D20 Pins and Lanyards: How to Wear Your Dice Off the Table

Quick answer

If you want one wearable piece that starts conversations, pick a hard enamel D&D pin like the Owlbear D&D Pin and put it on your dice bag, jacket, or lanyard. If you want a daily-carry piece that holds keys, a badge, or a single lucky die, choose a wrist lanyard with a metal clip such as the Runes and Relics Wrist Lanyard. Buy the pin for display and the lanyard for function — they solve different problems.

Dice live in bags and cases for most of the week, which is exactly why wearable dice accessories are useful: they keep the hobby visible between sessions. A d20 pin, a dice lanyard, or a D&D enamel pin turns a tabletop interest into something you can carry to work, a convention, or a casual game night without hauling a full dice set.

The catch is that pins and lanyards wear very differently. A pin is decoration first, while a lanyard is a load-bearing accessory that has to survive keys, badges, and pocket friction. This guide covers what to look for, when each format makes sense, and how to avoid buying something that looks great in a product photo but fails in daily use.

Pin or lanyard: match the format to the job

A d20 pin or dnd enamel pin is a display object. It sits on a bag, jacket, dice case, or lanyard and communicates your hobby without asking anything of you. The Owlbear D&D Pin is a hard enamel pin measuring 1.75in x 1.5in, which is large enough to read across a table but still light enough for a denim jacket or canvas bag. Hard enamel is the more durable pin style because the surface is polished flat, so it resists snagging better than soft enamel.

A dice lanyard is a working accessory. The Runes and Relics Wrist Lanyard uses a nylon strap with a metal clip attachment, which is the right build for clipping keys, a badge, or a single lucky die. Wrist lanyards keep your hands free and stay attached during movement, while neck lanyards suit badges and convention passes. If you plan to attach anything heavier than a few keys, choose a metal clip over a plastic one.

• Buy the pin if you want visible fandom and low maintenance.
• Buy the lanyard if you want to carry keys, a badge, or one die hands-free.
• Buy both if you want a lanyard that also displays a pin — the metal clip gives you an anchor point.

What actually holds up to convention wear

Convention floors are hard on accessories. Pins get brushed against bags, lanyards get caught on chair arms, and both get shoved into pockets. The two features that matter most are attachment hardware and material. A metal clip on a nylon lanyard, as on the Runes and Relics Wrist Lanyard, handles repeated clipping and unclipping far better than a molded plastic hook. Hard enamel pins handle abrasion better than printed or soft enamel alternatives.

Size is the other practical factor. The Owlbear D&D Pin at 1.75in x 1.5in is a statement piece — it will not disappear on a large backpack, but it can feel heavy on a thin shirt. Smaller pins work better on lapels and lanyards. If you are building a pin collection for a single bag, mix sizes so the layout reads clearly instead of clustering everything at one scale.

• Check the attachment type before buying: metal clip beats plastic hook for daily carry.
• Hard enamel resists scratches better than soft enamel for pins that travel.
• Match pin size to fabric weight — large pins need sturdy material behind them.

How to build a wearable dice kit that stays useful

The most practical setup is one lanyard plus one or two pins. Clip the lanyard to your bag or belt loop, then pin your favorite d20 pin or dnd enamel pin to the strap. This keeps your hands free and gives you a place to store a single die for impromptu rolls. If you carry a full set, keep it in a dice bag and treat the lanyard as the everyday-carry layer.

Resist the urge to overload. A lanyard with five pins, a keyring, and a metal die becomes noisy and uncomfortable, and the weight pulls the strap out of shape. Two pins is usually the practical maximum for a wrist lanyard. If you want to display more, rotate them by season or campaign rather than wearing everything at once.

• One lanyard, one or two pins, one die — that is a complete wearable kit.
• Rotate pins by campaign or convention instead of stacking them all.
• Keep the lanyard clip empty of heavy metal dice if you walk long distances.

Matching wearable accessories to your existing dice

Wearable accessories work best when they echo the dice you actually use. If your table leans toward oversized statement dice, a large hard enamel pin matches that energy. If you favor compact resin sets, a smaller pin or a simple lanyard keeps the look consistent without competing. The goal is cohesion, not a uniform — a purple resin set and a gold-toned pin can look intentional if the metal tones agree.

Material is the honest constraint here. Metal dice are heavy, so a lanyard carrying a 30mm metal D20 will swing and pull noticeably. If you want to carry a die on your lanyard, a standard-size resin or acrylic die is the more comfortable choice. Save the oversized dice for the table and let the pin do the talking off the table.

• Match metal tones between pins and dice for a deliberate look.
• Carry a standard-size die on a lanyard, not a 30mm metal one.
• Use pins to represent a character or campaign; use the lanyard for utility.

Decision rules for buying wearable dice accessories

• If you want visible fandom with zero maintenance: Choose a hard enamel d20 pin or dnd enamel pin and mount it on a bag, jacket, or dice case. Hard enamel resists scratches and does not need cleaning beyond a wipe. Pin first, lanyard second.
• If you need to carry keys, a badge, or a die hands-free: Choose a lanyard with a metal clip attachment, like the Runes and Relics Wrist Lanyard. Metal clips survive repeated clipping better than plastic hooks. Check the clip material before you buy.
• If you want one piece that does both: Buy a wrist lanyard with a metal clip and add a single hard enamel pin to the strap. This gives you utility plus display without overloading the strap. Two pins maximum on a wrist lanyard.
• If you carry oversized metal dice: Do not hang a 30mm metal D20 from a lanyard for long periods — the weight swings and pulls. Carry a standard-size resin or acrylic die instead. Match die weight to strap strength.

Wearable pieces worth knowing

• Owlbear D&D Pin: Hard enamel pin with Owlbear design, 1.75in x 1.5in, with a 30-day money-back guarantee on all orders. Hard enamel and a readable size make it a durable statement pin for bags, jackets, dice cases, or lanyards.
• Runes and Relics Wrist Lanyard: Nylon wrist lanyard with Runes and Relics artwork and a metal clip attachment, with a 30-day money-back guarantee on all orders. The metal clip is the practical detail that lets you carry keys, a badge, or a lucky die without the attachment failing.

Who these accessories fit

Best for

• Players who want to show tabletop fandom at work, conventions, or game nights without carrying a full dice set
• Convention attendees who need a hands-free way to carry a badge, keys, or one lucky die
• Collectors building a pin display on a bag, jacket, or dice case

Not for

• Players looking for storage for a full 7-piece dice set — a dice bag or case is the better tool
• Anyone who wants to carry multiple heavy metal dice on their person all day
• Buyers who need a pin with a specific character or logo not shown in the current catalog

Wearable dice accessories work best when you treat them as two separate jobs: pins for display and lanyards for carry. Start with a hard enamel pin like the Owlbear D&D Pin if you want visibility, or a metal-clip wrist lanyard like the Runes and Relics Wrist Lanyard if you want utility. Add the second piece only when the first one has earned its place in your rotation.