The Top 3 Fjällräven Kanken Backpacks I Like
Hello and welcome to my post all about Fjällräven Kanken Backpacks!
This blog post is the first in a whole new series. We’ve done some serious testing and market research with these fabulous Kanken backpacks and have come up with a Top 3 recommendation. For each of the three backpacks we’re featuring, we’re focusing on the following four key areas:
- Main features and function of each backpack
- Who is each product aimed at?
- Why I think you’d buy one
- Any criticisms or negative points that might be worth noting
Got it? Great! Let’s dive straight in!
What makes the Kanken backpack special?
Where else could we start with this review than with an overview of what makes these backpacks so special. Fjällräven started out in the town of Örnsjöldsvik on the east coast of Sweden, miles from anywhere on any usual tour of Scandinavia.
In 1966 the company founder invented the G-1000 fabric – a mixture of tightly woven polyester and cotton that’s impregnated with Greenland wax to produce an incredibly durable material. This also allowed for garments made of this material to be adapted to different activities and weather conditions, something that’s obviously incredibly valuable.
By applying more of the wax to garments made of G-1000, water resistance is increased in addition to the product benefiting from an increased lifetime. Taking the wax off, which you can with heat, increases the breathability of the material which is better for the warmer weather. In garment as opposed to backpack form, G-1000 also provides the user with the added benefit of being UVA and UVB resistant.
With all this in mind, it’s easy to see why the Kanken backpack range is such a popular choice, no matter what daily routine you have.
The Kanken Foldsack No. 1
The Foldsack has a very simple design that allows the top of the backpack to be folded down and secured on the front of the bag via the straps and metal buckles. The main internal compartment can be used to store a laptop (up to 15-inch) with obvious care and attention to this idea as there’s padding at the floor of the compartment, which is just what you need if you are carrying a laptop or anything delicate.
Photo above from China Hao.
The backpack has an outer zip pocket (with YKK zips) that can be accessed even when the top is folded down. As you would expect, the Foldsack is made of G-1000, the Heavy Duty Eco variety, so you can be assured that whatever you store in this backpack is going to be well protected from the elements.
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The Kanken Foldsack No.1 – Specification
Made from the famous G-1000 waterproof material, this backpack will keep your 15-inch laptop nice and snug. Main dimensions are 24x36x45 (cm) and the weight (before you load it up) is approx. 590 grams. It comes with a well padded back and straps (adjustable) and has one additional outside compartment. Click Here to check the price and buy at Amazon. At the time of writing, this item was £151 GBP. |
One of the things you’ll immediately notice about this backpack is the difference between the photo above (which is obviously for display purposes) and the photos of the backpack in use. The one above looks much “fatter” than the one with the guy below wearing it and this brings us to the first point for discussion about this bag – The amount of space you have with it.
This backpack maxes out at about 16 liters of actual usable space, which is pretty big. What this means in practical terms is that you can get more than one laptop in here! The main compartment has enough room, as advertised, for a 15-inch laptop but there’s also a very generous front zipper pocket that can house a whole iPad Air 2!
Photo above from Carousell.
Like all Kanken bags, the Foldsack comes in a variety of different colors and if you go with a darker one, you’d find that this would definitely be a backpack that you could take to work, pretty much no matter what line of work you’re in. If you’re at school or college, this backpack will definitely do the job for you in terms of both looks and functionality.
In terms of criticism, there’s probably one point that’s worth bringing up. The front zipper pocket can sometimes be difficult to access due to it being obscured by the folded top. It’s not a major problem, it’s just a bit fiddly. As this is the case, it would probably be better if the backpack had another smaller zipper pocket lower down to avoid this niggle.
The Kanken No. 21 Outdoor Hiking Rucksack
The No.21 is a more classic design with the outdoor features that deliberately make it look more like a rucksack and this in itself tells you that it’s aimed at a more sporty and casual audience. That being said, the leather detailing on the edges and straps smarten it up quite a lot in the look and feel department. The main compartment is generous and has plenty of room for a laptop, seat pad, and even a thermos.
Photo above from Siam Backpacks.
The main compartment of this backpack is accessed via a top loading flap that’s secured with metal toggles and buckles. The inside is very well padded both at the back and the bottom for the all-important security you need to give to your laptop, tablet or other valuables. There is a second section to the main compartment in the bag and this could in itself accommodate a laptop of a smaller size (say something in the 13-inch range) which boots the storage capabilities of this backpack substantially.
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The Kanken No. 21 Hiking Rucksack – Specification
Made from the G-1000 waterproof material, this backpack will also house a 15-inch laptop in the main compartment. Dimensions are 44x28x13 (cm) and the weight (before you load it up) is approx. 900 grams. The backpack has a 20-liter capacity that can be accessed from both front and side pockets. Click Here to check the price and buy at Amazon. At the time of writing, this item was £128.30 GBP. |
The shoulder straps on this backpack perform fabulously when it comes to adjusting them. If you really want to have the backpack higher up on your shoulders for long treks, then no problem. Otherwise, if you want to wear it a bit more casual, you’re equally accommodated like the guy in the photo below.
Photo above from Fjällräven .
The construction of this Kanken backpack is fantastic. Any rain just runs off it as you would expect as it’s made using G-1000. The pack is very well padded and holds shape very well when in use and this means that even when it’s loaded full, you get the feeling that its strong, stable and comfortable to have on your back.
As with all of the Kanken backpacks in this article, you come to realize that they really are all-rounder’s when it comes to talking about why you’d buy them and who they’re aimed at. The fact that this backpack can handle laptops through to a thermos (and don’t forget the seat pad!) really does show how flexible it is in terms of use – in fact, you might go so far as to say that perhaps this backpack has a bit of an identity crisis; is it really a serious camping rucksack or is it a designer accessory?
So what is there not to like about this backpack? One word really – ventilation. The only real criticism that I can lay at this backpack is how warm the back of the pack can get when you’ve been wearing it for 30 minutes or more as the back of the pack and the straps aren’t too breathable.
The Raven 20
Our last Kanken under review isn’t a Kanken! OK, so I’ve cheated just a little bit, but this backpack is one I really like and is definitely worth a mention. The Raven 20 is a simple everyday backpack that’s equally happy out in the wild or supporting you in a more urban jungle. It has a decent color palette and looks the part.
Photo above from Urban Industry.
Like the other backpacks in this article, there’s ample space for a large laptop (up to 15-inch) and the main compartment where you’d store your machine is well padded. There’s also a handy fleece-lined zipped compartment that’s ideal for your sunnies or a mobile phone. There’s also an additional two pockets on the sides which are great for storing drinks bottles or anything else you might need to access quickly while on the go. The shoulder straps on this backpack are very well padded and comfortable.
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The Raven 20 – Specification
Made from the tough G-1000 waterproof material that’s 65% polyester and 35% cotton. Can store a laptop up to 15-inches in the main compartment. Dimensions are 27x45x20 (cm) and the weight (before contents) is about 670 grams. Storage capacity is approx. 20 liters. Click Here to check the price and buy at Amazon. At the time of writing, this item was £99.95 GBP. |
One of the things I really like about this backpack is it has all the Fjällräven characteristics (good quality material, hardwaring etc.) but the stylizing is different from the Kanken and this makes it very appealing to a wide audience of buyers and gives it more flexibility in how you’d use it.
The key thing about this bag is the comfort of the straps – this gives it great coverage for a range of uses. If you chose one of the darker colors, you really could take this to a business meeting just as easily as using it for a day out hiking and you’d never feel that the backpack was out of place. On this particular topic, if you don’t max out what you put in it, this backpack really does have more of a business casual look to it as opposed to being a hiking accessory.
Probably the most annoying thing about this backpack (but something that you can definitely live with) is the fact that it’s not as symmetrical as the standard Kanken and so it doesn’t have that great Kanken feature of being able to stand up on its own when you put it down under its own weight. That being said, it’s not a major problem as you can usually lean it up against something and that’s just fine.
As already discussed, in terms of who’s likely to buy this – like all the Fjällräven backpacks, they really do fit the widest possible audience and whatever you’re looking for, you’ll probably find a product that fits your need with this brand.
I hope that you’ve found this article on my favorite Kanken backpacks valuable. I’d love to hear any comments you might have in the section below. Don’t forget, there’s plenty more on similar topics and resources across the site for you to check out including a review of backpacks for guys, backpacks for the kids, and if you like the premium stuff, leather backpacks for men and women.
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