The closures are entirely waterproof. The Travel Pak has a roll-top closure while the Carry-on features a dry suit type zip. Both are submersible. For real (we tried).

Looking into the Travel Pak here. Just enough room to keep a phone, wallet, t-shirt and snack dry if you are on the water.

The Travel Pack has a front pouch for smaller items that you may want to access without getting into the main compartment..

Here’s a close-up in the Carry-on’s burly YKK® watertight zipper. No messing around.

Note the RF-welded seams. More bomberness.

Hummingbird kit at work. First—top of the class at Mount Carlyle Lodge, second, heading across Kootenay Lake for a boy’s fishing weekend.

Travel Pak:
- Roll-top closure system is fully waterproof.
- Removable waist belt and D-rings provide multiple carrying options.
- External pocket offers quick access to essentials.
- Top-loading access makes packing and unpacking a snap.
- PVC-Free    X
- Made in U.S.A.
- Closure: roll-down

Carry-on Zip: 
- Much lighter than comparable products of similar volume.
- Submersible, diagonal YKK® zipper keeps out the elements while offering easy access.
- Rugged, RF-welded 19-oz. scrim-reinforced vinyl ensures lasting protection.
- Three-point carrying system doubles as a backpack.
- Can be packed to meet any carry-on requirements worldwide.
- Made in U.S.A. of U.S. and imported materials
- Closure    waterproof YKK zipper

These items really shine when the weather doesn’t. You can chuck them on a kayak, paddleboard, motorcycle, chicken bus, etc. and not worry about your contents getting wet in crappy weather. The colours are vibrant and hold true after years of use, making them easy to spot from a distance. I love pockets so I think the Carry-on could benefit from something on the side (like the Travel Pak has) to stash things you don’t want to get swallowed up in your bag.

Though the Travel Pak does have one of the pockets (which I admitted to craving) on the side, it has a little water draining grommet at the bottom which lets the water out. Importantly, it also lets the water in—so forget about stashing anything you want to stay dry in there. This is the kind of thing I am sure Hummingbird designers made a call on after discussing it at length. I just don’t get it.

I love the fact that these bags transcend the seasons and environment. There are some instances where you must have a dry bag—like paddleboarding—and the Travel Pak and Carry-on Zip work like champs. What is super cool, is how they work well as all-around and even fly-into-a-city luggage. A testament to their style.