Best Silica Gel Desiccant

Assorted Silica Gel
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Silica gel desiccant is designed to remove excess moisture from enclosed spaces. Whether you are using it to keep your winter clothes fresh over the summer, or for keeping your stored ammo dry in your bunker, there is a silica gel packet designed just for you.

I use silica gel for my 3D printing filament so I've tried a lot of different varieties. Here's a list of the best ones I've used.

Bulk Buy

Dry Dry 200 packs

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Dry & Dry 5 Gram Silica Gel Packets

Small packets for small areas

These 2 inch packets are perfect for scattering around in a medium box to prevent moisture. I use these in my Christmas decorations box to keep the tinsel and pine cones from smelling. Just sprinkle a few of these in each box and they should be good all summer.

This particular link takes you to two packs of 50, which is more than enough to keep your clothes and Christmas decorations free from moisture over the summer months.

Hard Wearing

Hydrosorbent metal case silica

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HYDROSORBENT SG-40 Silica Gel Dehumidifier Desiccant

For sturdy applications

These desiccant trays are a little more sturdy than the normal cloth ones and are used in a more permanent way. These are great to have in boxes that don't have stuff that can be damaged — ammo boxes for example — and can be reused simply by putting them in the oven for a few hours.

Depending on your humidity level, these 40 gram trays should last you a pretty long time between recharges, especially if they are in an airtight container.

Best for Longevity

Dry Packs large silica

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Dry-Packs large silica packets

Heavy-duty

Weighing in at a massive 112 grams, these 6 inch silica packets are for heavy duty moisture absorption. I use these larger packets as a long term solution in boxes that very rarely get opened.

If you have keepsake boxes, or a box full of old photos that you rarely take it to look at, then these are the silica packets for you.

A Good Midrange

LotFancy Silica Packets

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Lot Fancy 10 gram silica gel packets

Moisture-free travel

These slightly larger gel packets work really well in my traveling gear. I sprinkle a few them in my camera bag, my laptop bag, and even my luggage when I travel. This keeps all my devices moisture free when traveling between different climates.

For Custom Uses

Intertek silica beads

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Interteck Packaging 5 LBS Desiccant Beads

Use it the way You want

This is something of an edge case, but having bulk beads instead of packets, makes it easy to customize your silica use.

I use these in my filament box by sprinkling them to a depth of about 1 inch at the bottom then use a metal cooling rack to sit the filament on. This makes the entire bottom of the box one big silica gel packet. It works amazingly well.

Suck it all out!

Keeping moisture away from your stored items is perhaps the best thing you can do to keep them safe until you need them next. Silica gel packets like the Dry & Dry 5 gram 100 pack sprinkled liberally in your boxes will reduce the risk of moisture damage and keep your materials safe.

If you are looking for something a little more DIY then the 5lb tub of silica beads is a fantastic choice. You can customize your desiccant container however you want when you have the loose beads available.

It's also important to remember that silica gel is reusable. Even once it is saturated most silica gel packets can be recharged by heating them to release the moisture locked in the gel. Just make sure you follow the instructions on the packet before cooking them!

AOP Writer