The reliable way to keep your phone dry on a paddle board is a sealed roll-top dry bag. Roll the top down a few turns and clip it, and your phone stays dry even if the bag ends up in the water, and most dry bags float. A deck mount keeps your phone handy for photos and navigation, but it only guards against splash, not a full dunk, so pair a mount with a waterproof pouch if you use one. Assume you will fall in at some point and pack for it.
Falling off a paddle board is part of paddling, so the question is not whether your phone gets near the water but what happens when it does. A roll-top dry bag answers that. The rolled closure seals out water, keeps your phone and anything else you stash with it dry, and clips to a deck D-ring so it does not drift off if you go over.
A deck phone mount is a different tool for a different job. It holds your phone in view for a route, a photo, or a workout app, which is handy, but a mount is exposed to spray and does not survive a submersion. If you like paddling with your phone visible, run it in a waterproof case or pouch on the mount, and keep the dry bag as the backup for when things get wet.
One safety note: a dry bag helps your gear float, but it is not a life jacket and does not replace one. Wear a properly fitted flotation device, and keep your phone attached to the board or your bag rather than loose in a pocket where it can slip out when you fall.
The NIXY 10L Waterproof Dry Bag ($29) is a roll-top dry bag that seals out water and keeps a phone, keys, and a layer dry, with room to spare for a day on the water. Not sure you need one? Our quick answer on whether you need a dry bag makes the case, and you can see the full kit on the NIXY accessories collection page.
Frequently asked questions
Does a dry bag really keep a phone dry?
Yes, when it is sealed correctly. Roll the top down at least three turns before clipping the buckle so water cannot work in. Sealed that way, a roll-top dry bag keeps a phone dry even if it goes in the water, and most dry bags float, so it stays at the surface.
Can you use a phone mount on a paddle board instead?
A deck mount keeps your phone in view for photos and navigation, but it only protects against splash, not a full dunk. If you want your phone mounted, put it in a waterproof case or pouch first, and still carry a dry bag as backup for when you fall in.
Where should you keep your phone while paddle boarding?
In a sealed dry bag clipped to a deck D-ring, not loose in a pocket where it can fall out. Attaching the bag to the board means that if you go over, your phone stays with your gear instead of sinking. Keep it dry first, accessible second.
0 comments