The Wallet Shoppe
So - are Kånken backpacks for guys? A few people have asked us this lately, so we decided to answer it once and for all.
In some ways, this could be the shortest article we’ve ever published. We could just say “yes” and move on with our lives. After all, Fjällräven lists the Kånken as unisex, so that’s the end of the discussion, right?
Ah, but…
There’s a reason we get asked whether guys can wear those oh-so-popular Fjällräven Kånken backpacks, so let’s go there, shall we?
One Minute Recap - The Story of a Crazy-Popular Backpack
First, a quick bit of history.
According to the company legend, it goes like this. In 1978, Åke Nordin (who founded Fjällräven in 1960) read about Swedish schoolchildren getting sore backs from carrying heavy schoolbooks around. (We can relate to that!) Being a can-do kind of guy, he decided to do something about it. Fittingly, the first thing he’d ever made for the company was a backpack.
The Kånken was designed for those schoolkids, with a padded “seat pad” where the bag sits against your back and padded shoulder straps. It was so successful that the range grew to adult sizes and a huge range of colors, and its popularity has grown in leaps and bounds ever since.
In Sweden, you’ll see them everywhere, on kids and grown-ups, boys and girls alike. (Ed: insert a picture of lots of happy Swedes wearing Kånkens. Bonus points if the men look like Thor.)
So why the question? Why do some American readers think of the Kånken as a girl’s backpack?
Blame Instagram
Ah, there we go.
It’s not a huge mystery. There are a LOT of Kånken photos all over Insta. Why? Because it’s an instantly recognizable shape (a little different from the average backpack), and it comes in a wide range of colors and sizes.
So if you’re a budding social media influencer looking for a “cute” little backpack in “adorable” colors that pops in your feed, it’s a very understandable choice.
So, Are Kånken Backpacks For Guys?
Well, duh! The whole point of all those colors and sizes is that they’re meant for everyone, so of course guys can wear a Kånken. Take a look at this one, for instance:
See? Man-sized! Manly colors like black and olive! (Ed: are we laying this on a bit thick here?)
The Kånken Laptop 15 has its own padded laptop compartment (36 × 26 × 3 cm, so check your laptop fits, especially in a thick case), padded shoulder straps and that classic seat pad, with 18 liters of space. It’s a great choice as a laptop bag. Our grad-school backpack guide compares it with some other options.
Think about all those schoolkids, happy that their developing spines weren’t being ruined by heavy book bags. Now apply that to you lugging your laptop around.
Get it? Of course you do. Great bags, and yes, they’re for guys and gals alike. Enjoy!
Before You Go…
Is your Kånken getting a little … ripe? Need to clean it, but not sure how to do it safely? No worries, we’ve got you covered:
How To (Safely!) Wash a Backpack, Kånken included
FAQ
What does “Fjällräven” mean?
It means “arctic fox” in Swedish.
What is the Fjällräven logo?
It’s an arctic fox (from the company’s name).
What does “Kånken” mean?
It comes from the Swedish “kånka”, to carry something heavy.
Are Kånken backpacks for adults?
Yes. The Kånken was first designed to help schoolchildren carry their books more comfortably, and the range was later expanded with adult sizes, laptop versions and a wide range of colors.
Images provided courtesy of the Fjällräven press room.
