Dagne Dover Diaper Bag Review: Are They Worth Your Money?
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When deciding on baby gear as a soon-to-be mom four years ago, I chose an inexpensive backpack-style diaper bag. Although I liked the bag’s look, it quickly became evident that the materials weren’t durable, and the design was lacking. There was no way to open the narrow bag wide enough to visualize its interior, and the Velcro snagged every time I reached inside.
Two months later, I was gifted the Wade Diaper Tote from Dagne Dover. The upgrade in functionality and quality was astounding. Having no prior familiarity with the brand, I quickly fell in love with Dagne’s entire line dedicated to parents.
In this Dagne Dover diaper bag review, I’ll discuss the details and features I love about the brand’s diaper bags, plus a couple additional products I use on a daily basis as a mom of two toddlers.
Dagne Dover Bags: Key Features
Dagne Dover is a women-founded handbag brand that prioritizes functionality, favoring clean lines and simple silouhettes. The brand’s luggage, backpacks, and handbags aren’t in the top-of-the-line designer range, but I wouldn’t consider them budget buys, either. Dagne sells everything from organizing pouches and reusable grocery bags to large duffles and leather totes, with prices ranging from $15 to $360.
Dagne Dover sells three types of diaper bags in its beloved, premium neoprene material: the tote-style Wade bag, the backpack-style Indi bag, and an on-the-go changing kit called the Joey. In general, Dagne bags are easy to care for, requiring intermittent hand washing.
Each Dagne Dover bag comes with an oversized “dust bag” that the brand recommends using to store and protect its products between uses. We love these multipurpose drawstring bags, using them for everything from toy storage to laundry bags at home and during travel.
Eco-friendly efforts
The Dagne Dover brand prides itself on prioritizing sustainability. Here are some key features that speak to the company’s environmental efforts:
- All Dagne bags are all non-toxic, using dyes that don’t contain hazardous chemicals.
- Most products are 100% vegan.
- To encourage waste reduction, the brand’s Almost Vintage website provides a central online spot to buy and sell used Dagne Dover goods.
- Every bag has recycled material in its lining, and some bags are made exclusively from recycled materials.
Dagne Dover Diaper Bags I Love
Read on for my detailed review of Dagne’s three diaper bags, including a tote-style option, a backpack-style option (which comes in three sizes!), and an on-the-go changing kit.
Wade Diaper Tote
- Approximate price: $215
- Dimensions: 16.3″ long by 6″ wide by 12″ high
- Volume: 19 liters
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Current color choices: onyx black, heather gray, moss green, dune mauve, and camel brown
- Materials: premium neoprene exterior with recycled poly interior and color-plated zinc alloy hardware
- Care instructions: hand wash with cold water and mild detergent, and lay flat to dry
The 100% vegan Wade Diaper Tote has been my diaper bag of choice for almost four years now. It has a 13″ laptop sleeve inside, which is a great spot to store a few coloring books. An exterior luggage sleeve keeps the bag hands-free at the airport, which has been a lifesaver particularly when I’m flying alone with our two kids.
The Wade has plenty of pockets for organization inside, including two mesh slip pockets (each large enough for two baby bottles!), two gusset slip pockets, and a clip for pacifiers or keys. Exterior pockets include a zipper pocket with three elastic loops and a D-ring, an easy-access wipes pocket, an additional gusset pocket, and a phone pocket. We’ve found the designated wipes spot to be clutch for those on-the-go diaper changes or messy hands at mealtime.
The Wade tote comes with a washable zipper bag, an insulated, removable neoprene water bottle holder, a zip-top pouch, a wipeable changing mat, and two stroller clips. I often use the washable zip bag as storage for dirty bibs and utensils at restaurants, or as a sneaky spot to hide the high-value snacks when flying (until I really need them!).
Why I love the Wade
The Wade is a large diaper bag without being too cumbersome to carry. It’s roomy enough to fit most breast pumps, or to pack the toys, snacks, diapering essentials, and extra toddler clothes I need on hand for a day of traveling. It’s the perfect bag for overnight stays, family restaurant nights, and all-day outings with the kids.
The tote style has always been my personal preference because it keeps everything I need right at my side, creating easy access to the bag’s contents without having to take off backpack straps and swing the bag around to where I can see it. If you prefer a backpack-style bag that still has all the great features of this precious tote, you’ll love Dagne’s (slightly smaller) Indi Diaper Backpack.
Indi Large Diaper Backpack
- Approximate price: $215
- Dimensions: 12.3″ long by 7″ wide by 13.8″ high
- Volume: 17 liters
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Current color choices
- Neoprene: onyx black, heather gray, moss green, dune mauve, storm blue, and camel brown
- Mesh: onyx black, moss green, and warm dust pink
- Materials: premium neoprene or recycled mesh exterior with recycled poly interior and color-plated zinc alloy hardware
- Care instructions: hand wash with cold water and mild detergent, and lay flat to dry
The Indi Large Diaper Backpack has similar features to the Wade, with a slightly narrower and taller shape. Instead of a shoulder strap, the Indi has two adjustable, padded backpack straps. Its 16″ laptop sleeve with Velcro closure is notably larger than the Wade’s.
The Indi comes with a washable zipper bag, two stroller slips, an insulated neoprene water bottle holder, a zip-top pouch, and a wipeable changing mat. Two detachable key leashes are great parent tools to keep pacifiers or teethers accessible when needed in a pinch. This backpack has two interior mesh slip pockets, two interior gusset slip pockets, two front exterior zip pockets, and two exterior gusset slip pockets. The exterior of the bag also has two hidden back zipper pockets to hold valuables close by.
I love how the Dagne diaper backpack has an extra-wide zipper opening at the top, allowing for full visualization of the main body of the bag. The ends of the zipper fold down and stay put with a quick-release buckle on either side of the bag.
Similar to the Wade, the Indi is 100% vegan. It has an exterior luggage sleeve to lighten parents’ load on travel day.
Why I love the Indi
Although it’s two liters smaller in total capacity than the Wade Diaper Tote, the Indi Large Diaper Backpack is still a great diaper bag for parents of two kids or twins, with plenty of room to spare. It’s ample enough to fit most breast pumps or all the essentials needed for a long day out with the family.
The beloved backpack style of the Indi and many other popular diaper backpacks saves our backs when walking long distances, carrying other gear with us, or traveling.
For parents who love this model but don’t need a backpack that’s quite as large, Dagne Dover sells the Indi in a medium size (with a 16.4-liter capacity) and a more compact small size (with a 10.7-liter capacity).
Joey Changing Kit
- Approximate price: $60
- Dimensions: 11.8″ long by 2″ wide by 8.3″ high
- Weight: 1.1 pounds
- Current color choices: onyx black, heather gray, moss green, dune mauve, and camel brown
- Materials: premium neoprene and mesh exterior with recycled poly interior and color-plated zinc alloy hardware
- Care instructions: hand wash with cold water and mild detergent, and lay flat to dry
Dagne Dover’s 100% vegan Joey Changing Kit is the diaper bag extra you didn’t know you needed. It has two interior slip pockets, which are large enough to hold 2 to 4 diapers each. It also has two interior zip pockets, one of which is big enough to house a full pack of wipes, while the other can fit smaller must-haves like diaper rash cream, lotion, or pacifiers. A zip-off changing mat with a wipeable changing area makes cleanup easy.
The Joey folds into itself when not in use, keeping everything contained with a quick-release buckle. Although it doesn’t have strap or handles, it does attach to the stroller with an included stroller clip.
Why I love the Joey
There are plenty of on-the-go changing kits on the market, but many have small changing mat areas or lack the space needed to store all those diapering must-haves. The Joey changing mat is ample enough for growing babies and toddlers who are not yet toilet-trained. Constructed with Dagne Dover’s high-quality materials and easy-to-clean fabrics, the Joey has held up well for us despite repeated use over the years.
The Joey is perfect for keeping in our car so that we know our diaper-changing needs are covered when away from home. It’s great for outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, or hitting the beach with the family, so there’s always a designated clean spot for unexpected diaper changes. I also love the Joey for organizing our diapering essentials for a babysitter or grandparent, or for toting along on shorter family outings when a fully stocked diaper bag isn’t needed.
Other Dagne Dover Mom Essentials
Although not advertised as parent bags, these last two products have become must-haves for my everyday mom errands and activities with the kids:
Small Dakota Backpack
- Approximate price: $155
- Dimensions: 9.5″ long by 5″ wide by 13″ high
- Volume: 8 liters
- Weight: 1.6 pounds
- Current color choices: onyx black, heather gray, moss green, dune mauve, storm blue, camel brown, microchip green-grey, and waffle fog light gray
- Materials: premium neoprene exterior with recycled poly interior and color-plated zinc alloy hardware
- Care instructions: hand wash with cold water and mild detergent, and lay flat to dry
The Small Dakota Backpack, which comes in an array of fashionable colors (including two limited-edition options), has an exterior phone pocket and two exterior slip pockets. On the interior, it sports a detachable key leash, two mesh slip pockets, a mesh tablet sleeve, and three zipper pockets on the bag’s front panel.
Why I love the Dakota
This 100% vegan backpack is perfect for that transition into the toddler stage, when little ones no longer require quite as many items on hand at all times. The tablet sleeve is a great spot to store a couple diapers and a pack of wipes. The rest of the bag is large enough to hold diaper rash cream, a water bottle, a snack, and a small board book or toy, as well as parent essentials like my phone, wallet, and keys.
The Dakota’s padded backpack straps make it easier to carry it around than the Joey changing kit. I’ve found this compact backpack to be a lifesaver on trips to the library with the kids, or activities like music or tumble class when I only need to have a few items with me.
Mara Phone Sling
- Approximate price: $75
- Dimensions: 7.5″ long by 1.5″ wide by 4.5″ high
- Weight: 0.4 pounds
- Current color choices
- Neoprene: onyx black, heather gray, moss green, dune mauve, storm blue, camel brown, and microchip green-grey
- Mesh: onyx black, moss green, and warm dust pink
- Materials: premium neoprene or recycled mesh exterior with recycled poly interior and color-plated zinc alloy hardware
- Care instructions: hand wash with cold water and mild detergent, and lay flat to dry
The Mara Phone Sling is a small crossbody bag that doubles as a wallet. Inside the chunky zipper, the sling has poly lining slip pocket, three card slots, and an elastic loop to hold lip balm (or a stick of baby sunscreen) in place. The exterior has an air mesh slip pocket. The adjustable, detachable crossbody strap ranges from 14 to 28 inches in length.
Why I love the Mara
The Mara keeps everything hands-free on busy errands with the kids. This is my go-to bag for running into the grocery store or the pharmacy with our two toddlers. It keeps what I need right at my side, so I can reach in to grab my credit card or my keys even while I’m holding our daughter on my hip.
This phone sling holds most phones without a problem, and it’s just large enough to fit a passport. I can easily fit my iPhone 14 Pro Max inside, along with my cards and cash (or a small card case), keys, and an emergency kid snack like a snack bar or a pack of teething wafers.
Dagne Dover Diaper Bag Review: The Final Verdict
Dagne Dover’s diaper bags and parent-oriented products are durable, functional, and beautiful. There’s no denying that the greatest drawback to the brand’s backpacks and totes is the upfront cost, which is higher than most competing diaper bags on the market.
From my experience using these bags, they’ve been worth the price tag. They hold up well over the years, and the initial investment prevents parents from having to replace their diaper bags with continued use, even as families grow.
For other essential parent bags, including some more budget-friendly styles, check out our guides for the best Dagne Dover dupes, the Best Travel Diaper Bags or the Best Diaper Bags for Two Kids.
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