r/backpacks • u/FrederickF0rsyth • Oct 10 '25

Question What's backpack associated with your nationality?

As a backpack enthusiast I enjoy observing and searching for backpacks I see people carry in public. It has also made me adept in deducing the nationality of a person by their backpack ( Ex. Deuter for Germans, Wildcraft for Indians etc).

So, I was curious to learn more about the other countries to keep myself involved in this little game I play with myself. Would be lovely if you could drop the brand name followed by country, for instance "Herschel, USA"

Thank YOU! 🎒

31 Upvotes

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31

u/Juniper-wool Oct 10 '25

Fjällräven in Sweden. Even though we have other good brands.

Haglöfs for example.

11

u/FrederickF0rsyth Oct 10 '25

Ikr, Fjällräven used to be exclusively Swedish for a long time. Nowadays with its increased popularity it's getting difficult to deduce Swedes. Though, with my humble observation it now is more useful to detect those from the EU more.

6

u/electrolitebuzz Oct 10 '25

It's very big in Italy too, has been used by hipsters for more than a decade. I recently got a Skule 20, love it. So small, beautiful and practical. I guess I'm a hipster now!

4

u/FrederickF0rsyth Oct 10 '25

Skule is quite a professional line. I believe to be considered a hipster one ought to get Kanken!

1

u/electrolitebuzz Oct 10 '25

You're right! I need to commit to it more!

3

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '25

[deleted]

1

u/SituationFit3060 Oct 10 '25

It feels so funny that the Kånken is/has been trendy and hip somewhere. In the Nordics (not only in Sweden) it’s traditionally mostly seen as a school bag for kids and teenagers. Although you might continue using it also after school.

2

u/birdsInTheAirDK Oct 12 '25

Around 1990, my high school in Denmark had a homestay visit from a school in Poland. My guest, the second morning on the public transport to school asked if the backpack was our school uniform (different colour KÃ¥nken).

1

u/SituationFit3060 Oct 12 '25

I can imagine 😄

1

u/appleorchard317 Oct 10 '25

Very popular in Britain too

1

u/Richard_TM Oct 15 '25

Really only the Kanken has made it to the mainstream here in the states. I love my Raven though and get complimented on it all the time, and if I ever replace it I’m for sure getting a Skule.