Was the backpack really worth it?
I remember when I first got my Fjallraven Kånken in my junior year of high school. It was in the peak of the backpack’s popularity, and I deliberated for weeks on what color to get. I ended up purchasing a maroon red, original sized Kånken, as opposed to the 13, 15 or 17 inch laptop sizes. Fast-forward three years and I still use this backpack every day. Through all this time, I have developed some opinions on this backpack.
The first thing I love about my Kånken is its size. I’m not a person who likes to carry around a lot of things. I don’t carry large textbooks or multiple notebooks. At most, I carry around my laptop, two notebooks, a pencil case, a water bottle and other small, miscellaneous items. For me, the original Kånken is perfect. Especially because I don’t end up having empty pockets or extra spaces to go digging through if I need something out of my backpack.
However, as much as I enjoy the size of my Kånken and how it often holds the perfect amount, it can be frustrating when I occasionally need to carry more items. Especially when the Wisconsin weather is more temperamental, I end up carrying my jacket in my hands when it’s too hot because it doesn’t fit in my backpack. This is not a common issue I face but it’s worth noting.
The most frustrating thing about my Kånken is how the side pockets don’t fit a water bottle. The bigger laptop sized backpacks can fit a smaller 20 oz water bottle, but I have no such luck with my original Kånken. This issue caused me to go on an extensive internet search for very small or skinny water bottles that might fit in the side pockets, but this search proved useless. I eventually gave up and simply just carry a 32 oz water bottle inside my backpack. However, this has caused me to spill my water within my backpack on occasion.
My other favorite thing about this backpack is how it’s easily customizable and water-resistant. Due to the Kånken’s thinner vinylon material, it’s relatively easy to attach pins to the backpack or embroider it. I embroidered my own Kånken, and enjoy having this personal and creative detail.The water-resistance of the Kånken is very convenient. When it rains during classes, I don’t have to worry about my laptop or notebooks getting wet. I can simply walk to class with my raincoat knowing that once I get inside, my backpack will only be damp and will begin to dry once I’m out of the rain.
My final verdict about this backpack is that it’s definitely worth it. I’ve had my Kånken for four years at this point and still love it. If you don’t carry lots of books and care about personalizing your things like me, then you might like the Kånken as well. I will definitely be keeping my Kånken for years to come, with only a slight complaint about the small side pockets.