Kånken – the Swedish Spine Saving Backpack

My Kånken and I have been companions for a good few years now and it hasn’t let me down once. I bought it in my late teenage years, but growing up in Sweden, the iconic backpack has always been present – one way or another.

In the late 70’s statistics showed that 80% of the Swedish population had back problems, partially due to the not-so-very-ergonomic shoulder bags that were popular at the time. Experts and school nurses all over the country expressed their worry about the future of the school kids backs. And so, in swoops the founder of Fjallraven, Åke Nordin, and saves the day. Together with the Swedish Scout Association  he designed the back-saving Kånken.

Ya boy Åke Nordin.

With the weight distributed evenly on the shoulders, the spines of Swedish school kids were saved! Kånka means carrying something heavy so it comes to no surprise that a backpack called Kånken was made to do just that. And as well as being comfortable and ergonomic, it’s made from the super hard-wearing Vinylon F fabric and has got lots of handy features; such as pockets on the side, a reflective badge, and a seat pad for when you’re feeling like having a picnic in the forest.

The concept of having a seat pad in your backpack doesn’t seem to be much of a thing here in the UK,  but when I was a kid in playschool we would very often go on day trips to the woods, and we would never leave without the teachers making sure that each and everyone of us had a seat pad of our own to take on the trip. I still find this feature incredibly handy, the seat pad has saved me countless times from having to sit on the wet ground.

Ever since the launch of the backpack in 1978, the Kånken has been one to stir up many emotions. The eco-friendly and functional design made it popular among liberal thinkers, which made it a bit of a left wing symbol and inspired to the nickname “the communist pack”. I think this notion has been left behind today, but I grew up knowing a Kånken was definetly a synonym to being left wing.

The Kånken has been a popular choice for both children and adults since the start. Today, over
200 000 of the bags are sold every year. The design is still the same  – the only thing that’s really happened is that they’ve complemented it with a few more models (the Kånken Big, and the Kånken Laptop to name a few) and colours, so there is a Kånken suitable for everyone – whether you want a subtle Forest Green or a bright Burnt Orange.

My own Kånken

40 years later some of the first backpacks are still going strong. My own trusty Kånken is only 7 years old, but I know it’s got a long life ahead of itself. An example of this is my friends backpack, which she inherited from her grandmother  – purchased nearly 40 years ago! The reflective logo has worn off giving it a unique look, but it still stands the test.  The Kånken is really a backpack you can trust!

Check out our Kånken range here

puss och kram,

Tove


Hiking Sgurr na Stri in Skye

Our last hike in Skye was Sgurr na Stri. Dwarfed by the surrounding Cuillin, Sgurr na Stri is only 494 metres high – a Marilyn rather than a Munro. Despite this, it is widely considered to be one of Britain’s finest viewpoints, and deservedly so.

You can hike in from Sligachan or Elgol, or get a boat from Elgol. We opted for the latter because we had to catch the sleeper train from Fort William that evening. We headed out on the early morning rib with Bella Jane Boat Trips.

Cuillin Ridge TraverseOur companions on the rib who jumped off the boat onto slippery rocks at Eilean Ramhair, and were heading up to do the notoriously difficult Cuillin Ridge Traverse.

stepping stones skye
Crossing the stepping stones by Loch Coruisk

Time was tight, so we followed the directions of our boat captain for the fastest route: “Head straight up from the loch, hook a right at the lochan.” We crossed the stepping-stones from Loch Coruisk and straight up to the peak, which is a bit of a scramble at times, and the path disappears pretty quickly once you leave the loch shore.

Sgurr na Stri
Hooking a right at the lochan

This route cuts the corner, but there is a longer, clearer path if you continue up from the lochan and join the path from Sligachan. This is more straightforward, except the final part to the summit which is rocky and requires careful route-finding whichever way you approach it. If you get the boat, whatever route you take, you’ll have to cross the stepping stones and you’re going to get wet feet if the water’s high.

sgurr na stri view
View from Sgurr na Stri, including the Cuillin Ridge, Loch Coruisk and the sea crossing

dee sgurr na sgtriMe, very excited to be at the peak!

seals from the rig
Seals and shags from the rib on the way back to Elgol

Kit List

Greenland_Trousers_81200-630_grandeFjällräven Greenland Trousers – These trousers were perfect for the boggy, wet conditions because they have a water repellent wax coating and are quick drying.  The durable G1000 fabric with double knee reinforcements made them hard wearing enough for scrambling over the rocks.  The pockets have room for a map, compass, knife and everything else we needed on the trail. There’s even a pocket for an axe!

 

WBS15_83806_NVYBPatagonia Torrentshell Jacket – This shell is super waterproof for the changeable Skye weather, but still breathable and has pit-zips for extra ventilation. It cuts out the wind, which we appreciated at the exposed peak. It packs down into its own pocket so it fitted easily into our packs when we didn’t need it. The fabric is ripstop, so again, it was good for scrambling over rocks.

 

BerglerLady-Chestnut-1Hanwag Bergler Hiking Boots – This Alpine mountain boot was great on the rocky terrain on Skye, which is the closest we have to Alpine in the UK, and often used for Alpine training. The flexible Vibram sole makes them comfortable to walk in and the leather lining and tongue prevented rubbing. Our feet stayed dry, even going through the high water on the stepping stones (well mine did, Ian’s would’ve done if he didn’t always have to go for a paddle!)

 

Ordnance Survey Explorer 411 Skye – Cuillin Hills Map

 Sgurr na Stri is a remote mountain, it’s important to have a map and compass and know how to use them.

 

 

 

Silva – Expedition 4 Compass

 

 

See also:

Getting to, and around Skye

Campsites and Pubs on Skye

 


In-Store Waxing

Dee Dee waxing a customer's jacket We now have an in-store Fjällräven Waxing Station! We can wax Fjällräven G1000 jackets and bags while-you-wait on weekdays. We are not able to wax on weekends as it gets very busy, but you are welcome to drop off your item and collect it during the week.

Waxing is free-of-charge for items bought from us, simply show us your email receipt.

For items not bought at The Brokedown Palace there is a £30 charge for jackets and £20 for bags.

Waxing a whole jacket takes around 30minutes.

Please note waxing is not suitable for Kånken backpacks, except Kånken No. 2 (which is made from G1000 fabric).

 


Fjällräven at the Scandinavia Show

The Brokedown Palace partnered with Fjällräven to do their stand at the Scandinavia Show 2013.

The Scandinavia Show is the only UK show dedicated exclusively to showcase the best of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The show incorporates Scandinavian design, travel, lifestyle, fashion, culture and food.

This year’s venue was the stunning and historic Tobacco Dock, right on the River Thames; built in the early 19th Century as a secure bonded warehouse for the receipt and storage of tobacco from the New World.

We had a great time and met lots of lovely customers. Thank you Fjällräven for inviting us!

Ian and Dee Dee from The Brokedown Palace

Tobacco Dock

Tobacco Dock entrance

Adam from The Brokedown Palace with the colourful wall of Kånkens.

Andi from Fjällräven at his Wax Station, demonstrating how to re-wax a Greenland Jacket with Fjällräven’s unique Greenland Wax.

This customer came in with his 23 year old Kånken – looks good as new! His wife had just washed it so it’s a little crumpled. She said she always just throws it in the washing machine. They were buying more Kånkens for their young relatives.

Also in our stand were Grower’s Cup Coffee from Denmark. Here Adam from The Brokedown Palace and Andy from Fjällräven are sampling a cup.

Moomintroll

Dee Dee from The Brokedown Palace cuddling Moomintroll.

The Danes are invading Swedish Fjällräven!

Joe from Fjällräven looking super snazzy in a UN Blue Fjällräven Numbers Jacket No.68 and matching trousers.