Which Fjällräven Backpack Do You Need?

Fjällräven makes its products within distinct families designed for different purposes, and its backpack range makes more sense when you think about what you need a bag for.

For school and university: The Fjällräven Kanken is the one you'll see everywhere, and deservedly so. It swallows a school day's worth of kit, and you can put it through the wash when it inevitably needs it. The Kanken Mini (7L) suits younger children, the Classic (16L) covers most of secondary school, and the No.2 (18L) gives sixth-formers and uni students a bit more room. If you need to carry a computer or tablet, it's worth stepping up to Kanken Laptop for the padded sleeve and better shoulder straps.

Skule (20L and Top 26L) is the other Fjällräven backpack we'd suggest for college or university. It's a straightforward, hardwearing pack that takes a laptop and handles a full day on campus, and it'll do a weekend hike without complaint.

For the commute: If it's purely city miles, the Kanken Laptop is a good starting point and is available in multiple size options. If you'd rather have something with a more regular backpack look, check out Skule or Raven. Both take a laptop and both make good daily commuters; the difference is that they're made from proper outdoor fabrics, so they don't look out of place on a trail either.

For day walks: Raven, Skule and the Abisko Hike Lite 20L all do the job nicely. Vardag bags are worth a look too for simpler, everyday-outdoor packs that suit a shorter walk or a day out without the technical extras. The thing worth thinking about at this size is a hip belt. For a couple of hours on a marked path, you genuinely won't miss one, but the moment you're carrying waterproofs, lunch and a flask over rougher ground, getting that weight onto your hips makes a real difference.

For trekking and touring: This is full-size rucksack territory, so we'd point you towards the Abisko Hike 35L, Abisko Frilift (35L and 45L) or High Coast up to 38L for multi-day routes, Singi (16–28L) for a tougher, more structured carry, and Bergtagen Touring (22L and 30L) if you're moving fast and carrying less. These are all high-quality, purpose-designed trekking packs that draw on Fjällräven's decades of experience in making equipment for use in some of the world's most extreme places.

For cycling and wet weather: Ulvo is the one we'd steer you towards with a roll-top and taped seams. It's a different approach to staying dry: G-1000 packs rely on a wax finish that you top up every so often, whereas Ulvo's seams just work without you having to think about it.

For travel: For longer trips, look at one of Fjällräven's larger trekking packs. But in all honesty, a backpack is often the wrong shape for a week away. Fjällräven duffel and travel bags open up like a suitcase and are far easier to live out of. If you'd still rather carry a pack, the Abisko Frilift is a good option.

Want more info before you decide? Head over to our Fjällräven bags and backpacks buyer's guide.

Fjällräven backpack sizes

As a rough guide, go for a backpack that's 7–20 litres for school or commuting, 20–30 litres for day hikes and cycling, and 30 litres and up for overnight and multi-day trips.

Vinylon F vs G-1000

Vinylon F is the light, wipe-clean coated blend used on Kanken. It's fine for a rainy walk to school or the station, but not designed for sustained wet weather. G-1000 is Fjällräven's heavier, more abrasion-resistant weave used across the hiking packs, and can be reproofed with Greenland Wax as it wears.

Fjällräven backpacks with a laptop compartment

Laptop sleeves are model-specific rather than range-wide, so it's worth checking before you buy. Kanken Laptop is the obvious one, but Raven and Skule both take a laptop too, and they're the ones to look at if you want a single pack that handles the commute and a Saturday walk without compromising on either. The Abisko Hike Lite 20L has a sleeve as well, though the rest of the Abisko range is built for walking and trekking rather than carrying a device.

Standard Kanken, Bergtagen, High Coast and the larger Abisko packs have no dedicated laptop compartment. You can still carry a device in a separate sleeve, but on the more technical packs the back panel is shaped around a load rather than a flat screen, so a purpose-built commuter pack is the better buy if a laptop goes with you every day.

Why We Recommend Fjällräven Backpacks

Backpacks are where Fjällräven started and are the foundation of the brand's history. Its very first product was a pack, and everything since has been built on the same idea of carrying a load comfortably over long distances, enjoying the outdoors, and respecting the environment.

What that heritage means in practice is a versatile and reliable range that's very easy to live with. The fabrics can take a beating, the hardware is high quality, and the designs are deliberately understated so they never look out of place, plus the everyday details in its backpacks are all very well thought out and sensible.

Everyday models feature handy storage pockets and protected laptop sleeves, while technical packs give all-day comfort and protection on the trail, with capacity options spanning almost any requirement. Fjällräven is a brand that takes sustainability seriously, so it's good to know you're buying a backpack that's been made in an environmentally responsible way.

As a UK Fjällräven supplier, we stock a comprehensive range of backpacks, and you'll find the wider Fjällräven bags collection here too if you'd rather have a tote, messenger or duffel. If you're not quite sure which to choose, get in touch with our team for help and advice. We offer fast delivery, free on orders over £50, plus 100-day returns if something's not quite right.