How the Kånken Bag Changes Over Time, and How to Care for It

The "Kånken bag" is a familiar sight on the streets these days.

With its wide range of colors and lovable fox logo, the Kånken bag has become something of a sensation, but back home in Sweden it has long been loved as a children's school bag. There are plenty of reasons for its broad appeal: it's lightweight, sturdy, and just the right size.

This time, we'd like to introduce how a Kånken bag changes with years of use, along with some tips on how to care for it.

(Article updated: December 18, 2020)

A Kånken Bag After 3 Years of Use

This is a Kånken bag (Regular size, Brown) that one of our staff members has used and loved for three years.

・Laptop
・Wallet, iPhone
・Paperback book
・Personal water bottle

These are the kinds of things carried in it, used almost every day.

・The bag is usually packed to about 80% capacity
・A little rain doesn't bother it much
・It's even been taken on one- or two-night trips as the only bag

That's roughly how it's been used. Since the laptop especially is quite heavy, the staff member worried at first about how long the bag would hold up. But so far there's been no major fraying or wear, and it remains a well-loved item still very much in active use.

Comparing it to a brand-new one...

・The body has softened and become more supple over time
・The fabric (vinylon) has softened, so the creases and marks from early use are less noticeable
・Surface dirt is starting to become noticeable

These are the three things that stand out. Since this one is brown, stains and dirt don't show as much, but as a daily-use bag, dirt and stains are still something to be mindful of.

With daily use, dirt naturally becomes a concern. Since the body isn't made from leather or any special material that's weak against water, and since it had held up fine even when caught in light rain, we wondered whether it might be safe to wash in water. However, checking the quality label inside the Kånken bag, it clearly states "not washable," so it's best to avoid washing it in water.

※When we inquired with the official Japanese distributor, they told us that washing the bag in water causes the vinylon to lose its original texture. So it seems the correct approach is indeed to avoid washing and instead keep the bag clean while preventing stains in the first place.

By the way, a ZUTTO staff member actually tried washing their own Kånken bag in water, and the vinylon shrank, making the bag noticeably smaller. It still seemed usable, but washing it left it feeling softer and limper, as if it had lost its original material texture. If you really want to wash it in water, trying a hand wash at your own risk is one option—but we'd recommend first trying all the other care methods available.

Here's the care process we followed this time.

① Remove dirt from the inside (dust and debris)
② Trim any loose threads on the inside
③ Remove dirt from the outside (stains)

Checking for Dirt on the Inside

This isn't unique to the Kånken bag—it's true of any bag—but with daily use, dust and debris tend to collect inside the pockets and at the bottom of the bag.

In the case of the Kånken bag,

・The bottom of the main compartment inside the bag
・The inside pocket where the protective pad sits
・The bottom of the outer pockets

are the spots where dirt tends to accumulate most. Take everything out of the bag—including the protective pad on the back panel—and clean the inside thoroughly. Just doing this alone will remove a surprising amount of dirt and leave the bag looking much cleaner.

※Be especially careful with the pocket that holds the protective pad—old receipts, tickets, handkerchiefs, and the like often end up tucked away in there without you realizing it.

Watch Out for Fraying on the Inside
 

From the outside, there's no fraying or unraveling to be seen at all. But opening the bag and looking closely inside, we found some loose threads coming from the edge of the fabric on the interior.

It causes no problem for regular use, but it looked like the fraying might worsen over time as items are taken in and out of the bag, so we trimmed the threads to keep them from catching on anything.

For Dirt on the Outside, "Dab" It Clean

According to the distributor's advice, the recommended method is to avoid washing in water and instead wipe the bag with a well-wrung damp cloth, so we tried that approach this time as well.

We also tried the "rub it with an eraser" method often recommended for cleaning sneakers and other items that can't be washed, but this time it just wore down the eraser without any noticeable improvement in the stains.

If a damp cloth alone doesn't do the trick, try adding a small amount of neutral detergent and dabbing gently at the stain.

Kånken bags come in colors ranging from nearly white, pale shades to darker, near-black tones like the one featured here. If you're using detergent, be sure to test it first on an inconspicuous spot to check for color fading or discoloration before proceeding with the rest of the bag.

About FJALLRAVEN

FJALLRAVEN is an outdoor brand that originated in Sweden. The brand name means "arctic fox" or "outdoors person" in Swedish.

The Kanken bag was born in 1978, prompted by the fact that around 80% of Swedes were suffering from back pain in the latter half of the 1970s. School bags of the time were carried in one hand, so a functional bag that could be used at school was created. Since its release, it has remained a long-selling favorite loved by people around the world for over 30 years, and today it's also used by elderly people with back or hip pain. 

The material is called "Vinylon," which has a texture close to cotton. It's UV-resistant and features strong insect resistance, light-blocking properties, and durability. The sturdy stitching means you can use it with confidence even when carrying heavy items, and it's convenient that you can adjust the strap length even while wearing the bag on your back.

The regular size (right) fits A4-sized items, and the mini size (left) fits B5-sized items. It's also nice for families to match with each other. Even elementary school children can use the regular size.

Lightweight, durable, and cute—usable casually by anyone regardless of gender. That's the kind of bag Kanken is, and we've introduced how to care for it at home. Taking care of it yourself is sure to make you love it even more.

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