Dagne Dover Ace Neoprene Fanny Pack Review

As style editor, I’ve always leaned more towards fashion over function when it comes to travel clothing and accessories. So when the satirical fanny pack was rebranded as a stylish belt bag, I was beyond skeptical. Two years ago, I tried Dagne Dover’s Ace Fanny Pack for T+L’s fanny pack test, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I wore it during a four-week trip.

In a true enemies-to-lovers storyline, I left my trip a massive fan of the neoprene fanny pack, and bought myself a one-way ticket on the belt bag bandwagon. Over a dozen trips later, I still reach for this fanny pack since it’s impeccably easy to pair with all my travel outfits and it can hold more than enough travel essentials that this over-packer can’t leave home without. Testing the fanny pack also introduced me to Dagne Dover as a brand, and now I own seven of their bags and accessories that I regularly use and love.

How to Buy

Key Features

A Spacious and Organized Interior

I’m an overpacker when I travel, but also when I leave a hotel room, too. This means that my purse has to have room to hold my essentials, which includes my wallet, passport, sunglasses, lip balm, sunscreen, and a portable phone charger. I love that the main compartment of the Ace Fanny Pack can store all of these items, plus it offers a little extra room for miscellaneous items like a packable bag or a snack. Inside the main compartment, there are several slip pockets for my lip balm, ID or credit cards, and a key leash, which make it convenient for grabbing these items quickly. The front of the pouch has a mini zippered pocket, which I’ve really only used for coins since it’s not big enough for much else. I’ve also placed my ID in the hidden back slip pocket for going through the TSA security line—it really reduces the frenzied stress of having to locate my pass and ID when the line moves a little quicker than expected.

It’s Comfortable to Carry

The biggest deterrent for me for any fanny pack is styling it. I have a petite-ish frame, so a pouch can look huge on me. However, the Ace Fanny Pack is the perfect size that sits across my chest or on my waist without dragging me down with it. The strap can be adjusted to as long as 36 inches and it’s easy to switch up the length while walking (I’ve done it while wearing the pack and rushing to catch the subway). I love that I can shorten the strap and wear it as more of a shoulder bag when I want to dress it up for a nice dinner. During the day, I can wear it with jeans and a T-shirt, and it completes a casual outfit without looking overly sporty or touristy. 

The Fabric Is Easy to Clean and Protective

In my opinion, here’s where Dagne Dover bags truly shine: the signature neoprene material is so travel-friendly. I am a notorious spiller of things—lip gloss, coffee, sunscreen…you name it, I’ve spilled it in and on this bag. I’ve even transferred glitter eyeshadow all over this bag after a concert; all I had to do was dunk it in a cold, soapy bath, and it came out as good as new. The neoprene is also water-resistant, so it protects items packed away like wireless earbuds and phones. The material is thick and soft inside out, so I also toss my expensive sunglasses in there (I know, I know, I shouldn’t do that) trusting that they are protected from when I inevitably sit on the pack on accident. 

The Verdict

I own more than 10 fanny packs and sling bags now, but this one from Dagne Dover will always be my first and favorite one. It’s less sporty than other styles on the market, which sets it apart from the traditional fanny packs that may deter travelers (like, ahem, me). The pack is whatever you want it to be; whether hiking in the mountains or sightseeing in the city, it’s a true chameleon, which makes it worth every penny. 

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is an associate editor at Travel + Leisure, where she covers apparel, bags, shoes, and more. She owns more than seven Dagne Dover travel bags and accessories, but the Ace Fanny Pack is her favorite one to use in her daily life and while traveling. She has brought it with her on domestic trips to the West Coast and throughout Asia and Europe. 

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