StormBag on Shark Tank: The Sandless Sandbag That Impressed America
StormBag on Shark Tank
When StormBag appeared on ABC's Shark Tank, the pitch was simple: flooding is one of the most destructive and common natural disasters in the United States, and the primary flood defense tool — the traditional sandbag — requires sand, shovels, labor, and hours of preparation that most people do not have when a flood warning hits.
The Shark Tank appearance brought national attention to sandless flood protection technology and put StormBag in front of millions of viewers. Learn more about the episode on the Shark Tank page.
The Problem StormBag Solves
Traditional sandbags have been the default flood defense for over a century. The practical problems are significant:
- Sand sourcing: Sand must be available nearby. During emergencies, supply points are overwhelmed with long lines and limited quantities.
- Physical labor: Filling a sandbag requires a shovel, sand, and physical effort for every single bag.
- Time: A crew filling traditional sandbags takes 30+ minutes to protect a single entry point.
- Storage: Filled sandbags are heavy and cannot be pre-positioned at home.
StormBag eliminates all of these constraints. The bags ship and store at just 1 lb each. A homeowner can store enough bags to protect their entire home in a single bin, then deploy them alone in minutes when a flood watch is issued.
What Happened After Shark Tank
The Shark Tank appearance accelerated StormBag's growth and national recognition. Since the show, StormBag has earned:
- FEMA Approval for emergency flood mitigation use
- DHS Approval from the Department of Homeland Security
- National Guard Field Testing by U.S. military personnel in flood response operations
These government approvals represent independent federal evaluation of StormBag's performance. Learn more on the FEMA & DHS Approval page.
StormBag by the Numbers
- 1 lb dry weight per bag
- 33 lbs hydrated weight
- 3 minutes deployment time
- 4 gallons water absorbed per bag
- 23" x 13" footprint, 6" thick when hydrated
- FEMA & DHS Approved
- National Guard Field-Tested
- Made in the USA
How StormBag Works
StormBag's technology is based on super-absorbent polymer (SAP) — the same class of material used in industrial absorbents, engineered into a structured bag designed for flood barrier applications. Each bag stores flat and dry at 1 lb and roughly 1 inch thick. When exposed to water, the polymer core absorbs up to 4 gallons, expanding the bag to 33 lbs and 6 inches thick in approximately 3 minutes.
The result is a flood barrier that:
- Conforms to irregular floor surfaces to create a continuous seal
- Stacks in an overlapping brick-layer pattern for increased wall height
- Holds its protective mass throughout an extended flood event
- Works in fresh water and salt water — covering both inland and coastal flood scenarios
To see the full deployment process, visit the How StormBag Works page.
Get the Flood Protection Featured on Shark Tank
StormBag is available directly to homeowners, businesses, and municipalities. Shop StormBag flood protection and see why FEMA, DHS, and the National Guard all trust the original sandless sandbag. Use the Storm Protection Planner to calculate how many bags your property needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is StormBag from Shark Tank?
StormBag is a sandless sandbag featured on ABC's Shark Tank that uses super-absorbent polymer technology to replace traditional sand-filled bags. Each bag stores dry at 1 lb and activates with water in approximately 3 minutes, expanding to 33 lbs and 6 inches thick to form a flood barrier — no sand, no shovels, no crew required. StormBag is approved by both FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security for emergency flood mitigation use.
Where can I buy the sandless sandbag from Shark Tank?
StormBag is available directly at stormbag.co. You can order online and have bags shipped directly to your home. StormBag stores dry at just 1 lb per bag, so it's practical to keep a full supply on hand year-round — ready to deploy the moment a flood watch is issued.
Is StormBag FEMA approved?
Yes. StormBag is approved by both FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security for emergency flood mitigation use. It has also been field-tested by National Guard units in active flood response operations. These approvals reflect formal federal evaluation of the product's performance — not marketing claims.
How is StormBag different from a regular sandbag?
Traditional sandbags require you to have sand, a shovel, and physical labor available — often during the exact moment when supplies are scarce and time is short. StormBag requires only water. Each bag ships and stores at 1 lb, activates in 3 minutes, and can be deployed by a single person without any tools. It is also FEMA and DHS approved, a distinction no traditional sandbag product carries at the product level.
How many StormBags do I need to protect my home?
The number depends on how many entry points you are protecting and how high a barrier you need. A standard 36-inch doorway protected to 12 inches of height requires approximately 4–6 StormBags in two stacked rows. A garage entrance requires more. Use the Storm Protection Planner to calculate your specific requirements based on your home's entry points and local flood risk.
