This Fjällräven’s a holdall, backpack and space-saving miracle all in one
8-5-2026
Translation: Natalie McKay
Pictures: Pia Seidel
I was looking for a reliable companion for a short trip to Turin. Not someone to hold my hand, but something to hold my belongings. I found what I was looking for in this amazingly versatile duffel bag from Fjällräven.
My adopted home of Zurich’s so conveniently located that regular weekend trips to the beautiful neighbouring countries are simply a must. My most recent one took me to Turin for 48 hours. When I’m traveling by train and I know that Italian cobblestone streets await me at my destination, a wheeled suitcase isn’t necessarily my first choice. So this time, I left my beloved Xiaomi carry-on at home. Instead, I got a promising new addition to my luggage collection ready for the trip.
Plenty of compartments, ample storage space
The Kånken Weekender’s the bigger version of Fjällräven’s popular small backpack and has a decent capacity of 30 litres. Not only is that just one litre less than my hard-shell carry-on from Xiaomi, I’m also confident I’ll be able to fit everything I need inside without any trouble. In this case, that means – in addition to jeans, two T-shirts, a sweater, underwear and socks – an extra pair of shoes, a well-stocked toiletry bag, a book and my water bottle, which the Kånken even has a dedicated compartment for. It also has one for a laptop or tablet – but luckily I can leave both of these behind this weekend. Instead, I use the space behind the padded partition to tuck my dirty laundry away.
Source: Laura Scholz
But that’s not all on the subject of extra storage space: like the main compartment, the Kånken features another large zippered pocket that opens from the outside, itself containing two small zippered pockets. This is where I keep my reading material for my journey to Turin.
Last but not least, there’s a patch front pocket that clearly identifies the Weekender as a relative of the Fjällräven backpack. Another similarity that isn’t immediately obvious? The durable, water-repellent Vinylon material.
Holdall, crossbody bag, backpack
It goes without saying that storage space is a must-have feature for holdalls. So I completely understand if you’re still on the fence and want to know what’s so special about this particular bag. Well the wait’s over: what really impressed me about the Kånken Weekender is how versatile it is.
Of course, it has two sturdy short handles for quickly grabbing it and easily stowing it in luggage compartments. It also comes with an adjustable and removable carrying strap that instantly turns it into a crossbody bag. And to top it off, there are two padded shoulder straps on the back of the bag, which allow you to turn the Weekender into a backpack in just a few simple steps (releasing the snap fasteners and adjusting the straps).
For such a little companion, it’s got some serious potential, if you ask me. I can’t find anything to criticise about it. Except maybe how it tends to attract dust and dirt whenever I set it down on the ground, no matter how briefly. But that’s what I get for buying black luggage. Maybe you’d be better off choosing one of the other colours on offer (Frost Green, Navy, Clay, Green and Ox Red).
In a nutshell
Small but mighty
If you’re anything like me and are partial to a weekend getaway, I highly recommend the Kånken Weekender. When empty, it takes up less space than a hard-shell carry-on, but when full, it offers almost as much storage space. And that’s not all – it boasts a well-designed interior and can be carried in a variety of ways.
Pro
- Plenty of storage space and various well-designed compartments, such as for a laptop or water bottle
- Holdall, crossbody bag and backpack in one
- Durable material, water-repellent, quick-drying
- Simple, timeless design
Contra
- Prone to dirt and dust (in the black version)
- Pretty expensive compared to similar products
Header image: Pia Seidel
Laura Scholz
Senior Editor
Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.chAlways in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.
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