FjällrävenFjallraven Kanken

First, some background: I purchased my first Kanken on a trip to Canada in 2015. At first I was skeptical of the narrow unpadded straps, but the sales person told me she had thought that as well and that they work better than one might think. Ten years and several more Kankens later, I can say that she was right! The Kanken Original 16L is a fantastic choice for me. I recommend it for anyone who is short both in overall height and in the torso.I am 5’2, narrow shouldered and with a short torso. It is hard to find packs that carry a reasonable load and do not bother my neck or lower back. I find the Kanken capacity ideal for daily, casual use as well as a carry-on for flights. The open ended design means the bag can be packed and organized for a variety of purposes. It makes a fantastic camera bag, grocery bag and day pack for moderate excursions.I find the sternum straps that Fjallraven sells make the Kanken even more functional. I have a few in different colors and swap them out to change the look of the bag.I finally decided to leave a review because I am SO TIRED of reviews that fault the two side pockets for not fitting water bottles. A little research of the product, found on their website, makes clear that this bag was created in 1978. I for one am old enough to recall the 70s. No one, and I do mean no one, was carrying water, much less in personal bottles, in 1978. You were lucky to have soda or an old canteen that was your grandfather’s in the car on long trips. We used water fountains at school and moms who liked to splurge kept tiny paper cups by the sink.Doubtless that makes me sound old, but I hate seeing such a fantastic product maligned because some people do not understand the context in which it was created.I also admit that the straps will not feel good for some people. It’s important to remember with backpacks that they are not a one size fits all item. Everybody’s shoulders and necks are different. For example, one of my daughters loves the design of the Kanken, but it does not suit her neck and shoulders. My son, meanwhile, loves carrying one.The Original 16L Kanken is a high quality product. Its versatility and function have gotten me all around town and even around the world more than once. I have yet to wear one out and I look forward to many more years of use.

Love this color! And the price was great! These bags are durable and attractive. I use it instead of a purse.

Kanken is still my favorite backpack after one year. I must note that the color does fade away a little ,but I don't think that's too big of a problem. It is super comfortable on the shoulders and relieves the back from pain despite its thin straps. If you are carrying textbooks, for many students, we can hold it with the straps and it's still super sturdy. There are two main pockets, one small one in the front and the big zipper which goes all the way down and can open like a luggage. Even when I'm carrying heavy things, I don't feel much of the weight on my shoulders. It is definitely spacious and can hold numerous things; nice and rectangular shape which makes organizing easy. There is also a laptop compartment, however it is not cushioned, so you'd have to be careful nonetheless. Overall, its stylish, spacious, and easy on the back. i highly recommend this backpack!

I bought this for a hiking trip in Maine, it was a 4 hour long hike with lots of rocks and caves and this bag was really put to the test first day! I’ve had it for some time now and I use it daily for work and it still looks brand new. I love it so so much and even tho it looks small it holds A LOT!

The quality of this is fabulous. This is the second time I’ve bought this brand and I’ll be a loyal customer forever. The only “bad” thing I would say is that the straps are stiff with this new item and it will rub against the inner sides of one’s arms. But it’s not as bad once you loosen them.

Bag was great the person loved it

I have it till this day. very nicely crafted and I personally like that it’s simple and doesn’t have as many pockets as others. I do like how resistant it is. The only thing I dislike is the size of the side pockets that are designed to hold my water bottle. Most of my water bottles don’t even fit :(

The material is very rough and sturdy. I bought the frost green color from Happy Haus. Checking multiple blogs and websites, I looked for signs of a fake kanken all over my backpack. Seemed legit to me! The shoulder straps are meant to be tightened so that the back of the bag is up against your bag, but it is difficult to take off and less comfortable so I recommend that you give it two or three more inches in the straps. It fits my binders and folders snugly; the sides of the backpack and my folders and binders are a near close fit, leaving about an inch of leeway. It expands a lot more than I expected and is great for school life. If you want your backpack to stay more boxy regardless of its contents, I recommend that you keep the foam in it. Make sure to keep the slip in the front pocket, as this is often used to prove authenticity. When the package arrives, the material on the backpack is slightly wrinkled. They do straighten out later. The side pockets are quite big and are enough to fit water bottles.