Finding the best Fjallraven backpack for you

Fjallraven - Who are they and what do they stand for?

Fjällräven was founded in 1960 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, with the mission to provide thoughtful and sustainable pieces of outdoor gear that inspire generations of adventurers to enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer. Famed for the popular Kånken Backpack, the brand has since branched out into all aspects of outdoor adventure, including jackets, trekking trousers and accessories, all with the aim to provide the very best in innovative and sustainable outdoor clothing and equipment.

Fjallraven believes in making nature accessible: to enable and inspire more people to spend time in the outdoors. Their mission is to create products that people will take with them on their most memorable journeys and adventures. To do this, they seek to develop and create in a thoughtful manner and to design pieces for a lifetime of wear. Without the desire to chase fleeting fashion trends, they can instead stay focussed on quality and sustainability. Fjallraven are always looking for innovative ways to make their clothing using cleaner, more nature friendly ways. Utilizing recycled and organic materials, using products without PFC, and developing products that will last for generations are just a few of the steps they take on the journey of sustainability.

The Kanken Backpack

Fjallravens flagship backpack - conceived from the problem of back problems in school age children from heavy, lop sided book bags; founder Åke Nordin set about inventing a solution. The solution came in the shape of a comfortable, adjustable backpack with enough room to pack a4 books, school supplies and a packed lunch to boot. With pockets and sturdy carry handles, the Kanken was designed for function; to be practical and durable in order to see little people through the school year and beyond. Since its release in 1978, the Kanken has become loved all over the world by all ages and is undeniably one of Fjallraven's most popular product, for good reason. Its classic design, which has remained unchanged through the years, lends itself to its versatility. Once you've seen your first Kanken, be prepared to see them everywhere! From the office commute to a day trekking in the mountains, the Kanken is built for everyday journeys, whatever your every day looks like.

Why are Fjallraven Backpacks so popular?

The Kanken backpack has maintained a steadied fanbase since its creation due to a number of factors. For one its popularity transgresses age and gender, with its minimalist Scandinavian design a welcomed change from the thousands of styles of fashion backpacks released each year. The Kanken is a constant in a sea of fleeting trends, the only change is the expansion of its range including a Mini, a No.2 (featuring leather straps), the Laptop and the Re-Kanken which boasts being made from the use of 11 plastic bottles. Secondly, the Kanken is incredibly durable. Its use of original Vinylon F material repels moisture better than any other synthetic fabric - a tall claim which the Kanken manages to deliver. Fibres in the Vinylon F swell in humid weather for greater water resistance. Which is why the Kanken performs so well as an everyday backpack where the likelihood of rain is, lets just say in the UK, high. With the Kanken, you can have confidence that your belongings will be protected and kept dry. This tough exterior also lends itself to its longevity, with common feedback being that a Kanken can last for years of daily use where other similar backpacks begin to show wear and tear after only a few months. Designed for function, the Kanken is practical on all fronts. With two zippered compartments within the main body and two side pockets, the back pack has plenty storage and areas to organise your belongings. This design helps you find things easily, rather than one giant space to rummage for your pen or purse in. How many litres is a Fjallraven Kanken? The Classic Kanken holds 16L, plenty room for essentials on your daily commute or weekend adventure. Its padded shoulder straps offer welcome comfort for long days on the move and help to evenly distribute the weight of the items inside. A notable and quirky feature of the Kanken is its removeable seat cushion to always give you a comfortable place to sit, be it a bus stop or rocky hillside. For safety, the Fjallraven emblem on the front of the bag acts as a reflector when walking at night to keep you visible to cars. Kankens are easy to maintain as they are fully washable without the need for any re-waterproofing. This is perfect for outdoor adventure when your backpack succumbs to mud splatters, grass stains or spillages. Lastly, the Kanken is fun and colourful with 40 colour options across their range. The Kanken's style can be summarized as youthful and playful, a reminder that function doesn't always need to be serious. The broad range of colours helps you pick a Kanken which feels individual to you, expresses your personality or personal style. Fjallraven even allow you to create your own (The Kanken Me). This feature allows you to customise the colours on your Kanken, including choosing different colour straps, pockets and handles.

Best Fjallraven Backpack by Activity

Before taking the leap of faith and purchasing your first Fjallraven backpack, its worth thinking about what you want to use it for and what size of backpack is best suited to your lifestyle.

Daily Commute

Fjallraven's Kanken range is perfectly suited to everyday walking. The Classic Kanken and Kanken No.2 boasts a volume of 16L which is more than enough space for your trip in to the office. The main compartment is big enough to fit a small laptop as well as a couple of books. The zippered pocket allows for safekeeping of valuables as well as two open pockets on either side for more storage. If you need to carry a larger laptop, Fjallraven have released a range of Kanken Laptops in 13", 15" and 17" size.

Hiking

The Kanken's design lends itself well to days spent hiking. Not only does it provide plenty of space to pack the essentials, its comfortable straps will not cut into your shoulders as you tackle a steep hillside. The Classic Kanken was originally designed to evenly distribute the weight of your backpack, sit flat against your back and encourage straight posture, with the overall aim to prevent back problems. This is invaluable to a keen adventurer where a healthy back is paramount to the sport. The removeable seat cushion is a welcome feature when you need a well earned rest on your hike. Fjallraven have also included a Kanken Tree into their range which although slightly smaller at volume 14L, features a large flat front pocket perfect for a map, as well as front loops to feed through or clip on items and straps for fastening bulky belongings such as coats or matts underneath. The exterior is made from Pine Weave using trees from the Kanken's birthplace in Örnsköldsvik, and has a waxy, natural melange effect finish.

Travelling

Now that the world has opened back up, there is no better time to get back to exploring the world. The Kanken Classic is perfect hand luggage size with its dimensions sitting at 38cm x 27cm x 13cm and really can hold more than you would initially think. It also packs away easily for carrying in a suitcase and its super strong zipper prevents breaking to keep your trusted belongings safe.

A Final Word

You don't need to go far before you will come across the iconic Fjallraven Kanken backpack, with them even appearing on TV screens and film. However, what we love most about the Kanken here at Humes Outfitters is how easily it turns a first time trier into a Kanken fan for life. Although your backpack will hold up for years of adventures with you like a faithful friend, the hard part is stopping at one when there are so many colours and combinations to choose from.

If you need any help selecting the best Fjallraven backpack for you, give our friendly customer service team a call on 01573 224 620 and if you are already the proud owner of a Kanken, tell us all the reasons you love it on social media with #Humesoutandabout.