovra is built as a true backpack rather than a bag with straps bolted on — the difference shows up in how the weight sits on your shoulders once you’ve loaded it with wet gear.
What sets it apart is the way it handles fins. Most snorkel bags are sized around a mask and snorkel with fins as an afterthought, which means long fins either stick out the top or don’t fit at all. The Piovra’s main compartment is built long enough to hold full-length fins without forcing them in diagonally, and it includes a separate insulated pocket that most people use for drinks or snacks but that also works well for keeping a wet mask away from dry clothes.
Pros
- True backpack design distributes weight well
- Main compartment easily holds long fins
- Separate insulated pocket for drinks or wet masks
Cons
- Bulkier than minimalist mesh sacks
- Not a fully waterproof dry bag
Who it’s for: Snorkelers who want one bag that handles everything — regular trips, boat excursions, and general gear hauling — without having to think about which bag to grab.
Downsides: It’s bulkier than a minimalist mesh sack, and if you only own a basic three-piece set (mask, snorkel, short fins), you’re paying for capacity you won’t use. It’s also not a dry bag — the cooler pocket keeps things cold, not waterproof.
Best for: Regular snorkelers and anyone who dives occasionally too, since the bag comfortably outgrows basic snorkel-only use.
Best for Beginners
2. Best Mesh Snorkel Gear Bag for Beginners: Promate Mesh Drawstring Bag
If you’re not sure yet how often you’ll actually use this hobby, there’s no reason to overspend on your first bag. A simple mesh bag solves the two biggest early problems — wet gear and sand — without asking you to commit to anything more complicated.
The Promate bag uses a tighter weave than the flimsy mesh bags you sometimes see bundled free with a snorkel set, which matters more than it sounds like it should. Loose-weave mesh tends to snag on fin buckles and tear at the seams within a season; a tighter weave holds up to being tossed in a car trunk repeatedly.
Pros
- Tighter weave prevents snags on fin buckles
- Highly affordable and lightweight
- Allows wet gear to breathe and drain quickly
Cons
- No back padding or structure for long walks
- Offers zero protection from rain or spray
Who it’s for: Beginners, occasional vacation snorkelers, or anyone who wants a low-cost way to keep gear together without investing in a full backpack setup.
Downsides: No back padding or structure, so it’s not comfortable to carry loaded for long distances. It also offers zero protection from rain — mesh keeps gear dry from itself, not from the weather.
Best for: Getting started without overcommitting, or as a secondary bag for rinsed gear once you already own something else for travel.
Best Waterproof
3. Best Waterproof Snorkel Bag for Valuables: Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag (20L or 30L, Backpack Straps)
This is a different category of bag entirely, and it’s worth understanding why before you buy one instead of a mesh bag. A dry bag isn’t for your mask and fins — it’s for the things you can’t afford to get wet: your phone, car keys, wallet, or a camera. On a boat, spray comes from every direction, and a “water-resistant” zipper pouch isn’t the same thing as a fully sealed roll-top dry bag.
The Earth Pak’s roll-top closure is genuinely sealed when rolled correctly (three full folds minimum — a common mistake is rolling it only once or twice, which leaves it splash-resistant at best), and the 20L and 30L sizes come with real backpack straps rather than a single shoulder strap, which matters if you’re also carrying it any distance on land.
⚠️ Common Mistake
It’s not breathable, so it’s a poor choice for your actual wet snorkel gear — mask straps and rubber fins need airflow to dry, and sealing them in a dry bag on the ride home just traps moisture and smell. Use it for valuables, not gear.
Who it’s for: Boat snorkelers, anyone bringing a phone or camera near the water, and people snorkeling in conditions where spray or rain is likely.
Downsides: It’s not breathable, so it’s a poor choice for your actual wet snorkel gear — mask straps and rubber fins need airflow to dry, and sealing them in a dry bag on the ride home just traps moisture and smell. Use it for valuables, not gear.
Best for: Pairing with a mesh or backpack-style bag rather than replacing one — most experienced snorkelers end up owning both.
Best for Travel
4. Best Travel Snorkel Backpack: TUSA BA0103 Mesh Backpack
Packing snorkel gear for travel comes with its own problem: fins take up an awkward amount of suitcase space, and a rigid backpack just adds bulk to your luggage before you’ve even left home. The TUSA BA0103 solves this by folding down almost completely flat, so it packs inside your main suitcase on the way out and only becomes a full-size backpack once you’re actually using your gear.
The mesh panels are more durable than they look, and the padded straps hold up surprisingly well for something that folds flat — a lot of packable bags cut corners on strap padding to save weight, and you feel it after a mile of walking to a dive site.
Pros
- Folds completely flat for air travel
- Durable mesh panels withstand wear
- Padded straps offer real comfort
Cons
- Soft structure lacks crush protection
- Only fits short or travel fins
Who it’s for: Travelers who don’t want a dedicated gear bag taking up suitcase space for the outbound flight.
Downsides: Because it’s designed to pack flat, the structure is softer than a dedicated travel backpack — it won’t protect a mask from getting crushed if you toss other luggage on top of it. Pack your mask in its case separately if you’re worried about that.
Best for: Anyone flying to a snorkeling destination who wants their gear bag to take up zero extra space until they land.
Best for Kids
5. Best Snorkel Backpack for Kids: U.S. Divers Youth Snorkel Bag
A full-size bag on a kid’s back is a recipe for tripping hazards and straps that never sit right, which is really the whole case for a kids’ bag: it’s a fit and weight issue more than anything else. The U.S. Divers youth bag is sized down to match kid-size fins and masks, with a lighter mesh that doesn’t add unnecessary weight to what’s already an awkward load for a smaller frame.
Safety Note
It’s also worth mentioning as a safety point, not just a comfort one — an oversized or overloaded bag on a child can throw off their balance on wet rocks or boat ramps, which is exactly where you don’t want that.
Who it’s for: Families with kids old enough to carry their own gear but too small for adult-sized bags.
Downsides: Capacity is limited by design, so it won’t hold much beyond one set of kid gear plus maybe a towel. Don’t expect it to double as a family bag.
Best for: Kids carrying their own gear on family trips — check that fin length fits before buying, since some kids graduate to adult fin sizes earlier than you’d expect.
Best for Families
6. Best Large Snorkeling Gear Bag for Families: Scubapro Mesh Sack
Family snorkeling trips come with a packing problem that single-bag solutions don’t solve: multiple masks, multiple sets of fins, towels, and sunscreen, all needing to go somewhere that isn’t four separate bags. The Scubapro Mesh Sack is built at genuine dive-gear scale, which is more capacity than most snorkel-specific bags offer.
The padded strap setup is worth noting here specifically because family-size bags get heavy fast, and a strap that isn’t padded for that kind of load turns into a real problem by the end of a beach day.
Who it’s for: Families or small groups consolidating gear into one bag instead of several.
Downsides: It’s genuinely large and heavy once loaded — not something you want to carry any real distance solo. It also has minimal internal organization, so everything tends to end up in one big pile rather than separated compartments.
Best for: Group trips where one person is willing to be the designated gear-hauler, or car-adjacent beach days where you’re not walking far.
Best Budget
7. Best Budget Snorkel Bag: Phantom Aquatics Mesh Duffle Bag
Every gear category has a bag built for people who just want something functional without spending much, and this is that bag. It fits a full adult set — mask, snorkel, and fins — and the mesh ventilates well enough to prevent the mildew smell that cheaper bags are known for.
Being honest about what you’re getting at this price: the stitching and zipper pulls aren’t going to hold up to years of heavy use the way a Cressi or Mares bag will. If you snorkel a handful of times a year, that’s a fine trade-off. If you’re out on the water weekly, you’ll likely replace this sooner than a more durable option — worth factoring into the actual cost over time.
Who it’s for: Occasional snorkelers and anyone testing out the hobby who doesn’t want to commit to a premium bag yet.
Downsides: Lower-grade zippers and stitching mean a shorter lifespan under frequent use. Not built for saltwater exposure week after week.
Best for: Vacation snorkelers and beginners prioritizing price over long-term durability.
Heavy-Duty
8. Best Heavy-Duty Snorkel Gear Backpack: Mares Cruise Backpack Mesh Deluxe
Mares builds for the dive market first, and it shows in this bag — heavier-grade nylon, reinforced stitching at the stress points (strap attachments and the base, specifically, which is where cheaper bags fail first), and hardware that’s meant to handle boat decks and rocky shorelines rather than just sand.
If you’re snorkeling occasionally, this is more bag than you need. But if you’re out often enough that gear bags are a recurring expense, the upfront cost evens out against how many cheaper bags you’d otherwise replace.
Who it’s for: Frequent snorkelers, casual divers, or anyone hard on gear who’s tired of replacing bags every season or two.
Downsides: Heavier empty weight than mesh-only bags, and the price reflects the build quality — it’s not a budget pick.
Best for: Long-term use where durability matters more than upfront savings.
Best Floating
9. Best Floating Snorkel Bag: Stahlsac Panama Mesh Backpack
“Floating” is a bit of a loose category here worth clarifying upfront: this isn’t an inflatable buoy, and it’s not designed to be a flotation device for a person. What it does well is stay buoyant when loaded with lightweight gear like fins and a snorkel, which matters more than people expect if a bag ever goes overboard on a boat trip — a sinking gear bag is a real loss, not just an inconvenience.
Stahlsac’s build quality is a step up from typical mesh bags, and the brighter color options genuinely help with visibility if the bag ends up in the water, which is the actual safety benefit here rather than any claim about supporting a swimmer.
Who it’s for: Boat-based snorkeling trips where gear occasionally ends up in the water, intentionally or not.
Downsides: Buoyancy depends entirely on what’s inside — pack it with a wet towel or a water bottle and it won’t float the way it does with just fins and a mask. Don’t rely on it as a safety device for a person.
Best for: Boat excursions and open-water trips where a dropped bag is a realistic scenario.
Best for Minimalists
10. Best Small Snorkel Bag for Minimalists: Aqua Lung Departure Snorkel Bag
Not everyone needs to carry fins, a towel, and sunscreen in one bag. If your setup is a mask, a snorkel, and shorter travel fins, a bag built around that smaller footprint is more useful than a bigger bag you’re only partially filling.
The Departure bag is sized tightly around exactly that gear list, which keeps it compact enough to clip onto a larger travel bag or carry solo for a quick beach walk.
Who it’s for: Minimalist packers, day-trip snorkelers, and anyone using shorter travel fins rather than full-length ones.
Downsides: It genuinely won’t fit long or full-foot fins — check your fin length against the bag’s dimensions before ordering, since this is the single most common return reason for compact bags like this one.
Best for: Solo snorkelers and short trips where you’re not hauling extra gear or towels.
Snorkel Bag Comparison Table
| Bag | Type | Holds Long Fins? | Waterproof? | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cressi Piovra | Backpack | Yes | No | All-around use | Check Price |
| Promate Mesh Drawstring | Mesh | Depends on size | No | Beginners | Check Price |
| Earth Pak Dry Bag | Dry bag | No (not gear-focused) | Yes | Valuables on boats | Check Price |
| TUSA BA0103 | Packable backpack | Short/travel fins only | No | Air travel | Check Price |
| U.S. Divers Youth Bag | Small backpack | Kid-size only | No | Kids | Check Price |
| Scubapro Mesh Sack | Large mesh | Yes | No | Families/groups | Check Price |
| Phantom Aquatics Duffle | Mesh duffle | Yes | No | Budget buyers | Check Price |
| Mares Cruise Deluxe | Heavy-duty backpack | Yes | No | Frequent use | Check Price |
| Stahlsac Panama | Mesh backpack | Yes | No (buoyant, not sealed) | Boat trips | Check Price |
| Aqua Lung Departure | Compact bag | No | No | Minimalist/day trips | Check Price |
📋
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The Ultimate Snorkeling Trip Checklist
Never forget a piece of gear at home again. Download our free printable checklist to make packing for your next snorkeling adventure effortless.
- Essential gear and safety equipment
- Travel must-haves and clothing
- Waterproof protection for valuables
How to Choose the Best Snorkeling Gear Bag
1. Bag Size & Capacity
This is where most people get it wrong, usually by underestimating what they’ll actually carry. Rough guidelines that hold up in practice:
- Small bags — mask, snorkel, and small accessories only. Fine for day trips where fins stay in the car.
- Medium bags — mask, snorkel, and standard fins. This covers most solo snorkelers.
- Large bags — full family gear, towels, and extra clothing. Necessary for groups or all-day beach trips.
If you’re between sizes, size up. A bag that’s slightly too big just has extra room; a bag that’s slightly too small means you’re forcing zippers or leaving gear behind.
2. Mesh vs. Waterproof Snorkel Bags
These solve opposite problems, and mixing them up is the most common mistake first-time buyers make.
Mesh Bags
- Drain water and dry quickly
- Lightweight and breathable
- Offer no protection from rain or spray
Best for storing wet gear
Waterproof Bags
- Protect electronics and valuables
- Better suited to boat trips with spray
- Trap moisture and heat (poor for wet gear storage)
Best for protecting valuables
There’s also a middle ground worth knowing about: heavier vinyl or tarpaulin-style backpacks that aren’t fully mesh but include mesh drainage panels, usually along the base. These give you more structure and a bit of splash resistance while still letting water drain out instead of pooling. If you want one bag that leans slightly more protective than pure mesh without going full dry-bag, this hybrid style is worth looking for specifically.
3. Backpack vs. Traditional Snorkel Bag
| Backpack | Traditional Bag |
|---|---|
| Hands-free carrying | Simple, no straps to adjust |
| Better for travel and longer walks | Usually cheaper |
| More comfortable with heavier loads | Less internal organization |
Neither is objectively better — it depends on how far you’re carrying it and how much you’re carrying. A short walk from car to sand doesn’t need backpack straps. A hike down to a remote cove does.
4. Comfort & Shoulder Straps
If you’re buying a backpack-style bag, don’t skip past the strap details. Padding matters once a bag is loaded with wet gear, which is heavier than people expect — a wet towel alone adds real weight. Adjustability matters too, especially if more than one person in your household will be wearing it. Weight distribution is where cheaper bags fall apart first: unpadded straps dig in fast once you’re carrying fins and a towel together.
5. Material & Durability
Common materials and what they mean in practice:
- Nylon — durable and common in mid-to-high-end bags
- Polyester — slightly less abrasion-resistant but often more affordable
- PVC/vinyl — used in waterproof and hybrid bags, heavier but tougher against punctures
Expert Insight
One detail that gets overlooked but matters a lot in practice: zipper hardware. Standard metal zippers corrode quickly in saltwater and jam easily once sand works into the teeth. Look for molded plastic zippers (YKK is a name you’ll see often and for good reason) or marine-grade hardware specifically — it’s a small spec detail that determines whether your bag is still functional after a season of real use or stuck half-open after a few trips.
What Should You Put Inside a Snorkeling Bag?
Essential Gear
- Snorkel mask
- Snorkel
- Fins
- Rash guard
- Reef-safe sunscreen
Useful Accessories
- Anti-fog spray
- GoPro or camera
- Quick-dry towel
- Water bottle
- Waterproof phone pouch
A practical note most people learn the hard way: pack your fins so buckles and straps aren’t pressing directly against your mask lens. It’s a small habit that prevents scratched lenses over time. If you’re wondering exactly what you need for snorkeling, keeping these items organized in a dedicated bag is half the battle.
Do You Need a Special Snorkel Backpack?
Not always — and there’s no reason to pretend otherwise. A dedicated bag makes real sense if you fall into one of these categories:
- Frequent snorkelers who are packing and unpacking gear regularly
- Travelers flying with fins and masks
- Families managing multiple sets of gear at once
- Boat excursion regulars who need something that handles spray and salt
If you’re snorkeling once on a single vacation, you genuinely don’t need to buy anything special. A plastic bag or a spare tote will get your gear from the hotel to the beach and back without issue. Save the purchase for when snorkeling becomes something you do more than once.
Can You Put Wet Snorkel Gear in a Backpack?
You can, but not for long. This is where mold and that lingering rubber-and-mildew smell actually come from — gear packed away wet with no airflow. A few habits prevent it:
- Rinse gear with fresh water before packing it, even for a short car ride home
- Use a mesh bag (or a mesh compartment) for anything still damp
- Avoid sealing wet gear in a fully waterproof bag for more than the trip home
- Let everything air dry completely before long-term storage, ideally out of direct sun, which breaks down rubber and silicone over time
This is really the whole argument for owning a mesh bag even if your main bag is a solid backpack — ventilation isn’t optional for gear that spends its life wet. For more detailed cleaning instructions, check out our guide on how to clean snorkel gear.
How We Selected These Snorkel Bags
Our recommendations come from years of hands-on snorkeling and evaluating gear against the problems that actually show up in regular use, not spec sheets. We weighed:
- Durability under repeated saltwater and sand exposure
- Comfort when loaded, not just empty
- Realistic storage capacity for fins, masks, and accessories
- Water resistance where it’s actually needed
- How well a bag lets gear dry versus trapping moisture
- Practicality for travel and air transport
- Patterns in real user feedback, particularly around zipper and strap failures over time
Snorkel Bag Care Tips
Rinse thoroughly: Rinse with fresh water after every use, even if it wasn’t a saltwater day.
Avoid long-term dampness: Don’t store wet gear long-term — even mesh bags benefit from being fully emptied and aired out between trips.
Protect zippers: Protect zippers by rinsing sand out rather than forcing them shut.
Air dry completely: Air dry completely before packing gear away for storage.
Limit UV exposure: Avoid leaving bags in direct sunlight for extended periods, since UV exposure breaks down both mesh and rubber components faster than normal wear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best snorkel bag?
For most snorkelers, a backpack-style bag like the Cressi Piovra offers the best balance of capacity, comfort, and fin compatibility. If you’re just starting out or snorkeling occasionally, a simple mesh bag covers the basics without the added cost.
What size bag do I need for snorkeling gear?
A medium-size bag comfortably fits a mask, snorkel, and standard fins for one person. If you’re packing for a family or bringing towels and extra accessories, size up to a large bag.
Can a snorkel backpack hold fins?
It depends on the bag and your fin length. Standard-length fins fit in most medium and large bags. Long freediving-style fins are a different story — check the bag’s internal dimensions before buying, since they won’t fit in roughly 8 out of 10 standard snorkel bags on the market.
Are mesh snorkel bags better than backpacks?
Neither is universally better. Mesh bags win on drainage, weight, and price. Backpacks win on comfort, organization, and protection during travel. Many regular snorkelers end up owning one of each.
What is the best snorkel backpack for kids?
Look for a bag specifically sized for youth gear, like the U.S. Divers Youth Snorkel Bag, rather than putting a child in an adult-sized bag that throws off their balance.
Can I use a normal backpack for snorkeling?
You can for a single trip, but regular use will shorten its life fast. Normal backpacks aren’t built to handle wet gear, sand, or saltwater exposure, and they’ll trap moisture in ways that lead to mold and odor faster than a bag designed for it.
Final Verdict: Choosing the Best Snorkeling Bag
The Bottom Line
If you take one thing away from this guide, let it be this: match the bag to how you actually snorkel, not to what looks best in a listing photo. A boat-trip regular needs waterproof protection for valuables. A traveler needs something that packs flat. A family needs capacity. None of these are the same bag, and buying the wrong one is how you end up with gear that never quite fits right.
- Best overall: Cressi Piovra
- Best budget: Phantom Aquatics Mesh Duffle Bag
- Best travel: TUSA BA0103 Mesh Backpack
- Best waterproof: Earth Pak Dry Bag
- Best for kids: U.S. Divers Youth Snorkel Bag
A quality snorkeling bag is one of those accessories you appreciate every time you hit the water — not because it’s exciting gear, but because it quietly removes the friction of getting there. Choose based on your gear size, how you travel, and whether wet storage or waterproof protection matters more for your trips, and you’ll have what you need without overbuying.
