Hey there!
Since I purchased my second Kanken earlier this summer I thought it was about time to do a review!
I bought my first Kanken in November/December in 2011 it was a dual colour (lemon and dark green although I'm not sure of the names as it is no longer available). As soon as it arrived I was hooked, I loved it so much! It is the perfect backpack, its practical but still looks adorable ❤
This is my very worn dual colour Kanken. As you can see, it no longer looks cute, It looks dirty. I have been using it as a schoolbag for the last year and still use it when travelling so that combined with the pale colour makes it look a lot older than it is. Cleaning my Kanken has always been difficult, I have tried baby wipes and a small bit of warm soapy water on a cloth but neither have made much of a difference although they do slightly fade some marks. On the online store they recommend washing it in warm soapy water or alternatively in a washing machine on a very cool or delicate setting to minimise colour fading. But recently one of my Kanken-loving friends (pictured above with the warm yellow classic size kanken) tried to clean hers with lukewarm water, a soft brush and a little bit of detergent and she feels like the bag is now more delicate and the colour has faded slightly.
This is my newer Kanken that I love with all my heart because...It's Pink ❤
I got it while on holidays in Santa Monica this summer, it was a very 'spur of the moment' purchase but definitely worth it! I absolutely love the colour so much, and I added a cute keychain to top it off.
Another thing about these bags is they are quite strong and hardwearing for a little backpack. They do look a little dirty but they don't scuff or tear and no straps or stitching has come loose or torn.
One very small thing that drives me and my Kanken friends crazy is the front pocket. In the photos on the website it looks like a cute little pouch, but in real life it doesn't puff out at all and is all wrinkled and deflated and gathers loads of dust on the top of it. It does however have a lot of space and is very handy, we just wish it was a little more structured.
The only thing I was confused my before I bought my Kanken was the seat/sitting pad included in a back pocket. At the time I couldn't find any reviews that really explained it. Basically its a thick plastic foam pad that lines the back of the backpack.
I personally have never used it as a seat. Its just really good at keeping the shape of the bag. Something that you might notice from this photo is that the main pocket zips down really far. I love this feature, it makes it so much easier to fit more stuff in because you can organise it more. It also has a cute area for your details. Lets also not forget about the cute little red and white reflective patch featuring an Arctic fox (Fjallraven).
My Kankens are by far my favourite bag in the world and also one of my most cherished items. I would highly recommend it as a bag for travelling, as an everyday bag or even as a small schoolbag. I would especially recommend it for girls or just generally smaller people as it is a nice petite bag with slim straps and the shape means it sits nicely and looks tidy on your back. I have been considering getting a Mini Kanken to use as a handbag type bag because I just love my Classics so much! They are so useful yet look adorable! I definitely see more Kankens in my future!
AnnaMae ☆
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| My best friend and I on a hike on Croagh Patrick Co.Mayo, Ireland |
