Dagne Dover vs Quince: We tested the viral backpack and an affordable alternative to see which is better

Whenever I fly, I always bring a backpack as my personal item.

However, its $210 price tag gave me pause.

I compared both in terms of quality, comfort, and how well they carry my usual packing list.

Dagne Dover makes some of our favorite backpacks, beloved for their comfortable and sleek design.

The Dakota Neoprene is water resistant and shock absorbent, and has internal pockets galore.

Storage

The real test for these backpacks was to see how much they could hold.

Its added features, like the shoe bag and flap pockets, also made it easier to stay organized.

With theQuince backpack, I had to dig to access my smaller items, like my AirPods or chapstick.

I expected the Dagne Dover backpack to feel heavier, given its slightly larger size.

It had seemed that way when both bags were empty.

But once both bags were packed, I didn’t notice that one felt heavier than the other.

Despite filling each backpack to the brim, both felt comfortable to wear off-and-on all day.

The only slightly noticeable difference was that the Dakota straps have slightly better cushioning than the Quince backpack straps.

The Dakota backpack’s weakest point is still its price tag.

That said, the Dakota does everything it advertises (and more) in terms of storage and comfort.

I expect to wear mine for many years, so it’s more of an investment piece.

But for situations where every bit of storage and comfort counts, Dagne Dover is the winner.

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