Best Tote Bags for Fly Fishing: YETI vs Toadfish vs RUX

We compare the YETI Camino 35, Toadfish Waterproof Tote + Sling, and RUX Tote 30L, because your gear deserves better than a soggy duffel.

September 30, 2025 By Josh Bergan

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Looking for a waterproof tote bag that can handle waders, reels, and wet gear? We field-tested three standout options in real fishing conditions to see which one earns its stripes.

Whether you're hauling waders, reels, or a soggy sandwich from the drift boat, a reliable tote bag has become required equipment for me. So I tested three standout heavy-duty options built for wet, wild conditions: the YETI Camino Carryall 35, the Toadfish Waterproof Tote + Sling, and the RUX Waterproof Tote Bag 30L. Each brings its own flavor of durability, waterproofing, and fishy utility. Here's how they stack up.

YETI Camino Carryall 35: The Tank with Tact

A green YETI tote bag full of fishing gear on some riverside rocks. — $150 | basspro.com. (Josh Bergan photo)

Best for: Anglers who want a no-nonsense hauler with structure and grit.

Specs & Highlights

35L capacity
ThickSkin™ shell + EVA molded base
Deployable dividers for gear separation
Wide mouth opening, puncture-resistant build
Weight: ~3.1 lbs

Field Notes

The Camino 35 feels like it was built to survive a hurricane. It’s not fully submersible (open top), but the waterproof base and shell shrug off rain, mud, and saltwater with ease. The deployable dividers are great for organizing fly boxes, wet boots, and dry layers. It stands upright, cleans easily, and carries comfortably–even when loaded with a weekend’s worth of gear.

This one can carry weight–it actually has CrossBar™ handles to help with this. I have used this bag as a rock-hounding tote, filling it full of heavy stones. I currently use it as a boat bag for my raft, in which I keep PFDs, K-Pump, anchor, and more.

It has “deployable” dividers which perfectly stow growlers, and comes with exterior daisy-chain Hitchpoint™ grid attachment points.

Fly Fishing Fit

Perfect for tossing in the truck bed or boat deck. It’s not a dry bag, but it’s close—and the structure makes it ideal for quick access on the water.

Available in 20L, 35L (shown here), and 50L.

Toadfish’s combo system is a clever twist on traditional totes. It’s not submersible, but the DrySeal™ zipper on the interior pocket and attachable sling is tight and trustworthy, keeping gear bone-dry even in downpours. The sling detaches magnetically, giving you a minimalist pack for shoreline walks or quick errands, and attaches to other Toadfish packs. The sling also has daisy-chain attachment points for forceps, pliers, or knives. Interior compartments are well thought out—iPad or small-laptop sleeve, expandable side pockets–perfect for growlers, and exterior loops for full-brimmed hats or rod tubes. It’s stylish, functional, and built for saltwater abuse.

And anytime a brand can sneak a bottle opener onto its gear, it’ll get a big thumbs up from me.

Fly Fishing Fit

Ideal for coastal anglers who want a basecamp bag and a mobile sling. The waterproofing is legit, and the modularity makes it a standout for travel-heavy fishers.

$220 | toadfish.com

RUX Waterproof Tote Bag 30L: The Roll-Top Workhorse

A bronze RUX tote bag full of fishing gear on some riverside rocks. — $170 | rux.com. (Josh Bergan photo)

Best for: Minimalists who want dry-bag protection with tote convenience.

Specs & Highlights

30L capacity
Roll-top closure for full waterproof seal
840D TPU-coated nylon with RF-welded seams
Lash points for strapping to boats, bikes, or boards
Weight: ~19.4 oz

Field Notes

RUX’s tote is deceptively simple. It looks like a standard hauler, but hidden inside is a roll-top dry bag system that seals tight when needed. The structure is stiff enough to stand upright, and the padded base adds protection. It’s lightweight, clean-looking, and surprisingly modular—designed to nest into RUX’s larger gear systems.

It has both interior and exterior pockets–without zippers (anyone who’s owned a “waterproof” boat bag can attest that the zippers are notoriously fallible). It’s built with 840D TPU-coated waterproof nylon–which is a strong, heavy fabric–and RF-welded (radio-frequency welding, a process that uses high-frequency electromagnetic energy to heat and bond thermoplastic materials) seams.

RUX also has an "app" (a webpage, not an actual smartphone app) that helps users keep gear organized in their different RUX bags, keeps the location of the bag (it records the location each time the QR is scanned), offers packing lists, and more. Each RUX packs comes with a little white card that you can either scan or use the NFC feature to register and use. It's actually really cool.

Fly Fishing Fit

A great choice for backcountry missions or paddleboard anglers. The roll-top keeps gear dry and secure, and the lash points make it easy to strap down in sketchy conditions.

Also available in 15L and 50L sizes.

$170 | rux.com

If you want brute strength and simplicity, go YETI. For modular waterproofing and style, Toadfish wins. And if you’re chasing trout in remote waters, RUX’s roll-top design might be your new favorite companion.

Brand	Capacity	Waterproofing	Weight	Best For	Price
YETI	35L	Water-resistant shell	3.1 lbs	Boat deck, truck bed	$150
Toadfish	34L	DrySeal zipper on removable sling pack	4 lbs with sling	Coastal missions, modular use	$220
RUX	30L	Roll-top dry bag	19.4 oz	Backcountry, paddleboard	$170

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