The Ultimate Dance Bag Review

Once your dancer starts competing in more than a couple of routines, you might be ready to buy one of those dance bags that you see other families toting around. Or maybe your current bag is showing its age, or you’re unhappy with what you’ve already got. When you start researching your options, your head could spin with all of the different features, designs, and other factors that you’ll need to consider.

Recently, I solicited our Facebook community of dance moms for their feedback on their dance bags. As usual, they came through in fine style and offered their opinions on eight of the name-brand bags we hear and see often! Below, I’ve compiled their comments (keep in mind they may have been edited for organization and clarity). For more details, make sure to visit each manufacturer’s site.

Dream Duffel

Pros – Of all the brands mentioned in the comments of the Facebook post, Dream Duffel had the most feedback. Dance moms that had something positive to say about it cited its size, design, and price.

• “It’s big enough for all four costumes PLUS my dance mom emergency bag.” – Julia P.
• “Dream Duffel, to me, is the most durable. I had one for six years. Sold it. They repaired it and are still using it in year three.” – Jill L.
• “I’ve had the same Dream Duffel for nine years. It’s showing its age but I have one year left with my youngest so we are going to tough it out” – Dawn F.
• “My daughter used her Dream Duffel for about 13 years. It’s still in good shape.” – Janelle K.
• “They are well-made and durable.” – Lindsay S.
• “Love our Dream Duffel.” – Tami B.
• “We have a small, a medium, and a large Dream Duffel. I love them all, depending on how many costumes she has. I got them all used and have no complaints!” – Maryjo B.
• “We have the Dream Duffel recital bag (the one that stores flat). I like that I can put it away after the season.” – Terri W.
• “From a pricing standpoint, Dream Duffel was the most cost-effective. I like the design, including all the pockets. New ones have additional features (pockets and charging ports).” – Billie J.

Cons – The biggest issues for the Dream Duffel include maneuverability, construction, and especially the rack (or bar).

• “I don’t particularly care for the wheels (I prefer spinner wheels). I think it would be easier to maneuver.” – Jennifer G.
• “The actual construction and fabric was less than stellar. The rack leans.” – Billie J.
• “It would turn on its side while rolling.” – Jenna K.
• “The big zipper broke at the beginning of this season (season four).” – Kim G.
• “The trolley assembly broke on ours a few years back and I replaced that part ($55 plus). Then this past week, the zipper broke.” – Kelly O.
• “The bars always fell. It was not sturdy at all.” – Bonnie D.
• “The rack is too short for longer costumes. I bought the extender to add height for the medium bag, but it makes the rack feel unstable. On our large bag, the rack leans all the time.” – Lindsay S.
• “I had a Dream Duffel our first season and would honestly never go back to using one (I have a Glam’r Gear now).” – Stephanie K.
• “The bar was flimsy.” – Jenna K.

Glam’r Gear

Pros – Second to Dream Duffel in volume of feedback, Glam’r Gear was generally well-reviewed! Moms that had a Glam’r Gear praised the bag strongly, mentioning the features, maneuverability, size, and sturdiness.

• “I have the medium Glam’r Gear. It holds a lot and has held up well over the last 5+ years.” – Courtney W.
• “We love that they literally hold everything. The insulated cooler in the front is nice. We live where it’s cold, raining, and snowing during comp season so I don’t worry that things will get wet when we need to walk a little ways.” – Jennifer U.
• “I love how sturdy the bars are and how tall they go up to. I love that I can close the top while the bars are up, and you can put a lock on it if needed.”  Corrie J.
• “The bars are much taller and much sturdier and the bag wheels more easily (than the Dream Duffel).” – Bonnie D.
• “The insulated cooler pocket is super handy. It rolls on four wheels, so it’s easy to maneuver. It extends off the rack so it makes a mini changing room (also comes with a huge curtain). I can zip it up completely when the rack is up.” – Stephanie K.
• “The large size is huge. I used it as our suitcase for a convention weekend. There was room to spare.The rack is very thick and sturdy. It rolls on four wheels very smoothly and has a charging port.” – Jenna K.
• “I love our Glam’r Gear! It has four wheels so it’s easy to push and pull.” – Julie L.
• “The bag can be zipped with the rack up. It has a cooler pouch on the front and fits in my car.” – Julie L.
• “I like the way the poles are.” – Robyn B.

Cons – Moms cited the weight and bulkiness of the Glam’r Gear as its disadvantages.

• “They take up a lot of storage room and space in the car. They are heavy!” – Jennifer U.
• “I hate trying to get the top bar into the bag; it’s bulky and awkward and doesn’t break down smaller, so it makes it hard when your bag is fully loaded.” – Corrie J.
• “It doesn’t collapse for the off-season so it takes up a ton of space for half the year.” – Courtney W.
• “We used it one season and it won’t roll correctly (and the side is bent in).” – Jill L.
• “It’s very heavy.” – Jenna K.

Rac N Roll

Pros – Rac N Roll-owning dance moms loved the roominess and customer service the company provides.

• “It’s (made with) wipe-off material. It can hold up to 20 costumes. I had 10 costumes plus all the extras in the bottom with plenty of room to spare! And I pack ALOT! I’ve had other types as well (Diva Dolly, etc.) and this is by far my fave!” – Mara T.
• “Holds a ton of costumes.” – Corrie J.
• “It still looks new (after about six years). Customer service has been wonderful and answered all my questions promptly and kindly. We get about 10-12 costumes in it, along with shoes, snacks, drinks, a stool, and a mirror.” – Christa B.

Cons – Only one dance mom chimed in with a disadvantage of the Rac N Roll.

• “I wish the poles extended up a little taller and I wish I could zip the lid closed while the rack is up.” – Corrie J. 

Pack2Rack

Pros – Pack2Rack owners complimented several aspects of the bag, including room, durability, organization, and more.

• “We’re going into season seven with it and it still looks new. It folds down for easy storage in the off-season. Haven’t had to replace any parts and it doesn’t lean.” – Tammy M.
• “I love how much stuff it holds. The light gray lining makes finding everything very easy. It’s pretty easy to maneuver. I was quite pleased with customer service.” – Dawn W.
• “We love it for recital and show days. It holds everything we need for the long days. It has a USB port and multiple compartments that help us stay organized.” – Amy S.
• “Pack2Rack has been great for us. It’s held up great (five years) and one year held 21 costumes for recital.” – Keri S.

Cons – In addition to these issues, I found another:  The Pack2Rack website is down as I write this! At this moment (July 2022), you can only purchase Pack2Rack products through third-party websites.

• “The only problem is how big it is (we just don’t do a ton of dances).” – Dawn W.
• “It was nice but it wore out fast.” – Maryjo B.
• “We do not use it for comps or conventions because it is so heavy.” – Amy S.

Ovation Gear Performance 

Pros – The feedback for the Ovation Gear bag was overwhelmingly positive – not one reviewer left a single “con”! 

• “I can’t think of a single dislike.” – Brittany A.
• “She has had it for about five or six years and it is still in great condition. Very durable, since I am not gentle with it.” – Crystal L.
• “It holds so much – we love it!” – Samantha R.
• “(My dancer) loves the attached changing screens because it’s easy to assemble and disassemble so she can do it herself. I like that, at the end of the season, it folds down and she can roll it under her bed until we need it again. The max we’ve put in it is 10 costumes plus shoes, makeup kit, blanket, snacks, and a small cooler, but it could easily fit more costumes.” – Samantha R.
• “It’s on its seventh season and holding up perfectly.” – Robyn B.

Diva Dolly

Pros – Diva Dolly fans mentioned the organization and storage as plusses.

• “Absolutely love the organization of it! It is truly unmatched when it comes to organization, in my opinion! I was worried at first that when I put it on its side for transport, everything would fall all over the place but it doesn’t! Everything stays put!” – Katie T.
• “I love that it has so much storage for makeup, accessories, etc.” – Megan M.
• “I have always liked the Diva Dolly look and drawers.” – Billie J.

Cons – One reviewer left a tidbit of advice, and another reported difficulty fitting it into her vehicle.

• “Not a con, but more of a helpful nugget – be sure to never unfold it all the way but always at a 90-degree angle so it doesn’t tip. The only ‘con’ I’ve heard is the weight (but I can lift it in and out of the vehicle by myself).” – Katie T.
• “It doesn’t fit well in my trunk if the third row seats are up. I don’t like how heavy it is.” – Megan M.

Rhino Dance Trunk

Pros – Only one dance mom weighed in; she cited the storage and capacity as plusses.

• “It has amazing storage bins and can hold a ton of stuff.” – Tabitha T.

Cons – But she was not impressed by the maneuverability and weight.

• “It is beyond heavy and hard to maneuver. I only used it twice because it is so difficult to get around.” – Tabitha T.

Grit Dance Tower

Pros – Just one reviewer offered her opinion on the Grit Dance Tower. She had plenty of good things to say!

• “It’s super durable. It stands upright so there’s no digging for stuff. Pockets – it literally has room for everything. Even though it’s as big as my (very short) 11 year-old, she can roll it easily. It has handles on the side and bottom so it’s easy to get in and out of the car. We’ve had it for four seasons and it still looks brand new.” – Kerri D.

Cons – While the one dance mom mentioned how big it was, I personally saw one at our recital and immediately thought, “It’s way too small for us!” (to be fair, I have two dancers). Also, I couldn’t be sure if the bar would be tall enough to accommodate our longest costume (a jumpsuit).

• “It’s freaking huge.” – Kerri D.

Elite Dance Gear

Awhile back, the owner of Elite Dance Gear asked me to review their bag (commissioned link). They sent me one to try out, so we brought it when we were just competing the girls’ solos and duos.

Pros – I like that it’s fully collapsible, and is fairly easy to assemble. We used the outer pockets for snacks, drinks, instant cold packs, and more. We fit four costumes, a Caboodle, a roll-up toiletry organizer, and more in the Elite bag, so it was definitely helpful. Take a look at this video of Jocelyn assembling it in about a minute and a half).

Cons – I’ll be the first to admit that I’m spoiled on the telescopic garment rack I had with my Dream Duffel, so assembling it does take getting used to. At the start of 2022, some reviewers reported rust issues with the metal components of the bag. Wayne (the owner) generously offered those customers a refund plus $100 for their trouble, and the new bag is being stocked as I write this (April of 2023).

Zipping It All Up

If you’re shopping for a bag now (or in the near future), you might face limited options. Supply chain issues have impacted the dance bag industry, so many options are on backorder. You might have to look at some off-brand offerings (here’s a commissioned link for what Amazon’s got) if you need a bag right away. You can always comb local Marketplace pages, Craigslist, or some other site for used bags as well.

Whatever new bag you choose, keep your receipt handy (along with the best way to contact customer service) in case you have an issue. Remember, you’ve got this in the bag (sorry, couldn’t resist)! 

Now that you’ve researched the bag, it’s time to make sure you have all the Competition Day Essentials! Check here for HAIR, MAKEUP, and COSTUMING must-haves!

Don’t sweat the small stuff – unless it’s a big deal! Picking a competition bag can be one of a new dance mom’s toughest choices to make in this meme:  Decisions, Decisions.