Fjällräven Kånken Bags

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The Kånken has barely changed since 1978, when Fjällräven designed it to stop Swedish schoolchildren developing back problems. Boxy, unstructured, Vinylon F fabric, one big compartment and a seat pad in the lid. Classic is

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About Fjällräven Kånken Bags

A bag designed for schoolchildren

In the 1970s Swedish doctors noticed a rise in back problems among schoolchildren, who were carrying shoulder bags loaded with books. Fjällräven's answer in 1978 was deliberately plain: a squared-off rucksack that sat high on the back, with two straps to spread the weight and a removable seat pad in the lid so children could sit on wet ground. It was made from Vinylon F, a fabric that repels water without coating and can be reproofed with warm water alone. Nothing about it was designed to be fashionable, which is largely why it still looks the way it does.

Which size

Classic is the original at 16 litres — enough for a day's things, a jumper and a packed lunch, but not a laptop unless it's small. Mini is the scaled-down version, closer to a bag for essentials than a rucksack. The Laptop models are the same shape stretched, sized for 13, 15 or 17 inch machines with a padded compartment, and they're the ones to look at for commuting. Kånken No. 2 swaps the Vinylon for heavier G-1000 with leather details, and Re-Kånken uses recycled polyester.

Beyond the backpack

The shape has spread. Hip packs, crossbody and sling bags carry the same fabric and logo patch in smaller formats. Weekender bags and totepacks handle more. Then there's the run of small things that go with them — pen cases, card and travel wallets, gear bags and pockets, toiletry bags, bottle pockets, keyrings, rain covers and the padded shoulder pads that make a loaded Kånken considerably more comfortable.

More Fjällräven in bags, accessories and the full collection.

Fjällräven Kånken Bags FAQs

To reduce back problems in Swedish schoolchildren. In the 1970s doctors linked the rise in back complaints to children carrying shoulder bags full of books, and Fjällräven's 1978 answer was a two-strap rucksack that sat high on the back and spread the load. The seat pad in the lid was for sitting on wet ground.
Size. Classic holds 16 litres — a day's things comfortably. Mini is roughly half that, which makes it a bag for essentials rather than a rucksack. Same shape, same fabric, same seat pad.
Not properly. The Classic has one open compartment with no padding, so a laptop sits unprotected. The Kånken Laptop models are the ones to choose — same shape, but taller with a padded sleeve for 13, 15 or 17 inch machines.
Recycled polyester, spun from plastic bottles, and dyed using a process that uses considerably less water than conventional dyeing. It's the same bag otherwise — same shape, same size, same seat pad.
The fabric the Kånken is made from. It repels water because of how the fibres behave rather than through a coating, and it can be reproofed by wiping it down with warm water. It doesn't need waxing or spray.
Water resistant rather than waterproof. Vinylon F sheds rain and the fabric doesn't soak through easily, but the zip isn't sealed. Rain covers are sold separately for heavier weather.
Yes. We stock Fjällräven at both Yards Store shops — 13 Old Bank Street in Manchester and 86 Pinstone Street in Sheffield. Colours differ between the two, so call ahead if you want a particular one.