- If you don't know the name,
you will definitely recognize
the cute arctic fox logo.
Swedish brand, Fjällräven, has taken the world by storm
in the last few years with their Kånken backpack range
largely thanks to the fashionistas of today
picking it as their day pack of choice
in cities all around the world.
But Fjällräven is so much more than
just a fashion statement.
It's actually a solid brand
that's been around since the '60s
and believes in making products that are durable,
reliable, and good for the environment too.
In this video, we're going to be taking a look
at some of our favorite Fjällräven products
and yes, the Kånken backpack if one of them.
Just a note, this video is not sponsored
by Fjällräven or anyone else.
We've been traveling with their gear for years
for put it for some serious testing
and we've written detailed reviews
of several of the products we're going to cover
over on packHacker.com.
We'll leave a link in the description
so you can check them out.
So without further ado, let go into what we like
and don't like about this Fjällräven gear.
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Starting off with the smallest product on the list,
the Fjällräven Kånken card wallet.
Everyone needs a place to keep their cards,
cash, and coins safe and organized
when they're on the go,
and we've found that this thing has
just enough room to fit the essentials.
It's made of Fjällräven's cornerstone G1000 fabric
which is hard-wearing, good in the hand,
and can be waxed for additional weather resistance.
This thing specifically is the Heavy Duty
Eco S variety, which goes the extra mile on toughness
plus it's a little softer and made of recycled
polyester and organic cotton too.
Now, this is a little bulkier
than other minimal card wallets on the market
but if you're a fan of that Kånken style,
then you're probably willing to make that trade-off.
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Now, before we mention anything else,
we just want to say that we really like the aesthetic
of the Fjällräven Ulvo 23.
It's rounded shape, elegant stitching,
and old fashioned type on the logo tag
come together to create a bag
that's somehow both heritage and modern.
We've been testing the mounting blue colorway
but you can also pick it up in black and red gold.
Fjällräven usually sticks to subdued, earthy tones
so we're not surprised by these colorways.
Taking a look at the front quick wrap pocket,
this thing opens vertically,
which is really handy if you need to
swing this pack around and access it.
But just a note, it does encourage
your stuff inside to fall
into a disorganized jumble,
which we're not big fans of.
Overall, it's a really solid day pack
if you're looking for a Fjällräven pack
but you're not a fan of the Kånken.
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Simple, durable, and effective,
the Fjällräven Gear Pocket makes a great travel accessory.
So much so, in fact, that I've personally been testing
this across Miami, Detroit, Spain, and the UK.
There really is nothing crazy going on here.
It's just a simple pouch with a zipper,
but that's what we love about it.
It's versatile enough to carry whatever
miscellaneous items you don't want
bouncing around the bottom of your backpack,
like tech accessories and in-flight essentials
as an example.
Fjällräven suggests also using this as a toiletry pouch,
but when we were testing this out,
we put our makeup brushes in it,
and it did stain the material.
Now, the stain faded over time,
but it's just something to be wary of.
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Whether your back has a dedicated
laptop sleeve or not, we typically recommend
popping your laptop into a case,
and the Fjällräven Kånken laptop case
is a solid option.
Straight off the bat, we have to say
that our black version picked up a lot of fluff
and marks on the outside during testing,
and while that's not necessarily a deal-breaker,
it was a real pain and we felt like
it really effected the aesthetic.
And if you've already got a laptop sleeve,
we wouldn't necessarily run straight
out to replace it with this one,
the one you already have will be just fine,
unless it's falling apart.
On a positive note, we like the amount
of padding there is, and you feel confident
that your laptop is going to be a-okay
when you throw it inside.
And as an added bonus, where padding
typically means additional bulk,
this thing stays sleek and streamlined.
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With it's Scandinavian style
and impressive internal organization,
the Fjällräven Travel Pack
makes a great companion for weekend city breaks.
We've tested this pack for over two months
across the UK, France and Germany and Europe,
and we particularly like how it doesn't
instantly label you as a tourist
compared to some other travel
and hiking packs on the market.
What we found really interesting on this bag
is that it opens up full clamshell style
and actually packs like a suitcase,
which can be really helpful.
And the quick grab pockets
were all useful and well designed too.
We were let down a little bit
when it comes to carry,
as there's no option for a sternum strap
or hip belt, which can really hamper
the overall comfort, especially
when this thing is fully loaded.
But all in all, if you're city hopping,
you dig the asthetic
or you're not planning on carrying it
for long periods of time,
then this maybe a worthy pickup.
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Essentially an external pocket
with a little extra room and a strap,
The Fjällräven Greenland Pocket
is durable, minimal, and just
the right size for urban adventures.
This cross body bag, which is just a larger
iteration of Fjällräven's classic pocket,
wears nicely across the chest
and is adjustable to your style and use case too.
Taking a look inside, there's a surprising
amount of internal organization in this thing
for such a little bag.
There's a front pocket which has another
smaller pocket inside, that we found ideal
for our foldable Rove sunglasses.
Then there's a zippered main compartment
that has a divider sleeve at the back
for added organization.
And finally, there's a zippered back pocket
that's perfect for a passport.
Due to it's size and durability,
the Fjällräven Greenland Pocket
makes for a perfect personal item.
We just wish it didn't pick up
as much dust and fluff, which seems to be
a running theme with the G1000 fabric.
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The Kånken backpack is typically
most people's first experience
with a Fjällräven product.
And of course, we had to feature it on this list.
But did you know just how many
different varieties of Kånken backpacks there are?
For instance, this is the Re-Kånken,
a special edition of the original,
but made with recycled plastic bottles.
We've also done full reviews of the mini Kånken
and the 13" Laptop Backpack
that we've tested for three years
across three different continents.
Yes, you heard that right,
we're big fans of the laptop versions
as they of course have a dedicated space
for your laptop at the back,
and they come with padded shoulder straps too,
which the other versions don't have,
but you can purchase the pads to add on.
Now, we can't say the Kånken
is the absolute best day pack that you can buy,
but it did really well in our testing,
it's a huge hit with a lot of people,
and it's really stood the test of time.
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The Fjällräven Kånken Photo Insert
is a camera cube that's designed
to fit within the Kånken, no surprises there.
We've been testing the small size,
but Fjällräven do make a larger version too.
Taking a look inside, the interior is made
from thick, soft padding,
with dividers that are secured with Velcro,
so you can make it work for
whatever setup you've got.
But, when you put the insert inside the Kånken,
it takes up about 2/3 of the usable interior space.
At that point, your backpack is essentially
a carrying case for your carrying case,
with a little extra room for a sweatshirt,
or something like that.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing,
but it's something to note,
and we've preferred to use it
with larger bags, so we can have space
for our other stuff too.
If we only wanted to carry a camera,
we'd probably opt for a specific
camera backpack or a sling bag instead,
but everyone is different, and if you've already
got a Kånken and you want to
throw this thing inside,
then by all means go for it.
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The Fjällräven passport wallet
is a great place to hold your cards
and passports as you jet around the world.
We've done a full review on this product
over on our website at packhacker.com,
and hardly had any negative things to say.
And if you've been following us
for any amount of time, you'll know
that that doesn't happen too often.
The exterior G1000 fabric used on the outside
collects more dust than we'd like,
but we're happy to live with it
as interacting with this fabric just feels good.
Taking a look inside, the interior
of the Fjällräven Wallet is well thought out
and designed, and we've been enjoying
how the pockets are laid out.
The biggest bonus here is that it will
hold two passports really well,
which is great if you're traveling
as a couple or a family.
It feels like the Fjällräven team
has taken their time to thoughtfully
craft out the layout of this wallet,
and in true Fjällräven fashion,
the craftsmanship is also top notch.
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Finally, we have the Fjällräven
Ulvo Hip Pack medium, which can be worn
around your waist, or as we've found,
can also be worn comfortably as a sling too.
We've really enjoyed testing this thing so far,
and it's a convenient little bag to throw on
when you're heading out for the day.
There's not a lot of organization
going on inside, but bear in mind
that for a two liter sling
you wouldn't want that much anyway.
There's a mesh pocket inside the main
compartment for at least a bit of organization,
and there's an external zipper pocket
at the back that we've been really digging too.
We've found the zippers to be a little sticky
around the corners, but overall
it's a nice bag that you'll struggle
to be disappointed in.
So there you have it, some of our favorite
Fjällräven products.
Make sure to check out the links in the
description below for all of these products
over at packhacker.com.
And as ever, we'd love to hear your thoughts
in the comments below.
Thanks for keeping it here at Pack Hacker,
your guide to smarter travel.
We'll see you in the next one.