Waterproof Bags for Recording Gear

So how do you keep recording gear completely dry when making a radio programme about kayaking?

We left it a bit late to answer this question, but our solution worked a treat. It goes back to a blog entry from last November when I wrote about AnyLock.co.uk food bags.

These were sturdy enough for the mini disc recorders. We slit a small hole in the bag, passed the mic cable through, then used strong black tape to seal the hole. The cable was bent back on itself, then another layer of tape applied.

Small personal microphones were sealed in condoms (we practice safe radio) and fastened just inside the top of our BAs with nappy pins.

I've been really impressed with the bags. One was a normal food bag, the other was slightly more expensive as it was meant to hold a phone or MP3 player on the beach. The sealing mechanism, which involves sliding a bar over the folded top, is impressively secure.

I tried using one of the big bags as a map case, and all was well until the rod accidentally snapped while ashore. It's longer than the small bags (obviously) so more vulnerable to breaking which off the water.

The company also makes big, sturdy zip-lock bags which are proving excellent at keeping dry parachute flares.