2026.09.09Disaster Preparedness

My Switch from Sandbags to Barrier Panels for Flood Prep

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In this post, I’m sharing my experience switching from sandbags to flood barrier panels for flood prep and how that made carrying them less of a chore. Just moving the sandbags was hard work.

I’ve found the panels light and easy to carry, and they seem to get more stable as the water rises, so I leave them set up during flood season. The product listing says each panel weighs about 1.3kg.
* Information as of September 2026.

Just moving the sandbags was hard work

For me, just carrying the sandbags was hard work. They’re heavy once they’re filled with sand, and I’d use up energy before I even got to stacking them.

Sandbag options include bags you fill with sand(Amazon) and absorbent sandbags that swell with water(Amazon). As I see it, either kind still takes work to carry and stack.

The panels are light and get steadier as the water rises

The panels themselves are light to begin with. I’ve found it helpful that they’re light enough for women to carry easily during setup. The product listing says each panel weighs about 1.3kg and measures 80cm wide × 25cm high × 20cm deep (about 233cm with 3 panels connected).

In my experience, they get more stable as the water rises, even with severe flash flooding or large volumes of muddy floodwater. I find that really handy. The manufacturer’s page says they work by using the weight of the floodwater to hold the water back.

The product listing says they can be folded up and put away when not needed, and that they’re reusable.

The manufacturer’s page says they should be set up on a flat surface with no protrusions, such as concrete or tile. It also says not to set them up during a tsunami or storm surge, and to place weights on them or secure them to a building in strong winds.

Summary

For me, just carrying the sandbags was a chore. The panels are light enough for women to carry, and I also appreciate that they get more stable as the water rises. I keep these panels set up during floods and similar situations. I also keep a portable toilet(Amazon) in the same spot as the flood barriers, in case the water supply is cut off.