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Few backpacks are as easy to recognize as the Kanken. It is a flat, rectangular daypack with two thin shoulder straps, a pair of top handles and a small round fox logo on the front. You see it on commuters, students, cyclists and travelers in every color imaginable. The surprising part is how little the design has changed since it first appeared, and how practical that simple shape still is.
Who makes it
The Kanken comes from Fjallraven, the Swedish outdoor brand. Fjallraven says it has existed since 1960, when it began in one man's basement with the goal of inspiring and enabling more people to walk with nature. Over the decades it has grown from backpacks and tents into a full outdoor company, but the Kanken remains one of its best known products.
According to Fjallraven, the Kanken was created in 1978 to help prevent back problems among Swedish schoolchildren. The idea was a light bag that spread its load evenly across the back. It soon became a common sight at preschools and nature schools across Sweden, and from there it spread to the rest of the world.
What the Kanken is
The classic Kanken is a 16 liter daypack. It is built from Vinylon F, a fabric Fjallraven describes as hard wearing and lightweight, able to withstand both dirt and wetness. The fabric is 100 percent vinylal, and the lining is a recycled 70 denier polyamide.
The layout is simple and well thought out. A long zip opens the entire main compartment, so you can see everything inside rather than digging through a narrow top opening. There are two flat side pockets and a zipped front pocket for small items. Inside the back panel sits a removable polyethylene foam pad that stops sharp contents poking into your back and doubles as a seat cushion when you stop on a cold bench or a damp rock.
- Volume: 16 liters
- Size: 36 by 27.5 by 12 centimeters
- Weight: about 300 grams
- Fabric: Vinylon F, 100 percent vinylal
- Lining: recycled 70 denier polyamide
- Pockets: zipped front pocket and two flat side pockets
- Extras: removable foam seat pad, top carry handles, reflective logo and an address label inside
Why it is cool
The Kanken works because it does not try to do too much. There is no complex harness, no hip belt and no maze of compartments. The rectangular shape sits close to the back and keeps the load compact, which is exactly what the original school bag brief asked for. At around 300 grams, it weighs very little before you put anything in it.
The top handles are a small detail that gets used constantly. You can grab the bag like a briefcase, hang it from a hook or lift it out of a car without fiddling with straps. The full length zip makes packing and unpacking quick, and the flat side pockets hold a transit card or a slim notebook.
The color range is part of the appeal too. Fjallraven offers the Kanken in a huge spread of shades, from muted greys and navy to bright orange, yellow and green. It is one of the few practical bags that also works as a personal style statement.
The wider Kanken family
The classic model is the starting point, but Fjallraven has built a whole family around it. The Kanken Mini is a smaller version for children or for adults who carry very little. The Kanken Laptop 15 and Laptop 17 add padded sleeves for computers. The Kanken Totepack combines the look of the backpack with a tote style carry. If you like the design but need a different size, there is probably a version that fits.
How to care for it
Vinylon F is easy to look after. Fjallraven recommends cleaning the bag with a soft brush and lukewarm water. Spot clean marks as they appear rather than letting dirt build up, and let the bag air dry fully before you pack it again. Empty the pockets now and then so crumbs and grit do not wear the lining. Treated this way, a Kanken can last for many years of daily use and still look neat.
Who should buy it
Buy the Kanken if you want a light, simple daypack for school, work, city walks or short trips, and if you value a bag that opens wide and packs flat. It suits people who carry a book, a water bottle, a sweater and a few small items, rather than a full office.
Skip the classic model if you need to carry a laptop every day or haul heavy loads on long hikes. The thin straps are comfortable with moderate weight but are not designed for heavy gear. In that case look at the Kanken Laptop versions or a technical hiking pack.
Kanken at Fjallraven
Fjallraven Kanken classic backpack
Fjallraven Kanken in more colors
Comparing bags? See our best carry on travel backpacks, our Topo Designs Rover Pack review, the Herschel Little America backpack and the Rains Backpack. Find more in our everyday carry hub.
