I’ve Carried This Backpack All Over Europe — and It’s the Perfect Gift for the Traveler on Your List
A backpack might not initially seem like a go-to gift for the holiday season, but for the traveler in your life who loves to jetset around the globe (or who just hates to check bags), The Fj?llr?ven K?nken 15-inch Laptop Backback is a must-have.
As someone who takes a lot of long weekend trips, a backpack is an essential bag in my luggage arsenal. The Fj?llr?ven K?nken is utilitarian but stylish. I can't recommend this backpack enough as a gift this holiday season for someone who loves to travel but can't quite seem to find their go-to carry-on bag.
To buy: nordstrom.com, $115
One of my main complaints about most backpacks is how hard it is to keep items organized once I've stored them away. However, I love the full front zipper on the K?nken, which allows me to open the backpack entirely and pack it like a regular suitcase. I'm able to pack folded clothes, books, and small pouches, knowing that everything will stay put once I close and carry the backpack.
When it's fully packed and zipped up, the backpack takes on a cube-like shape, which makes it easy to place in an overhead bin or under a seat on a train, bus, or airplane. I never feel like I'm lugging this backpack around; it's compact enough to fit pretty much anywhere and it's sleek enough not to look ridiculous when I'm carrying it around a city or through an airport. Plus, the bag is made from moisture-repelling fabric, and I've never run into any problems with rain — even when I got caught in a downpour without an umbrella in Copenhagen a couple years ago (I was drenched — but all the contents of my backpack? Completely dry).
Related: The Best Carry-on Luggage, According to Travel Editors
This bag also includes a separate padded laptop compartment, which fits 13- and 15-inch laptops comfortably. With the K?nken Laptop Backpack, I always know where my computer is, and I know it's safe. There's also a zippered front pocket that's great for keeping essentials within reach and two side slip pockets that can fit a water bottle or umbrella.
A Fj?llr?ven backpack is a practical yet thoughtful gift for someone who loves to travel or has a big trip coming up. And they come in tons of fun color combinations if your gift recipient happens to have a signature color.
